Heather's Story
Reflections from Freedom House
If someone would have told me a year and a half ago that today I would be standing in the heart of West Medford sharing my testimony of God’s amazing grace and the salvation I’ve found through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I probably would have laughed. But God had a plan!
To really grasp the awesomeness of my story I guess I should take you back to where I was at a year and a half ago. I was five years into a very heavy drug addiction, I was in and out of abusive relationships, I was criminally minded and of course in and out of county jail. I’d lost my home, my car, my friends, and my children. No, let me rephrase that…I threw it all away. But God had a plan!
On December 5, 2012 I found myself in the back of a police cruiser. This time I knew I was going to prison. I was sentenced to 18 months. I felt lost, alone, and scared. But God had a plan!
In county jail God spoke a faith scripture into my heart. Matthew 17:20 “You don’t have enough faith” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” The next day, the day before I was transported to prison, Rachelle came to visit me. It was then that I re-dedicated my life to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And wow what a life it’s been. You see, God had a plan!
While in prison I started to read the bible, everyday. I signed up for church services and bible study groups. My life was changing. I got into a parenting class and graduated. I got into a creative writing course, and my writing was published in a book. I got my GED nine weeks. I no longer felt lost, alone or scared. I finally started to accept God’s plan for me. God has truly worked miracles in me. Through His amazing grace my chains are gone, I’ve been set free. I’ve started to rebuild broken relationships. And my future looks bright because with my Savior Jesus Christ my future is eternal life…
A couple months before I was released from prison, I was accepted into the Freedom House. It was then that God spoke another scripture into my heart. Galatians 5:13 “For you have been called to live in freedom my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead use your freedom to serve one another in love.
I would like to thank Lighthouse Family Worship Center for all that they have done in making the Freedom House come to life. I’d like to thank the Women’s Gospel Mission and of course Hope and a Future Ministries, Rachelle Benthin a big hug and thank you for having faith in an almighty God and his son Jesus Christ who alone has the power to save us all.
God Bless ~ Heather
If someone would have told me a year and a half ago that today I would be standing in the heart of West Medford sharing my testimony of God’s amazing grace and the salvation I’ve found through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I probably would have laughed. But God had a plan!
To really grasp the awesomeness of my story I guess I should take you back to where I was at a year and a half ago. I was five years into a very heavy drug addiction, I was in and out of abusive relationships, I was criminally minded and of course in and out of county jail. I’d lost my home, my car, my friends, and my children. No, let me rephrase that…I threw it all away. But God had a plan!
On December 5, 2012 I found myself in the back of a police cruiser. This time I knew I was going to prison. I was sentenced to 18 months. I felt lost, alone, and scared. But God had a plan!
In county jail God spoke a faith scripture into my heart. Matthew 17:20 “You don’t have enough faith” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” The next day, the day before I was transported to prison, Rachelle came to visit me. It was then that I re-dedicated my life to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And wow what a life it’s been. You see, God had a plan!
While in prison I started to read the bible, everyday. I signed up for church services and bible study groups. My life was changing. I got into a parenting class and graduated. I got into a creative writing course, and my writing was published in a book. I got my GED nine weeks. I no longer felt lost, alone or scared. I finally started to accept God’s plan for me. God has truly worked miracles in me. Through His amazing grace my chains are gone, I’ve been set free. I’ve started to rebuild broken relationships. And my future looks bright because with my Savior Jesus Christ my future is eternal life…
A couple months before I was released from prison, I was accepted into the Freedom House. It was then that God spoke another scripture into my heart. Galatians 5:13 “For you have been called to live in freedom my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead use your freedom to serve one another in love.
I would like to thank Lighthouse Family Worship Center for all that they have done in making the Freedom House come to life. I’d like to thank the Women’s Gospel Mission and of course Hope and a Future Ministries, Rachelle Benthin a big hug and thank you for having faith in an almighty God and his son Jesus Christ who alone has the power to save us all.
God Bless ~ Heather