Redemption’s Light

CINDY’S STORY SHOWS HOW HOPE can light up life’s darkest corners. From battling addiction and grief to finding restoration and purpose, her journey is a beautiful reminder of the transformative work of God’s love and grace. 

In 2021, Cindy was living a comfortable life. She had a steady job and an apartment. However, on a fateful night in November, an act of compassion opened the door to troubles that would soon turn her life upside down. 

During a winter freeze, Cindy came across a homeless man needing shelter. “I thought I could help him,” Cindy recalls. “But I didn’t realize how much my life would change.” What began as a temporary gesture of kindness grew into a relationship that seemed good at first. However, Cindy was at a vulnerable time in her life, having recently experienced a miscarriage and a significant fight with her partner. In a moment of hopelessness and depression, she was introduced to drugs on her birthday. “He hesitated at first,” she remembers, “but when I tried the drugs, he said I had a look that showed I was hooked.” 

This decision led her quickly down a path of addiction and despair. For six months, Cindy lived in a cycle of abuse, pressured into degrading circumstances she never imagined. Her partner’s violence and manipulation left her feeling trapped and powerless. 

Then, a friend’s persistent words broke through Cindy’s pain and confusion. “She told me this lifestyle wasn’t meant for me and that I needed to get out,” Cindy reflects. Gathering courage she did not know she had, Cindy broke free from the abusive relationship and found refuge at a domestic violence shelter. It was there, two months later, that she learned she was pregnant. With that revelation, hope began to reappear. “I knew I had to fight for her,” Cindy shares. “I couldn’t give up now.” 

Cindy’s pregnancy brought hope but also immense challenges. She faced multiple health complications, including diabetes, kidney issues and weight challenges, making her a high-risk patient. When Cindy’s daughter, Emma, was born prematurely at just 30 weeks, weighing only 2 pounds, 2 ounces, she had to stay in the NICU for two months. 

After leaving the hospital, Cindy sought shelter and help at a maternity home. Arriving with her newborn on a breathing machine, Cindy received critical support and rest during her stay. However, her time there came to an end all too quickly. Cindy faced uncertainty about where to go next. Her and Emma’s medical needs made it challenging to find a safe place to live, with plans falling through left and right. “When my time at the maternity home was up, I was terrified,” Cindy admits. “I called around, but most places had waitlists, and I didn’t know what we were going to do.” During this time, Cindy realized that God’s timing is always perfect. 

In May 2024, Cindy discovered STCH Ministries Homes for Families – a place that would soon become a turning point in her journey. When asked what it meant for her and Emma to be welcomed so openly, despite the challenges of her daughter’s oxygen machine and her own visual impairment, Cindy shared, “That’s something that’s going to be unforgettable because most places don’t want to deal with people like me. But they took me in. It means so much that they’re working with me and helping me manage Emma’s appointments while still letting me participate in lessons, Bible study and worship. I don’t feel overwhelmed here like I did in other places.” 

At STCH Ministries, Cindy experienced God’s redemption in ways that changed her forever. “Miss Josephine and Miss Brandy asked me if I wanted to accept Jesus,” she recalls. “I had never done that before, but I said yes.” What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. Within three days of that decision, Cindy’s daughter no longer needed oxygen support. “That’s how I know Jesus exists,” Cindy says, her eyes filled with tears. “If He could heal her, He can do so much more.” 

This was just the beginning of Cindy’s journey of faith. Feeling a strong calling, she prayed for guidance before choosing to be baptized. “I didn’t want to do it just because others were doing it,” she recalls “I wanted it to be real.” Her baptism became a turning point. She describes the transformation: “It’s been a lot different now that I’m baptized. Everything that’s going on and everything that I’m going through, I see it with a different outlook than what I was seeing before.” 

Cindy’s transformation extended beyond her faith. It has reshaped how she viewed others, including Emma’s father. “I used to hate him,” Cindy admits. “But now, I can say, ‘I love you because you’re Emma’s dad, and I care for you as Christ cares for you.’” She prays for him every night, asking God to lead him to healing and restoration. “Hopefully, he gets help. I don’t want to see him lost forever,” she says with compassion. Cindy’s newfound ability to forgive is a testament to God’s work in her heart. 

Healing also brought changes to Cindy’s relationship with her daughter. Raised by her grandmother, Cindy missed the traditional mother-child bond. Now, through God’s guidance and the support of those on Marshall Campus, she is building that bond with her daughter in ways she never thought possible. “The resident coordinators are teaching me how to be the mom Emma needs,” Cindy shares, “and the mom I wished I had growing up.” 

Cindy’s reliance on God has grown steadily as she navigates ongoing physical challenges. Her eyesight continues to diminish due to diabetes, but she recognizes this as an opportunity to trust God’s provision. “Even though my eyesight is diminishing, at the same time, the Lord is restoring it in a weird way by my hearing being enhanced,” she explains. 

The staff at Homes for Families has stepped in to provide adaptive solutions for managing a household. “They’ve taught me how to cook and clean without relying on my sight, and that’s been a big help.” Her faith, along with the resources and encouragement provided by the ministry, has given her hope for a brighter future. 

Cindy dreams of becoming a Certified Nurse’s Assistant or pursuing medical coding so she can work from home, in hopes of providing for her daughter while being present in her life. “I pray for her every day,” Cindy says, reflecting on Emma’s miraculous recovery and her hopes for their future. “She’s my pride and joy. I just want her to grow up knowing God’s love and how much He’s carried us through.” 

Cindy’s story is a powerful reminder that God’s redemption is not about erasing the past – it is about transforming it. It is about choosing hope, even when darkness seems overwhelming. It is about believing that the past does not determine the future.