The data shows that Next Chapter Ministries is making an impact when it comes to those who have faced trauma.
We know that 2 out of 3 people have experienced some form of childhood trauma (ACEs Study-Dr. Anda and Dr. Felitti) and that according to research about childhood trauma, all of the risk factors for adverse experiences can be offset by one thing: the presence of a stable, caring adult in a child’s life.
Studies also show that with the presence of hope and support, risk factors for adverse experiences such as depression, high-risk behaviors, and job effectiveness, all decrease (The ACE Study).
This is why what we do is so important.
I am one who bears the scars of trauma: violence, divorce, sexual abuse, poverty, drug addiction, and being a child of an incarcerated parent - all of these have had an influence on me. However, trauma does not define me. I am not a victim; my scars do not represent the woundedness I have lived through. Today, I know that Jesus had scars too, even after He rose from the dead. My scars, like His, serve to show the victory of what I have overcome and the new life that darkness has no power over anymore!
At the Lighthouse, we are being a part of the solution. We are trauma-informed and Christ-centered. As the Women's Ministry Site Director, I have a heart to cultivate an atmosphere of safety and hospitality. When women come for Bible study, mentorship, recovery resources, or simply for prayer and a cup of coffee, I want them to experience the healing power of Jesus Christ. We are women of wisdom in the word and warriors in worship. Our strength comes from knowing Him.
The pain of my past is the very thing that God is using here at Next Chapter Ministries to give hope to the broken and to show that freedom can truly come through a relationship with the God who created us. He also loves us through the people He places in our lives. I would encourage you to be a part of the solution. Join us on the first Thursday of each month at the Lighthouse from 11:30 am- 1:00 pm for our participant/ volunteer connect lunch, as well as Wednesday nights from 6:00-8:00 pm, and Thursday afternoons from 1:30- 3:00 pm for Bible Study.
Jessica LaFavor, Women's Ministry Site Director
Next Chapter Ministries
Jessica.lafavor@nextchapterrochester.org
507-529-5799
To contact us on training opportunities in Trauma-Informed Care, or to learn more about the ACE study, email your inquires to office@nextchapterrochester.org