His Steps Ministries, Inc
Out of the darkness of addiction
and into the light of Christ
(1 Peter 2:9)
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August 2013 Newsletter

8/6/2013

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His Steps Ministries Newsletter 
 
 


Ministry News
 

In the last few years, the average age of people desiring to enter the program has dropped from age 35 to 20. Along with the drop in age, the main drug of choice has changed from crack-cocaine to prescription pain killers. The good news is these drugs bring people to the end much faster than street drugs. That is good because they can start getting help sooner. A recent report substantiated what I'm seeing. The national report shows that  pharmacies received and ultimately dispensed the equivalent of 69 tons of pure oxycodone and 42 tons of pure hydrocodone in 2010, the last year for which statistics are available. That is enough to give 40 5mg Percocets and 24 5mg Vicodins to every person in the United States. Below is the story of one of these young men.

My name is Austin and I'd like to tell you how God
has been working in my life since coming to His Steps in May.

If someone came up to me a year ago and told me about this program, I probably would have just laughed at them. I treasured my selfish life of sin more than anything God gave me, even the ones I would claim to be so dear to me. I was living every day with all the wrong motives of this world. When I finally got the taste of freedom I desired it so much, it was all she wrote. No true responsibilities, a house all to myself, and all the desires of my flesh right at my fingertips. I made it my ultimate goal to not deprive myself of whatever made me happy, all in hopes of drowning out the pain and sorrow that controlled my soul.

Although I refused to acknowledge God at all anymore, He still loved me. I had completely turned my back on all that I’d been taught and ran as far as I possibly could to try and hide from the Truth. The only way I’d learn now was the hard way, and it was much harder than I’d ever imagined. All of my addictions that I constantly fueled over the past few years had finally caught up to me. All that was left was sheer terror and agony. I was now slipping out of reality, fully convinced that there would be no return for me. I had no idea what was going on around me, but I can now see that God was surely using the weakest point in my life to assure me of His sovereignty and unconditional love. There was nowhere to hide.

Praise God for giving us families and a body of faithful believers. If I had not been blessed with such a loving family and friends that cared about my salvation, I have no idea where I would be right now, maybe dead.  For the first time in a very long time, I know that God has put me exactly where I am supposed to be. I’ll admit I was very skeptical about joining any type of long term program, much less a fully Scripture based one (which is unheard of). But when I first came to visit His Steps, all my doubts were quickly laid to rest and I had peace.

Tim, Kit, and everyone at Faith Community Church have been more than welcoming to me. The discipleship I receive here is unlike anything I have ever experienced in any church or program that I have been part of. I have without a doubt been given a unique opportunity to fellowship with those around me not only as men but also as believers. This type of devotion and accountability for one another is what the body of Christ is all about and I’m proud to be a part of it. Each day, according to His will, I live by the Creator as He reveals Himself to me through the diligent expositional teaching of His Word and the humble example of His servants. I thank God for the power He has given us to overcome all obstacles that life can toss at us. I fully believe that there is no philosophy of man that can save me from myself. I can’t wait to see how much more God is going to teach me in the days ahead. 
 


 Prayer:

  • Please continue to pray for all the men in the program. We continue to be full, as soon as one graduates another comes. It’s often a difficult adjustment for the men to receive someone new.
  • Please pray for all of the men that have volunteered to teach the evening Bible studies. They have been a real blessing to me in taking the teaching responsibilities for the evening sessions.
  • Continue to pray for new ministry partners.

 

If you are interested in partnering with us financially and beyond, you may contact Tim Brown:
timbrown@hissteps.org
or (770) 595-4249

All support is welcome. We exist by the grace of God through partners who care about helping others as our Lord commanded. Your gift is tax deductible.

 

 

 
 Our mailing address is:
2011 Meadows Dr., Woodstock, GA 30188
Copyright (C) 2010 His Steps Ministries, Inc All rights reserved. 
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July 2013 Newsletter

7/2/2013

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His Steps Ministries Newsletter 
 
 

Ministry News
 


We have been keeping busy this summer with various work projects. One of the things I like for the men to be involved with is serving people in the body of Christ. This summer we have been able to help move two families. It’s great interaction for the men in the program to be involved with giving of themselves to help others without expecting anything in return. Typically addicts are takers so it is always good to be able to involve them in projects that require them to give.
 

