STCH MINISTRIES BEGAN its counseling ministry in Corpus Christi in the mid-90s. Since then, the counseling ministry has expanded to seventeen locations across five different cities in the state. Since its inception, countless lives have been greatly impacted, and Anjulena is now living proof of that.

In 2016, STCH Ministries expanded its Family Counseling to the Houston area. A few years later, Houstonian, Anjulena, walked into her first counseling session with STCH Ministries alongside her boyfriend at the time to meet with a STCH Ministries counselor. STCH Ministries Family Counseling provides care when individuals, couples and families need help sorting through life’s challenges.

During that time, Anjulena found herself in a relationship she realized was no longer healthy. She and her boyfriend had many ups and downs and began seeking help. Her boyfriend found STCH Ministries Family Counseling online and they started seeing a counselor together. Following a few sessions as a couple, their counselor suggested Anjulena see another STCH Ministries counselor on her own to work through past hurts and trauma in her life. Through both couple and individual Christian counseling, Anjulena sought a better understanding of herself and others. “It opened my eyes to my past, my childhood and my background and maybe how I allowed myself to be susceptible to people hurting me.” Her counselors often recommend Christian books to her to read further. Through each session and her continued reading and researching, Anjulena drew closer and closer to God. As she drew closer to God, she became more aware of how God created her and how He wanted to heal her further and use her to help others.

Anjulena discontinued her counseling sessions after ending her relationship with her ex-boyfriend. Soon after the pandemic hit, Anjulena’s work as a ballroom dancing instructor was on hold, and she began to look inward again, reflecting on her life and the path she wanted to be on. “I knew that I was at a turning point in my life; I was turning 50.” Anjulena admits that during the pandemic lockdowns, “I had more time to ponder these things…where I’ve been, where I’m at and where I’m going.” Anjulena prayed for God to bring people into her life that would help her. She knew instantly she wanted to reinstate sessions with her counselor. Though there was a waitlist to get in, she knew it would be worth the wait.

Anjulena had experienced other forms of therapy before. She had seen counselors through her medical provider and quickly realized they would not give much advice to help guide her. “I always felt like I was running around in circles and couldn’t find answers.” Anjulena felt like her time spent with other non-Christian counselors was leading her nowhere. Her STCH Ministries counselor would share scripture with her and recommend other Christian books specific to her growth areas. Each session ended with prayer, and Anjulena soon began to seek out God more and more.

“I started to change daily habits in my life when I started reading the Bible more,” Anjulena remembers how she would end sessions with her counselor with a desire to pick up her Bible and further read verses and chapters her counselor would share with her. The more she read, the more she gained answers. The more she prayed, the more she could hear God’s voice. “The moment I said, ‘God, I’m ready to commit my life to you 100%…’ everything in my life changed so drastically,” Anjulena said. “There is not a day that goes by that God is not on my mind and that I’m not talking to Him or about Him to others.”

For Anjulena’s 50th birthday, she knew she wanted to do something very special and memorable. God brought baptism to mind; she knew it was the next step she needed to take. Through time in prayer, Anjulena felt God leading her to get baptized in the Jordan River in Israel. “I was not sure how it was all going to happen, but I kept praying for God to guide me.”

Though Anjulena had looked online for tours, groups and opportunities to get to the Holy Land, nothing was lining up. She quickly realized she did not have the money to go, no group or anyone to go with or anyone to baptize her. “I really wanted it to be someone I knew, trusted and loved God and Jesus as much as I did.” Though it all began to seem impossible and very complicated, she could not stop thinking about getting baptized there. Anjulena continued to pray, asking for God’s guidance. “God would not put this feeling and desire in my heart and not help me,” she believed. Then one day, God began aligning Anjulena’s every need.

“A man called me and asked if I had time to do a crash course dance lesson for him to surprise his daughter on her wedding day. He needed me to help him with the father/daughter dance for her wedding. He told me he was driving in from Austin and did not have a lot of time. My schedule was very full, but luckily I was able to fit him in during the daytime.” As their first dance lesson began, Anjulena learned he was a Chaplain for the State of Texas. Through further conversation, the bride’s father shared with Anjulena how he would also be performing the ceremony at his daughter’s wedding.

