LET'S CELEBRATE 2000

Another year, decade, century and Millennium.

Not everyone has the privilege to witness a new Millennium. Let's celebrate year 2000 as a time of joy and anticipation for the best days of our lives, living each day as if it's our last.

Many victories of 1999 will make this year the best one yet. Children are still our main focus, Christ is our reason.

Our mission is humbling in a sense that so many lives come our way, reaching out for comfort, shelter, love, and salvation. All we can do is reach back in faith. Many, many, young lives finding refuge and love for the first time. There is no better feeling than to be needed. About a week before Thanksgiving I got real sick with pain in my intestines. I was immediately admitted to the hospital with a raging infection. Another attack from Satan or was it a warning from God? We often feel that every pain or infirmity is an attack from Hell. We wonder "Why me Lord?" As I lay six days hoping to be home for Thanksgiving, a barrage of tests resulted in unwelcome news that I had a tumor in my colon. As a moment alone with God, even as my eyes welled up, I committed my condition to Him with faith that all is well. I returned home on Thanksgiving to a house full of family and friends. It's been a long time since I was on the receiving end. Turkey never smelled so good. Even though I had to maintain a liquid diet, I sampled steamy sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, and of course pumpkin pie. I reentered the hospital on December 7 to prepare for surgery. The tumor required removal of not only a foot of colon, but other organs around it. Cancer was found and everything it touched was tested. Dr. Cody assured me that as far as they could see, they got it all. But I'll need to undergo radiation and chemo therapy in case even one cell was left behind.

So, I honestly believe that God has His hand on me and the painful infection was a warning of what could have taken my life. When that time comes, I'm ready as we all should be.

Our "debt free" efforts in 1999 ended with a $60,000 banquet that brought us that much closer to breathing easier. Nothing eases stress more than to be free of debts. We have had a wonderful year with only $100,000 left on our mortgage.

The banquet was a wonderful success as the children sang with the Bishops and Charlie Daniels, winning hearts while gaining new supporters.

Vision 2000 has us chomping at the bit to begin a new venture.

    A. To complete our "Youth Center" for the dozens of children to occupy during the dreary months of winter. Funds are already available from U.P.S. for this project. Praise God.

    B. To complete the "Nanny House" which accommodate over a dozen female volunteers that come to work in the Angel House, caring for babies who have mommies in prison.

    C. To begin construction of the "Bread of Life" project intended to be able to provide 100% of the funds to support this ministry enabling us to become self-sufficient. As it is, we depend on individuals to meet our $160,000 a month budget and without state funding.

The "Bread of Life" restaurant and Inn is envisioned to break ground this year on 40 acres donated to the Galilean Home. A business plan is being developed which will include a 50 room motel, and a vocational cooking school for our maturing young people.

We remain nondenominational, born again, Jesus serving and loving, in brother-hood with all God's children. We refuse to be caught up in differences that hamper our work for Christ. We have received children who were Muslim, Buddhist, Jew, Atheist, and many Christian denominations. Most all religions of the world have their qualities and truth. Many others are in total darkness. God did not assign us to be the judge but just follow the footsteps of Jesus.

Many travelers enter our doors with what they think is the only truth of salvation and are so caught up in their own blindness, they fail to see Christ in a little crippled child, or to feel the Holy Spirit that flows through the dozens of little lives. While many sit for hours debating about this or that, please give us the liberty to get up and kiss a boo-boo, wipe a nose and live the love of Christ.

As we enter this new year, 2000, we pray that all of you who have believed in this ministry will continue to stand with us, to laugh with us, grieve with us and become a part of us. There are many criteria to be a member of some churches. But to be a partner in this ministry requires no qualifications except to know that you care.

I want to personally express my sincere thanks and appreciation for all the letters send. Again, I read everyone of them. But with hundreds coming in and through my illness, I am unable to answer them all. Please forgive me, as time has a way of turning into yesterday. With 70 children and all their needs, letter writing gets put on the back burner.

Visitors are always welcome Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday is family day. We're usually away singing in churches.

When you come to visit, make a day of it. Plan on eating at our Bread of Life Cafe in downtown Liberty. We have two restaurants in Liberty. One is a diner on the corner of Courthouse Square, which is only open Mon. - Fri. 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. Our other restaurant, which is the cafe, is one block east of the diner has seating for 90 customers. The cafe is open Mon. - Wed., 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Thurs. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Call for reservations (606) 787-6110. While in town visit our Quilt Shop, Honey Shack, and Thrift Store.

For those who wonder where we live in Kentucky, we are located 70 miles south of Lexington, 12 miles south of a flourishing little town called Liberty, which has been home to us for over 20 years. We are nestled in the middle of the old order, horse and buggy Mennonites. For about fourteen years I had the pleasure of being their personal midwife, delivering over 370 babies. I treasure those days, when we were also Mennonites and I would bridle up our horse for a day of prenatal check-ups.

Coming from a childhood raised in Detroit, it was like a breath of fresh air as we stepped back in time for several years as we lived without electricity, telephones or cars. Then came a day when God said you must give up this life of peace and return to the mission I prepared for you. Sure we dream of a private little cabin where we can escape the stresses of 70 children, but as of now we are called to continue this work until our visions are fulfilled.

Year 2000, what more can we do for God this new Millennium? Let it be a legacy that will carry another thousand years.

Thank you dear Partners,
Jerry, Sandy Tucker & Children.