 
 
 



















It always breaks my heart to see men leave the program before they are ready. Recently a new resident Doug decided the program wasn’t for him. so he headed back home against all advice from me and his pastors. These situations remind me of Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” I teach this verse over and over at His Steps. It deals with human perception verses reality. What seems the right path of life may well turn out to lead to dire consequences, and, sad to say, in the life of addicts it usually does. Please pray for him.
 
I also had to ask Andrew that has been here 6 weeks to leave. He would not stop using tobacco and continued to give into his flesh. This broke my heart because at times I’d really see some growth in his life, but he continued to give into his sin. This was hard for me because I really liked this young man and as is always the case discipline is hard. But I knew as a spiritual father in his life I had to discipline him for his own good. My goal with all the men the Lord sends to His Steps is Colossians 1:28, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” Please pray for Andrew.
 

 
On a brighter note, during a counseling session with Derrell, I asked him how his life had gotten so far off track that he needed to come into a residential program. He had lots of shallow excuses but wasn’t able to pinpoint the reason until I nudged him into seeing that he had failed to trust God with what was going on in his life and had chosen once again to trust himself. He said, “Before I came here my pastors came and talked with me, because I'd been clean for a while. It was discouraging to me to have gotten back into it. I was walking well with The Lord, but I ended up back out there again. I see now it’s like you’ve said. I trusted in myself, and I know that leads to destruction. It always has and always will take me down the wrong path.” 
I asked, “So what's going to keep it from happening again?”
He replied, “I know that I must live my life in a manner that is pleasing to God and deny myself. I know now I can’t touch it again. I can't moderate it. It  has to be radical amputation for me. I must cut it and everything using drugs involves out of my life and live only for God and not for myself.”

We have been studying the book, “Relapse Prevention” (by Mark Shaw), and Derrell is gaining a biblical perspective on how he  has been living in recent months which led to his destruction. Relapse is described in the book using 2 Peter 2:22, “the dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” Derrell had been experiencing the freedom of a sober life, attending church, and growing in his relationship with the Lord. but one day he chose to return to the voluntary slavery of addiction.  Mark Shaw explains it this way, “in a relapse, the choice a person makes to satisfy a temporal pleasure reveals a momentary loss of eternal perspective. All relapses involve a decision to live for the moment without regard for the far-reaching consequences and damage in this life and in the life to come.”

Derrell told me he now understands that he has been sinning against God and desires to live the rest of his life according to Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” 

Tim Brown

Be sure and visit our new website at www.hissteps.org 


 
Prayer:
  • Please pray that the men would continue their diligent efforts at becoming fully devoted followers of Christ. Right now things are going very well around the house.
  • Please pray for all of the men that have volunteered to teach the evening Bible studies. They have been a real blessing to me in taking the teaching responsibilities for the evening sessions.
  • Continue to pray for new ministry partners.

You may donate here or contact Tim Brown:
timbrown@hisstepsministries.org
or (770) 595-4294
 
 
 Our mailing address is:
2011 Meadows Dr., Woodstock, GA 30188
Copyright (C) 2010 His Steps Ministries, Inc All rights reserved. 
Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp
 unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences 

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June 2013 Newsletter

6/5/2013

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His Steps Ministries Newsletter 
 Two of the new men helping my mom with her grow box garden. Mom moved in with us last fall and one of her hobbies is gardening, these two youngsters got a lesson on patio gardening. You never know what you might learn here at His Steps.


Rec time at the ministry house, not quite Kobe Bryant, but you gotta love the uniforms! 


Ministry News
 

Last fall something different took place at His Steps. We received four new guys into the program in very close proximity to one another. In the past it has always been staggered; one man would come, one would graduate and so on. I was a bit concerned with all of them coming at once because that meant they all leave about the same time, leaving me empty. Upon returning from Peru, all of the men were to be gone within five weeks. One left the day we got back, another the week after that and a third one the week after that.

