Lucy
Garrison, NY
2000
Lucy was 88 pounds, soaking wet.
Her cut-off shorts didn’t seem “church appropriate.”
The years of physical and sexual abuse and constant attempts to numb the pain with drugs were visible. Lucy hated that she had to give up custody of her daughter to her mom. But Lucy knew her daughter was in the right place.
That night, exhausted mentally, physically, and spiritually, Lucy figured that her mom and her daughter were at church together. Should she go? Would she be accepted?
With very little hope left, Lucy slipped inside the back doors of the sanctuary. She hoped no one would notice and yet she was desperate for someone to truly see her. But what Lucy saw changed her life …
Lucy’s six-year-old daughter turned around and saw her. “She came running down the aisle, ‘Mommy!’ And she threw her arms into my arms.”
That night, the Lord showed Lucy His love through her family and through His church. He also directed her to the support she needed as the pastor told Lucy about Hoving Home.
When Lucy arrived, she was very overwhelmed. The desire for change was met with the reality of change! But Lucy put in the difficult work to look at her past trauma and coping mechanisms and trusted the process.
Through learning God’s Word and spending time in prayer, the Lord brought healing and new life to Lucy’s heart.
After graduating, God pressed upon Lucy’s heart to help others who have struggled with addiction and hopelessness. A few positions gave her the experience and vision to serve in her current role Founder/CEO of a crisis center addictions intervention center in Camden NJ. Lucy tells others about the hope she found in Christ and the love that is always there waiting. No matter what her past looks like. No matter what shorts she’s wearing. His love sustains her, and that’s all that does matter.
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