Miracle Moments
Brought to you by: Molly Maid of Birmingham, mollymaid.com
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7
My story starts the day my mother died. I was five. As the youngest, I didn’t understand the impact it would have on my life. My dad remarried, and my stepmother was young and had a time taking on the responsibility of raising five kids. I can see how difficult this must have been. I had a hard time adjusting too. Years passed, and things got more difficult. We moved a lot, changing schools often. Money was scarce. School was hard being poor. But my dad loved us greatly and shared the love of Jesus. I got older and started getting into trouble. I got caught shoplifting – my wakeup call. I decided this isn’t how I wanted things to be. One night, I came home late and there wasn’t anyone there to let me into the apartment. I ended up waiting in my car, listening to dangerous things happening around me. I did not want to live here. 
A week later, I was dropped off at Big Oak Ranch. I knew that I needed a change and was hoping this was it. My houseparents were a blessing and treated me like their own. Mom Speer became a mother to me, filling that empty, hurt space left from my mom’s death, while Pop Speer was a rock. He taught me you must do the right thing. My time with them was full of meaningful and memorable moments. At Westbrook, I was surrounded by coaches and teachers who genuinely cared and wanted success for each student. I met my wife, Angela, at Westbrook. After graduation, we went to college near each other. I proposed to Angela and realized I needed to seriously plan. I moved back to Southside to be a marine technician at Buck’s Island. We married in 2006. Two daughters followed, Rebekah and Arianna. I have worked at Buck’s Island for over 20 years. I earned a promotion to management and led several departments. Being at Buck’s has been one of the best things. I’ve put my mind and heart into something, and it has been a success for my family.
My growth started at the Ranch. It is because of Christ that I am where I am today. He gets all the credit. The Lord put people in my path who kept me safe and strengthened my foundation in Him. I firmly believe that if we allow Christ to open and close doors in our lives, and call to Him, He will answer.
-Israel