All of the sudden it was going to be me and one guy, Bardin.  Poor guy! We were talking one day and he asked, "What are we going to do to get some more guys in here?" I replied, “We need to pray and ask God to send them.”

God responded very quickly. Within a week we had four new men! Bardin, the lone remainder of the Peru group, is going home on June 6 and his replacement is coming June 8.  God continues to be faithful to me in sending men here to be taught the truth about addictions.
Addiction is definitely a sin that doesn’t discriminate according to age. I currently have a 58 year old addicted to alcohol and a 19 year old addicted to alcohol, and there are three others in between those ages addicted to various substances. I’ve learned there is a prominent common sin among these guys regardless of their age: selfishness. Addicts are very selfish people! They live for self pleasure. That’s why the personality altering substances they choose to use appeal so much to them; it’s all about them and how they feel. The Puritan writer Richard Baxter wrote, “Wherever the interest of carnal self is stronger than and more predominate habitually than the interest of God, of everlasting life, there is no true self-denial”. That is why we spend a tremendous amount of time here teaching the centrality of God’s sovereignty in all things. These guys have to learn they are really insignificant in all things, then they begin to see how awesome God is and that life is really all about Him. As I’ve seen these guys come here after years of following their own evil desires, I’m constantly reminded of what Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself…”To follow Jesus we must deny ourselves! The exact opposite of what addicts do. I love showing these guys that answer to addiction.

I had a guy here a few years ago. When it was time for him to depart, I asked him what stuck out most to him about his time here. He said the main thing he learned was how big God is and how small he is. He told me when he arrived he saw himself as being significant in the grand scheme of things and now he saw himself as the size of a pea and God the size of a basketball. He got it!


Along with a house full of new men, the Lord has given me a new area of ministry this summer. John Michael was here a year ago; he returned home last June and has done well going to school full time and working part time. While he was here in the program, he grew tremendously in his relationship with God. After discussing the options for him this summer with his dad, they decided to give me a call and see if I’d be interested in having him come for the summer and help around the ministry house with the guys as well as me spending some time discipling him. I didn’t need to pray long about it, spending time with these young guys is what I love doing. So, he is here now and it’s been fun getting to pour into him again.
 

Tim Brown

Be sure and visit our new website at www.hissteps.org 



 
Prayer:
  • Pray for all the new participants that are coming. It’s always a challenge for them to learn how to live together. The new guy’s names are Wes, Derrell, Austin, Andrew, and Doug.
  • For the last six months I’ve asked you to pray for the guys that have been here in the ministry house. Those guys have all now left, I’ve been in contact with them and they still need our prayers. They are all doing fine as far as staying sober, but some of them have expressed to me the intense spiritual battle they are now going through being away from the protection of the ministry house. Please pray for these guys.

Give:
  • Consider offering one-time financial gifts or providing monthly financial support as a partner.
If you are interested in meeting any of these needs, you may donate here or contact Tim Brown:
timbrown@hisstepsministries.org
or (770) 595-4294
 
 
 Our mailing address is:
2011 Meadows Dr., Woodstock, GA 30188
Copyright (C) 2010 His Steps Ministries, Inc All rights reserved. 
Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp
 unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences 

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April 2013 Newsletter

5/7/2013

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His Steps Ministries Newsletter 
 
 
The crew  and me on the way to a village to share Christ.


These are the people that stayed for the midday meal during the addiction seminar.


Driving on the Edge!


The long and winding road.


Milk for the breakfast meal.


My dear brother and sister, Freddie and Berta with their three kids. The first time I went to Peru in 2007 Freddie was under church discipline. I remember him telling me he hoped and prayed God would transform him and allow him to continue in the church. He has been restored and has turned into the key leader among the brothers in Coatahusi. What a blessing!


Newly renovated roads will be a big improvement to Cotahausi once completed.




