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HEADQUARTERS:
LUTB FL DIVISION:
941-465-7400
Kevin & Hope Kerkof
LIGHTHOUSE Women's Director:
941-348-5901
LIGHTHOUSE TREASURES STORE
941-567-4007
LUTB NW DIVISION:
206-941-4301
Jon Meer
Mail Donations:
LUTB
PMB#139
7282 55th Ave East
Bradenton, Fl 34203
*put in memo FL or NW division*
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MONTHLY PARTNERS NEEDED
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What is the cost of one life saved? What is the cost of a life that chooses Salvation through Jesus Christ? What is the cost of a life that chooses to live for Christ instead of a life filled with destruction & death? What is the cost of saving a life from domestic violence, abuse, addiction, prostitution, or homelessness and helping them get their life back on track with Christ, jobs, and a future?
Some partners give $25, $50, or $100/month. Others give a one time gift of $100, $500, or $1000 or more. No matter what size your gift, it is PRICELESS to the life it transforms and saves!
Become a partner today and help TRANSFORM TOMORROWS!
Your donation is tax deductible!
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Donate Your VAN
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We desperately need a large passenger van donated for our LIGHTHOUSES, to transport our residents to various appointments, classes, and church events.
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Special Thanks to our Church Partners
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First Assembly of God Bradenton
REFUGE CALVARY CHAPEL
The Source Church
Abundant Grace Church
Christian Family Fellowship
House of Hope
Shorewood Foursquare Church- Seattle
Thank you! Thank you! To our precious church partners who have come alongside of us to join in prayer, join in spreading the news about our endeavors, and join us in the giving of resources such as food, furniture, and finances. This ministry truly is an endeavor that needs the entire body of Christ to come together and we thank you for your encouragement, prayers, support, and volunteers!
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FREE PICK UP OF DONATIONS
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Have a household of items and furniture that you want to donate? Give us a call, we'll pick them up for FREE! And they're tax deductible!
FREE DONATION PICK UP CALL: 941-348-8970
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Women's LIGHTHOUSE Update
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Greetings from The LIGHTHOUSE!
From The Grand Opening and Ribbon cutting of The First Lighthouse to just acquiring our second phase for women, all I can say is our God is good! HALLELUJAH!!
God always has a way of shining through these mighty women, with praise on their lips, joy in their hearts, peace in their spirit, and a servant's heart to serve Jesus Christ~ through the storms and through the peace! Regardless of the circumstances, God has a beautiful way of showing up and truly showing us Who He Is, What A wonderful Father He is to us, and that He's got us right in the palm of his hand.
These women have been getting raised up and healed up with all the hard work and strong teachings from our volunteers teachers and pastors: Pastor Kevin & Pastor Hope Kerkof, Patti Wilson, Donna & Bob, Pastor Becky Manassa, Maggie Rodriguez, Pastor Mark Sadecca, and Pastor Bob & Nancy Montgomery. Not to mention all the activities, Bible studies, and Worship Nights that we attend. Our ladies are getting FULL of Jesus!!
I would like to thank Each and every person who has come to teach, transport, and love on these ladies!! I see the positive differences daily!! You ALWAYS bring SOMETHING fresh, SOMETHING new, SOMETHING needed, and SOMETHING on time(God's time) It Has been a Blessing and privilege to work side by side with you all as we coach and guide each of these beautiful women !! Thank you for taking your time to come and speak life into these women, Love and Blessings~~Jael Heart~~<3
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SEPTEMBER 2011
Dear Light Under The Bridge Friends,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for your continued support and generosity.
Light Under The Bridge Homeless Ministry is excited to announce
our 1st LIGHTHOUSE for homeless & abused women is now open! This serves a huge need in Bradenton, Florida as our house is the very first house for women in crisis through homelessness, abuses, & addiction without children in the county!
Our house is already full and now a waiting list has begun with women crying out for Jesus! We just acquired the phase 2 women's house and are currently preparing it to be a home for more women in need.
Please consider your vital role in helping us! We need monthly partners. For more information regarding the LIGHTHOUSE for women click here: LIGHTHOUSE.
Thank you again for your continued support! We're looking ahead in great anticipation of what God has in store.
Blessings,
Kevin & Hope Kerkof
Kevin & Hope Kerkof
Founders & Executive Directors
Light Under The Bridge
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TESTIMONIES
TRANSFORMED LIVES
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BEFORE
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AFTER
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FROM DEATH TO LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY
Bailey, age 22, was desperate for change. When LUTB was called, she had just overdosed and nearly lost her life when we were called to the hospital. Her face was pale and sunken in. She was lost, lonely, depressed, and engulfed by darkness. Compounding the problem was that the darkness was welcomed. She had tried everything to feel better but nothing worked. Her will to live was gone and all hope seemed lost. The first miracle in her story was the fact that she even made it through through that dark and terrible night.
Bailey recalls the next day in the hospital, "I remember Jael Heart looking at my mom who wanted me to go to the Lighthouse, and then looking at me in the hospital bed and said - you have to make the call yourself."
Despite her near death experience, Bailey still wasn't sure if she wanted to go to the Lighthouse. She explained to her mother, "I don't think I'll go to the Lighthouse. I don't want to go somewhere where its always about Jesus." But her dad convinced her that she had nothing to lose by trying it out.
Bailey wasn't prepared for what happened next. Over the next 30 days the darkness that once fooled her into believing it to be a comfort, was exposed as a lying destroyer. As the light of Christ arose in her heart a true passion and will to live was birthed before our very eyes. This same Bailey who just a month ago longed for release from this world now is a light shining in it! Her desire to honor God with her life combined with a vibrant zeal for laughter replaces the tears of yesterday with a smile that is almost impossible to contain. In fact it is contagious, and her presence at the Lighthouse is agreed by all to be an incredible blessing!