“As I was teaching him the dance, I would bring up conversations about God. And then I told him I had a wonderful plan to get baptized in Israel during Christmas.” Anjulena recalls he proceeded to ask her how she would do all of that and if she had ever been to Israel before. “I told him I had never gone, but God had put in my heart that I should get baptized there in the Jordan River.” He then looked at Anjulena and said he had a group from his church going around Christmas.

At that moment, both he and Anjulena realized that God had brought them together to answer her prayer. Anjulena shared how God started filling her schedule with work and opportunities that allowed her to save the money needed for the trip. However, she realized she still did not have anyone she knew personally attending with her to witness her miraculous baptism. God left no prayer unanswered, as her childhood best friend, Sarra, and her family were able to go to Israel with her, and they all got baptized together. “I cannot explain all that happened and what a miracle it was!”

Anjulena credits her healing from past childhood traumas and abusive relationships, as well as her newfound nearness to God to the Christian counseling she received through STCH Ministries. “What I have learned and experienced, I now want to teach others.”

Anjulena has implemented much of what she has gained from Christian counseling in teaching dance to her students. Teaching mainly couples, she has been able to share the wisdom imparted to her by her counselors regarding healthy communication, excellent problem-solving skills, working together and the importance of encouragement.

Anjulena began to realize all she had been through had been for a reason and to learn something. Ultimately, she knew all the wisdom she had gained from the lessons learned was to, in return, share with others and help others because most people she comes across are hurting in some way. Anjulena now lives to bring people the truth of God and hope in all she does.

Things don’t just happen to us who love God; They’re molded and shaped, and timed by His clock. Things don’t just happen; they’re planned. (Esther Fields, 1944)
HOW FAR BACK IN YOUR LIFE can you trace the hand of God? The sovereignty of God—the secret history behind every decision, every interaction. Not an accident, but by design, not coincidence but His plan, not chance but Divine direction. “He holds in His hand not only the broad sweep of world history, but the tiniest details of our personal stories.” (Alec Motyer, Psalms by the Day)

As we begin exploring international expansion into El Salvador, it’s interesting to think about the foreknowledge of God as it relates to STCH Ministries International. In 1947, the Brown family carried the Gospel to the Dominican Republic, and a strong beachhead was established for Baptist work. During the same time period, thousands of miles away, Laura Boothe began the process of donating her land for the establishment of South Texas Children’s Home Ministries. 71 years later, those threads were connected through the descendants of the original actors in this God-directed drama!

For several years, STCH Ministries has sensed a need to share what God has enabled us to develop through International in the Dominican Republic since the beginning in 2006. Pre-Covid vision trips took us to Costa Rica, Peru and Mexico. The Covid chaos abruptly impacted those plans and we prayerfully waited and sought God’s wisdom for the future that only He could see.
In the summer of 2021, we met with Ward Hayes, Chief Financial Officer of Texas Baptists, to discuss sharing Faith & Finances training with leaders of small churches. However, Ward had heard of the STCH Ministries international work, and shared his passion for the tiny country of El Salvador, specifically for the Peniel network of churches, led by Edgar Borja, Sr. The “secret” history—God’s sovereign design for STCH Ministries in El Salvador gradually unfolded.

Prayer accompanied our research of these opportunities. El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated Central American country. The capital city, San Salvador, is the oldest and longest-standing capital in Central America. El Salvador is bounded by Honduras to the north and east, by the Pacific Ocean to the south and by Guatemala to the northwest, making it the only Central American country that lacks a Caribbean coast.

El Salvador is largely an ethnically homogenous people. The intermarriage of Spanish settlers with the indigenous Indian population has resulted in a population that is nine-tenths mestizo, with Spanish as their universal language. Coffee, sugarcane and cotton are their major export crops, although today the service sector dominates the economy. They are also a large producer and exporter of hammocks and their most notable dish is the pupusa, a stuffed corn flatbread.

A history of Civil War, crime and violence has marked Salvadoran history for many years. In addition, the country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and by a major earthquake in 2001. In February 2019, Nayib Bukele, a Millennial who was not aligned with either of the major parties who had dominated the country since the Civil War, was elected president of El Salvador. Although he has suspended due process, according to a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) 2020, violent crime has dropped by as much as 60 percent since Bukele became president in June 2019. Tourism is on the rise and the protection of Americans and all foreigners is a high priority for this government.

