providencerescuemission

"We have personally witnessed how much the Mission transforms the lives of many"

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 01:39:33 GMT

Many of you may remember Steve’s testimony from his time in our Road to Recovery Men’s Program. Steve graduated from the program in 2018, and God has been at work in his life ever since. We’re thrilled to share a wonderful update with you!

Steve: Two years after I completed my time in the Mission program, I knew I was called to be at the Mission for a while longer. I oversaw running the kitchen operations. I worked to prepare the meals for our overnight guests, staff, and volunteers.

Macrina: I was volunteering at the Mission, helping to oversee the food pantry and clothing room.

Steve: Macrina and I started to become friends, but I had trouble with the idea of wanting to get married. I wasn’t sure how to have a relationship and marriage God’s way. We both prayed and fasted to discover what God’s will was. When I came to the Mission, I was a suicidal alcoholic living in a tent. I had seen God do a miraculous change in my life before, and I had no idea that I was about to see Him do it again.

Macrina: I knew that God was showing me that Steve needed someone like me. I felt in my heart that God was calling us together.

Steve: God changed my heart and showed me that I didn’t have to go through life alone. We became closer and sought counsel on how we should proceed.

Macrina: We got engaged in May 2021, and were married in December 2022. Sean Carew helped us a lot, and counseled Steve on how to be a Godly husband. He made sure that we knew if we needed anything, he was there.

Steve: I truly believe that my time in the Mission program helped me sort out a lot of the deep issues I had and has enabled me to be a Godly husband today. The counseling, the Genesis Process, and the classes all helped me to reestablish a foundational relationship with God that changed everything.

Macrina: We really had to seek God first. Steve is such a blessing to me and my 14-year-old son, Abraham. He is the only father he has ever known. Abraham knows that he can go to Steve for anything.

Steve: He is a blessing to me as well, and I love being a father figure to him. God continues to guide Macrina and I every day, as a couple and as parents. God has provided for us in ways we could have never imagined! I am seven years sober now, and I currently work for the Mission as a maintenance supervisor. I tell all the disciples on the program, “If you let God guide you as you complete the program, He will show you what to do. Seek His will, not yours.” Macrina and I have a goal to buy a house, and we know God will show up for us as we move towards that goal.

Macrina: We want to continue to tell others how God has blessed us, and how He has that love for them too.

Steve: I want people to know that the donations that they give to the Mission are planted on good soil. We are living testimonies of that! The discipleship programs, food distribution, and emergency shelter are all such a blessing to thousands of people.

Macrina: The ministry runs on the kindness of people’s hearts, and we have personally witnessed how much the Mission transforms the lives of many. It is amazing how God brought Steve and I together from two totally different worlds! It is such a blessing to be a testimony of what can happen if you seek God first, pray, and believe.

Winter 2024 Newsletter

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 01:37:22 GMT

Check out our Winter 2024 Newsletter

Download our Winter 2024 Newsletter to hear how we're changing lives in our community!

"Thank you to the Mission for helping to completely change my life and thank you for donating from the generosity of your heart!"

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 01:08:11 GMT

My name is Santana, and I grew up in Puerto Rico. I moved to New York in 1994, but my family life was very disruptive and dysfunctional. I always knew that something felt “off”, but I couldn’t really figure out what the truth was. Eventually, I found out that the man my mother said was my father was not my true father. She had been lying to me my whole life. All I needed was real love from my mother, and I wanted her to apologize for how much she hurt me. I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere, so I decided to go out on my own when I turned 13.

Though now I can see that God carried me through every stage of my life, I had to go through some tough times. I turned to drugs to help me cope with being alone. I started struggling with PTSD and my mental health. I fell into the wrong crowd because I was looking for the acceptance and love that I never got growing up. I didn’t believe in God, and I felt like I was better off figuring things out by myself.

Seven years ago, I made the decision to get clean because I knew my drug use was negatively impacting my life. I thank God that I have been able to stay clean. I moved to Rhode Island three years ago to try and reconcile with my mother, but it didn’t work out. I didn’t know where to turn or what to do. My doctor gave me some information about the Mission and told me that they had a shelter there. I didn’t know if there would be any long-term solutions for me there, but I decided to go for just one night and see what happened.

