'The hill battered my face'

She walked into the clinic tonight with two black and swollen eyes. There was a large gash on her forehead, just above her right eye. She and her husband are homeless. Her horribly battered face was a result of her husband allegedly beating her.

The only reason I used the word "allegedly" is 22 years of journalism taught me a person is guilty until proven innocent, so always use the word, "allegedly." He was arrested and charged with domestic III, which is only a class A misdemeanor. It made me wonder how bad does a woman have to be beaten before it's a domestic I charge.

She went right back to him when he was released from jail. She was at the clinic last week to see our eye doctor. He came by this evening to pick up her glasses. I wouldn't give them to him. Patients need to pick up their own glasses.

Then she came in. My heart sank when I saw her, and knowing that she is back with him. This isn't the first, or even the second time this has happened. She was excited to receive her glasses, and smiled when she placed them on her battered face. At least she had something to smile about.

I hugged her and told her I knew what happened, and she needed to take care of herself and that she didn't have to put up with this. Then, my heart sank even more when she said, "The hill did most of it."

That's a classic response from a woman in an abusive relationship. The hill didn't punch her in both eyes. The gash may have came from the hill, but there was a reason her face hit the ground so hard.

When she blamed the hill, I knew at that moment she may very well end up dead one day at the hands, or fists, of her husband. What can you do when she won't leave the one who has beaten her and put her in very bad situations over the years?

We have tried to help them the past couple of years as well as other ministries and agencies. They are young, but their lives have spiraled out of control.

On our Facebook page you see the nice photos, and a lot of great things happen every day. We don't post the bad photos for obvious reasons. We want to protect the victims.

This ministry isn't easy. We see the worst in people. Thankfully there are a lot more good folks out there we minister to than bad, but the bad ones lately have been really bad. 

We see firsthand what sin does to people ... exactly what the Bible says it does. "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23)

Jesus says in John 10:10, "The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy." Satan is busy doing that right here in Dothan, Alabama, just like he is around the world. But, our God is bigger. We have seen the power of God radically transform lives, pulling people out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Those we try to help who are slaves to drugs, alcohol, and violence can be saved. Their lives can be transformed, but only by the power of Jesus Christ. However, I also know Romans 1:28 says God will turn them over to debased or reprobate minds if they continually deny Him.

There are some who can quote scripture as good a most pastors. They know the difference between right and wrong, but they continually toss God aside. That's a very dangerous place for anyone to be.

Please pray for this young woman, and for her husband. Please pray for those who are slaves to addiction ... to sin, who keep refusing to obey God. They know the truth, but will not allow it to set them free. 

Please pray for us and other ministries who are reaching out to those in darkness. We will continue to go into the enemy's camp and try to pull more out. It's what God called us to do.