Reflections from Valued Restoration Ministries' Interns

Ministry of Presence (by M.C)

At Restoration Ministries we serve a population that others sometimes neglect.  Throughout their lives, the precious young girls we minister to are neglected and abused. It takes time and commitment to break through their hardened exteriors, but most importantly it takes the love of Christ.  We strive to display to each girl the love of her  Heavenly Father who sees special promise in her, who deeply desires to resurrect the parts of her spirit beaten down by abuse, and who will never leave her or forsake her. We do this by slowly, carefully building trusting and honest relationships.  We give each girl a safe place in which to open up her heart. Our goal is to develop long-term friendships with the girls we serve in order to bring them to wholeness in Jesus Christ.   

We often say we are a ministry of presence. This year the Lord has revealed to me the power of continuing to show up and give time and gentle attention to those who feel broken, alienated, and forgotten.  One afternoon I was coloring quietly with a young lady that I have been seeing for months when she looked up at me and said, “I know now that God is real and that he loves me because you always show up. I never have to doubt that you will be here. You just love me, without judging me, and you don’t even have to”.  Her comment almost brought me to tears as I realized that slowly the Lord had begun to reveal himself to her through one person’s simple act of just showing up.

So we continue to show up each week, and the Lord is present with us and moving in our midst!  This year so far we have had the opportunity to speak purpose and destiny into our girls’ lives on numerous occasions through holding parties, making art together, and sharing thoughts in group discussions.  One week we discussed self-esteem and the girls beamed from ear to ear as they talked about how God sees them as beloved daughters, victorious, righteous, and precious in His sight. It was beautiful to see the Lord dispelling the lies that are ingrained so deeply in the girls and filling those empty spaces with His truth.

As we continue to be faithful with what He has entrusted to us, the Lord stays close at our side. . Each day we see the cracks in our girls’ self-protective shells widen a little bit, and we are reminded over and over that “where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – M.C.