Prayer and communication began with El Peniel leadership. Their passion to reach people with the transforming power of the Gospel is expressed in Genesis 32:30 which is quoted on their website. In Spanish, it reads, “Vi a Dios cara a cara, y fue librada mi alma.” (I saw God face to face, and my soul was set free).

The Peniel ministry was first established in 1997, and they have been a self-governing, self-multiplying church for 30 years with no outside funding. Today they are a growing network of eight individual churches and two church plants located south of San Salvador, reaching to the coast. They are led by Edgar Borja, Sr. and a strong leadership team of home-grown pastors and their wives. They meet once a month and together they make decisions on strategies, budget and vision. They reach decisions through prayer, discussion and mutual agreement.

The Peniel churches’ objective is two-pronged: to set people free through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to accomplish life transformation through intentional discipleship opportunities. Their church-planting model starts with a pastor, a building, a soccer team and a school.

One of the most successful outreach methods utilizes the national obsession with soccer, where each church sponsors a soccer team.

People in the neighborhood are attracted to the soccer team but must attend church to be able to play each week. However, if in the excitement of the competition, fighting and bad language occurs, the penalty is a yellow slip and additional attendance requirements! There is no pressure or compulsion to make any additional decisions, but under the teaching from the Word of God, lives are transformed.

A second goal for each church is that every church needs to establish a Christian school. Their goal of discipleship was boldly proclaimed in a large banner that hung over the combination gym/auditorium.

2022—THE YEAR OF GROWTH IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (Colossians 1:10). The schools have developed a reputation for excellence in their education and offer English and computer classes. Parents are incentivized to attend church by the significant discounts on school tuition which they can earn.

Since May 2022, we have made three exploratory-vision trips. The team members included our Dominican partners, Russell Jerez, Dr. Francisco Paredes and Rebeca Dinzey. Succeeding trips included Eron Green, Kyle Luke and a few selected pastors and leaders as we continued to get to know the Peniel network of churches. At one of the locations that we visited named El Riel, we observed volunteers working with picks and shovels to clear land for a church building. They had been meeting on the school grounds, but as the ministry grew, they needed a larger site. We were inspired by the testimony of Pastor Anselmo.

“I was a falling-down drunk who frequently didn’t make it home at night, and my children would find me asleep in the road and drag me home. My cousin invited me to play soccer but when he told me that I would have to attend church, I refused. Later, I reconsidered and decided I would attend one time, just to be part of the soccer team. At first, church did not impact me. But I did discover that if my wife and I attended additional services, our children would receive discounted tuition! That motivated us to begin to attend more frequently and slowly the Word of God penetrated our hearts and changed our lives and our home. I began to serve, went to school for my Bible training and now I reach others who are caught in the same hopeless circumstances.”

God touched our hearts, and over the succeeding trips, we were led to contribute funds to put up the walls, and later add the roof. They continue to work by faith to add windows and doors in God’s time. We also discovered that the greatest need of the El Riel church and school is for water, as their future growth is limited by a lack of access to this essential commodity. We invite you to pray with us in faith that God will also supply this need.

There are some distinct differences between the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. Obviously, the logistics of lodging, food and transportation are different. Since they are south of the equator, their school calendar is very different from the United States, as their “summer break” is November-January. As a result, many of our ministry activities will focus on participating with the children while in school, as well as discipleship opportunities and construction needs.

We continue to seek God’s guidance as we begin the process of stepping into this expansion gradually, adapting the mission God has given to STCH Ministries to the unique needs of the Salvadorian people and the Peniel ministries. We share a common focus on meeting the needs of children and families and the goal of life transformation through Christ. Our hope is to begin in 2023, partnering together with a few US mission teams. As of December 2022, we have begun to accept some of the children into our Samuel’s Fund sponsorship program.

One of our vision trip participants, Tony Gray, who also serves on the STCH Ministries board, responded after his trip, “It is evident that God is directing us and I am impressed by the discernment you (as leaders) show in your assessment of the countries we have an opportunity to work in. Recognizing it is not the DR, we want to grow in our ability to experience the people and the culture as much as we can. Thanks again for this opportunity you provided Heather and me to visit El Salvador, meet the people and get a feel for the amazing work God is doing there through Peniel.”

