Jody & Martie

It wasn't that long ago that a home created from a campsite in the woods, no job prospects, meth addiction, and unresolved legal issues were all a harsh reality in Jody and Martie's world. And based on their previous history, such a scenario might have been considered not all that unexpected. Which makes where they are today all the more remarkable.

Martie and Jody met soon after Jody got out of prison for drug related problems. They were introduced by Jody's sister while Martie was staying with her mom. It wasn't long after meeting Jody that Martie started using meth and Jody also returned to his old lifestyle.
This got them evicted from their parent's home, and they soon ended up on the street.

Thinking that a change of scenery was the solution to their crisis, they hit the road and covered a lot of territory in a short time - eastern Washington, Arizona, Las Vegas. But as the saying goes, where ever you go there you are, and before long Jodi and Martie were back in Olympia, still homeless.

One day they happened by the weekly Street Lights ministry. Jody had become a Christian while at McNeil Island prison, and in the last three years of addiction had experienced a lot of spiritual growing pains. When Jody and Martie met Phil that night, they decided it was time to get serious about obedience in their Christian walk, and started filling up the empty spaces in their lives with activities that would assist that process.
They became involved in a Celebrate Recovery program, started mentoring with Phil, and were able to stay at the Salvation Army.

Not long after that, they were able to start holding down jobs. But with Jody's background, it was extremely difficult to find an apartment. A friend provided a good reference, and an initially reluctant landlord was persuaded to give them a chance. The Timothy Team provided furniture for the apartment...and they were on their way...and they lived happily ever after...

Oops! Wrong story...the Jesus way is never like a fairy tale, so there were still some major trials involving temptation and obedience ahead. Six months ago, Jody and Martie both relapsed into several weekends of drug use. They say that the guilt and feelings of failure and shame almost kept them away from their support system. But through God's grace and love they were able to face their friends and get the help and support that was needed.

Yet another crisis occurred recently when it seemed that Jody would have to return to prison for drug related crimes from several years back. Thankfully, not one but several court cases have been dismissed, and Jody says this was another lesson in obedience and is thankful for whatever plans that God has for his life.

The result of their commitment to stay obedient in their walk has been an increase of blessings at work and in their family. After only a year, they both have supervisory roles at work. More importantly, their mom, sister, niece, and nephew have become baptized and now follow Jesus with them. Jody and Martie say that these relationships that once seemed irretrievably broken have been restored by God's grace. Please pray for Jody and Marti that they will continue to be strengthened in their faith.

City Gates Ministries