Once I got there, I quickly learned about the Road to Recovery Men’s Program. When I heard about it, my heart started racing and I knew I was supposed to sign up. I felt like God had sent me there to clear up a lot of issues in my life that I was confused about. Once I started, I could see the work that God was doing in me, and I didn’t want to give up. Now, 11 months later, I am so glad that I stayed. The Mission brought me back to church and reestablished my relationship with God. When I started applying the lessons I learned in the classes and in counseling, I started to see a difference in myself. I see now how His grace carried me through all those difficult

times that I couldn’t see my way out of. God has given me the family that I have been looking for my entire life at the Mission. I don’t take any of my blessings for granted now. I never want to go backwards to where I came from, and I know that starts with fixing myself and the issues that brought me here.

I’m almost finished with the program, and I am currently completing my internship as a resident assistant in the shelter. I love helping people because I can relate to where they have been. I want to show them that this is not all there is for them. There is more to life than dealing with drugs, trauma, and other life altering issues. I want to show everyone who comes here the love of Christ. Your donations are making a difference in helping people just like me. I am an example of the life-changing work that the Mission does! Thank you to the Mission for helping to completely change my life and thank you for donating from the generosity of your heart!

"Without hearing about God at the Mission, I know for a fact that my journey would have been so much more difficult."

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:32:35 GMT

My name is Kevin, and 12 years ago, a lot of my poor choices and life decisions started to catch up with me. After years of time in and out of jail on drug charges, I found myself homeless. I really wasn’t sure where to turn, until my ex-girlfriend’s father told me about the Mission. I wasn’t sure that my life would ever really get better, honestly. I remember hearing about God during the chapel services, and I believe that the time I spent in the shelter helped me to rebuild a foundation for a different life. The Mission gave me an assurance of security and routine during a very chaotic time. This kept me from spiraling down a very devastating downward path.

However, I can’t say that it all turned around for me right away. Desperate to make a living, I got sober but continued to sell drugs to provide for myself. After another arrest and relapse, it all clicked one day. I couldn’t continue on this path, or I was doomed. I wanted life to be different. I wanted the life that I knew I could have, and I knew that if I put the effort that I used to sell drugs into a legitimate job, I could create that for myself.

A friend got me a job at Venda Ravioli in Providence, and I have worked my way up to becoming the general manager of the store. For the first time, I can say that I honestly love my life and my job. My relationships with my family have drastically improved since I got clean. Without hearing about God at the Mission, I know for a fact that my journey would have been so much more difficult. I know how far God has brought me, and I am blessed to be able to give work opportunities to people who have stories just like mine. The Mission truly gives back, and it was the only place that was able to be there for me during that challenging time in my life. Every night they gave me a hot meal, a bed, and a shower. I said it before, but that sense of security was invaluable to me. Thank you for giving to a place that is making such a big difference!

"I began to see for the first time that God did love me! I had never known that kind of love before."

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:29:11 GMT

My name is Laura, and my story at the Mission begins more than ten years ago. In 2013, my husband and I found ourselves completely alone with nowhere else to turn. We were both severe alcoholics, and we had lost our children and home due to the nature of our addiction. I was genuinely hopeless, but I remember feeling safe the moment I came to the Mission. I stayed in the shelter for about a year, and it became what I now consider my “safe place.” After listening to the stories of the staff, I decided to join the women’s recovery program at Grace’s House. At this point I still was not ready to fully surrender myself to the Lord, my only focus was getting my children back into my life. I didn’t want to give up alcohol, and I didn’t feel like I should have to. I still wanted to live life on my terms, even though my choices were destroying me.

I was raised in the Catholic faith, but I never truly understood what a relationship with God meant. Through my time in the program, I slowly began to understand that the Lord was trying to get a hold of me. I remember Ms. Edwina, the assistant director of the program, telling me “Whether you get your kids back or not, you are here to let the Lord work on you and show you how much He loves you.” That statement was life-changing for me. Through Scripture, Christian literature, and the Bible classes, I began to see for the first time that God did love me. I had never known that kind of love before. I trusted that I could put my faith in His plan, not mine.

During my time at Grace’s house, I was able to have regular visitation with one of my sons. This meant so much to me, and I knew that God was working behind the scenes. After graduating from the program, I started working as a resident assistant in the women’s shelter. I surrounded myself with accountability and stayed in the Word of God as I learned what it meant to live a Christian life and stay sober while living independently. I still prayed earnestly to be reunited with my other children, and I know that God heard my prayers. In 2020, I received a phone call from my mother, who my children lived with. She asked me if I would like to have my oldest daughter come stay with me for a while. I couldn’t believe it! I was so overjoyed. This began many months of reconciliation between me and my children. My daughter now lives with me and my husband, and my sons visit us all the time! I am a grandmother now and have the joy of seeing my son raise his kids. I could have never imagined how much God could do with my life if I had a willing heart. I am still deeply involved in my church community, and they provide so much valuable support that my husband and I need. We took my daughter to church, and she got saved at a youth Bible camp. Praise the Lord! I am so deeply grateful.

