Who Will Take Care of My Children?

CBN.com —Alivia Messick always made it a priority to volunteer at Operation Blessing partner Bread of Outreach in Life Newport, Pennsylvania. She enjoyed the family atmosphere and the opportunity to help others in need. With a good job as a bank supervisor, the single mother of three never thought that one day she would be on the receiving end. But at the early age of 25, her health began to fail.

“I didn’t understand why I was sick, there were days when I would step out of bed and collapse to the floor,” says Alivia.

Doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with Alivia, and her condition worsened to where she was too weak to continue working. Without an income, she didn’t know how she would provide for her children. 

“Just because I couldn’t walk, just because I was in the hospital for months, two months at a time, bills didn’t stop, the mortgage didn’t stop,” recalls Alivia.

But Operation Blessing partner Bread of Life was there to help. Every month the ministry distributes food and other supplies to more than 1,500 families in Perry County, Pennsylvania. Pastor Gary Bellis says the food from Operation Blessing meets a critical need.

“There are so many people that do not have work, there are so many people on fixed incomes that just can’t make ends meet,” says Gary.

The food and supplies Alivia received helped her family make it through one of the most difficult times of their lives.  Doctors eventually diagnosed her with a rare, adrenal condition and got it under control. With her health steadily improving, Alivia has a good job at a bank again and is back on her feet.  She says she’ll never forget what she’s been through or the kindness her family was shown in their time of need.

“I truly believe it was God’s way to show me to lean on Him, with Him, all things are possible,” says Alivia. “If it wouldn’t have been for Bread of Life or Operation Blessing, we wouldn’t have had anything, and I might have lost my home. I might have lost my children because I couldn’t feed them. As far as a gift, it is the biggest gift I could have ever received.”

CBN Partners provide practical help for families in need. This often opens hearts to receive the message of Christ. If you are not a partner, please join with us today. For a small investment of $20 a month, you can bring help and a message of hope to people throughout the world. Become a member today!