Miracle Stories from Around the World

Dear friend,

At eight years old, Erik’s world shifted in a way he couldn’t yet understand. One morning, his baby brother sat on the floor, tearing pages from an old phone book. As Erik bent down to clean up the mess, a handwritten note caught his eye. It was from his father.

"I'm hearing voices. I'm seeing things. Something’s wrong. I need help."

Erik didn’t know what to make of it. He shut the book and walked away, but the uneasy feeling followed him. 

Before long, there was no more denying it. His father was battling schizophrenia.

At first, the signs were small. His father spent hours at the window, convinced the neighbors were watching him. Then the paranoia worsened. When he asked Erik if he saw them too, Erik told the truth: No, Dad, I don’t see anything. But his father refused to believe him.

Erik learned that disagreeing with his father meant he would be beaten. If he admitted to seeing what wasn’t there, he might be spared. But no matter how much he was abused, he never gave in. Instead, he did what he could to shield his younger brothers. When he sensed danger coming, he sent them to their room, locking the door so they wouldn’t have to endure what came next. Then, he took the worst of it himself.

What made it even harder was the confusion that followed. After every outburst, his father would return in tears, hugging Erik, apologizing. The cycle repeated: violence, regret, forced forgiveness. Unfortunately, Erik, too young to make sense of it all, had no choice but to accept it. He told no one. Not his friends. Not his teachers. He was afraid of what would happen if anyone found out. So he carried it alone.

But trauma doesn’t just disappear. As Erik grew older, the weight of his past pressed down on him. By his early twenties, he was homeless, sleeping in his car, stretching what little money he had, taking showers in gas station bathrooms. Still, he refused to give up. He worked tirelessly, determined to survive and in time, he found his calling.

As he rebuilt his life, he began to see that his experiences, suffering, and struggles had given him a unique ability to understand others who felt lost and forgotten. He knew what it was like to carry trauma in silence, to struggle alone, and to wonder if anyone cared. That realization changed everything.

Today, Erik leads SALT Outreach in Chicago, Illinois, a mobile ministry providing showers, laundry, mental health counseling, and basic necessities for people experiencing homelessness. Through this ministry, Erik has dedicated his life to making sure others don’t suffer alone.

Finding God in the Darkness

There are seasons in life when pain feels endless, when suffering repeats itself, and we start to wonder: Where is God in all of this?

David wrestled with that very question in Psalm 13:1, “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?” Yet, even in his despair, he clung to hope: “But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation” (Psalm 13:5).

Erik didn’t always see God’s hand in his suffering. But looking back, he can see that God never abandoned him. God was there in the moments of despair. And today, God is using Erik to bring healing to others.

There are thousands of stories like Erik’s. Some battle mental illness directly. Others carry the scars of trauma, abuse, or neglect, feeling completely alone with nowhere to turn. But no one is beyond hope.

That’s why Hope Channel’s Mental Health series exists, to remind the struggling that they are not forgotten. Through professional guidance and biblical truth, this series tackles anxiety, depression, addiction, and recovery, offering real help where it’s needed most. Erik’s story is just one of many that show how faith can carry people through their darkest moments.

Your Help is Needed

Right now, millions are silently battling mental health struggles, unsure of where to turn. That’s why Hope Channel is committed to creating and sharing resources that will help others find healing while continuing our broader mission of bringing eternal hope to the unreached around the world. 

Sharing content in over 80 countries and more than 100 languages, Hope Channel reaches people in remote villages, crowded cities, and everywhere in between. This global reach is part of a bold vision: to share the message of eternal hope with 1 billion people by 2030. 

And here’s something you can feel good about: At Hope Channel International, 100% of your donation goes directly toward sharing the message of eternal hope with the world. This is possible thanks to external support that covers our administrative and fundraising expenses. Every dollar you give supports the global projects you are most passionate about.

That is our commitment to you.

With your support, we can reach more people with real help and biblical hope. Please consider giving today by visiting HopeChannelInternational.org/GiftCatalog or by mailing your gift in response to this letter. Your generosity ensures that no one has to suffer alone.

Thank you for being a lifeline of hope to those who need it most.

In His service,

Vyacheslav Demyan
President of Hope Channel International

P.S. Hope is possible. Healing is possible. And your gift makes it happen. Please donate today to ensure that more people, like Erik, find the help they need through Hope Channel’s Mental Health series.