Victoria lived a life of horror. She left an impoverished and abusive home at an early age, turning to alcohol, drugs and a promiscuous lifestyle.

Finding herself single and pregnant, she knew the drugs and alcohol had to stop for her child’s sake. Her boyfriend’s pattern of abusing substances, not working and becoming more and more physically violent caused Victoria to seek solace at the women’s shelter on Mother’s Day with a one-year-old in tow. While in shelter services, Victoria and her son, Daniel, encountered Buckner.

When Victoria came to the Family Place, she was upfront that she had no “religious” life. But within a month she came into the office with a burning question.

With tears in her eyes, she asked, “Who is this Jesus guy and how can I know more about him?” She said her mother had proclaimed throughout her life that it was just stories and he wasn’t real.

Victoria said, “I’ve been watching you and Ms. Kim (a ministry volunteer) and you’re different. You don’t have to be nice to me or Daniel, but you are. You’re nice to everybody. The only thing I can figure that’s different about you is that you say you are Christians. I can tell that your love for God and other people is real and I believe that God is real.”

Wow!  Talk about exciting days! Family Place makes a difference in the lives of these individuals—-an eternal difference. When new residents walk into our office and voice their fears of being on their own for the very first time or share frustrations that only single moms can understand, I take hope.

Victoria continues to ask deep questions about God, Jesus and living the Christian life. She devours Scripture every week and comes with her first Bible highlighted and questions written.

As we continue to grow Family Place Conroe, be encouraged that we dedicate ourselves to the restoration and healing of individuals’ and families’ physical, emotional, and, most importantly, spiritual brokenness.

Brenda Shuttlesworth is the program director for Buckner Family Place in Conroe, Texas.

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