Although there is a lot of work still ahead, Bailey's path has never been brighter. God is already birthing a purposeful desire to serve and her goals include missions and serving others in need. We are excited to see what God will do in Bailey's life and give Him all the praise and Glory!! Please keep Bailey and all the Lighthouse residents in your prayers!
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Did you miss the Grand Opening of the Women's LIGHTHOUSE? Watch this video for highlights.
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LIGHTHOUSE
Grand Opening
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NorthWest Division
TESTIMONY UPDATE:
From A Box To A Life Transformed
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BEFORE
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AFTER
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It was in March of 2009, on our normal Saturday homeless outreach, when we met Mick. He was skinny, his face drawn in, his hair was tousled, and although in his forties, he walked with a blind man's cane due to cataracts. Mick had served his country in the Navy. He was always polite and well mannered, and as we got to know each other, he quickly reached out to us.
A few months later, we got a phone call from Mick saying how his cardboard box home had been destroyed by someone, and that all his stuff was gone, and that now he was staying at a friend's house in Mill Creek, WA. He asked if we could go to his campsite and see if we could find his portrait of Jesus and save it. A portrait of Jesus? In his box? This sounded unreal, we had no idea he even had something like a portrait with him, much less of Jesus. We naturally agreed to go search his site and to see what we could salvage. John, Kevin and Hope all showed up at Mick's old site, and sure enough there was this beautiful, 16 x 20 portrait of Jesus. We rummaged through the debris and gathered whatever we could find. As we loaded the truck, Kevin found a piece of plywood that Mick had used as a make shift wall, on it Mick had begun writing Jesus words from the Bible, "Knock and the door shall be open to you, seek and you shall find..." Kevin put this in the truck too.
Then one day we told Mick that he didn't have to live on the streets anymore, and that there was a place for him at The Freedom House. However, Mick declined the invitation and chose to remain on the streets. Although this disappointed us, we had learned by this point, that in order for someone to leave the streets, they have to want to make the change, it has to be a decision on their part.
A couple of weeks later, Kevin was at church when he got a text message on his cell phone. It was from Mick. It said, "Don't leave church, I'm on my way. I want to go to The Freedom House!" We were ecstatic and filled with rejoicing! As Mick showed up in the parking lot, we greeted him with warm hugs and encouraged him that this was the right thing to do.
We escorted him to The Freedom House and introduced him to Pastor Kelly whose first words were to Mick, "The worse thing that is going to happen to you here is that you're going to get better."
During Mick's time in discipleship with The Freedom House, Mick began a transformation and went from a skinny 150 pounds to a healthy 170 pounds, nicely dressed and clean cut man, reflecting the peace and love of God in his eyes.
UPDATE: What a transformation and radical work God has done in Mick's life. From living in a box and life in shambles, to graduating the Freedom House Discipleship Program, having a job, and recently Mick just got married and has his life on track with Jesus as his foundation.
 As Light Under The Bridge expanded and opened its second location in Florida, Jon Meer and Kathleen McKenzie became the Directors of the NW Division of LUTB. They have served faithfully and consistently, going out every Saturday feeding the homeless, evangelizing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, providing a way off the streets, and continuing to pray for the ministry.
VISITATION NEEDS: In addition, the laborers are few. They need volunteers to help not only with weekend outreach, but also to step up to help with the prison and hospital visitations of our homeless friends. It is in these times of  crisis in the homeless person's life, that our love for them is tested and revealed. It is a great and powerful time to minister to them, to pray for them, and to encourage them. We have witnessed the power of prison and hospital visitation. It makes a difference. Please consider supporting the NW Division of LUTB in this endeavor.
DO YOU SPEAK SPANISH? DO YOU HAVE A HEART FOR THE LOST?: The NW Division of LUTB needs you to step up and help with the weekend outreach. A large population of the homeless in Seattle are Spanish speaking only. Please consider your vital role in this ministry.
VOLUNTEER TODAY: CALL 206-941-4301 Jon Meer
or 206-261-3700 Kathleen McKenzie
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LIGHTHOUSE TREASURES
STORE NOW OPEN
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Light Under The Bridge Homeless Ministries (LUTB) is launching its latest endeavor, LIGHTHOUSE TREASURES, a variety store of local artwork, new & used items, furniture, and more. Located at 10am at 4540 14th St W, Bradenton. This store plays a vital role in raising funds and supporting Light Under The Bridge's recent launching of LIGHTHOUSES, Christian faith based Transitional Recovery Homes for Women in Manatee County of which the first LIGHTHOUSE for Women opened 5 weeks ago.
All proceeds raised from the non-profit LIGHTHOUSE TREASURES store goes to support the Lighthouse for Women Transitional Home in Manatee County. You can drop off donations that are in good, sellable condition, or arrange for a free pick up of large furniture items by calling the store at 941-564-4007 . When you support LIGHTHOUSE TREASURES by shopping, donating or volunteering, you are helping:
-Generate additional funds to open more LIGHTHOUSE Transitional homes in Manatee County. More funds for LIGHTHOUSE homes means more people can be helped to get their lives back on track from crisis. The vision for LUTB includes women's, men's, and eventually married & family transitional housing.
- Keep perfectly usable materials out of local landfills; saving space, time and ultimately the taxpayer's money.
- Provide new and gently used furniture, house wares, building materials and appliances at affordable prices to people of all income levels.
Store Hours: Sat & Mon: 10am-4pm; Tues-Fri 10am-6pm
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 Buy 1 get 1 Free
item of equal or lesser value
Lighthouse Treasures
4540 14th St W, Bradenton FL
With this coupon! Print it and bring it in!
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