I still work at the Mission 2 days a week, because it truly is a safe space for me; it is where I found the Lord. Not every moment of life is easy, but I now know that you turn your life over to God, He will be there for you through all the ups and downs. I always tell the guests in the shelter that this is not the end for them, even though it may feel like it. Jesus is all you need when you find yourself in that hopeless place. Your donations to the Mission help keep the doors open and the lights on. Even though you may not physically see it, you are changing lives. In a tough world, this ministry is a beacon of light. Thank you!

Fall 2023 Newsletter

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:27:07 GMT

Check out our Fall 2023 Newsletter

Download our Fall 2023 Newsletter to hear how we're changing lives in our community!

"I now have confidence in myself and who God made me to be."

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:33:53 GMT

Hi, my name is Dave, and this is my story of the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. I didn’t have an easy childhood. I was violated as a child by people I knew and trusted. I was abused by many people who I thought were my friends. My home life was very disruptive and difficult. I remember hearing my mom and my grandparents fighting for custody of me back and forth in court. I ended up living with my grandparents and my father, however my stepmom really became the supporting figure in my life. She was there when I was sick; she was there when I cried. My dad and I had a very strained relationship. All my life I tried to please him but never could, he always said I was useless and a nobody.

It got to the point that I always believed that. I guess that is why I always gave up. I would start something but never finish it through. Deep down I guess I was hurting and ashamed of who I was. This created a deep wound that affected me for a large part of my adult life. In 1990 I got married to my first wife, and we had three children together. In 1994, we went our separate ways, and I sought God for the first time. I asked Jesus to come into my life at Faith Christian Center. A friend took me to church. It took a few visits to church, but I eventually went up and said the sinner’s prayer. I was now a Christian, but I still had a lot of unresolved issues in my life that needed to be dealt with.

In 2000, I got married to my second wife. In 2004 she asked for a divorce on my birthday. I did not know where to turn or who to call. Something was wrong. I just didn’t know what. For so long I blamed her, but I now see that I cheated on her not with another woman, but my addiction to pornography. What I thought was only harming me deeply affected all my most cherished relationships. It took me three times to come back to the Providence Rescue Mission to finally realize this and receive my freedom in Christ. It wasn’t until I truly opened my heart to God that he revealed to me a lot of the things I faced in my life were a result of my past and my beliefs about myself. Has it been an easy battle? No, it hasn’t. However, I am learning to let go of my past by God’s grace and mercy. In 2017, I rededicated myself to God. This time I did it from the heart, not only from my mouth. Because of the counseling, classes, and Biblical guidance given to me at the Mission, I started to see a genuine change in myself for the first time. God is truly restoring my life and everything in it! I am now a resident assistant at the Mission, and I have the privilege of leading Bible studies, teaching my own class, and pouring into the men currently in the New Life in Christ men's program.

The scripture that I stand on is: “Those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”-Isaiah 40:31. By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, I now have confidence, endurance, patience, and trust in myself and in who God made me to be. Jesus Christ not only saved me but gave me a better chance at life. I would not be here today without The Providence Rescue Mission, Gate Way Pentecostal Fellowship, and Sean Carew. I now know that if you dream big with God all things are possible, Amen!

"I could never have imagined the life that I am living now: 6 years free of addiction and full of hope!"

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:24:40 GMT

Hi, my name is Jennifer, and my story has been anything but what you would consider easy. Growing up, I faced every form of abuse you could possibly imagine. After a lifetime of being violated and hurt, I decided at the age of 17 that I wanted nothing to do with God at all because if He really loved me, He wouldn’t have put me through all that. I was so angry, and I felt like I could handle life better on my own.

After getting married and giving birth to my daughter, I became addicted to the pain pills the doctor gave me while recovering from my c-section. This began many years of chaos and turmoil as my life fell into shambles. I completely lost my relationship with my daughter, McKenzie. All the while the unresolved trauma from my past fed my addiction and I felt like I just couldn’t stop. However, I now see that God saw me in my despair. After surviving human trafficking, overdose, and a lifestyle of destruction I found myself in prison. As soon as I was released, I completed another residential recovery program in Rhode Island. There I learned how much God loved me and for the first time found myself staying clean from harmful substances. However, the Lord was still not done working on me, and my journey was only beginning.