Ministry News
 

We made it! Yes we all returned safe and sound. I (Tim) and the 4 guys in the program left on April 8 headed for Cotahuasi Peru. I was invited by Brad Shaw the missionary there to come and teach a seminar on addiction. I thought it would be a good idea to expose the men in the program to another culture and for them to see people all over the world struggle with the sin of addiction. We left Atlanta Monday afternoon and arrived in Lima, Peru around 10:30 PM, hung out at the airport until 6:00 AM and then flew to Arequipa, Peru. We pretty much slept until noon then went into town and had a Peruvian lunch and did some sightseeing.

We left Arequipa Wednesday morning at 5:30 AM and started the 11 hour drive across the high plains reaching altitudes of 16,000 feet at one point. We finally arrived in Cotahuasi late Wednesday afternoon. Shortly after getting settled in it was off to church for Wednesday night service; I had the pleasure of preaching Proverbs 1 that evening. We were very busy from that night on.  We were truly blessed and had 100 people attend the seminar! I taught 8 sessions between Friday and Saturday and was truly worn out, but blessed to see how these dear people hung in there and were so attentive to our teaching. Three of the men also taught a session. I was thrilled to see how God had prepared them to teach about what He has been doing in their own lives personally.

After the seminar we spent several days visiting various villages scattered throughout the canyon, which is the deepest canyon in the world. We would gather in small one room adobe mud buildings and sing praises to our Lord and then share from the Scriptures. In one village a woman found out I am a counselor and asked if I could meet with her and her drunkard husband and rebellious 15 year old son. What a joy to be able to share in this manner. I was amazed how God brought this woman to the meeting and how her problems fit right into the area of my training!
Another night we were in a village in the deepest part of the canyon and a young lady 22 years old came in to the meeting very excited talking up a storm. I asked what this was all about and was told that she is a shepherd up on the high plains and hardly ever has contact with other people. She has one of the solar powered radios the missionary gives out that picks up his Christian station only.  The day before they gave a shout out to her on the air to let her know we were coming to that village. She ran 3 hours to get there. She said it was a 5 hour walk and she knew she would be late if she walked so she ran the whole way and made it in time. What a reminder of how easy we have it here!

As the second week continued we were able to do several work projects around the ministry center as well as joining in the daily devotional and prayer time with the missionary family and the brothers and sisters that work in the ministry there.

Sunday afternoon after church one of the brothers Faustino, whom I met in 2007, told me that since my original visit God had changed his life dramatically. During that visit I was asked to speak in one of the villages on the topic of alcohol abuse. The way the system works there is everyone pitches in and helps each other with their farms. These are sustenance farmers, whatever they grow is what they have to sustain their families. Without the help of neighbors they cannot get their work done, so they all help each other. The problem is you are required to serve the workers an alcoholic beverage, "chicha", when it’s your day to have the help. The drinking starts around 10:30 AM. If you don’t serve it, you don’t get any help. Faustino and his wife had just become Christians when I spoke to them about the sin of drunkenness. Brad had been working with them for months. He told me Sunday afternoon that God deeply convicted he and his wife. They both repented of their sin of drunkenness and serving “chicha” to the other people and have had no dealings with “chicha” since then. God has blessed them with other believers coming to help them with their farm so they don’t have to be involved with “chicha”.

Since returning two of the men that went on the trip have graduated from the program and moved on. Another leaves in two weeks. Growing close to these men and then seeing them leave is one of the sad parts of my job, but also a blessing to see them enter the next phase of life our Lord has carved out for them. Please pray for them as they return home and put into practice all they have learned.


Tim Brown


Our goodbye picture with Brad and Gina Shaw.

Be sure and visit our new website at www.hissteps.org
 



  Praise:
  • Please praise the Lord with us for the work He did while we were in Peru. 

  Prayer:
  • Please pray for Faustino, Freddy, Santiago, Charlie, and Alberto. These are the men that are leading the way in the Cotahuasi Canyon.
  • Please pray for our Lord to send new men into the program. It’s always exciting to see Him direct new people to us.
  • Continue to pray for new ministry partners.


