Coming Home to Hope

As a therapist at The WellHouse, I often have the privilege of witnessing moments that words can hardly capture. One of the most beautiful experiences, among several, is when a resident is reunited with family—a moment filled with tears, embraces, and the quiet power of restoration. These reunions are sacred glimpses of what healing can look like in real time, and each one feels like holy ground.

A resident’s reunification with family brings to my mind the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11–32. Jesus tells of a son who had wandered far from home, only to return, weary and broken, fully aware of his waywardness. The father runs to him, embraces him, and celebrates his return without responding with judgement. This story is more than just an ancient parable, it is a living reflection of God’s grace and the redemptive journey so many of our residents walk through. It’s a story that we are blessed to witness in the here and now.

One resident recently shared that therapy at The WellHouse has been “freeing” and has served as “a safe place to really discover and learn who she is as a person.” She noted that it’s a space where she gets “to reclaim what was taken from her.” In those words, we hear the heartbeat of restoration: finding safety after chaos, dignity after shame, and courage after deep pain. Healing is not only about surviving the past. It is about reclaiming identity and stepping into the fullness of who God created each woman to be.

In that safety, residents are not just rebuilding their own lives, they are also reconnecting with loved ones in new and healthier ways. When a mother hugs her daughter again, or a sibling embraces the sister they feared was lost forever, it reminds all of us why we do this work. It is not simply about therapy sessions or residential care. It is about creating spaces where transformation can take root and relationships—once fractured by trauma—can begin to mend. It is about modeling, however imperfectly, the unconditional love of the Father. It is about proclaiming the hope of the Gospel that speaks life into the very places that once felt lifeless.

To our staff, donors, and friends in the community: you are part of these sacred moments. Every hour volunteered, every prayer spoken, every dollar given is woven into this tapestry of redemption. Like the father in Luke 15, you are choosing to celebrate the return, to rejoice in restoration, and to stand with us at The WellHouse in declaring: what was lost can indeed be found.

Together, we are not only helping survivors of trafficking find healing, but also bearing witness to the breathtaking beauty of homecoming. And for that, I am deeply grateful, honored, and humbled. Thank God for His grace. To Him be the glory—always.