Thanks you for your honest & sincere response James, God Bless You! - MB

Your book really strikes a chord in my heart because I have experienced both sides of the issues you are addressing in this book. Admittedly, I have not always been so quick to respond to the needs of others, and I have also seen the distance that people in churches tend to put between themselves and the down and out and destitute who come into their midst.

In 2008, after I completed my Master of Divinity, I presumptuously jumped ahead of the will of God and quickly found myself in a strange city, where I had no network of friends, no money, no job, no vehicle...I essentially lost everything in a matter of weeks.

Contrary to what one might expect, the people whom God sent into my life to help me along the way during this wilderness experience (or rather, the people who often responded most to His leading) were those who had even less than I did, but nonetheless had an amazing, giving heart of generosity.

The long and short of it is that we assume that the wealthy are the ones who are called to help the down and out; but in reality, God calls every single one of us to be a fountain of blessing and encouragement to others. Thank you for being a vessel to call us back to that place of true, Godly compassion.

Blessings to you.

James

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Thank you very much for your support & encouragement Marie. May God bless you & your family as well.

Good Sunday to you Rev. Bethune. I have backed your book and given it the six stars it deserves. Thank God you are doing what you were sent here to do. God uses people who have had experiences to share. May you, your family and loved ones be blessed for generations to come. Sincerely. Marie - 'Sun Shine and Rain'

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Powerfully Necessary! My prayer is that this book would find its way onto the shelves of every medical professional across the globe, as well as into the homes of those genuinely seeking to make sense of their existence here on this earth. No snorkeling here, only scuba. Well done Mala!
Michael Bethune [Unto the Least of These] view book

Thanks for your response Orlando, I do appreciate it. I'll take extremely good over the other stuff that I've been through any day! : ) - MB view book

Zenup, thanks for backing my book. In America the word class [as used in this context] has to do with the oftentimes unjust and discriminatory classification and categorization of people based on ethnicity, economics, and education, etc; i.e. upper-class, upper-middle class, middle class, lower class. I describe it as being deceptive because oftentimes the very individuals who attempt to act as if the issue of class no longer exists, are the main ones that perpetuate it. For the record, I really didn't choose this field, it chose me, to stand out from the crowd and use the voice of my pen to respectfully challenge and instruct the church to be what it advertises itself to be. Indeed what Jesus has called it to be. - MB view book

Carolina Al, let me begin by thanking you for backing my book. It really means a lot for me coming from someone of your literary stature; indeed you are a giant, and the whole world will discover this truth shortly. Your words painted me right into the story's canvas; I was there in Savannah, smelling the smells, hearing the sounds, seeing the people, and living the wonderful "countrified lifestyle!" I mean the plot, the prose, the projection, the ploys, the pretense, POWERFUL! I was an Army Sergeant on Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah in the late 80's, so I've lived and breathed a bit of the atmosphere that you write about here in your work, it reminded me of a very interesting time in my life in a very refreshing way. Thank You, & God Bless!
Michael Bethune view book

I was hooked after the closing line of the long pitch. Christina's song was clarion proof of the fact that she was not the real captive! Backed with anticipatory enthusiasm.

Michael Bethune "Unto the Least of These" view book

Linda Lou, I appreciate your candid response to my work and thank you for choosing to back it. Your observations do not offend me in the least, although I do have a few quick responses to them. I think that when it comes to "The Least of These" of our society, most people want to be helped; it's just that many have been so damaged and scarred by the people in some of our institutions [churches, social service agencies, military, prisons etc] that they can either no longer recognize genuine help when it comes, or would rather suffer in silence than be treated in a dehumanizing way again. My book is really not about the bible's relevance or irrelevance, but about the church's [Christians] proven reluctance and inability to apply that which is relevant, specifically as it relates to what is has to say about helping the less fortunate among us. You will see from many of the previous comments below that the majority of people, many who are not Christian, still agree that compassion towards "all" human beings is simply non-negotiable, regardless of one's belief system.
That being the case, then how much more should those of us that comprise the church begin to put into practice that which we say we stand for in theory? Regarding social changes, I can see and agree with your point that our strategies have to change with the times, but not the values and principals that we say we stand for because the poor needed our help in Jesus' day, and they still do today.

I am the result of a few Christians who [in the words of St. Francis of Assisi] "preached the gospel, and if necessary used words!" It was their compassionate actions that made the difference in my life; they enabled me to let down my defense mechanisms and pre-conceived misconceptions and receive the help that I so desperately needed. The same help that this once homeless & drug addicted military veteran's pride would have never let him seek out on his own. Again I thank you.

Sincerely, Michael Bethune view book

Great work! Backed with pleasure.

Michael Bethune "Unto the Least of These" view book

Wonderfully crazy, geniously intriguing, nostalgicly eerie!!! Backed with pleasure. Michael Bethune "Unto the Least of These" view book

Powerful, painful, paralyzing, and political; but ultimately this is a story that affirms an reaffirms the presence of the unbreakable thread of perserverance that's woven in to the fabric of the human spirit! What a story, what a woman!!! Backed with pleasure - Michael Bethune "Unto the Least of These" view book

Intriguing!!! Backed with pleasure Joe. - Michael Bethune "Unto the Least of These" view book

Much appreciated Missy, thank you! - MB view book

Those words mean a lot to me Gordon, thanks a lot! - MB view book

Zan, what a delight!!! Although I've not been able to read as much of The Somnambulist as I would like to as of yet, I've read enough to be hooked. The power of your prose and imagery, coupled with with your ability to make the emotions live drew me into the tapestry of your work as if I was literally one of its threads! I have a deep appreciation and affinity for the mysticism of the Caribbean. I will finish reading the entire work. Extremely well done, and very easily supported. - Michael Bethune "Unto the Least of These" view book

Susie Q, my apologies for for the delayed response, please charge it to my head and not my heart as I am still getting use to how this system works. Nevertheless, it is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I have backed your book. Yours is indeed a story of one who has overcome much adversity by God's amazing grace, as is mine as well! I strongly believe that your book will prove to be a useful healing instrument in my work with the youth of Covenant House - NJ, which provides services for 18-21 year old homeless, drug addicted, gang affiliated, and mentally-emotionally-sexually abused individuals. They need to both read & see real life stories of those that have overcome and been healed from some of the same atrocities that they've suffered in their young lives. God Bless You! - Michael Bethune "Unto the Least of These" view book

Andrew, I deeply appreciate your feedback, and thanks a million for taking the time to read and respond to my work. Mike. view book

I appreciate your comment Vanessa, thank you. I guess in a way you help to somewhat strengthen my argument that the "church" should be different than the "world" in its treatment of the less fortunate. If not, then what does it all really mean, and what distinguishes it from other entities? Thanks again, Mike Bethune view book

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