God’s House of Hope, Inc.

I read the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer newspaper article about this organization today, which prompted me to check out your website. I am very impressed with your organization.

I tried several times over a two-year time period to find Mount Vernon Baptist Church. I ended up in some strange places, regardless of what directions were given to me. My reason for wanting to attend that church, rather than one in Owensboro was this: I had heard that there were four or five bereaved parents who attended that church. My only child had drowned in 1997 and I needed to be around others who understood my pain. Years later I learned that 75%-85% of bereaved parents drop out of church. So that was why I could not find them.

Because of that high percentage drop-out rate, I spent the next several years meeting with bereaved parents from all across America, reading their stories and books, I attended several “losing your religion after losing your child” classes. I was determined to discover the reason for this high drop out rate. Once that I felt that I understood, I produced a video called “The Compassion of Jesus Christ”. The video would have cost me $100,000 and I had no money. My total investment was $30.00 for a garage sale camcorder, which I used to film most of the footage. A total stranger and his family devoted over a year working tirelessly on this video He was an amateur at producing videos, but national grief magazines have called it “fantatstic” and “professional”.

An out-of-town church, which I have never even visited sent word to me that they are ready to finish my current video “Grieve with those who are Grieving” (Romans 12:15)and also to film “My Story - - by Charlotte Martin”, which is simply me telling my story of what led me to begin making videos and to tell about the difference that the videos are making.

I would love to share this ministry with your ministry if you think that it works with your current ministry. I live with my elderly mother and we have a three-year-old little boy who was brought to our home when he was 5-days old (no, we are not foster parents). Brian was born in prison and now that his parents are out of prison, they’ve expressed no interest in him for over two years. I have three grandchildren so I am a very busy grandmother and “mother”. I can always find the time to share my video and/or the speech that I gave to 45 pastors in Lexington and 250 of their delegates.

The pastors of churches in Daviess, Ohio and Butler Counties have been informing their congregations to be prepared to stay thirty minutes longer (the video is 57 minutes) on regular church service nights. I previously had been showing it on “off” nights, but few people attended. I give only a portion of my speech to allow time for questions or discussions. At the end of the video pastors tell those who need to leave that they can do so.

I cannot help but to believe that God is directing my videos and this ministry. I’m always glad to let a pastor view the video first to see if he or she wants it shown to their congregation. They are also free to read the speech ahead of time.

Of course “The Compassion of Jesus Christ” was completed just the last of March, 2006, but one large baptist church, after viewing the video decided to start a bereavement team from their church. I’ve also promised to return for as long as needed to educate volunteers how to help the bereaved.

I look forward to hearing from you. My web-site is also new, so we have corrections and additions to make. Some of the “click” buttons are on the far right side. I apologize for the length of my e-mail.

I know that you all are doing a great work in the Lord and I am grateful that there are still people like all of you in the world today amongst so much evil.
KEEP up the good work and God will always bless you in all you do.

Dear Ms. Martin, Thank you for contacting us. I know Mt.Vernon Baptist Church would be glad to hear from you. Thier address is: 5215 Hwy 256 W., Calhoun, KY 42327. A contact person would be: Lois Conrad, 270-273-3899. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail us again.

Mr. Clifford, Thank you for visiting and your encouraging words. Having a love relationship with Jesus inspires us to do God’s work. He puts the desire in our hearts and gives us the love to share so that we can tell people about Him.

I have only known about this Celebrate Recovery in Calhoun for 2 weeks now. But I am so excited about getting to know more about it.
I have been involed in the Celebrate Recovery only through a friend that had been going to meetings out in Marion, Ky. Then her Pastor started a group in Clay.
She and I are both in recovery and have been allowed to take NA meetings into Hopkins County Jail on Mondays and Thursday night.
She however backed out of Thursday nights because of the Clay meeting for Celebrate Recovery and that left me by my self at the jail.
The first night by my self I told the girls where she was and told them that she would no longer be with us on Thursday nights. I also told them that she believed that the Lord wanted her to help the Clay meeting get off the ground, and then I told them all that I knew about the Celebrate Recovery Meetings.
Well, to make a long story short the girls ask if they could do it too. I have never done anything like lead a bible study. I’ve been in them, but had never stepped out like that. I believe God knew I would never and dropped it in my lap.
Thank God I felt Him all around me that day. I knew He wanted me to step out in service, and the blessing have not stopped. The Lord lead me to 2 women in my church that are also recoverying addicts. They steped out and well, we’ve had several saved, several rededicate their lives, it’s been an honor and a blessing to be able to see Gods hands move in such a mighty way. I’m looking foreward to seeing it happen more more. My prayers will be with you all, God Bless!