'He heals the brokenhearted'

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3)

When the homeless are hurting, it is good for them to have a safe place to go and people to talk with. That's why it is so important to complete the renovations at the Love In Action Ministry Center and open the doors for all of the ministries that will operate out of it.

Last Saturday I met a young homeless woman who was "staying" at the hotel next to the LIA Ministry Center. She said she had been abandoned in Dothan and ended up there. What that usually means is she is desperate and was selling her body for money and/or drugs. That's not passing judgment, those are just the facts. After 11 years in this ministry, we have learned most of the signs.

She was high when I was talking with her. My heart broke. She didn't wake up one morning and say, "I want to become an addict and a prostitute." No, her dreams were shattered at some point through some event. She said life was good until her husband died in a car accident. Life has been a living hell ever since.

I listened to her and told her she was welcome at our ministry center and that we would be having Bible study Wednesday night. She said she would probably be "buzzing" by that time. I told her she would still be welcome, and that I would rather for her to be "buzzing" in a safe place than "buzzing" on the streets.

Tuesday night she showed up at the ministry center. I was at our health care clinic for the homeless when I received a call that a young woman was at the ministry center crying and scared. I knew who it was. I also knew she needed to be ministered to by some strong Christian women. So Martha and two of our volunteers, Denise and Emily, went to minister to her along with my mom and another volunteer, Gia. Talk about a powerful group of women.

They listened to her, talked to her, prayed with her, encouraged her to sing (which made her feel better), prayed, talked and listened some more. She had been in a bad situation where she had been hit, and she was terrified. The women of Love In Action did a wonderful job ministering to her, and she ended up at a safe place where she wouldn't be beaten.

She didn't think she deserved to be treated right, or respected or have good things happen to her. She has been completely beaten down spiritually, physically and mentally. People in her condition have no self worth. They think they are nobodies. But nothing could be further from the truth.

They are somebody. They are people God wants to save, heal, deliver, restore and love. Their dreams have been shattered, but God wants to give their dreams back to them. I have seen people like this young woman receive their lives back through the saving grace of Jesus Christ and the restoration power of God. There is hope for her and His name is Jesus.

There are many more people like this young woman in Dothan, Ala., and we are reaching them. When the ministry center is renovated and fully operating we will reach a lot more. This is what God has called us to do, and though we often shed many tears, it is worth all the heartache when we see one of these hurting souls saved and lives restored.

Please keep these precious people in your prayers, and please pray for us. It takes a lot out of you spiritually and physically when you are doing intense ministry like we do. We treasure and appreciate your prayers.