Trevin Hoekzma, pastor of Calvert Grace in Maryland, shared his impressions. “While traveling through El Salvador and visiting church plants associated with the El Peniel network of churches, I experienced a vibrant church community focused on making disciples, teaching the next generation and investing in families. Salvadorians reaching their neighbors and rural communities was a beautiful thing to witness.”

Trevin continued, “In speaking with some of the church members, I heard a desire and request for Americans to come teach English to their children and help increase the scope of the church’s outreach. We are eager and delighted to answer that request by sending a team this summer.”

Russell Jerez, from the Dominican Republic, added, “Visiting El Salvador has helped me see the wonders God is doing through the Salvadorian people in their ministry.”

We are excited about the opportunity to serve God through the Peniel network. We trust God to continue to help us plan wisely as we follow His leading. Mutually beneficial partnerships don’t just happen—they are planned in that mysterious interplay between the sovereignty of God and our own choices. We ask for your prayers in the following ways:

1. For volunteer teams
2. For financial support
3. For wisdom and God’s perfect timing.

Most of all, we desire that our vision will be renewed and energized as we celebrate what God has done and seek to transform lives through the power of the Gospel.

IT IS OFTEN SAID that God is a God of second chances, but could God indeed wipe clean a record and give a young mom of two a new life? Could He answer prayers, provide healing, guidance and complete transformation?

When Allyson needed it most, God wiped her slate clean and gave her a second chance. Facing addiction, felonies, prison time and CPS charges with the threat of losing her boys, Allyson found herself at her breaking point. With such a difficult record, Allyson felt there would be no way out and no chance at a fresh start for her and her family, or the hope of a brighter future.

Realizing it was time for a change, Allyson quit her addictions cold turkey and applied for the STCH Ministries Homes for Families program. On bond and while fully detoxing, Allyson and her two boys – her oldest eleven years old and her youngest just months old – arrived at Homes for Families Marshall Campus in Goliad. “I ran here with my tail between my legs,” Allyson recalls. “I was like, ‘Okay, God. I’m done. I surrender.’”

Homes for Families is a ministry for single mothers and their children facing a crisis. Homes for Families is designed to help transition them into successful, independent living. As families move through the different Phases of the Homes for Families program, staff on campus help address their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

Allyson learned early on that the process would challenge her. When reflecting on Phase I, Allyson remembers giving her resident coordinators a hard time as she was still accustomed to diverting back to unhealthy coping mechanisms. However, with the constant encouragement and love of her leaders, Allyson began to soften and open her heart to God. Allyson described herself early on in Phase I as a “depressed mother who hated [her]self.” She knew the effect this had on her relationship with her kids. “I wasn’t able to love my kids the right way because I didn’t love myself.”

Jesus loves you” was a constant reminder Allyson’s leaders would share. With time, she came to believe the good news of God’s love for her. As Allyson surrendered more to God each day, He transformed her by renewing her mind, exchanging her survival techniques of codependency, blaming others and rebelling to being more self-aware, forgiving, gracious and transparent.

“I remember He gave me 1 Peter 5:7, ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you’ (NIV). That Scripture got embedded in my heart. It is HE that cares for me,” she shared.

Allyson has worked through each phase of the Homes for Families program with significant progress and impact. She entered Phase III at Homes for Families in January 2021 after working her way through Phases I and II of the program with her two boys in tow. “Phase II helped me discover what God had in store for me and helped me walk out all that I learned in Phase I.” Allyson also shared how much her relationship with God continued to grow during Phase II. “I was addicted to the chaos,” Allyson confessed. However, being at STCH Ministries “where things are calm and people are understanding,” as Allyson described, allowed her to untangle her thoughts. “My mind is quiet now; I can hear [God] so clearly now,” she added.

Allyson admitted that transitions can be challenging for her, having experienced trauma, but after feeling more settled, personally and spiritually, God began revealing to her the ways He wanted to use her and the plans He had for her life. Those plans led her to apply for college. Allyson is now pursuing her Associate of Science and hopes to enter the field of Counseling or Social Work. She would love to help others, as she has been helped, and see others break free. Allyson is also now a student worker in the Library at Victoria College.

