After the tragic and unexpected death of my mother when I was 15, my life took a major turn with suicide attempts and a nervous breakdown at 16, feelings of hopelessness, despair, and abandonment which resulted in an eating disorder and other self-destructive behaviors by the age of 17, a dangerous and abusive marriage at 20, my father's sudden death at 22, having to flee my beautiful home state of California at 26, and becoming a single mom with next to nothing at 27. I have been divorced for 20 years and over the past 17 years, I have raised my son with God's help, provision, guidance, grace, and mercy. With God's amazing grace I now have a wonderful teenage son, a Master's of Education Degree and a Masters of Arts in Counseling Degree (coming in November) and am busy serving and living for HIM.
God was not done with me yet and gave me a huge vision which has resulted in Rivers of Grace Ministry. Over the course of this last year, God has really had His hand in this ministry and it has taken off like a rocket shooting across the heavens. It amazes me each time a door is opened creating a way to do what He called me to do.
Rivers of Grace Ministry started in 2006 as a result of a dream and a vision God gave me. He not only supplied this vision, but placed a deep desire in my heart to use the many trials and tragedies encountered on this journey for a greater good. I get to laugh in the enemy's face and tell him, he didn't get me down. I'm STILL STANDING and doing the work of GOD! This vision includes helping other single moms navigate the challenging life of raising children alone while teaching them about God's grace, love, and peace. "Empowerment" is a big word to me and I want women to be empowered by discovering their true identity in Christ like I did. It will truly tansform their lives!!!!
The ultimate vision of Rivers of Grace Ministry is to one day build Oasis House, a large transitional maternity home and empowerment program that is free of charge for unwed, pregnant young girls and women ages 14-28 and mothers who are in other crisis situations. In October 2008, Rivers of Grace Ministry merged with New Haven Ministries which was founded and directed by Martha Breeden. Through this merger, Rivers of Grace Ministry is now recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under New Haven Ministries. This came about through a relationship formed by talking with Martha about how she started her ministry and then offering to give the young ladies at her maternity home a Mary Kay pampering party!! Wow!! God sure knows how to create opportunities and open doors! God knew what was in my heart and how overwhelming the process was to get incorporated AND get recognized as a tax-exempt organization. He literally saved us at least 5 years and several thousands of dollars with this merger!! How great is that!
New Haven Ministries was started in 2002 by Martha Breeden, to find a solution to the growing need for the shelter, care, and training of homeless pregnant mothers with children. New Haven Ministries was incorporated as a non-profit in March of 2002. Shortly, thereafter, New Haven Ministries became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Through God's provision, money was raised to lease and operate a facility near New Braunfels, TX, to house homeless, pregnant women and their children and teach themnecessary life skills. New Haven Ministries' maternity home helped many young women in crisis. In October 2008, the lease on the maternity home expired and God gave Martha a new calling in another part of Texas.
At the pampering day outreach I agreed to take over the single mom support group (which we have named "Girl Talk") and meet at my house. A month later, Martha called me, and a new season for both New Haven Ministries and Rivers of Grace Ministry began. God brought us together through a ministry outreach for such a season as this. The day before Martha talked to me about merging the two ministries, someone at church gave me a prophesy saying God was getting ready to do something huge in my life and for me not to be scared, anxious, or overwhelmed by it. Isn't that cool! God is so good and so amazing. I'm glad I got that word! I may have gotten a bit freaked out by it all, but I knew what God was up to once it happened.
Rivers of Grace Ministry, under the umbrella of New Haven Ministries, has dreamed a GOD-SIZED dream that will one-day include a transitional maternity home for up to 25 mothers and 75 children (Oasis House), on-site professional counseling services, on-site day care, on-site school for the children and any teen moms live there and in the area, parenting and life skill classes, financial freedom, grief share, divorce care, and physical/sexual abuse bible study programs, education, job training, and partnership with crisis pregnancy centers and medical professionals to offer part-time services on-site. Oasis House will be the home for the mothers and children living there and Rivers of Grace Ministry will continue to reach out to area mothers who need our help.
WOW!! God certainly gives us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions!! Take that devil!! We have the authority God gave us if we believe in Him. It's time to take that authority and use it to turn around what was meant for harm. God wants the BEST for His children. We must remember that, believe it, expect it, and walk in it!
Thank you God for your amazing love, provision, grace, mercy, and favor!!!
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