We have been so blessed to be apart of Ambers journey! What a powerful testimony of God's ama Grace, second chances and healing from mental health and trauma! 
Ambers story will give you HOPE that No matter how dark the situation is No one is ever Beyond Hope! 

Read powerful testimony below! 
I would like to share some of my story with you. I have struggled with my mental health and addiction for years; however, God has always been there for me (not to say I haven’t lost hope before). 

      I first got into trouble with the law in 2019 due to severe mental illness and addiction. I gave birth to my 3rd son Mason in 2019 causing horrible post-partum depression and a bad relapse happened (I reached for the bottle instead of the Bible). I served a year in jail and then went to a hospital for some time after that. I believe it was a prayer that got me into a bed at the hospital and the help that I needed. I remember talking to my mom on the phone from jail when I found out there was a bed available at the hospital. She said “I prayed for this” (she did) I felt defeated, I was torn from my newborn, was hopeless and had lost my faith at the time. That would change. 
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           After doing better for some time my mental illness once again declined and I relapsed that time and that landed me in jail and legal trouble a few times on top of homelessness and a low place mentally, unstable, with no faith and hopelessness surrounding me. That is when I first connected with Hope and a Future Ministries.

        I remember sitting in the jail during that time in my life writing letters to my kids not knowing when I would see them again. That time in jail I randomly reached for Rachelle Benthin’s book “Beyond Hope” and after reading it I felt a glimmer of hope and was overjoyed at how relatable her story was to mine, I began to regain hope. I remember telling one of the girls about the book and she let me know (by pointing out a flyer on the wall) that Hope and a Future ministry sometimes came to the jail. Well, they did and we all sang, worshiped and prayed (I hadn’t in so long). I felt the Holy Spirit enter the room and my hope began to restore.

            I was released from jail and life was good for a short time, then once again my mental health and addiction came back with a vengeance. Funny how at that time I was no longer praying. Faith and hope being replaced with a bottle and addiction. Leading once again to homelessness. I got through that dark time by Gods unfailing love and mercy (that I couldn’t recognize at the time). 

          In 2023 I got into trouble with the law once again only this time worse, a possible felony. Thankfully no one got hurt. I was blessed and by God’s Grace I got into a program called Wellness Court (a year and a half long program for people with charges due to their mental health and addiction). It was rough at first, I was staying at the work center where a friend of mine had reached out to Rachelle and Hope and a Future Ministries who brought us both bibles and backpacks full of things we needed. This was such a trying time and I later got a good job at a bank and a place of my own. Only to find out I had another blessing on the way. I got through wellness court and graduated the program several months into my pregnancy. 

             This was when life got even harder with baby number four on the way. I ended up losing my job at the bank due to my mental illness and could no longer afford my apartment. My faith began to shake but God wasn’t done with me yet LOL. 

              In 2025 I gave birth to my fourth son Dalton whom is now 9 months old. I had lost all hope and faith after my postpartum depression set in, leading into postpartum psychosis. Then about a week after Dalton was born, he was taken from me. 

              I relapsed and turned to a bottle instead of the Bible. After that I ended up in the hospital and was released to transitional housing which is where I am now and have been for a couple of months missing my kids terribly feeling hopeless. 

             When I say God puts people into our lives for a reason, I mean that. Something told me to reach out to Hope and a Future Ministries and Rachelle, so I did. Feeling hopeless and lacking faith, I wasn’t sure how I had gotten here, a mother of four kids not having contact with any of them, hopeless. I was raised in Christian household and had gone to church growing up, but that is what addiction does, that is how ugly of a disease it is. 

             After talking with her on the phone, Rachelle came and visited with me and brought me a bible and a backpack filled with all kinds of things I need and a copy of her book. We prayed together and my faith began to restore. I could feel that God was doing something different in my life. He is teaching me to take away the false idols “things” in my life after losing my apartment and all of my belongings. He is showing me what really matters! My kids! My sobriety! My health! My recovery! My family! My friends! My relationship with God, how he already loves me and I am good enough! He taught me this time to reach for the Bible instead of a bottle. 

           I was missing my baby Dalton 9 months old and my three other kids, Mason 6, Trenton 13 and Jayson 15. Whom I hadn’t talked to in a while. After praying Rachelle took me to church with her and the sermons really spoke to me. My hope began to feel a lot less bleak and a lot more joyful. 
             Although I still didn’t have contact with my children I continued to pray
             Still wondering, longing for the day I would see my kids thinking it would never get here, something amazing happened. Both in the same week God performed miracles in my life, this week I was able to visit with both my 6-year-old Mason and my 9-month-old Dalton! What a blessing, the beginning of weekly visits with baby Dalton. Such a relief and the greatest gift a mother could ask for. I thank God every day, prayers answered! 