Nine months into the program, the unexpected happened for Allyson. She was informed that her judge, impressed with her progress and the parenting courses she took while at STCH Ministries, dismissed all charges against her. “I was a mess,” Allyson confessed, “but God showed up for me every step of the way.”

Earlier this year, Allyson also learned that all her charges were fully expunged from her record. A feat that takes work to achieve. “I thought there’s no way He could just wipe that away… and He did,” she shared in awe. As Allyson and her children continue to move forward, they will now be able to do so without her past hanging over them.

Despite her freedom from addiction and victories, the enemy still tempted her. Not long ago, she shared with her case worker that the enemy’s temptations to leave and get her own place were persistent. “I had a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms and running was always one of them.” But God stepped in with a word from 1 Kings 19. The story of Elijah and the cave spoke powerfully to her. From that passage, she concluded that STCH Ministries was her ‘cave’ “until HE is ready to call me out with a gentle whisper as He did Elijah,” Allyson shared.

Since joining the program in May 2020, Allyson has experienced a remarkable transformation. “I have gained so much confidence as a mother, sister, aunt and now as a student and an employee.”

The fruit of Allyson’s surrender and obedience to God has also impacted her children’s lives. Her oldest son is now 14 and her youngest is 3. At first, Allyson admits that her oldest son resented her for “dragging him through [her] mess.” But in the same breath, Allyson rejoiced at the change she had seen in her son and their relationship. “STCH Ministries had the best counselor work with him and work with me to reach him at different levels that I have never been able to reach my son in.” Allyson exuded pride in sharing how far along her son has come and how God has restored their relationship.

In speaking to other moms considering Homes for Families, Allyson makes it a point to remind them that it won’t be easy. “You will still face challenges, but you will learn to meet these challenges sober and with God.” Allyson expressed gratitude that she was taught to take responsibility for herself and her children. “Once you allow spiritual leaders, counselors and mentors here to help you break down those strongholds, the freedom you experience is so rewarding,” she concluded.

The goal of Homes for Families is deep inner healing. There is no doubt that Allyson and many other families who have journeyed through the Home for Families program have experienced just that. We serve a God that sees us in our brokenness, sees us in our “mess” and sees our track record, yet He still loves us. He can clean our slates, give us a fresh start and bring us to a place of healing and transformation. “This is my haven. I feel safe at STCH Ministries. I love that feeling that God’s in control. It feels good.”

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” Acts 3:19 (NIV)

IT IS NEVER EASY to open up about the struggles we face or the hardships we’ve experienced in our past. For Karen, the decision to be honest with herself about her need to seek Christian counseling came when she could no longer live with the anger inside her. Karen knew her growing rage was not helping her or the loved ones that needed her.

The stress, fear and isolation felt by the events of the global pandemic in 2020 were difficult for Karen. “I was in a really bad depression,” Karen confessed, as she described a time when she wrestled with God and suicidal thoughts. Karen told a decisive moment she experienced in the middle of that difficult season: “I was yelling at God saying, ‘If you are going to save me, then you’re going to have to save me now. I am done. I’m tired. I don’t want this life anymore.’ Immediately after that, my doorbell rang. A man I had not seen in about 45 years was on my doorstep, and I asked him why he was at my door, and he replied, ‘God told me to check on you.’” It was clear to Karen at that moment that there were some things to take care of and she began counseling sessions with STCH Ministries.

As Karen began meeting with Lisa from STCH Ministries Family Counseling, sessions revealed other struggles stemming from childhood pain and the abuse and trauma she experienced in her first marriage. “I learned why I reacted to things [that happened in the past], and I have learned to forgive all of that,” Karen admits. Growing self-awareness allowed Karen to recognize her people-pleasing tendencies. She shares how these tendencies led her to believe, “I must have done something for them not to like me; what can I do to fix it?” Most importantly, Karen saw that the horrifying things that happened to her reflected those who hurt her, not something she caused due to her shortcomings.

“I’m a good person, I always have been, but I allowed people to tell me I wasn’t,” Karen said.

