2025 Focus + Vision

As we step into a New Year, we look back on 2024 with a deep reverence and respect. A deep gratitude for all that was accomplished at Onehope Refuge.

10 short months ago, our safe home doors were opened in Wake Forest, NC. Deserving women + children joined our program and since then, have made tremendous, healing strides. Just last week, one of our mothers who was previously trafficked for 12 years said, “This is the longest (5 months) I’ve ever been at any program. I’m so proud I’m still here. That my children are thriving. That somewhere finally feels like home.”

We do not take these milestones lightly. Every moment – big and small – counts. We see how your continued love and support are changing lives. Generations even. Thank you. 

🕒 2025 Focus + Vision 🕒 ⬇️

Stronger Foundations

Operating a nonprofit – one that directly serves families with unique and complex trauma – is not for the faint of heart. We’ve learned so much about these survivors, our care model, and ourselves. For months, we’ve been supporting two families through the first physical stabilization phase of our program. We’ve established trust and safety. We’ve learned what works and what needs to be tweaked for new families coming in. Going forward, in 2025, both families will move into the longer-term restorative care phase. We’ll shift our approach to include more personal accountability and empowerment. With that, our focus has never been clearer: Our #1 goal is to guide, uplift, and model Jesus Christ in hopes that survivors will gain new life in Him. We believe in these families. We exist to help them believe in themselves too.

Team Development  

Our care model is theoretically solid and backed by extensive research. We are committed to ensuring every team member understands and feels connected to our vision + approach. This includes leveling up personalized professional development experiences such as systems training, continuing education, well-being best practices, etc. Ultimately, our aim is to ensure families are thriving because our team is too.  

Raise Awareness + Support  

Onehope Refuge has some incredibly loyal defendHERs. Each of you reading this have undoubtably impacted our ministry in some way. We are so very grateful! Going forward, in order to sustain and expand this vital work, we must raise awareness of #endhumantrafficking and share more about how we are uniquely positioned to combat it. We plan to create more space for nurturing relationships + building out fruitful, lasting partnerships in 2025 and beyond. Would you commit to helping us spread the word about Onehope Refuge? On social media. With friends, family, colleagues, church groups, etc. The power of connections never ceases to amaze us. Do you have a suggestion for someone we should meet? Please send our way. 

Faith > Fear

Faith is at the center of everything we do. Spiritually, we continue to pour into our families, believing that true strength is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Every devotion, bible study and act of worship is designed to help our families build unshakable, truth-filled foundations.

We live out our faith in good times and in tough times too.

Recently, we learned the property development of “Refuge Acres” (our 2026 campus vision) has been delayed. While this was initially disappointing, we trust there is a larger, divine plan in play. In 2024, we fell short of our first-ever annual fundraising goal. We believe the gift of additional time will allow us to strengthen our foundation, garner even more support for the current + long term vision of Onehope Refuge and most importantly, create even more impact for our families. 

Growth

The needs of the mothers and children we serve remain immense, yet even still, when we look at the progress made, it’s astonishing. Each family we care for is working towards true independence, and we are committed to providing the tools, skills, and spiritual foundation they need to achieve it. Just last year, we celebrated the following breakthroughs … even more to come this year …

·      Two preemie babies now meeting age-appropriate developmental milestones.

·      One mother healing from postpartum depression.

·      Three children thriving in healthy, new school environments.

·      One mother moving off disability and preparing to re-enter the workforce.

·      Family relationships/dynamics being restored through forgiveness.

·      Progress in trauma-informed counseling.  

Is volunteering on your list for 2025? We’d love to have you. Whether it’s playing with kids at the park, teaching preschoolers’ numbers and letters, or facilitating evening activities so moms can focus on their studies (biblical, educational, etc.), your support is huge. Visit our volunteer page here for additional opportunities. 

Personally for me in 2025, I’m doubling down on my quiet time. It makes all the difference when I can start and end my day in The Word. Would you join me in mighty prayer for this ministry? Each edition of this newsletter contains a specific “Praises and Prayer Requests” section (below). Check it out!

Can’t wait to watch God move here …