Sarah did not grow up in the church. She didn’t own a Bible, nor did she have a foundation in faith. Her life was marked by hardship from the time she was three years old, and by the age of nineteen, she found herself pregnant. She was broken, struggling with depression and anxiety, all while trying to care for her baby. The weight of it all felt unbearable.
One day, in the solitude of her home, she fell to her knees. She didn’t fully understand what was happening, but a deep sorrow welled up inside of her. Words of repentance spilled from her lips—apologies for past mistakes, for things she had done to others. It wasn’t until later that she realized it was the Holy Spirit moving in her, leading her into surrender. In that moment, she felt something unexplainable—a warmth, like a soft blanket wrapped around her. It was God.
From that day forward, He began placing people in her life—believers who gently shared the Gospel with her. A friend introduced her to the Bible for the first time, and she went out and bought one of her own. She opened it to the book of John, and everything changed. She fell in love with Scripture, finally understanding who her Creator was. In July 2021, she surrendered her life to Christ.
For a few months, things seemed steady. But soon, the realities of life pressed in. Financial struggles weighed her down. Bills piled up.
She cried out to God, asking, How am I going to get out of this? How will I provide for my child?
By 2022, she reached another breaking point. She let go of everything—her possessions, her plans, her pride. She moved in with her sister, but things quickly became difficult. God had already been stirring a longing for community in her heart, and she began searching for a church. Then, in December, a disagreement forced her to leave. She went to her parents' house, but it was clear she couldn’t stay long. Her father told her she needed to find a stable place for herself and her daughter.
At her lowest, she cried out to God, Where do You want me to go?
Humbled, she called a community resource for help. They gave her a list of shelters, and though she hesitated, she knew she needed help. Swallowing her pride, she made the first call—to House of Refuge Sunnyslope. Tiffanie answered. Through tears, Sarah told her, I need a place to stay.
The next steps happened quickly—an interview, acceptance, a new place to live. But despite the relief, she struggled. She resisted the reality of her situation, wrestling with pride and fear. She didn’t want to be at a shelter, surrounded by strangers. She had built walls around her heart, and when people at HRS showed her love, she questioned it. It’s too good to be true, she thought.
But God was working.
Mindy, one of the staff members, encouraged her: Step out of the boat, step in faith, Sarah.
Her case manager became a lifeline, speaking truth and life over her in her darkest moments. Looking back, she knows God had been leading her to House of Refuge Sunnyslope all along. He had placed community on her heart before she even understood what that truly meant. And now, He was giving her a home—an apartment with a bed, a couch, a space of her own.
God wasn’t just meeting her physical needs. He was working in her heart, healing wounds she hadn’t even realized she carried. He was teaching her to surrender her past, to trust Him with her future.
The past two years have been a journey of transformation. She found a church family, got involved in ministry, and embraced the community she once resisted. Through every job she took—whether in a warehouse, a tax firm, or a nursing home—God was shaping her. Today, she works in an office, directly under the owners of a roofing company who have taken her under their wing. They see her potential, they believe in her, and she’s already received two raises. Every skill she learned at HRS and through her past jobs has prepared her for this moment.
God has been refining her character. She admits that she used to run when things got hard. When bosses gave her feedback, she would quit. When life pressed in, she would retreat. But now, God is teaching her perseverance.
Through HRS, she found deep relationships—like Suzanna, who led her to her church. She never felt comfortable in church before, but now, she is committed and involved. Bible studies and Celebrate Recovery became lifelines, even when she resisted them at first. She once told herself, I can’t wait to be done with this program so I never have to go to Celebrate Recovery again. Now, she attends willingly.
House of Refuge Sunnyslope didn’t just give her a place to stay—it changed her. It softened her heart, taught her humility, and brought her into a family of believers who truly care. She graduated from the program, but the work God is doing in her life is far from over.
Today, she is financially stable, living in her own place, thriving in her job, and even has a great credit score. More than that, she has a heart for ministry. She wants to give back, to share the Gospel, and to pray for others the way people once prayed for her.
Sarah’s story is a testament to God’s faithfulness. Through every hardship, He was there. Through every moment of surrender, He provided.
And He’s not done yet.
Step in faith. Surrender.
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