Sessions continued, and her counselor recommended EMDR techniques to help Karen face her past trauma and begin fully recovering from it. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured therapy that encourages the client to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. EMDR therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms.*

Karen’s appreciation of the therapy she received increased because, “in facing a lot of bad memories in my past [with EMDR], I was also able to make room for good memories, memories that I had forgotten.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these [bad] memories and resume normal healing.*

Karen’s counselor also helped her decide on a safe place early on where Karen could go to in her mind when she needed it most. “It was my grandmother’s kitchen; right outside her window, there was a big, beautiful pecan tree,” Karen described. “I was given techniques and tools that if stress or anxiety would come over me… I could go to this place, take a few deep breaths, and face whatever it was.” Something she had never considered doing before. “I just didn’t know you could do that. But I know it now, at 63 years old,” Karen admits.

Though some of the exercises practiced and techniques offered were new to Karen, she shared, “I was willing to give it a shot because I knew in my heart of hearts, I didn’t want to live like that anymore. I didn’t want to be miserable anymore.”

Another reason she could fully trust her counselor’s guidance toward healing was because of STCH Ministries Christian foundation. “I wanted someone that was going to be aligned with my beliefs,” Karen stated. While she knew Jesus was her Savior, Karen sought professional help to aid her in “getting out of the way of myself,” as she would describe it, and allowing God to work in her life.

Her daughter also began to notice and appreciate the evident change in Karen. “It’s really nice now to have one of us be calm,” Karen’s daughter once told her, as they both had held anger and immense hurt towards people in Karen’s life. “Initially, I went so I could see what I could do to make myself better for her,” Karen expressed, “and that has certainly happened in the long run.”

Nearing the end of her therapy, Karen abruptly lost her job. As disappointing as unemployment news is to bear for anyone, Karen said, “I did not worry about it for one minute, which I find amazing!” Karen added how, before, news like this could have easily led her down a bottomless pit in her mind and filled her with fear.

In addition to having gained suitable coping mechanisms in light of losing her job, Karen shared how she was now confident enough to stand up for herself and fight for her rights to unemployment due to termination without a cause. “I would have never spoken up [for myself] like that before,” Karen admitted. “I would have taken it, and I would have tucked my tail between my legs, and I would have gone home and agonized over ‘what was wrong with me?’”. Now, a renewed sense of worth and self-awareness has helped Karen navigate life’s ups and downs differently.

Knowing all that Christian counseling has done for her, Karen continues to reach out to those around her as an advocate for receiving help and learning new ways to process both past and current experiences. Karen often shares with her friends and family that are facing hard times, “I much rather you learn what I learned at your age than wait until my age.”

Counseling helped Karen overcome her struggles like she never thought possible. “It’s amazing. I couldn’t explain it when I started the process, and I cannot explain it now, but I know it works,” Karen said confidently. “I feel light. I’m not carrying around the anger anymore; I’m not carrying around the fear,” Karen shared.

“I believe in it, and I know the big difference it made in me,” Karen concluded with tears in her eyes.

If you or anyone you know is seeking help, please visit www.stchm.org/family-counseling for more information.

*www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy

IN HIS BOOK, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God, Francis Chan wrote, “But God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through.” 14-year-old Reese felt God’s call to move from a place where she felt comfortable to a place of uncertainty and anxiety. She put her trust in God and with Him, her parents and STCH Ministries Family Counseling, she made it through and came out stronger on the other side.

While in 2nd grade, Reese’s family prepared to move from Katy to Fulshear in Texas. When she learned about the move, Reese started exhibiting behavior that caused concern for her parents. They sought help from school counselors and friends. They discovered the behavior she exhibited was caused by anxiety but did not understand how someone so young could experience anxiety in this way. Reese attended school in Fulshear for a few months after the move, but her mom felt the Lord stirring in her heart to homeschool Reese. Reese enjoyed the comfort of homeschooling, and it helped relieve some of her anxiety caused by social interaction. Her family attended church regularly and her mom, Alli, noticed the same behaviors resurfacing as she interacted with other students over the years.

