A New Life

“I AM ONLY NINETEEN,” she chuckled, “I have my whole life ahead of me.” When confronted with a difficult situation, a young mother, Jasmyne, had a decision to make. She could keep living life as she had been, or she could move to a new place, in a new town, with new people, and give herself and her son the fresh start they desperately needed. 

At the beginning of 2023, Jasmyne faced eviction from her apartment after an argument with her significant other. Feeling lost with no place to go, she reached out to a local shelter for help. At capacity, the shelter could not accept anyone else, but they told her about STCH Ministries Homes for Families. Jasmyne promptly filled out an application and interviewed with staff. In February 2023, she and her seven-month-old son, Adriel, moved into Phase I on the Marshall Campus and started their path toward healing. 

Before coming to Homes for Families, Jasmyne worked overnight at a convenience store. She struggled to find the time to bond with Adriel. She knew she needed to work to provide for her family but did not know how to balance life with work. Coming to the Marshall Campus meant that Jasmyne’s and Adriel’s needs were provided for, and it presented the opportunity for them to start bonding in a way they never had before. 

Jasmyne did not know what to expect coming to the campus. She knew about the rules and the structure but could not comprehend what it meant for her. She quickly adapted to the day-to-day structure; she even enjoyed it. It allowed her to focus on becoming the best version of herself and being the best mother for Adriel. “My relationship with Adriel has grown so much,” she shared. “I have grown a lot as a mother.” Jasmyne learned about the fruit of the Spirit and how to apply it to parenting. Through their time together, she discovered how to get on his level and talk to him gently and lovingly, instead of yelling when he did not understand her. 

Other aspects of Homes for Families did not come as easily for Jasmyne. She struggled initially with sharing her space with the other mothers and children on the Marshall Campus. She recognized that due to her attitude, she had been labeled as “unapproachable” most of her life and she knew she needed to change. 

The resident coordinators encouraged the mothers to communicate effectively, even during conflicts, and to find healthy ways to resolve issues. Jasmyne saw this as her opportunity to change herself for the better and to approach others differently. “It’s been part of my healing process. Now I can be openly communicative, and encourage others,” Jasmyne shared with a smile. “I learned that here.” She is optimistic about how this change will affect her relationships with others outside of Homes for Families and in her future career. 

In March 2024, Jasmyne moved to Phase II of Homes for Families, known as the equipping phase. In Phase II, the Bible studies and teachings become more in-depth and focus on practical applications for today’s issues. The Bible studies include an in-depth look at Ecclesiastes and the Experiencing God study. The work studies include work ethics, succeeding in the workplace and Excel, Word and PowerPoint classes. 

Since being in Phase II, Jasmyne has learned important communication and career skills. Recently, the mothers finished the STCH Ministries Faith & Work course and Jasmyne walked away with new insights into her personal core values and how she can put God first in her future career. Jasmyne also wrote her own mission statement: 

“My vision and desire is to teach and serve young women and men entering their adulthood. My mission is to be their safe place and help teach them about their emotions and how to communicate their needs to help them build boundaries. I believe in the Word of God and the power that it has to remold our brains and release those negative thought patterns that keep us from being our highest selves. I aim to teach these young adults so they can see themselves and the world around them through God’s eyes and build that love relationship and foundation on God. ‘And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.’ Philippians 1:6” 

Her dream is to become a radiologist, and she is eagerly but patiently waiting to be ready for Phase III, where she hopes to start attending radiology school. When asked if she plans on staying to graduate from Phase IV of the Homes for Families program, Jasmyne emphatically said, “Yes! I am not going back to my old life.” 

While Jasmyne has loved learning to become the mother she always wanted to be and working towards her career goals, the most important aspect of her growth has been her journey as a Christian. Growing up, Jasmyne rarely went to church and never truly learned about God. She was introduced to Christ by Adriel’s grandmother, but at that time she could not even begin to imagine what a relationship with Him could be. 

Since coming to Homes for Families, her relationship with Christ has blossomed. “I know that God is on my side and that God is not a hard hammer. He’s a loving God,” Jasmyne shared. “Jesus has always comforted me in my darkest moments, even when I was a mess. My relationship with God now is much clearer and more alive.” She has fully surrendered her life to Christ and is awaiting the day her mother and Adriel’s grandmother can attend her baptism. 

Jasmyne’s new relationship with Christ has even impacted almost two-year-old Adriel. “He loves Jesus, and he loves to pray and say amen,” Jasmyne exclaimed. Because Jasmyne is living with Christ in her heart, she can love her son the way he was meant to be loved. The way God loves her. She can provide for him a life that would not have been possible without STCH Ministries and the support she has received. 

Jasmyne attributes much of her transformation and newfound hope to the resident coordinators and other staff on the Marshall Campus. “I am grateful to the resident coordinators for loving me. We are not part of their family, and yet they choose to love us that way,” Jasmyne shared. “I have seen Christ in the staff here. I am just thankful for them.” STCH Ministries is blessed to have staff members who selflessly give of themselves to see lives transformed daily. 

Starting over can be difficult, but for Jasmyne, this new life is exactly what she needed. “Before, I was miserable from middle school through high school; I was just miserable,” Jasmyne shared with tears in her eyes. “So now, for me to wake up every day and want to get up and want to live is amazing. This place has given me my joy back. It’s given me my life back.” Jasmyne did not let the roadblocks of her life stop her; she pushed forward and received the help she needed. Now, at nineteen, she is living for the Lord and striving to be the best mother she can be. Jasmyne truly does have her whole life ahead of her and with the Lord by her side, she will accomplish great things, not just for herself but for Adriel as well. 

For more information on Homes for Families, visit, www.STCHM.org/hff.