If you are interested in meeting any needs, you may donate here or contact Tim Brown:
timbrown@hisstepsministries.org
or (770) 595-4294
 
 
 Our mailing address is:
2011 Meadows Dr., Woodstock, GA 30188
Copyright (C) 2010 His Steps Ministries, Inc All rights reserved. 
Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp
 unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences 

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March 2013 Newsletter

4/2/2013

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What an exciting month of memories! I can’t believe it’s been 10 years. Yes that’s right, ten years ago March 3, 2003 we purchased the ministry property off the court house steps. This has been such an exciting ten years it seems as if it has only been 10 months (Well maybe a little longer). I remember very well how it all came together, and it’s such an exciting memory in my life I’d like to share it with you.

His Steps was formed in 1998. I knew the Lord wanted me involved in ministering with those caught in the grips of the sin of addiction (idolatry). Part of God’s plan prior to the residential house was that I spend several years ministering in downtown Atlanta. I found a house to rent in a neighborhood that had been taken captive by crack cocaine. Rock of Ages III was formed in that little house, it was a blessing to be able to teach the truth of God’s Word to these folks. We held Wednesday night and Sunday morning church services in that little house on Westview Drive. I also just hung out at that house to be available to counsel people as they would periodically drop in during the week. I’d always have a pot of coffee brewing praying for opportunities to share the love of God with anyone who’d come over. This ministry lasted until the summer of 2002. In 2002 the City of Atlanta came through and basically tore down the entire neighborhood.

As the board of Directors met to see what direction to now go in, the decision was made to pursue the residential house. There was no money available to purchase a house and we didn’t know where we would even find a suitable house. This turned into a season of prayer for me. It wasn’t long before our Lord started answering my prayers. I wrote a newsletter in August of 2002 and in that letter explained we were going to try and raise funds to get a residential program started. I thought it would be a rental house near my personal residence.  In September I received a check from a regular donor for $5,000. They sent this check in response to me stating in the newsletter that we were going to be raising funds, I hadn’t even talked with them prior to this. We then held an evening fellowship of the current donors to explain our plans to raise money for the house. At that meeting we raised an additional $2,000. I certainly felt this was enough to start renting a house, but the guy that had given the $5,000 asked me to keep him posted as to the progress. I called him and told him we were going to rent a house. He said, 

“No, Tim I think you should buy a house not rent it.”
I said, “That would be preferred but I can’t buy with $7,000.”
He then said, “what if I give you $25,000 more?”
I responded, “I think we could move in the direction of buying with $32,000 in hand.”

As we moved into the fall another donor totally unsolicited gave $22,000. Now we had $54,000. Wow, God was really working here. But again where would we find a place with a house for the men and a house for Kit and me? At this point I started looking at foreclosures and was unable to find a suitable one. In February of 2003, I found the perfect house; it was on a 5 acre tract of land in my backyard. Isn’t it just like God to provide the perfect place? I didn’t even have to move. Here it was in literally in my backyard.
 
A friend of mine who deals with foreclosures for a living met with me and explained the process; I’d need at least another $100,000 to be competitive in the bidding. Here was the next challenge. I contacted the two guys that had given the previous large sums and they lent me the cash to be able to go to the auction. God was faithful and we were able to purchase the property. Once purchased I took out a mortgage and paid these guys back the $100,000. At this point I could say the rest is history. But it gets better. We have been making payments on this property since 2003 when it was purchased and have made many wonderful improvements to the house and property.

Last March gave me another milestone to remember in ministry; the house caught on fire and burned significantly. At that time we thought perhaps the Lord would move the residential side of the program, but we soon found those doors closing. The insurance rebuilt the house and we reoccupied in August of 2012. During the reconstruction phase I talked with several donors and they have pledged significant amounts of money to pay the property off, we still need another 50,000 to pay it off but are well on the way towards a mortgage free ministry house! This would add significant funds back into the monthly operating budget and for that we praise the Lord.

