JAMES WOODS

FROM SUICIDAL HEROIN ADDICT TO MAN OF GOD, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR, AND HUSBAND

CHANGED LIVES

I have been in professional music most of my life, and began using drugs as part of that scene, traveling around the country playing.  But pretty soon it stopped being fun anymore—I got strung out.  Pretty soon I couldn’t make my gigs, and they kicked me out.  Finally I began going to jail because of petty theft to get drugs, and finally, San Quentin.  That was scary.  People were getting killed right next to me—I made sure I carried a Bible around and stuck close to the chaplain.  When I got out I got a job in drug rehab, but my life was still a mess—I lost my wife and family.  Finally I left work and came to San Francisco with the idea of killing myself with drugs.  When I came to San Francisco I had quite a bit of money, but I lost it all except my car that I lived in, and then I lost that.  There was a food line called Martin’s I ate at, and volunteering there was a lady I knew from my working days in drug rehab.  She saw the change in me—I was a real mess—and called the Homeless Church to get me into Grace Healing Home.   I arrived the next day, dirty, sick, and they welcomed me.  Now I know JESUS, and with His help I kicked heroin, cocaine and cigarettes all at the same time.  Now everything has changed, thanks to the Lord.  I have a beautiful wife, and I found something  that I’m more excited about now than I’ve ever been.  When Jesus shows you who you are you realize you really are someone.

Update: They're BACK!  After a time in Stockton, James and Karla have returned to us and become pillars of the Homeless Church.  James assists Agustin as well as joins the worship team at the 16th and Mission service, giving his powerful testimonies to all who are in that area lost as he once was.  Than.k you, Jesus!

AGUSTIN GARCIA

ONCE AN ALCOHOLIC AND DRUG ADDICT, NOW A PASTOR, CONSTRUCTION WORKER, FAMILY MAN

A little more than five years ago I was stinking, no shower for six months, sitting on the sidewalk.  The Grace of God came to me—a lady came to me pushing a baby, right to the corner where I was sitting drinking with my friends, but she didn’t talk to them, only to me.  She said to me, “Jesus loves you, and He has something for you, and something for me, and something for everybody—don’t lose your time!”  That same day three other people told me Jesus loved me.  I was puzzled that I began to change, I began to drink a little less.  After two days, I took a shower.  One guy in a car called out to me, “Hey, Jesus loves you—you want to change your life?”  And that’s how I got to Grace Healing Home.  Now I believe God is a great God; I know He is real and sometimes I still ask why me?  But I know He says, “Because I love you" 

 UPDATE:  Agustin has finished his three years of Assemblies of God Bible School and is now Assistant Pastor of the Homeless Church.  He is directing the afternoon Sunday service at 16th and Mission, and has his daughters Karen,. Genesis and Jessica, and son Agustin, living with him and going to school here.  His heart is open to anyone he sees who needs Jesus.

         DIANNE AFFOLTER 

NO LONGER A PROSTITUTE/ CRACK ADDICT; NOW A MOM AND RESTAURANT OWNER

             JOE DIECK

FROM AN ANGRY, BITTER LONER TO A CHANNEL OF BLESSING

I was a hopeless crack-head and prostitute who in my sin and addiction had lost everything--my family, my children, my home, my job and any sense of self-worth.  I had worked myself from a seedy hotel in the Tenderloin to living in a car at Mission Rock.  I felt that this yellow Homeless Church bus was following me everywhere.  I told my partner at the time that it was impossible to enjoy my high with this weird preacher and his wife following me around.  I finally went over to see what was wrong with them and I actually found out what was wrong with me:  I needed Jesus.  I am so grateful that Pastor Evan and April were obedient to the Lord and came to San Francisco to minister to homeless people.

I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior in September 1994 and He has changed my life dramatically.  There are so many things He has done for me, it's just so hard to try to list them.  Not everything is wonderful when you are saved, but with the Lord life is so much better.  The Homeless Church was a wonderful introduction to Jesus, and also follows through with helping with life's new lessons and how to grow as a Christian.  I still remember when Pastor Evan and April passed me on to my new Pastor:  Steve Cosgrove of Pacifica Baptist Church in Pacifica.

JOE'S TESTIMONY

A friend told me there were parking places near the park at the end of 24th Street, where the police wouldn't hassle as much.  I was living in a 1974 Dodge van, so I tried it out, and it was a pretty good spot.  At that time I was Mr. Nobody.  I just kept to myself--I didn't talk to other people; I didn't like people.  I was hard to get along with.  After being in jail a lot you learn not to trust people, especially the police.  A preacher guy who lived in a bus near there gave out coffee in the morning--I wasn't into his Bible studies or anything, but I got to talking to him.  He sometimes asked me, "Do you talk to God?"  "oh, yeah, I pray every night," I would say.  But it was a fast prayer without much meaning.  

I got real sick, and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, where the doctors discovered my heart was bad as well as my lungs.  But I felt something there in the hospital with me:  something good.  Evan suggested it might have been Jesus.  Later, I had to have surgery--Jesus was right with me.  I was so excited I jumped on the bus while they were having service (I still wasn't going to the services) and told everyone how the most important thing in the world was to have Jesus in your heart.  About that time, I began to feel different about people.  I began to bring food for 4 or 5 people around--now it has grown to 40 or so!  I was cooking for the Homeless Church Sunday meal until I got too sick to climb the stairs.  I got a place of my own.  There have been heartbreaks--I had to give up my dog, and once a guy jumped me in my room and I was lying for 24 hours unable to move, bleeding.  Again, Jesus was there the whole time.  Someone found me and there are no lasting effects.  you know that doesn't happen--without Jesus.

Jesus saved me, there is no doubt about that.  My life has made a 180 degree turn--now I love to help people, and sometimes hold Bible studies for people I meet.

UPDATE:  Joe's social worker called us April 1 to say that Joe had passed away in his sleep.  He was living in an apartment at the end of his life, using almost all his spare time cooking and passing out food to the poor and homeless in the apartment building and the area around it.  He will be greatly missed.

MARIA MORENO

FROM DUMPSTER DIVING CRANKSTER  TO MIGHTY WOMAN OF GOD, CARETAKER, NURSES AIDE