ATLANTIC CITY – “More people died of drug and alcohol abuse in 2017 than died in the entire Viet Nam war,” declares Mikee “Whiteshoes” Williamson, director of The Jesus House. Williamson is part of an army fighting the war against alcohol and drug addiction now raging.
Expanding beyond its origins in Cape May County, NJ, local ministries are joining hands at The Jesus House to offer a faith-based recovery program to bring hope to the afflicted and addicted in Atlantic City. Every other Monday evening, (beginning Feb. 3, 2020), The Jesus House ministers the love of Christ to men and women at the Salvation Army building, 22 South Texas Avenue, Atlantic City.
Williamson explains, “The Jesus House is not a church or denomination, but a recovery ministry which mixes Christian believers with the poor, the homeless and the addicted, including prostitutes and gang members.” Williamson, a dedicated and gifted preacher who has a large portion of scripture committed to memory, freely shares his own testimony of recovery from the depths of addiction, violence, homelessness, despair and near suicide. Like a seasoned sergeant leading troops through a combat zone minefield, he powerfully uses the details of his own experience to lead others to transformation.
The ministry started at Clary’s Restaurant on Rt. 9 and was later hosted by both The Carpenter’s Shop (Pastor Rob Meyer) on Park Blvd in Wildwood, and Revolve Church (Pastor Bill Laky) of North Cape May. At The Jesus House, members of several churches meld together to carry out the recovery mission.
A dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Christ-centered 12 step recovery meeting and live Christian music, under the direction of worship leader, Andrew
These three main ministry partners, with the help of interested churches and individuals, aim to provide a helping hand up and a way out to those trapped in the addiction cycle that so often spirals into hopelessness and homelessness, destroys souls and fuels crime.
The alliance, a cord of three main strands, was born out of a series of outreaches attended by hundreds which were conducted by The Jesus House ministry at the Atlantic City Salvation Army location during 2019. Jesus House outreaches, especially around the holidays, seek to foster a sense of belonging and community among those who recognize their need and those who minister.
The ministry seeks to build up the broken and restore the whole person, as food, clothing and small gifts are distributed in a caring atmosphere, along with a message of hope and victory over addiction. The Jesus House also conducts a street ministry outreach on the grounds of The Last Stop in north Philadelphia, distributing hundreds of warm coats, shoes, covers and food gathered from Cape May County supporters.
The Jesus House has been operating for over twenty years to provide detox and 12 step programs, food, clothing, haircuts and showers. Williamson shared that The Jesus House vision includes expansion to additional locations, both locally and eventually nationally, to serve those seeking a way out of addiction and into the fullness of life
Born in 1955 in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia, Williamson became addicted at age 5, was raped by a man at age 6 and homeless at age 10. He ran with a gang, slept in alleys and eventually lived out of a car. He had no love in his life, only rejection.
Says Williamson, “I was thrown out of everything: church, school, a baseball team, the Navy and even jail!” Fighting constantly and arrested over 100 times, Williamson lived a life of pain with a gun in his pocket and a needle in his arm.
A thief with a dirty mouth and a filthy heart, just minutes away from committing suicide in New York City in 1973, Mikee had an encounter with Jesus which changed his life forever.When Mikee got to know Jesus, he laid down his gun. The anger and hatred drained away. He put down his fists, too.
His eyes were opened to see how much God loved him, both before and after he received Jesus. Today, Mikee is a devoted Bible teacher and evangelist with a passion to preach Jesus wherever he goes. And now the mission of Mikee “Whiteshoes” Williamson is to help others find their way out of the darkness which had enveloped him for so many years.
“The goal of If Not For Grace, a 501(c)(3) organization, is to be salt and light to the world, proclaiming the Gospel and serving others in the name of Jesus Christ,” says founding director Terry Luma. The idea to serve those living on the street with hot showers and clean clothes came a little over three years and 1600 showers ago in a word from the Lord to Terry’s wife and ministry partner, Sue Luma.
They saw God’s hand in God’s plan to buy mobile showers like those used in disaster relief, and pull them into drug-infested places to provide a means of cleanliness to those who don’t have access to what most take for granted here. Sue is also known on the street as “the cocoa lady” because, in the frigid months when showers are impossible, the Lumas give out hot cocoa and hygiene kits instead. Would it surprise you to learn that Sue also received an unction for the hot cocoa ministry when the Presence of God and the fragrance of chocolate enveloped her during a past mission trip to Panama? They seek to create a sense of authentic community with those they have served on an ongoing basis over the past three years.
The Jesus House will meet every other Monday beginning February 3, 2020 at the Salvation Army building, 22 South Texas Avenue, Atlantic City. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
HOW TO HELP: Come as you are and bring what you have!
The Jesus House is wholly funded by donations and love gifts. The ministry is actively seeking additional ministry participants and invites you to worship God by serving others.
Needed is help in ministering the Gospel message, prayer, preparing and serving food, worship teams, plus donations of food/ gift cards from food purveyors, blankets and clothing for distribution For more information or to serve with The Jesus House ministry, please contact Mikee at 267-770-4717. See Jesus House Mikee Whiteshoes on Youtube and vimeo.com
