I was introduced to substances at age 12 through a cousin who exhibited confidence that I admired. This exposure led me down a path of experimentation and, ultimately, addiction. While I spent time with the wrong crowd, my mother developed new addictions, including methamphetamine. She eventually left our family, and from ages 13 to 14, I struggled with feelings of abandonment and manipulation by a man in his thirties, whom I naively believed could help me.
Read MoreWhile eradicating trafficking is a distant goal, we know that we must first eradicate the vulnerabilities that lead to trafficking before this egregious criminal activity ceases. Collectively, we must seek to protect our children from abuse, address mental illness, deal effectively with all manners of addiction, provide poverty relief, ensure that effective education is available to all, and so much more.
Read MoreI can vividly remember the first time I drove onto The WellHouse campus and the Chapel came into view. I felt at peace before I even stepped out of my vehicle. I would like to think that is the initial feeling for each survivor upon their arrival as well, but I’ve learned that isn’t always the case when peacefulness has not been very familiar to them.
Read MoreThe summer season is always a fun and impactful season at The WellHouse. Numerous dedicated volunteers come together to support our residents, care for our campus, and meet our practical needs. It is a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ – everyone contributing their unique gifts to serve His children. Thank you for the part you play in our mission!
Read More"ShopWell has been an absolute blessing, it has shown me how to take confidence and use it in leadership. It has shown me that we make beauty from ashes! It has taught me that perfectionism doesn’t matter and it’s okay to make mistakes. It has brought me closer to the Lord and shown me that I can do anything when He walks alongside me.”
Read MoreOver the past three months we have welcomed thirteen new residents at The WellHouse. Our intake process is not just about paperwork or placement — it is about meeting women in crisis with dignity, compassion, and the unwavering truth that they are seen, known, and loved by God. From their very first moments on campus, we remind them that their story doesn’t end in trauma — it begins again in restoration.
Read MoreMy childhood was full of joy until the age of five, when I was sexually abused by a family friend. Three years later my parents divorced, and it drastically changed my life. Seeing my father leave our home, not knowing when I would see him again, broke something inside of me. In that moment, the enemy planted seeds of unworthiness and anger within me that would change the course of my life over the next fourteen years.
Read More2025 has already been an extraordinary year! We have welcomed new survivors into our program, celebrated the graduation of two residents, and introduced exciting updates to the WellHouse Women program. Through every milestone, our incredible volunteers have remained steadfast in their support and commitment to The WellHouse. We are deeply grateful to each of you who dedicate your time, energy, and effort to this mission.
Read MoreI want every resident that passes through our doors to know that they always have direct access to the King of Kings, and that he has brought them out from a place of darkness and into the light of his glorious presence. God is always present with them, providing comfort and support in times of fear and uncertainty. No spiritual attributes are needed to become a daughter of the King.
Read MoreEven after more than a decade of witnessing God’s extraordinary provision for The WellHouse, I still find myself grappling with the temptation to worry—particularly when it comes to funding. I suspect that many CEOs and Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations can relate. However, rather than dwelling in uncertainty, we must ask ourselves: what proactive steps can we take?
Read MoreOver the past months of December, January and February, The WellHouse has welcomed 11 new residents from all over the country. But that’s not all—we completed construction on our new Stabilization Center! This essential expansion to the Stabilization Center provides a larger space for the critical first step for survivors as they transition into a stable and secure environment.
Read MoreJanuary is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and January 11th specifically is designated as “Wear Blue” for Awareness. In the state of Alabama, which is inundated with awareness efforts, social media posts, training, education, etc., is it time we paused and asked about what Action really means?
Read MoreHappy New Year! Our hearts are full as we look forward to 2025 and all God has in store for The WellHouse and the residents we serve. Before we venture too far into the new year, we want to take a moment and look back at all of the exciting moments and milestones from 2024.
Read MoreA person who believes that being a leader means being in charge without being challenged and believes he/she owes accountability to no one is anything but a leader and displays a character that fails to love. I am especially grateful this year for how we have chosen to grow in the scriptural commands of loving God and loving people. Leaders are being developed, have the space to grow, and the willingness to be obedient to the commandment to love, as simple as it sounds, demonstrates the very essence of success.
Read MoreAs the darkness consumed me, I began to slip away from everything I once cherished, losing myself in the haze of heroin. I fell into the arms of a man I mistakenly believed cared for me, who lured me back to drugs and introduced me to a dangerous means of income—a life of exploitation. What began as an exchange of time transformed into a nightmarish existence where my body was currency, and my dignity was stripped away.
Read MoreThanksgiving and Christmas can be particularly challenging for our residents as many of them miss their families deeply. That said, we do our best to create an environment here full of love, compassion, and joy while acknowledging that for most of our residents, this holiday season will feel different than the past. Thanks to many volunteers and their earnest effort, our campus has turned into a winter wonderland! Our women and children get to enjoy Christmas decorations in the comfort of their homes, and it is likely that some of them are experiencing this for the first time.
Read MoreThe arrival of these six new residents is a reminder of the body of Christ at work. Your prayers, generosity, and acts of service enable us to answer God’s call to care for the vulnerable. Together, we are not only meeting immediate needs but also showing survivors the transformative love of Jesus. We believe every individual is created in His image, deserving of dignity, safety, and the opportunity to live a life filled with hope and purpose.
Read MoreHolidays can be a time of great joy, gratitude, and fellowship; however, for a lot of our women and children it can also trigger feelings of loneliness, loss, guilt, sadness, fear, and shame. Because of this, a lot of the work I am doing with my individual clients as well as in group therapy has focused on learning and practicing coping skills that can help get through difficult seasons. Healing is never linear and oftentimes the holiday season will remind us that we need to step away from processing through our trauma for a time and focus our attention on reestablishing our sense of safety and security – within ourselves and the environment around us.
Read MoreMy first date was with a 63 year old man, and after dinner I very quickly realized this was not something you get paid for without any touching involved. And I didn’t leave untouched. As much as I hated it, I could not deny that I felt powerful with the money and the illusion of freedom. An illusion of freedom that would soon become my prison. I grew up in a healthy and stable family, but I was living a double life. I was using drugs and being reckless at age 14.
Read MoreWe are in a season at The WellHouse of offering more opportunities for the adult residents who bravely seek to have their lives restored. Faith remains the foundation as we move forward with a new level of programming that will more carefully identify individualized needs including the fact that some need more time to reach certain levels and others need less. Time restraints will be removed as our staff, partners, and volunteers pour into survivors with the goal of guiding them to an ending filled with moments of which they can be proud and can excel.
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