Changed Lives

Nancy (not her real name) had given up hope.  Betrayed by her father… her uncle, her brothers… betrayed by her trusted pastor… marks on her wrists… gashes elsewhere on her arms made to ease the pain of her perceived guilt… full of shame.. tired of trying… tired of choosing life.  She sat across from me, eyes downward.  “You’re not going to believe me anyway,” she said.

Fast forward two and a half years later.

This time we met at her house over tea and Oreo cookies.  “Yesterday I read about the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ coat because she needed to be healed.  I told God I was going to hang on tightly to Him just like she did until He healed me too.”

What made the difference?  Why the change?  The process was a long, slow one that included a caring community that came alongside her in her woundedness — friends, an understanding husband, a pastor who really cared, a small group at the church who knew how to help and most of all, a growing connection with the Lord and His powerful Word.

What part did Lydia Discipleship Ministries play?  LDM was involved in many levels — praying with her, caring, connecting her with Him through our hope-filled resources  and training  those around her to appropriately disciple her.