This is a quotation from Matt Yeater at Life Tabernacle Church in Elkhart, Indiana on October 6, 2010. Matt is a 30 year old student at Indiana Bible College in Indianapolis. He is blind because of an explosion that occurred while working with the illegal drug Meth.
On this particular Wednesday, Life Achievement Services was holding “Life Skills” classes for about 26 students from Bashor Childrens Home in Goshen, Indiana. There were to be two classes divided among young men and ladies. The ladies were originally scheduled to be in the “Career Planning” class, and the young men were scheduled for “Personal Development” Mr. Tom Hartnett who is the Pharmacy Manager of CVS Pharmacy in Elkhart was scheduled to facilitate this class which was his second session on the subject of “Substance Abuse”. Because Tom had planned two great videos on drunk driving, it was decided that we would combine the two classes for the 20 minutes of video in the Church sanctuary. After the videos we decided to split the classes as normal. Apparently, God had a different idea.
While watching these videos, Matt walked into the back of the sanctuary. We did not
anticipate him being there. My wife Rebecca pointed Matt out to me suggesting that we should ask Matt to join the substance abuse class with Mr. Hartnett. I first spoke with Laura Marmolejos, who directs the Independent Living program at Bashor Childrens Home, and she not only supported the idea of inviting Matt to participate in the class, but she also requested that we allow the young ladies to join the class. A brief conversation with Mr. Hartnett ensued, and he agreed it would be a great opportunity to have someone with the experience that Matt had to help him teach. He and I then spoke with Matt and invited him to participate in the class and Matt seemed eager to do so.
At the end of the videos we announced to the group of young people that we would all be joining in the same class inside of the Adult Education Room of Life Tabernacle. This room at best comfortably seats between 12-15 people. On this night we had 26 teenagers, 5 staff members from Bashor Childrens Home including Laura, 4 staff from Life Achievement Services, Matt and Mr. Hartnett. After cramming everyone into this room, I gave a brief introduction and turned the floor over to Matt. Matt gave a heart wrenching testimony, of which my only regret is to not have any video of the evening.
During the 20 minutes account of his life from age 3 to 30 he spoke of abuse, drugs and alcohol that brought many tears to the eyes of his listeners. His first drink of alcohol was given to him by his family at age 3, and was drunk independently for the first time at the age of 6. Matt gave an account that is unfortunately all too much familiar by the young people this room was full of. At the age of 23 after being left to die (from the meth lab explosion) by his friends, he found himself in a hospital where the realization of not knowing if he would live or die, and if live, would he ever see again. Charged, convicted and incarcerated, Matt spent many lonely nights in jail seeking a God that he couldn’t even be sure existed. In and out of jail and on drugs for a number of years, he began to draw closer to God. He had 3 children by now and the struggle continued until by his own testimony, “I’ve been delivered by the blood of the Lamb of God, baptized in His name, and filled with His spirit”. He continued to say, “Why would you go through this when you don’t have to?”
After Matt’s testimony, the young people and staff members had many questions for him, and the session continued with his answers for the next 20 minutes or so. One teen asked, “What do you miss the most being blind”? Matt’s answer was, “I want to see the face of my children”. The questions were direct and simple; his answers were poignant and riveting. At the end of answering these questions, Matt spoke a word to a very specific young teenage man, whom he’d never met, and had never seen. He told him, “I will pray for you, that God gives you a respect for leadership”. What Matt didn’t know, is the very words he spoke to this young man is exactly what was needed. This young man who just turned 18 did indeed have a problem with authority. This young man and several others have been attending Church services every Sunday, and one of my greatest joys is; when he sees me I get a great big smile, handshake and a hug.
Mr. Hartnett closed out the class by sharing two more videos that provided blunt pictures of the results of methamphetamine use and straight-talking from Doctors who treat meth addicts. Several of the teens informed me they didn’t really enjoy the class tonight because it brought up too many painful memories. But there are no regrets on my part for having changed our plans. And it’s all because these 26 teenagers witnessed the ability of our Lord Jesus Christ and His word to change, to deliver and to give hope for a bright and prosperous future. It was a night to remember. It wasn’t an evening about Matt Yeater, whom I am appreciative of. It was an evening about a marvelous and wonderful God, and 26 teenagers who are loved, who have hope, and who are being helped out of living a life that they just don’t have to live.
This article was previously written and published in google documents on November 2, 2010.
Matt Yeater is available for speaking engagements. Call Pastor Mark Johnson at (574) 293-9332 for arrangements.
Daniel Criss,
President / Founder
Life Achievement Services, Inc.
http://www.lifeachievementservices.org
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