Eighteen months into my recovery, I suffered a life-altering injury when I shattered my knee in four places. I was in and out of hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabs for months. I felt depression and darkness overcome me as I couldn’t figure out how I could possibly move on from this. It seemed as though God had abandoned me again. It wasn’t until one Sunday at church when someone gave me the name of Marbeth Carew, the Director of the Women’s Program at the Mission, and said they were hiring. The Lord showed me that he had an amazing purpose for me and opened all the doors for me to take on a position in ministry there.

Since coming to the Mission in 2019, I have experienced so much growth in every aspect of my life. I have never felt like just another employee on a list. Sean and Marbeth have invested so much time and energy into my spiritual and emotional growth by encouraging me to seek Christian counseling, walking me through the Genesis Process, and pouring truth and wisdom into my life. They have been with me every step of the way, and I cannot even begin to describe how my relationship with my daughter McKenzie has transformed in the past four years. I was given the space and time to prioritize the restoration of our mother daughter relationship. The Mission has 100% made it possible for that to happen. We now see each other often, talk every single day, and the relationship that we have now feels as though we never lost those years due to my addiction. She now tells me that she looks up to me! Wow! I never thought I would hear her say that. I am so thankful to my leadership for giving me hard truths, lessons, and knowledge to navigate these new phases in my life. I have so much love for Sean, Marbeth, and the Mission. I truly believe that the Lord led me here in a time of deep darkness. I now work as the Development Coordinator at the Mission, overseeing fundraising and planning events. God has provided the means for me to have my own apartment and my own car, something that I never thought would be attainable for me. I could never have imagined this life that I am living now: six years free of addiction, full of hope, and having a true, genuine relationship with my daughter. I want to thank all of you who donate to the Mission to make stories like mine possible. I feel so grateful and blessed! Thank you!

Summer 2023 Newsletter

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:15:15 GMT

Check out our Summer 2023 Newsletter

Download our Summer 2023 Newsletter to hear how we're changing lives in our community!

Spring 2023 Newsletter

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 05:12:03 GMT

Check out our Spring 2023 Newsletter

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"The Mission has been such a blessing to me and my family!"

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:23:28 GMT

My name is Kelsey, and I am so blessed to be able to share my story with you. I am a graduate of another recovery program in Rhode Island. When I graduated from that facility, I thought I had dealt with all my past issues and trauma. I soon realized that there was some more struggles I must work through.

I became pregnant soon after leaving the program, and I didn’t know where to turn. I had spent a lifetime in dysfunctional and abusive relationships, it was all I knew. Thankfully, God gave me my now fiancé Darnell, who taught me what a healthy relationship can be. After I gave birth to my son, I lost my father in a tragic accident. I was deeply struggling with postpartum depression and didn’t know how to cope with the loss of my dad. While I stayed clean from my previous drugs of choice, I didn’t know how to go on with my life and turned to alcohol.

When my children were removed from my care as a result of my drinking, I knew I had to get my life under control. I got sober and turned to my church for support. However, I still lacked the financial resources to fully provide for my children. I regained custody of my kids in December of 2022. I was so excited, but I didn’t have the means to provide Christmas for them. The Mission gave me everything I needed to give my family a great holiday. The best part for me was, that my kids didn’t know any of their gifts came from the Mission, they just knew that Santa came!

The Mission has been such a blessing to me and my family. They have provided food and clothing during many times when it was simply hard to make ends meet. To have somewhere to turn when I was at a very low point in my life was honestly a gift from God. To everyone who donates to the Mission, I want to thank you for making a way to help people who are struggling. In a time when everyone is having to make tough financial choices, you are still choosing to help others and I am so grateful. Thank you!

At the Mission - Spring 2023

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:17:54 GMT

On March 7 we had the pleasure of welcoming MLS players from the New England Revolution along with Walt Day,the team chaplain, as they led chapel service and served the nightly meal here at the Mission. City Counselman James Taylor also stopped by to thank the team for assisting in bettering our community! The New England Revolution and the Mission are going to assist in the city's revitalization of Conlan Junior Memorial Park by creating safe and clean soccer fields for the kids in the community. We are so excited to be a part of this wonderful effort!

Players Dejuan Jones, Brandon Bye, and Joshua Bolma shared pieces of their testimonies while Chaplain Walt Day gave the gospel message. The team then served a restaurant-style hot meal to our dinner guests and stayed for pictures and autographs. We were so blessed to have them with us and greatly appreciate their generous hearts and willingness to spend their time helping those in need!