Six years after she started homeschooling, Reese shared with her parents how she felt God calling her to attend public school again. They discussed it and decided she would attend public school for her 8th-grade year. Going back into public school created severe anxiety for Reese, “I went the first day and it went pretty good, but then afterward I kind of freaked out because I think it all hit me that it was so different. I didn’t want to go the next day because it was freaking me out so bad.” Her parents could see something was wrong so they were prompted to contact STCH Ministries Family Counseling in Houston.

In the first counseling session, Alli and her husband, Ronnie, met with Paris, who would be Reese’s counselor. They discussed the behavior they witnessed and Paris shared they were all signs of social anxiety and that many young children experience anxiety in this way. “As parents, we were like wow, that’s a real thing and we approached it differently. I felt so bad but the Lord is so gracious and we were able to talk to her and say that we didn’t realize that that was a real thing, but it was,” Alli shared. After receiving answers and making a game plan, the time came for Reese to start counseling. She recognized what she dealt with as social anxiety and prepared herself to begin learning more about coping with it and growing through it.

Even though she prepared herself, Reese experienced nerves going into counseling for the first time. Paris worked to ensure Reese felt comfortable talking to her and built trust with her in the early sessions. After building a strong basis of trust, they started doing role-play exercises. Paris helped Reese consider what other people may be thinking or feeling to help put her at ease. She taught her conversation starters and then practiced them with her. Reese took what she learned in counseling and put them into action at school.

Reese accepted challenges from Paris, including the 100 conversations challenge. With this challenge, she needed to start 100 conversations by the end of the school year, which was right around the corner. At the end of the first week, Reese initiated 15 conversations at school. As the weeks went on, she added to her numbers until she reached 70. By that point, the conversations happened so naturally that she forgot to keep counting. She finally felt confident and the anxiety started to diminish.

Toward the end of the school year, Reese casually told her mom after school one day about a girl she had started to become friends with. The two girls even exchanged numbers so they could reconnect before school started in the fall. Alli held back tears as she looked back at the transformation Reese experienced from the beginning of the school year to that moment. Her daughter carried herself differently and showed a confidence she had never witnessed before. Reese started to feel better herself and looked forward to the summer.

Reese’s church decided to spend one week of their summer serving at STCH Ministries Homes for Children. She felt excited leading up to the week but also some anxiety about traveling to a new place and meeting new people. During their week on Boothe Campus, they hosted Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the younger children and games and other activities for the older children. For Reese, the interaction with the younger children came easy, but when it came to students her own age or older, the anxiety crept back in. Reese and her family started attending this church in November 2021 and the relationships she had already built helped her feel confident going into the week. She also thought back to the many counseling sessions with Paris as she prepared for the trip.

Once on campus, Reese’s anxiety started to lessen with the support of her friends. She led VBS worship on stage and started conversations with others on campus during their activities. Most importantly, she continued opening up to her friends from church. This huge step for Reese was made possible by prayer and counseling. Alli also attended the trip; she sat back and watched as her daughter acted as the hands and feet of Jesus. Alli knew a year ago, Reese would have never interacted with others this way. Her fear and anxiety would have hindered her from making friendships and spreading God’s love. Reese no longer let her anxiety define her. Coming home from the trip, she reflected on the change she saw within herself but knew more challenges stood ahead.

As summer came to an end, Reese prepared for her freshman year of high school. The night before the first day of school, the enemy used her anxiety to speak lies to her. Memories of last year started flooding her mind and she started to get discouraged. Her parents, armed with compassion thanks to their counseling sessions, began speaking truth over her. They assured her, “God is within you, you will not fall. With Him at your right hand, you will not be shaken. Be strong and courageous, He is with you wherever you go.” Armed with these words, she knew she could make it through her first day of high school.

During the summer, Reese connected with the friend she made at the end of her 8th-grade year. Having a friend made her feel a little more at ease about entering this new season of life. Alli shared, “she walked into 9th grade with confidence, not in her ability, but what He did, can, and will continue to do in and through her!” The coping techniques she learned through counseling helped her confidence. The challenges given to her by Paris allowed her to make new friends and see herself in a different light. Her parents’ new understanding empowered them to encourage her in the way she needed. God called Reese into a situation where she did not feel comfortable but He came through, gave her the tools to move forward, and allowed her to share her story for His glory through it all.