March 7, 2008

Re:  Sonny Huhtala

To Whom it May Concern:

Sonny has been a faithful witness to Christ at Maple Lane School...a juvenile detention center operated by Dept of Social Services, Washington State...since his teen years.

I clearly remember the first time he shared with our students in 1989 when he was 18 or 19.  His focus and passion for Christ is fresh, alive, catching...our guys were genuinely moved as the Holy Spirit was released in their young lives.  They readily related to Sonny’s personal history of being abused and found hope in his eventual victory in Christ...a victory that involves continued struggle and growth.  Sonny’s message is always, “I haven’t arrived yet, but am moving, by His grace, in the right direction.”

Sonny has a God-given ability to articulate his own struggles and victories in Christ with passion and focus...he does not allow much wiggle room...tells it like it is...makes very clear the claims of Christ...our need to obey...radically obey the Lord...It’s a gospel of unmitigated grace wedded to personal responsibility...just what our guys need to hear.

Sonny, these last couple of years, has been coming at least a couple times a year to “the Lane.”  The response of our guys has been almost 100% recommitment or conversion!

I’ve had opportunity to sit down and talk at length with this dear soldier and his wife on several occasions and have found him to be a humble, eager, well-equipped soldier of the faith.

If I can be of ay further help in commending him, don’t hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,

Eric Pelz, Chaplain
State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services
Maple Lane School
20311 Old Hwy 9 SW B21-7
Centralia, WA 98531-9699
736-1361
273-0962 Fax

July 2, 2008

Attic Ministries has been a tremendous help to our discipleship at The Lord’s Ranch in Newport, WA.  They have sent many men to us and visited the ranch three times in the past year.  Pastor Sonny preached timely messages to the group of about forty that live here and they enjoy listening to him.  There are a half dozen people that finally received their breakthrough through the one-on-one ministry he has done (all glory to God) and am sure just as many we aren’t aware of.  We are grateful for the love for the lost God deposited in them that they lavishly have shared with us.  God bless you Pastor Sonny and Leslie!  

In Christ’s Service,

Adrian and Janis Simila, Directors
The Lord’s Ranch and World Harvest Missions
PO Box 280
Elk, WA 99009
292-1000

July 2008

I was born in Longview, Washington, raised in Kelso at Manasco’s Trailer Park.  My mom and dad were alcoholics.  When I wasn’t at school, I was in a restaurant while my mom and dad were out drinking at the bar.  My dad was a fair man when sober, but hell-on-wheels when drunk.  My mom was a major pothead.  

When I was 13, my dad died of cancer contributed to Agent Orange.  He was a Vietnam Vet.  When he died, my mom and me went into drugs real heavy.  I was skipping school and landing in jail for various crimes.  I got so low one time, I robbed my own home for drug money.  My mom died in 2003.  When she died, I got charged with a felony forgery and running firearms.  

I got saved April 26, 2006.  I came up to The Lord’s Ranch in 2007 after falling back into robbery and using drugs again.  My God is a good God though, because he has delivered me.  Now I am in their graduate house, working and doing ministry and praising the Lord every minute!  

Thanks to Pastor Sonny and Attic Ministries for directing me to The Lord’s Ranch.

Joshua Mitchell

I’ve been involved with Attic Ministries going on 2 years now.  I can honestly say that because of Attic Ministries and all they do and stand for, I may have a chance in life now.

Two years ago I was in really bad shape, and saw no light at the end of any tunnel.  I was strung out on Meth and used a sizable amount on a daily basis.  It was tearing my life apart in every way little by little.  I know that I would have lost my kids, myself, and my life had it not been for Attic Ministries reaching out to me and my kids.  They took me into their home and life as if we were part of their family.  They took their own time to help us find a home.  It wasn’t a short or easy process either.

In the meantime, they opened their home to us until we found a place.  We felt so loved and welcomed the entire time we were there.  Finally I began to see some hope.  They took their time and much energy to move us from Centralia to Longview.  They never asked for anything in return.

For my self and my kids, they sought out financial and medical state aid for us and counseling for us all.  I was able to start taking the medication I needed to get myself better.  Also we began attending their church with them, which was huge for us.  I and my children began to heal both inside and out.

I see the future now for us.  None of this would have been possible without the love and care of every person involved with Attic Ministries.  They have become, and will remain our best friends and our family.

Thank you Attic Ministries!

Angela, Haley, Mason, and Dylan

Pastor Sonny,

Thank you for having the “Attic Ministries” team as a part of the jail volunteer program.  Your commitment to being in the jail for Sunday services once a month makes a difference for the inmates.  Also being available for one on one counseling when requested helps inmates while in custody and as they transition back into the community.

Sgt. Brian J. Wrzesinki

Hi, our names are Mike and Krista; we would like to share our story with you about how Attic Ministries has changed our lives.  Before we met Sonny and Leslee Huhtala we were homeless.  Mike and I had tried everything we could to get off the streets.  We were both disabled and unable to work.  We were living on a very limited disability income, we were making just enough to pay our monthly storage bills.  So even though we tried our hardest to get off the streets nothing was working because we didn’t make enough money.  We couldn’t figure out what we were doing wrong.  We said to ourselves, “We are good people, we are clean and sober, we help everyone we can, this has to work out somehow.”

Finally on our last leg, no money, no more resources left, we gave up.  We decided to go to Seattle in hopes there would be more resources and housing opportunities.  No more than a minute later after deciding this Sonny from Attic Ministries calls.  A brief history on this is we had been trying to reach Sonny for over a month including asking other homeless people were we could find him or if there was another way we could reach him.  After hitting dead-end after dead-end, we gave up on that also...then we got a call from Sonny.  That very same day we got together with Sonny and Leslee Huhtala in their home.  After talking with them for awhile I chose to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior.  By the end of the day we were no longer homeless.  We got accepted into an apartment with more commodities that we could wish for.  Leslee and Sonny made arrangements for us to have a place to stay until we could move into our apartment.

So in one day with the help of Attic Ministries we got more accomplished than Mike and I had in eight months we had been homeless and near hopeless.  We are now looking forward to moving into our new home.  We will continue working with Attic Ministries Outreach, not only to help us grow in Christ, but to help stabilize us and keep us moving forward in a positive direction.

THANK YOU TO ATTIC MINISTRIES AND ALL INVOLVED,

Michael & Krista

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