          Not a day goes by that I don’t pray for reunification with my 13- and 15-year-old sons Trenton and Jayson. I am also praying for the apartment I have been given the opportunity to apply for. I remind myself that God has already worked out our struggles. I know God will have it happen in his perfect timing. 

            I give all the credit and glory to God for being where I am today, sober, in recovery, on the right track and getting to see two of my children. I believe God has everything to do with it. Glory be to God may we continue to praise and worship him and his name on high. Amen! 

            As Jelly Roll put it winning his Grammy - and I quote “Jesus is for everybody” Amen to that! A big thank you to Rachelle and Hope and a Future Ministries for your continued support as I continue on the journey God has for me. My hope is to have a joyful focus for now and the future and a relationship with all four of my kids and a stable foundation based on continued recovery and growth. God will be there on the Journey ahead.  Sincerely, Amber
 
 

The picture above: Theatre group at CCCF womens prison.
Hannah is the sencond from the left:
Read more at: https://wilsonvillespokesman.com/2025/12/02/wilsonville-prison-theater-company-heals-through-acting/

"Hanna’s story of God's Amazing Grace"
Serving a life Sentence and fulfilling her purpose!

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

When God gave the Israelites the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 they were still in captivity and he told them it would last 70 years in Baylon. He gave them a promise there would be an end to their captivity! It wasn’t a promise to escape the captivity but a promise to thrive within it and experience Gods faithful hope filled plan for their future after 70 years! God commanded them through the prophet Jeremiah to settle down, live their lives and prosper. Build houses. Plant gardens, marry, have children. And pray for peace and prosperity for Babylon. The message was a call to live faithfully in exile trusting that despite their current circumstances Gd had plans for their welfare and a future restoration for a hope and A Future!

Read powerful story below:
Hannah Martin grew up in Medford and attended Medford schools. She was gifted in music, dance, and the arts. In the summer of 2018 Hannah helped with VBS at my church and was loved by the kids. She had so much potential and loved the kids.

Hannah's words: Sometime between 2018 and the time I was arrested in March 2022 my life strayed so very far from the Lord. He was always there, always protecting me. When I think back on it, I can see where His hand has been during this trying time in my life. I am so grateful to even be alive today.

When I was placed in custody at the Jackson County Jail (charged with murder), I felt absolutely hopeless. My despair hit an all-time low. I was ready to die. Then I was placed in a cell with a believe, who urged me to talk with Chaplain Darrel Wiltrout. I openly expressed my thoughts of suicide to Darrel, and he prayed for me and never stopped talking about God's love, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, and salvation.

Mentor Jan: Knowing Hannah's family and being involved in jail ministry with Hope and a Future, I reached out to Hannah with notes of encouragement. She was interested in having a spiritual mentor, so I began to visit her 2-3 times per month, sharing scripture and catching up with each other's lives. She was so hungry for more of Jesus.

Hannah: I spent 27 months in the county jail preparing for the trial. I used that time to developed my relationship and get close to the Lord. God was preparing me as He put enough faith into me to see hope and hold onto His light no matter what happened. The trial did not go as expected and I was sent to CCCF with a life sentence for murder.

The Lord has abundantly blessed me and has produced growth in me as well as others who are walking with me. I do not know how long God will keep me planted here, but I know that when I follow Him, I will fulfill the purpose He has for my life. I have peace and joy and thanksgiving and am learning to love Jesus more and more.

In the 2 1/2 years Hannah has been at CCCF she has blossomed in ways she could not imagine. She serves in the intake area, meeting the new women from Jackson Co and beyond. She attends worship services, Bible studies, and has become part of Prison Fellowship academy! This past year she participated in a drama class, and they put on a production of a Greek tragedy "Elektra". Hannah had the lead role and her family was able to see one of the performances. Hannah began writing songs of praise while still in jail, and she continues to sing her words of praise to her Lord Jesus. It is a privilege to write to her and a great joy when I receive a letter from her. She is a shining light for Jesus!

A song written By Hannah

Heaven within these Boundaries
Heaven within these boundaries
I found Heaven within these walls
Heaven within these boundaries
Maybe we didn't really fall that far –

From the place of Your kingdom
From the glory that You are
from the satellites above us
To the shining of Your star

I found freedom locked in a cage
I found freedom writing on a page
​I found freedom within this age -
From when locked doors ignited my rage

There is Grace -
In the place of Your kingdom
In the glory that You are
In the satellites above us
And the shining of Your star