Seeing Jesus in the Most Surprising Places

Sometimes I'm amazed at the faith people have to walk into difficult places to serve the Lord. A few weeks ago I interviewed a graduate from one of the Cru ministries who is serving God in an amazing way, loving some of the most difficult people to love. Below is the short article I wrote up about Laura. As I finished up writing I couldn't help but thank God for her and pray for her.  I hope you will do the same.

photo courtesy Julianna Boehm Photography

“It’s hard work but it’s unmistakably filled with the heart of God,” says Laura when asked about her job as an occupational therapist within a state forensic psychiatric hospital. This hospital exists for people who have committed crimes from murder to assault and are placed there due to mental illness. Laura says, “A good day is one where no one hurts someone else.”  

In college, Laura was drawn to occupational therapy because she desired to help people engage in everyday life skills. As she shadowed occupational therapists, her interest grew and she knew this was her calling. She believes God has sent her to be an advocate for some of the most marginalized people in society.

She says, “Despite the horrendous things some of them have done, I look at them and say, ‘You are a child of God. I care for you. You are loved and valued.’” Recently one of her patients became suicidal and she was able to speak truth to him that he is a valuable person whose life is meaningful.

After her time in Cru at the University of Indianapolis, she received training from the Medical Strategic Network. This helped her see how her profession as an occupational therapist could be a ministry. Now she says, “My primary ministry is my work.” Some days Laura and her co-workers fear for their lives as they work among dangerous criminals but she also experiences Christ daily in the eyes of patients who are made in God’s image.  

The difficulty of the job has created common ground with her co-workers. They all experience the fear, the exhaustion, and the brokenness. Recently, she held a dinner for all of her co-workers and discussed several essays she had written as she has processed her experiences in the job. All of these included prayers and presented her faith openly.  She shared part of the essays and then gave bound copies to everyone. It was a great opportunity to help her co-workers put language to what they have experienced, see Jesus in it, and open the door for many spiritual conversations to come.  

Laura couldn’t do it alone. She is surrounded by a church community who values what she does and how it relates to the gospel of Christ. She meets to pray with friends from church every morning before she goes to work. Supported by the encouragement and prayers of many friends, she continues to serve the least of these daily, showing them the love and mercy of God.  

Laura is a SENT ONE!

  

May Update: End of a Dream

Setting Captives Free

When someone is rescued from a life of human trafficking, many times they are extremely disillusioned.  They have been told that law enforcement is out to get them.  They are often scared to cooperate with authorities due to fear of retaliation by their trafficker.  

One simple gesture can make a big difference in the ongoing healing and restoration of the victim as well as the possible conviction of the perpetrators.  What is this gesture?  A gift.  For someone who has had everything taken from them, to receive a gift that says, “We care about you,” speaks louder than words.  

This is why we are coordinating efforts to provide every sheriff’s office a rescue backpack.  These contain immediate needs like toiletries and clothes for the victims who often escape with nothing but the clothes on their back.  

The backpack drive is a wonderful way for the community to engage in the fight against trafficking in our area.  We have seen churches, businesses, and individuals donate to the cause.  

There is a great need for them too.  During the month of April, Florida Abolitionist assisted 13 victims who were rescued from a life of slavery.  Most of these received backpacks and are on their way towards a new life.  Please pray for each of them, that God would heal their hearts and restore their souls.  

The End of A Dream

Two years ago, we embarked on a journey to adopt a child from China.  Honestly, we thought we would have her by now.  But in the Lord’s wisdom, He had the process take longer than expected in order to show us that His plan for us is not to continue with the adoption.  We’re honestly a bit confused.  When we started the process, we felt clearly led by the Lord one way and now feel clearly led in the opposite.  It doesn’t make sense to us, but we fully believe that God is good and that He is leading the way. 

We are experiencing a lot of emotions right now.  We are currently grieving the loss.  It feels like dying to a dream we have had for a long time.  To be honest, we fear what everyone will think.  Will you think we are heartless, selfish, not trusting God?  But, at the end of the day, before God, we have to do what is best for our marriage and our family.  We don’t know what the future holds and as we continue to hold a special place in our hearts for vulnerable children, we trust that the Lord will give us new opportunities in the future to be a blessing to kids in ways we had never before imagined.  

We’d like to thank you for your faithful prayers as we have been in the adoption process.  We ask that you continue to seek God’s face on behalf of the orphans of the world. Also, we ask for you to pray for us as we grieve the loss of the dream.