July 7, 2024
Oh, God, have mercy on us. Within the last 24 hours, we have received three referrals for mothers with their children, totaling 12 precious lives needing help and trying to escape their traffickers. These conversations are heart-wrenching:
Onehope Intake Person: Are you safe?
Trafficking Victim: Yes, as long as I don’t deviate from the plan.
Onehope Intake Person: What do we need to know about your situation?
Trafficking Victim: I’ve been trafficked by the same network since I was twelve. There are two groups of us, one of foster girls, then us from the suburbs. Our clientele is different; we work for lawyers, doctors, football players, and politicians.
There are not enough places in the country to support the need for women with children trying to get away and find a new life. Remember, 85-90% of these women were abused as a child making them vulnerable to these evil situations. If you can help, will you help? We could serve one of these families if we increased our operating budget this year by $25k, hired another Home Coordinator and had a vehicle that could seat 10 people. Nothing is too big for our God, Ephesians 3:20 says, Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, please just ask Him with us!
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners. – Isaiah 61:1
While we are not Isaiah nor Jesus, the Onehope Refuge team, having been sealed with the Holy Spirit by the grace of God and mercy of Christ, is witnessing lives being transformed as we interact and live out the gospel of Christ in this home with these women and children. We are eternally grateful for this calling and blessing in our lives.
Our team consists of five Home Coordinators and one Case Manager, covering 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to ensure everyone in our care first and foremost feels safe as we provide wrap around services to help each woman and child rebuild their lives on the true foundation as they make steps toward healing and independence. Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Over the course of April, May and June we have had:
– 16 medical appointments – includes dentist
– 18 hours of counseling – trauma-informed
– 22 life skills classes – parenting, budgeting, goal setting
– 84 opportunities to learn and grow closer to Jesus through Sunday church attendance, Bible studies, VBS and daily devotions
– Living Life – countless grocery shopping trips, visits to the pool, and park outings
– Numerous volunteers contributing 95 hours of service
– Nonstop prayers to the Lord
We have been busy, to say the least! As we have been busy, the Lord continues to lead and direct us on this journey!
Capital Campaign for Onehope Refuge
As mentioned in the May 9th newsletter, we are launching a capital campaign in August to build the ministry campus. Will you begin praying the Lord will go before us and prepare and provide all that is needed for His ministry, Onehope Refuge? We estimate the full process to take about two years, which aligns with our existing rental lease agreement. We’d love for you to be a part of this incredible vision. Is not impacting these families to change future generations God’s will?
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9
If you can help, please consider supporting us in any of the following ways:
– Donate to help us increase our operating budget by $25,000. DONATE
– Provide a vehicle that can seat 10 people.
– Pray for our ministry, the victims we support, and the success of our capital campaign.
Your support can make a life-changing difference for these women and children. Thank you for your prayers and generosity.
SERVE! Join our team of volunteers! Whether it’s engaging with kids at the park while parents attend classes, teaching preschoolers’ numbers and letters, or facilitating evening playtime so moms can focus on Bible study, your support makes a meaningful difference. Suggested times for available slots are below. Visit our volunteer page HERE, for additional volunteer opportunities!
Mon – Fri from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. or 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
SHARE! Sharing about our ministry with friends and family is so helpful in gaining support. Will you take a moment to do that now? Perhaps forward this email or post to Facebook and other social media platforms.
*Be sure to access our Praises and Prayer requests document below by clicking the button JUNE Praises and Prayer Requests Report. We need your prayers! *