Charles Gaffke Q&A

Meet Charles!

Charles Gaffke graduated from the program on March 20, 2022. He came from Fulton Prison in Missouri where he had been for the last 9 ½ months. Before that he had been homeless for a year. Charles considers Hope Homes as the first thing that he has ever finished. It is also the first place he read the Bible.

We wanted to interview Charles and share some of his insight from the last year spent in the Hope Homes discipleship program. This is what he had to say.

What is the difference in your life between this year and last year?

Last year I was still learning the Bible.  I’ve learned more about the Bible, and it has given me insight into how to work together with God and follow him and what it means to forgive and to have peace and joy and happiness in my life.

What would you tell someone else if they were contemplating coming into the Hope Homes?

It helps you focus on yourself and God and change your life.  If you really want to change, Hope Homes’ is the place to do that — plus you have people there to help you.  They will guide you to live right. People want to do it their way, but their way is not always good.  They go back out and mess up if they do it their way and not God’s way.

What was the most significant internal change throughout the program?

Personal and spiritual growth.  Before coming to Hope Homes I was afraid of knowing God, but throughout this year I have learned that God is caring, and I don’t have to be afraid.  It has also taught me to love people and care about them and brought me closer to my family.

How do you see yourself differently now versus when you came into the program?

Before I didn’t know if I could do this.  But if you stick with it, you find out that with God, you can do anything. Before I wasn’t reading the Bible and I was trying to do things my way, but I now have insight into who God is.  Going to church, learning about God, and the classes that I went through at Hope Homes have helped me have better self-image and developed my identity in Christ.

What are your goals for yourself now?

I want to continue staying connected at church, reading my Bible, staying on track with God, working and getting my own place.  It is getting there slowly, but I’m on my way.