"Do you want to be made well?"

“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.   When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.  He said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.”     John 5:1-8

Dear Friends,

Allow me to share a portion of a recent letter I received from a student who has been seen by a City Impact therapist:

“Well, I’m just a normal teenage girl going through the normal ups and downs of my high school life.  I’ve had my share of bad relationships, friendships gone badly and problems at home.  For awhile I felt alone while the whole world was just waiting for me to fail so . . . I found myself getting into a lot of trouble and doing stuff I wouldn’t normally be doing if I had someone by my side.   

“I finally called you Betty and you referred me to one of your therapists. I finally had someone I could talk to about anything; it happened to be my senior year. Earlier it was much easier to keep things locked up inside.  I was very emotional and wouldn’t want to cry because it’s a sign of weakness. But, with Marcela I felt I wasn’t judged despite everything I’ve done in the past and I came to a place that I really wanted to become well.  Marcela was the most inspirational person in my life she gave me hope, that there is more to life and that I should never let anyone put me down.”

As I read this letter, I experienced a range of feelings from gratification that this young lady found a safe place to be heard, cared for and loved.  I also felt a sense of satisfaction that City Impact’s staff are being Christ incarnate “God with skin on” with those we serve.  Lastly, grateful for people like you that pray, love and support our staff to do the work of our Father.  Thank you, for all you do!


​Because of Him,
Betty Alvarez Ham
President

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