"The moment I came to the Mission, I knew it wasn’t just a typical 'shelter'"

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:17:47 GMT

My name is Fara, and I am from Senegal, Africa. I was raised in a good family with Christian values. I moved to the United States in 2000, to the "country of Uncle Sam," as I had been taught to call it. I knew there were many good opportunities there. I worked many different jobs to provide for myself. My last job was as a Nurse’s Assistant, but after working for the same company for many years, I was let go. Around this time, some of my personal struggles started to catch up with me, and I found myself unable to find another job. I didn’t understand why I was struggling so much. I had always been able to provide for myself and didn’t know what to do.

After being unemployed for some time, I lost my apartment because I was unable to pay my rent. I had never been homeless before, and I didn’t know where to turn. So many questions filled my mind as I fell further into desperation to figure out a solution. "What is happening to me?" I asked myself. I was homeless for 5 months before a friend of mine suggested I come and stay at the Mission. I had heard of shelters before, but the moment I came to the Mission, I knew it wasn’t just a typical “shelter.” The staff were loving and kind, which made me feel safe. I felt so blessed to have found it!

I stayed as an overnight guest for a few weeks before I found out about the Road to Recovery Men’s Program. I immediately joined, and it turned out to be an amazing blessing in my life. Every single aspect of the program was helpful to me, from the Biblical counseling and mentoring to the in-depth classes. I was able to really identify some of the issues which caused me to become homeless, and work on dealing with those things within myself. My relationship with Christ and my core values became of renewed importance to me. I am who I am today because of this wonderful program!

I have been at the Mission for two years now, and I work as a Resident Assistant. I love my job and I am so happy to assist and encourage others who are in the same position that I was in. I truly feel so blessed, and I thank you all for supporting the work that God is doing here. Thank you

"The Mission not only helps families like ours, but is a blessing to every single person that comes through the doors."

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 04:55:54 GMT

My name is Ivan, and my wife Karla and I found the Mission at a time when it was difficult for us to find resources for our family. We have two teenage sons, Alexis and Alexander. Two years ago, Karla had lost her job. We needed to find a way to provide food for us and our kids, and we didn’t know where to go. A friend of ours suggested the Providence Rescue Mission. We had never heard of it before, but we went there to see if they could help.

The Mission was able to step in and help us with not only food, but much more. Our family was able to get what we needed, and we also were able to connect a lot of our friends who needed help as well. It was such a blessing! When Christmas time came, we started to feel the stress of providing gifts for our children. Money was still an issue, and we weren’t sure what was going to happen. We then found out the Mission could help us with that as well! They made sure that we had new gifts for our kids! We were so thankful that our kids had something to wake up to on Christmas morning.

After a few months, we began volunteering as we felt God was calling us to give back. It brought us joy to give back as a family to a place that meant so much to us. “I like helping people out,” says Alexander. “I like giving back because it makes my heart happy.” Even as our kids get older, the Mission is still there to help us out with not only Christmas gifts, but holiday meals as well! This means a lot to us because our kids are still hoping for a great Christmas, but the economy is so tough right now.

We love that the Mission not only helps families like ours, but is a blessing to every single person that comes through the doors. The Mission is helping a lot of people off the street, and donating to the Mission brings that blessing to so many other people. Karla says, “The Mission helps not only us, but everyone. I always pray that the Lord will impress on people’s hearts to bless the Mission.”

All of this would not be possible without generous donors like you. Thank you so much and Merry Christmas!

Winter 2022 Newsletter

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 04:04:46 GMT

Check out our Winter 2022 Newsletter

Download our Winter 2022 Newsletter to hear how we're changing lives in our community!

"The Mission welcomed me in and gave me a second chance."

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 03:50:25 GMT

A Testimony of Redemption & Restoration

Hi, my name is Peter Holland. I was born and raised in Rhode Island. I was the youngest of five boys in a family in which alcoholism was very prevalent. My own challenges with alcohol began when I was 16 years old, often hanging out with friends and drinking. After I graduated high school, I got married and had two wonderful children. However, my pattern of drinking became more and more prevalent in my everyday life. My wife saw the damage alcohol was doing to me and our family, and she insisted that I get help. I refused, and we ended up getting divorced.

