There are many people, organizations, and churches that profess to "being there" if you need them. Many of those who claim that they will help you in a time of need will have a different story when that time comes. It sounds really good, but how many of them are "saying" what sounds good and what makes them look good, yet don’t really mean what they say? Recently, in a time of need, I found out that in truth, not many mean what they say.

I found myself in a dire situation recently. I was having an emotional breakdown due to some personal problems and unexpected financial stresses. To make a long story short, I found myself standing in the rain with tears streaming down my face asking God why all this was happening to me. It was simply all I could take. I felt that I had reached rock bottom and I could see no way out. This is that story.

I live states away from any family or friends with just my children and I have been struggling for years to stay afloat and provide the basic needs that we have. It has not been easy. Over the years, we have had our car repossessed, been evicted from our home, and I've been laid off from work. In February, I was able to take my tax refund and move close enough to my job to cut out the six-hour a day commute so that I could be there more for my children. Soon thereafter, I was blessed with a car and things seemed to be looking up.

Although things started off positively, due to a large cut in my finances because of past debts and wage garnishments, I found myself spiraling downward very quickly. I was not able to pay my rent and received a seven day eviction notice and my gas was shut off so I was not able to cook food. As if that was not enough, my car insurance was cancelled so I was not able to drive, my money ran out, my bank account was $150 overdrawn and my phone was to be shut off.

On this particularly rainy day when this story takes place, my son locked my keys in the car with the battery running trying to roll the windows up from the rain. I had no money to call a locksmith and that is why I was standing out in the rain in the first place - trying to get in my car and turn it off so that the battery wouldn't die. Although I needed it for transportation, out of desperation, I was planning to sell the car for whatever I could so that I could feed my kids. But with the power locks down, after about a half hour, I found that I would not be able to get in the car. That's when the reality of my situation set in and I could not refrain from breaking down.

I went in and sat by my bedroom window and just watched as the car lights dimmed and then went out. I felt as though my life’s light had gone out also. My hope that I clung to dearly in the past was no longer present for this situation. When my son knocked on my bedroom door to ask what he could eat, I didn't have an answer. I knew I had to do something.

I began desperately calling every organization that I could find in the phone book to ask for help. I quickly found that either there were no funds, or they simply didn't return my calls. I was new to the area and had begun attending a local church, so after no luck with the organizations, I decided to try them. They were a wonderful group of people and I knew they had a food pantry ministry that helped those in need. In the past, when I was homeless, hungry, and losing everything, no one from my previous church offered any assistance. They did not even assist with food, despite me being a member for seven years. So, truthfully, I didn't really have much faith in the new church helping me. But it was my only hope, after all, I had to feed my children.

I sent the Pastor an email tellinghim about my situation because he had been out of town and I wasn't sure if he was back. Within two hours, he and some other members of the church were at my house, bringing me food, praying with me, and offering me assistance in whatever I needed. The Pastor used his own auto club membership to have my car unlocked and jumpstarted to restore the dead battery. The Food Pantry bought me enough groceries for a week, and the most amazing thing was that they gave me a check for the $645 I needed to get my gas turned back on. This then freed up my check so that I would be able to pay my rent and keep my phone on.

I was amazed and so grateful that these people who had only known me a few months reached out to my family and me in such a great way. They not only dealt with my present crisis, but they also counseled me on budgeting and prioritizing so that I will be able to stay afloat and not find myself in that situation again. I am still behind on my rent, so I am not completely out of the hole, but I am getting there thanks to my church family. I have my home, my car, and food to feed my children. They don't have everything they need, but they have the most important things and I believe that when they say "if you need anything let us know," they really do mean those words.

At a point in my life when I had lost all hope, my church family reached out sparked hope once again in me. For that, I am so grateful. I would like to thank Pastors Tino & Donnella Billy of Raise His Praise Worship Center, Roswell GA, and my church family, for reaching out to me and my family with such soul graffiti that will leave a mark forever.