Celebrate My 20 Year Milestone

1 Title: Chaplain

2 Immediate Co-workers (at the JJC): Mike Brown and Tommy Jordan

3 Locations: Juvenile Justice Center (primarily), Family Law Center, One Safe Place

4 Days per week (since becoming a mom 16 years ago)

5 Office suites (at the JJC)

6, 7, 8, … 19 … 

20 YEARS Offering hope and spiritual support for detained juveniles, probation & security staff, judges, juveniles’ parents, victims, and my NewDay co-workers!!!!!

I am beyond grateful to have reached an impressive milestone in this ministry, and it is only because I have had the support from my churches, family and friends. I am seeking new and continued support this year because I still feel strongly about chaplaincy in the Tarrant County Family Courts. Each day I am at work, I am engaged in conversations with people about their life events, often wondering why they would ever trust God (again or now). They are hurt, scared, angry, stuck, stunned, calloused, and/or have been wronged. I hardly ever relate and at the same time, I am constantly reminded that God provides. He continues to give me the words, compassion, prayer and desire to just listen to them share, and he also gives me the time and the funding to justify it all. Your financial gift would sustain my income, provide supplies like my computer, our printer, and the certificate paper that we use to create awards when juveniles are behaving consistently well.

I’ll share with you one quick story. I was talking with a boy last week. He had a “different” look: calm and humble verses angry. Usually, he holds grudges, but he changed his mind. It was time to forgive the ways he had been wronged during his life, do well because it brought more peace, and even start to pray for other people. He knows he avoided at least one fight and actually started getting some sleep in Detention. He felt as if he could be forgiven and when he got his chance to go home, the relationships in his home and at school were going to be better.

In my prayer with him, I asked the Lord to forgive him for the crime he committed but also to keep showing him his heart, to show him the way to more true freedom and to fill him with peace. Supporting juveniles and adults right where they are in their own spiritual walks is why I have chosen to stay in this ministry for 20 years. I pray that my time there will be an investment of eternal value.