My children did not want to have anything to do with me because of my drinking. I just could not stop no matter how hard I tried. I was now living with my mother, and soon after I lost my job after the business shut down. I spent all of the money from my severance package on drinking and partying. Meanwhile, my alcoholism had taken such a toll on my body that I began to have seizures when I drank. I knew I had a problem, but every time I would attempt to get sober I would relapse after just a few days. My mother told me to leave her home and go get help.

I was given the name of the Mission by a family member, and I decided to give it a chance. I was doing very well in the program, but after five months I decided that I had my life figured out and left. I went back to my mothers and within weeks I relapsed. At this point I had burned all bridges with my family, and I didn’t have anywhere to go. My alcohol induced seizures were beginning to worsen as I drank more and more. One day I woke up in the hospital with a neck brace and a black eye, not remembering that I fell off a porch onto the cement and went unconscious. After I was released from the hospital, I realized I had truly exhausted all options. I was alone in a hotel, weak, sick, and drinking myself to death. I went through all of my money in less than a month.

Finally, I woke up one morning and realized that God was giving me all these chances and compelling me to change. I felt the Lord telling me to “Wake up! Wake up! Get back on your feet!” I knew that I should have been dead at that point. I grabbed my phone and the first number I called was the Mission. I asked to rejoin the Men’s Program and they came to pick me up from where I was staying. I was so grateful that they took me in and gave me a second chance! I saw the program through to the end, and I graduated with a new mindset of hope for an amazing future. This time, I knew I wouldn’t make it without a close relationship with the Lord. I am now the Night Shift Resident Supervisor at the Mission, as well as helping to oversee and coordinate the monthly fundraising mailings.

I have been at the Mission for four years, and I am so blessed to be in the position I'm in today. I now have a relationship with my daughters. I’m now a grandfather, and I am so thankful that I get to be there for my family. If it wasn’t for the counseling, the classes, and the teachers made available to me at the Mission, there is no way I would be here today. I truly feel so blessed! Thank you!

Fall 2022 Newsletter

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 02:26:46 GMT

Check out our Fall 2022 News letter

Download our Fall 20 22 Newsletter to hear how we're changing lives in our community!

"Since the first night I came to the Mission, I felt safe and loved."

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 01:11:39 GMT

A Testimony of Redemption & Restoration

My name is Sarajane, and I never imagined that I would find myself homeless. I was living in Texas when I found myself in a very unhealthy, toxic marriage. I soon gave birth to my son with no knowledge of what postpartum depression was or the havoc it would wreak in my life. My life was so overwhelming and chaotic; I felt so helpless. I was emotionally abused to the point that I felt like I was going crazy. I continued to decline until my depression led to anger. At my lowest point, I became so angry that I blacked out. I just couldn’t take it anymore; life was too much for me to handle.

We soon moved back to Rhode Island and knew my life couldn’t go on this way. I was so desperate that I moved out and rented a room for myself until I could figure something else out. I completed a program at another Christian facility to spend time with God and work through the emotional issues I was experiencing. I believed that once I did this, my husband and I would come together to make our family stronger. However, much to my surprise, he filed for divorce, leaving me unsure of how to move forward. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I needed to find a way to pick up the pieces of my life.

I was now homeless and alone, desperate for a change. I now see that God was closing all other doors in my life and forcing me to focus on Him alone. A friend of mine suggested I stay at the Mission. The first night I arrived, I just thanked God for providing this safe place for me to stay. When I came to dinner that night, someone came and served me my plate at the table. I felt so blessed and cared for! Every night I prayed and cried out to God to give me guidance. I stayed as a guest at the Mission for about a month until God put it upon someone’s heart at my church to give me a place to stay. I began volunteering at the Mission with my church. The more time I spent here, the more I felt God’s heart for the poor and destitute. Imagine how excited I was when the opportunity arose to be hired by the Mission! I have been on staff at the Mission for three years now, and I am so blessed to help others who are going through what I did. During that time, God used the staff to encourage and support me as I learned to walk in the gifting the Lord has given me. They gave me a safe space to rebuild my relationship with my son at Grace’s House, where he can visit me and spend time. I continue to minister with my church, Kingdom Lighthouse Ministries, serving dinner and facilitating chapel service.

Partnering with the Mission is partnering with the heart of God. God allows the Mission doors to remain open to serve and be a blessing to the community every day. As someone who spent time here as a guest, and now devotes my heart to taking care of those who come through the doors, I can say that nothing is more powerful than your support. God will use those who are available and have a heart turned toward Him! Since the first night I came here, I felt safe and loved. This is all thanks to you! May God bless you as you continue to reach out a lending hand to those in need.

Thank you!