March offers a personal time of rejoicing for Kit and me as well. Last March Kit went with our daughter in law to Uganda for the adoption of our two newest grandkids, Easton and Evie. Also in March last year my doctor found significant blockage in two main arteries in my heart without me suffering a heart attack. The doctors were able to correct the problem with stints and we’ve been a full year now with no further complications.

So now you can see why I have so many exciting memories in the month of March. 


Tim Brown


Be sure and visit our new website at www.hissteps.org 


  Praise:
  • Please praise the Lord with us for His continued faithfulness to this ministry. 

  Prayer:
  • Please pray for me and the men of the program. We depart on April 8 for a mission project to Peru. I’m very excited to be taking the four men in the program with me to Peru.
  • Please pray for us to be able to communicate our lessons in a way that brings glory and honor to our Lord.
  • Please pray for our health and traveling safety.
  • Please pray for Kit while I’m gone, she desires to go but is committed to several people during this time for counseling.
  • Continue to pray for new ministry partners.

Tim Brown:
timbrown@hisstepsministries.org
or (770) 595-4294
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Feb 2013 Newsletter

2/7/2013

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Picture
This has been a very exciting month of ministry. I’m always thrilled when I see our Lord working in the lives of the men here at His Steps. This past month one of the men has been in an extreme spiritual battle. He has been vacillating back and forth as to whether or not God would have anything to do with him, even to the point of talking about taking his own life saying, “What’s the use of living if God isn’t going to save me?” We spent many hours talking and praying together and looking at God’s Word and working through his spiritual struggles.

Today he has totally surrendered to God’s call on his life. He told me just this morning how good it feels to be open and honest about his sin and to surrender his life to the control of Christ each day. He has even begun to hold the other men in the house accountable for their sinful actions.

Here is a brief word from him:
“I’m a 40 year old named Matt. I came to His Steps Ministries grasping for a solution to end a life of drug addiction and alcohol abuse. I had previously exhausted every other known remedy. I've been in and out of 12 steps programs, secular treatment facilities, psychologist visits and have even tried on my own willpower, but nothing has lasted.

"I grew up in the church and thought I knew the necessities of Christian living. It never dawned on me that my addiction stemmed from a sin problem and an improper relationship with Jesus Christ and my constant rebellion to His Word. Over the course of two years I went from being a professional law enforcement officer to an unemployed homeless vagrant with no driver’s license and worse yet no hope. I now know that my constant disobedience to God’s commandments was the means to my downfall.

"Since coming to His Steps my depression and suicidal thoughts have subsided. I’ve learned the truth about God’s amazing grace, repentance, Godly sorrow, fearing God, and the sovereignty of God. For the first time in my life I’m taking the Scriptures seriously. I know that Jesus Christ is my only hope and day by day I am learning more about Him and how to serve Him.”

I hope that encourages you as much as it did me when I first read it. Please continue to pray for us. 

Tim Brown

  Praise:
  • Kit passed her National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC) exam with flying colors. Last week she entered into the supervision stage of her certification. So far, she has completed five hours of counseling supervision and now only has 45 to go. Please pray for her over the next few months as she completes this process.
  • Please praise the Lord with us for His continued faithfulness to this ministry. At the end of each year funds dwindle down, and year after year He sustains us. We received many gracious gifts to close out 2012 and we are truly grateful.

  Prayer:
  • Pray for the men during the constant battles they face in their spiritual lives. Each week it seems one or more of them goes through a time of not trusting God and consequently becoming very discouraged in their sanctification process.
  • Please pray as we plan a mission trip to Peru. At this time, we are planning to take the men in the program on a trip with us in April. I’ll keep you updated as we move forward.
  • Continue to pray for new ministry partners.

Give:
  • Consider offering one-time financial gifts or providing monthly financial support as a partner.
If you are interested in meeting any of these needs, you may donate here or contact Tim Brown:
timbrown@hissteps.org
or (770) 595-4294
0 Comments
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His Steps Ministries, Inc
2011 Meadows Dr. Woodstock, GA 30188
(770) 595-4294