Heart Support is Jake Luhrs and Kris Welch; newlyweds who are teaming up to reach the overlooked, overheard or just plain frustrated youth. The vision for Heart Support was birthed on a U.S. tour when Jake felt the Lord was calling him to start an online community. Jake had always dedicated time to talk to fans after shows, allowing him to connect on a deeper level, yet still prohibiting any real relationship because of time restraints on the road. He immediately called Kris and started to build a team and put the ministry together.

This is a ministry that caught my eye earlier this year. Lead by front-man of the hardcore Christian metal band August Burns Red, Jake Luhrs is on to something. The world is desperate for something real, something that is authentic, and honest. They are looking at us as Christians to see if what we’ve got is real. This month’s feature starts with a question:

Why don’t people ask us about our hope?

Have you ever wondered about that? The answer is something the church doesn’t want to hear. The answer is that we probably look as if we hope in the same things they do. Whenever our lives don’t look any different than the world’s, why would they want what we’ve got?

Heart Support is a ministry that seems to be focused on changing that perception.

Honesty & Integrity

Those aren’t just words that look good on paper, this is something to be modeled, sought after, and lived out. In the world we live in today, those are two words that are hard to find. Heart Support seems to be intently focused on living out those two words.

For those of you who have ever struggled with addictions, this ministry is a breathe of fresh air. I’ve struggled in so many areas with addictions, and to be honest, my heart truly goes out to those who are struggling with addiction. I know what they are going through, and the gut-wrenching honesty among the group here is almost a double-edged sword for me if that makes sense. I can relate so much to their stories that it brings me to a place where I can remember where I was at, yet know where my God has brought me over the past few years. Heart Support is focused on addictions, depression, relationships, and spiritual challenges. One of the most convicting statements on their website asks this question:

How is it we can feel so fulfilled in a moment of satisfying something so destructive?

Heart Support is focused on complete interaction with their community. They have a Q&A section that allow you to ask them questions and they respond. Their blog is a wonderful resource of thoughts and encouragement. Share is another very encouraging aspect of this ministry. User submitted stories and victories of people just like you and me who are winning the fight for integrity and honesty one day at a time. For me, the Prayer Wall is one of the highlights of their website. As heartbreaking as some of the prayer requests can be, this is an opportunity for us to go before the Lord, and pray for others who are struggling! Guys, I can’t tell you what it means to me to know that someone is praying for me. The slogan for Domino Ministries is to be the domino that God uses to touch the lives of others, and what better way to do this, than through prayer!

“Heart Support is a non-profit organization built on a foundation of faith; one that desires to strengthen and encourage others. We wanted to have a place where people could go to talk about certain issues that may be difficult to open up with others about. Whether it’s a taboo subject, or someone simply doesn’t have anyone to talk to, they have Heart Support. Our goal is to form relationships, ones that go beyond giving a kind word, but instead allow people a permanent resource.”

Interview with Jake Luhrs

Whenever this ministry started out it was called Your Life Ministries. How did this get started? What gave you the idea for doing this?

I was on tour two years ago and I feel God told me that He really wanted me to give more time to my fans and to really make more of an impact in their lives rather than just music. God wanted me to give them more of my time and energy and focus on their lives and what they needed from me as they had been providing for my career to continue to flourish. So one night i had to get out pen and paper and God just kept filling my mind with all of these ideas for the website and what I would do with it and even gave it the name YourLife.. Because it is just that! God gave us life but it’s up to you what you do with it. It is YOURLIFE that is important and what you’ve gone through and how you deal with it can make or break things in your life. It’s about desiring change and finding a way to create that change and execute it. It’s about seeking God’s face and building a relationship with Him. One that is so strong that it overcomes all that you will face. Knowing that God has grace and mercy but also a plan for us all. That He IS LOVE and that anything is possible when calling on Jesus Christ.

Kris Welch

Tell us a little something about the team.

I’ve got quite a few on the team now which is a huge blessing! Everyone has their specific role as far as what they feel they should do to be involved. Not everyone post blogs but their is a lot of behind the scenes. Some who have dealt with alcoholism and drugs write and reply to letters that deal with those situations. Others reply to a lot of the porn letters…

Kris is our editor and my partner in crime! and Matt Greiner video blog editor and has been working very closely with Brick By Brick a ministry he started about 8 months ago. Christopher Carroll helps with letters and guest blogging.

In a world where the truth is seldom shared, Your gut-level honesty approach to ministry is very refreshing. You guys don’t seem to hold anything back, how has the response been to that?

We want to be genuine because thats what people want! They want to know YOU, not know what you want them to know. We aren’t perfect and we know how broken we are but our relationships with Christ are what is most important to us. We aren’t pastors, we aren’t preachers, doctors, therapists,… we are followers of Christ. Thats it! We have the desire to help reach out to kids, friends, families anyone; to give them words of encouragement, hope and let them know how much God loves them.The response has been good so far. Of course their are some who make fun of us or hate on us, but if you don’t have anyone opposing you.. chances are you probably aren’t doing something right. haha Of course when you stand up for something so firmly.. you’ll get people who just want to oppose your strength in your beliefs. It’s the way man kind works..

But most people are really encouraged and inspired by what it is we are doing. We are thankful that people are willing to even go to the site and participate.. It’s amazing the stories kids send us and speak on. It’s very humbling to read them because it makes me so thankful for what God has given me and that some of the things i’ve gone through are similar with these letters .. so i’m thankful that God would use me to help others in the same boat.

What are some of the biggest things that people seem to be struggling with?

A lot of people are struggling with porn, depression, suicide, and the biggest is understanding God’s love. A lot of people have these smaller issues like smoking and drinking and drug use because of the biggest problem which is them not loving themselves, and them not seeing how much they are loved. I’ve gotten emails from people who are cutters and they do it because they are so numb in their hearts that they want to actually know they can still FEEL something. Some have father issues and ask how do I see God as a father figure.. Or why would God want me because of all the poor decisions i’ve made.. I’m dirty and useless and worthless.. It’s tough and sometimes my answers aren’t exactly the best or what they want to hear but it’s from my heart.. and I pray all the time that God just speak through me and use my voice as a vessel to carry His love along through words and my actions.

Tell us about the prayer wall.

It’s an amazing thing i feel because everyone can get on there and pray for each other. It’s public so kids really dive into it and post their prayers and reply to other prayers and I feel prayer is key in strengthening one another spiritually.

What are some of the challenges your ministry faces?

Finances and just spreading the word. I don’t really have a lot of money to pour into this ministry and we are just looking for ways to spread the word on the ministry. We have currently made some big changes were Yourlife Ministries is being absorbed by Heart Support. Heart Support is a ministry founded by Craig Gross of xxxchurch but saw what I was doing with YourLife and wanted to team up. So now that we are working together and have changed the name from YourLife to Heart Support we are trying to spread the word. The ministry itself has no money to really work with so we are just praying that more people care to donate and support so that we can move forward.

What are some ways that others can help?

Donations, prayer, and taking part! Join Heart Support and contribute your story and share with others and encourage others through you stories of victories and overcoming addictions etc! Join the community!

“Be the domino that God uses to touch the lives of others”. Think “domino effect”. How do you see Your Life as a domino?

It’s all about giving to others and supporting one another. It’s about fellowship.. it is so crucial to have others who you can count on and people who will pick you up when you are down, and pray for you when you are struggling or going through tough times. It’s paying back to one another.. thats the domino effect.