Greetings, my name is Robert Howard, and I want to thank you for checking out this fundraiser. I want to quickly share who I am, what exactly we are wanting you to partner with us in.

So, my background in a nutshell. I was once one of those hypocritical Christians that claimed Christ on Sunday and acted like the world Monday through Saturday. Actually, It got to a point I claimed Christ but did nothing that was modeled after Christ. I struggled with outbursts of anger, selfishness, and sexual immorality. Well, my sin landed me in a jail cell with charges that, frankly, I am ashamed of looking back. One thing I want you to know about me is that while I am ashamed of my past, I’m not ashamed where Christ has brought me. Because my charges are of a sexual nature, I am a Registered Sex Offender. But more than that, the night I was arrested, I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. That was back in 2013 and here it is 2024 about to be 2025 and I’m only growing closer to Christ. Can I share a couple scriptures with you? The first is 1 timothy 1:15. Here Paul, who wrote a third of the New Testament writes, this saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”- and I am the worst of them. Verse 16 BUT I received mercy for THIS reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Man, that’s me. If you didn’t check out after I admitted my label, thank you. That shows that God is working in your life. Now that you know a little about me. The bad and the good. Let me tell you about the I Am Matthew Ministry. I.A.M Ministries is a response to seeing people who have self- destructed their lives feel as if they have no hope. This ministry aims to change that. We want to be a group of people that will come alongside the quote unquote worst of these and become a lifeline to them. I know that I am not unique, God did not just turn my life around. There are others out there that have truly experienced the eternal life found in Jesus Christ, but because of their past, the world, and even some churches, are rejecting them saying they are not worth their time. Jesus leaves the 99 and comes after the one. I.A.M. Ministries wants to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those facing their darkest hours. When you decide to donate to this ministry, here is exactly how that money will be used. Currently I host a podcast called the I Am Matthew Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Iheartradio and other platforms. I believe that is the voice of the ministry. But not many people know about the podcast. Your generous donation will go towards sending the message of the gospel to the broken by funding the startup cost to making the Ministry first and foremost an entity by paying for Incorporating I Am Matthew Ministries as a nonprofit. Then we will seek tax exempt status so that when people in the future donate to the ministry, it will be a deduction off your taxes. It will also pay for the startup cost and maintenance of IAMMatthewministries.org. Next will come advertising, through social media ads, Spotify ads, and even mailers, we want to reach out and get in front of those who need this ministry the most.

I bet your next question is. What will the ministry do? Well while we are in our infancy stage, I.A.M will look like us connecting with those who feel like they would benefit from the ministry. I want to share my life with these people, give them a person they can relate with and be able to share the struggles of their life so that they understand that there is someone who loves them and wants to encourage them. Through one-on-one conversations and conference calls for a group bible study, we will walk out this life together and share in its ups and downs and give people who feel like they have no hope, no one that cares, a chance at fellowship and the encouragement to know that just because we all make mistakes, doesn’t mean our life is over. So that’s right now. Where we are at. As we receive funding, I hope to add other mentors to the ministry and the discipleship will become a one-on-one method so that relationships can really form, and accountability can become the main focus. We don’t want to be another box people can check; we want to instill change in people's lives. We want those that participate in disciple process come to the point that they become ones who make disciples. These lives that most have wrote off. Christ can change anyone and turn anyone's life into one that glorifies Him. That’s why it's called the I Am Matthew Ministry. Back in those days, tax collectors were the lowest of the low in social standards. I want you to understand the role reversal. They had men back in those days, having brides that we would consider children, but a Jewish man siding with occupying Rome and overcharging taxes to their fellow Jewish Brothers and Sisters? Well, look at what the pharisee's, the modern-day preachers and lawyers tell Jesus’s Disciples in Matthew 9:11. They say Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? The most holy men in that day wouldn’t lump in tax collectors with other sinners. Sounds kind of like what some would say about me. But Matthew was called personally by Jesus, in His sin at the tax booth, told to follow Him, Him being Jesus, and Matthew turned His life around. He even wrote a ¼ of the gospels. And we already mentioned the Christian Murderer Paul turning his life around and calling Himself the worst of them all. I’m sure to most I would be considered the worst of them all. Here is what I think. We were given the great Commission to go and preach to the nations. Preach to all. To follow Jesus and His commands. IF you don’t feel led to minister to the ones that have self-destructed their lives, Leave that to I.A.M Ministries. We are composed of some of those people and that is our heart and focus. Give to the ministry as a way of honoring Jesus’s command in John 13:34-35 which states Behold I give you a new command, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should also love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another. The board here at I.A.M Ministries wants to love another well, even those that have self-destructed their lives. We want to hear these words that Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:35-36 and 40. It states. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me. And Verse 40 after those asked, “when did we do those things?” He stated “And the King will answer them. Truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”

Brother, Sister, partner in this ministry with us. Help us give the bread of life to the hungry, the living water to the thirsty, the stranger some comfort. Help us to clothe them with the armor of God, help them know the true physician that can heal all their wounds. Let us show them the one that can break the chains of bondage in their life and allow the one who draws near to give them freedom. If you have questions about this ministry before you donate, feel free to email [email redacted] and I will be glad to answer. Also make sure and check out the I Am Matthew podcast if you want to learn more about me and the calling on my life. I want to thank you in advance for helping to funding this ministry, God will honor your sacrifice. Be expecting as God shows up in your life. Have a great rest of your day, and God Bless.