“Turkeys and stuffing and pie, oh my, these are the treats on our table.
Support groups and prayers and listening ears, these sure do keep us more stable.”
Domestic abuse and violence can truly devastate our holidays, but God is faithful to minister to our hearts and souls even in the midst of the storms. We praise His Holy name for His goodness and faithfulness to the women we serve and help here at FOCUS Ministries. We have the hope of Jesus Christ everyday.
The support group that I facilitate met on Monday evening for our annual traditional potluck Friendsgiving. What a blessing to sit in the circle with these brave women! We shared our stories, shed some tears, prayed three times, even holding hands in our circle and giving thanks for our great Savior and Redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ who is intimately engaged in our lives and giving us strength each day.
We talked about the spiritual battles we face in our homes. The battles seem to ramp up at this time of the year, as if our enemy would attempt to steal every last drop of joy in our hearts. We agreed that the holidays are so difficult, but we have the Lord with us. We offered resources for housing and help. We encouraged each other, validated each other and believed in each other.
Support groups are a vital part of the ministry we do. Every single woman who sits at our table expresses that she feels isolated. Many of them have tried talking to family, friends and church leaders about the nightmare happening in their homes, but most are not believed. When our support group gathers together, there are two common bonds: Pain and Hope. We all know betrayal and rejection in our homes, but we also share the hope we have in Jesus Christ who sees, who hears and acts on our behalf to help and deliver us from abuse.
FOCUS Ministries began in 1995 with a support group of women sitting around a kitchen table. Almost thirty years later, we are still gathering in the name of Jesus, finding hope and strength and fellowship in the journey. God is so good, so faithful. We give Him all the thanks and praise for continuing this very important ministry to women and families who are hurting.
Happy and Blest Thanksgiving from all of us at FOCUS Ministries.