I have spent the last few days remembering the time leading up to the birth of Redeeming Grace Ministries on June 15, 2018. I love telling this story because it reminds me of God’s faithfulness.
In April that year several people we love relapsed. My husband, Dave, and I were having dinner one Sunday night and he told me that something different needs to be done and it was time I started a ministry. I smiled and thought, “Sure,” but didn’t give it any more conversation or thought. On Thursday, another friend mentioned that when I started a ministry, I would have her full support. That same day, another friend called me and said she had been talking to an acquaintance of mine and they were wondering when I was going to start a women’s and children’s home. I laughed!
I told my husband about the funny things that had been said to me that day, laughing the whole time. He said, “I already told you to start a ministry. Why are you laughing?” My response was, “It will affect our family; I don’t know what I am doing and really who does that?” Then I told him I was tired and going to sleep.
The next day, I asked him to revisit the conversation. Completely out of character, my quiet, thoughtful husband told me I needed to stop talking and listen to him. He said, “I believe this is what God has called you to do and I am not going to let a little inconvenience on my or our family’s part stand in the way of what God has called you to do.”
Well alrighty then! I began praying. Over the next few weeks, the same friend that told me I had her full support mentioned me starting a ministry on a voicemail, and then in another conversation. I interrupted her and explained that I hadn’t said anything about starting anything. She thought for a minute and said “I guess you haven’t, but the Holy Spirit told me you were. You are aren’t you?” I responded with, “I guess so.”
This month we are celebrating RGM’s 3rd Birthday! If you asked me then how long it would take to open our doors, I would and did say 3-6 months. Obviously, I was wrong. While I would have loved to rush right into operating, today, I can say I am glad that we didn’t. I knew how to do ministry, but I had no idea how much it took to operate the business side of a ministry. One of Dave’s stipulations to having RGM was that when we opened our doors we would have one years of operating expenses in the bank. His reasoning is that when we tell a woman we have a year long program that we will be able to provide the program even if we don’t ever raise anymore support.
I honestly thought there was no way we were going to be able to do that, but I am thrilled to say that we have it now! READ THAT AGAIN! We have one year’s worth of operating expenses in our account. Can we take a moment and thank God for his faithfulness? You have probably heard me say that before but I want to remind myself and others that RGM is God’s vision for His people! I am thankful to be a part of it.
For three years we have laid a solid foundation for RGM to serve people for many years to come. We have the business side in order, we have developed an amazing board, our residential program has been carefully designed, and our volunteer program is simply amazing and will have a huge impact on our community.
