Joshua House – A Different View

Dear Renovo Residents:

Fear has gripped our community. Rumors and lack of knowledge has caused our little town to throw rocks at one of God’s Servants, and I am embarrassed. I am talking about Albert Jones and the Joshua house.  Instead of waiting until April 6 for a public meeting, we are stoning him with rocks of lies and rumors.  Jones is an Evangelist from Soldiers for Christ Ministry, who heard the call from God to help our little community. There has been lots of prayer and time put into this project. Albert Jones attends the same Church as Wendy Rathmell Corey, formerly of Renovo.  Wendy wrote this on Facebook:  “Albert Jones is a member of my church in Williamsport. I have known him and his family for years. I have attended a meeting and have been praying for this venture for some time. The Lord is in this, and though folks fear what can go wrong there, the Lord is able to do all things beyond our comprehension. Please give this a chance, Renovo. Godly people are involved. “

Renovo residents actually held large meetings with elected officials, etc. at the Youth Center to try to solve this ongoing drug problem. Now, we might have part of an answer and you want to chase it out? Residents actually wrote public letters mocking Jesus and unfounded claims that needles will be left around the building. I think it’s unfair to write letters without the facts or truth, just to scare people into stopping something that maybe residents would otherwise embrace.

Location seems to be a problem for some? Don’t you people know you already live by the alcoholic and drug addicted neighbor? They are on every street. There are cigarette butts on every corner and needles have been found in the play grounds of this town.  Why worry about the Joshua House residents causing this? Do you think you can keep one block of this town off limits to user? No, you cannot! This house is drug free with 24 hour supervision.  I doubt if it comes with needles.

I think it’s wonderful that someone would want to come into this community and help out by doing the one thing that will work; Teaching them the love of Jesus Christ.  Don’t you think this team knows what they are doing? Don’t you trust Pastor Doug , who is involved and a wonderful part of our community? Do you believe he lacks commonsense? Do you think this non-profit Joshua House is for some kind of personal gain and profit?

Would I want this next door to me? Yes, I would welcome it in a New York minute.  There is an empty house for sale next door to me. The problem is it has no Septic System, or furnace, it’s not up to legal code, and the asking price is $30,000.  I’m not sure it’s possible. Some people can’t see God’s answer when it’s staring them in the face. This is to help our own.  I believe people are worth saving. If you save the father, you’ll save the family. If it only breaks the chains of one family’s generational curse, it is worth it!

The WCCRA Director quoted this scripture in his letter against the Joshua House. I would like explain what he quoted. Joshua 24:19 “Joshua said to the people,  You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.”  He ended there. He didn’t go on to add verse 20 and explain the meaning. Ending at verse 19 sounds like God will forgive no one. See, the Israelites were worshiping false god’s (they had a habit of that) and Joshua was warning them that the ONLY God was not going to put up with it.  Verse 20 goes on to say, “If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you after he has been good to you.”

We could use this scripture as an example of the god of drugs and alcohol.  God is only going to put up with the god of drugs and alcohol for a time. The Bible says there’s pleasure in sin for a season.  (Hebrews 11:25)  But, disaster will come.  I’m guessing it is happening now. And if we turn away the help God sends us, He is not obligated to send someone else. My question is: Does Renovo really want help? Time will tell.

I’ll leave you with one of my favorite Bible verses.  ( 2 Chronicles 7:14 ) “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Christine Graw

Renovo, PA