This has really been an interesting summer to say the least. First of all, we just want to tell you how much we love you all and thank God for all the prayers you have been covering us with. It has been a season of loss and victory and God has been reminding us to stand firm, and rest on the promises of His word. He really is the only rock we have (praise Him that it is all we really need).
The battle for souls is raging on Broadway. This challenging season has opened my eyes to the fact that more than ever we need to be out there, loving people who are broken, and living under the crushing blows of guilt and shame--they need our care. The thing we have to offer is the truth of the forgiveness and love of Jesus Christ and that He is the only one with the power to set us free. It's funny, sometimes I think we like to sugar coat the Christian life like somehow you get saved and then everything just gets 100 percent straight. Not quite. I don't think the Bible says anything about life in this fallen world being fair, (it isn't) but it does say that God's love toward us is perfect, unconditional and not based on our performance. I am so grateful for that truth in my life today. He redeems our failures and continues to cover our lives with His mercy and grace. Please pray for these women by name. They are hopeless without your prayers and God's intervening work in their lives. The abuse they are experiencing by dates, etc. is nothing short of violent and oppressive. Again, I am sure that not one of these precious young women imagined that one day they would be doing what they do to survive. This list is not exhaustive but reflects the last several weeks encounters.Please pray for God to move and for the radical rescue of these precious ones, one life at a time.
We love you guys,Brenda and the SHAN team
The SHAN prayer list from the last several weeks:
Nikki-30yrs. Old from Philly and her 5 year old son Giovanni
Kim-21,from Westville,only been out for 2 weeks
Charmaine-whose left eye was completely swollen shut,she was punched in the face on a date,he robbed her after,please pray she will seek medical care.Please pray for her brother Richard as well,he was electrocuted while scraping in an abandoned building.
DianeS.- just completed detox and did not enter long term treatment relapsed and back on Broadway.
Jackie H.-was offered detox and long term rehab as a result of a May sweep with Metro.Left detox and is still on Broadway.Judge just re-entered her warrants,pray she gets picked up,(rescued) and that she will regain her sound mind in jail and go away long term.
LOLO-her cancer is in remission.She just recently reunited with her 22 year old daughter whom she gave up for adoption at 2 as a result of her addiction.She has a grandson and God seems to be reconciling their relationship.Please pray the pull of the drug and the street don't take her back.
Alicia-28,pregnant,has 3 other children who her father is caring for. She has had no pre-natal care,pry she will reach out and we can get her to our sisters at Options.
Corrine-just lost her Aunt who was a very stable and positive person in her life!She attended her funeral and then her step-father who rises her brought her to Camden to get high,with Him.It is so much more than this,please pray for heart,he also expected sexual favors from her,she is devastated and in a very bad place.
Kim B.- just turned 32,went to school with our kids,been out here for over 12 years,has 2 daughters who live with her mom in West Deptford,please pray for a divine intervention,without she isn't going to make it.
Rochelle-23,just recently spent time in the ACJail,went to pick her up and facilitate her travel to a long term discipleship program,she refused.She is a beautiful young woman,who needs our prayer support to take the step out and away from this captivity.
Heather-had to leave a program she was in for medical reasons,is back on Broadway and was attacked last week by a date and had her $ stolen from her and her face scratched badly.
Jennifer J.-has 3 children ages 9,7,3 they are living with her parents and her ex-husband who has been clean for 2 years.She wants to be a mother to them.
Lindsey and Teresa-both new and young,from Collingswood 21 years old,made 1st time connection with them.
Lisa C.-has a 17 year old daughter and family support.Had been clean for 7 months,relapsed and we met on Carl Miller Blvd.She finally got into detox a week ago,and was supposed to enter long term discipleship program,but did not show up.Please pray that someone would hear from her and that she would catch Hope for change and healing.
Amanda-27,in a program on N.Jersey,pray foe ongoing healing and hope for a future free of this bondage to heroin.
Brittany and Jeff-young married couple with 5 children between them.All of the kids in their families care.Both are heavily heroin addicted but open to conversation and want to change.The hardest thing we always face with couples is them leaving each other to enter treatment.It is virtually impossible unless they separate to help them.
