It is a remarkable story: Jerome Bracely was addicted to drugs for 15 years. His condition became so bad that his mother, using “tough” love, “kicked me out!”
Desperate, he caught a St. Louis city bus to New Life Evangelistic Center (www.newlifeevangelisticcenter.org) in downtown St. Louis, MO, and stayed three years. During that time he received Jesus Christ into his life, was discipled, and received leadership from God to begin a ministry to addicted men like himself.
Jerome Bracely shares his remarkable story on radio, which can be heard right now. He tells of his “fire” to respond to his calling. The story contains humor. His leading was to have a facility to house 25 men at a time so as to share Jesus with them and see their addiction. New Life Evangelistic Center President Larry Rice and Vice-President Ray Redlich are a part of this unfolding drama. Jerome turned down three houses donated to New Life because they weren’t large enough to fit his vision of housing 25 men at a time. But then, God Himself provided the house large enough for fulfilling his vision of ministry.
The ministry is named “Stepping into the Light,” (www.sitlm.org) with the website an abbreviation of his ministry’s name.
Important in this conversation is the big fundraiser for the ministry on August 12, 2017. We are invited. Details are available at www.sitlm.org. Reading this after August 12, 2017? Surely there will be other fundraisers as well as donations online.
Jerome is serving as mentor to my longtime friend and weekly prayer partner (usually by telephone), Carl Hummel, also with a sense of calling from God to become involved in a shelter ministry to help people with deep needs.
Longtime board member, advisor, and supporter of the ministry is Dr. Michael McClymond, Professor of Bible at St. Louis University and remarkable author. He compiled and edited the “Encyclopedia of Religious Revivals in America” [Two Volumes] of which he is the sole editor of this work of 120 contributors.
Several radio conversations with Dr. McClymond are found on www.haroldhendrick.com for anytime listening. An example is … “Dr. Michael McClymond: St. Louis coauthor, Christianity Today “Book of the Year” on Jonathan Edwards” … to hear, click here