MONROE – Sarah Pierce spent nearly 15 years seeking freedom from alcoholism, but just a few months into 2017 she found deliverance in Christ when she entered HomePlace, the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries program for homeless children and their mothers.
Through HomePlace, Pierce received spiritual support from fellow mothers in the program and LBCHFM staff members, who encouraged her to share her testimony of salvation publicly, through baptism.
On August 18 she took that step of obedience with another HomePlace resident as they were baptized during a worship service at the North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe.
The women are two of five HomePlace residents (out of 13 women currently in the program) baptized this year, and among numerous others in the program who have been plunged beneath baptistery waters since HomePlace began in 2010.
Susan Clark, LBCHFM director of family care ministries, said she has been blessed to witness the life change in Pierce and many other women, who participate in daily personal devotional times, weekly small group Bible studies and monthly large group gatherings, featuring a speaker and testimonies, at the ministry’s Monroe campus.
“We give them Jesus, every day, here,” Clark said. “It’s amazing to see the turnaround in these women’s lives, especially when they accept Christ. Their lives were spiraling out of control when they got here, so it’s a precious thing to see them come to the heart of God.”
An August 18 baptism service at North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe celebrated the spiritual rebirth of Sarah Pierce, a resident of HomePlace, a program of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries. Submitted photo
LBCHFM President and CEO Perry Hancock said he is thankful for how this ministry is reaching so many women in a region that has a high rate of domestic violence.
“HomePlace is one of the most incredible ministries I have ever seen,” Hancock said. “When these mothers find their true worth in a relationship with Jesus, everything changes for them. They have a new sense of purpose and direction. They are determined to make a better life for themselves and their children. They know that with the Lord’s help, they can break the cycles of dependency and poverty that have controlled their lives. They know that they have a future and a hope in Christ. We are just so grateful that the Lord has allowed us to be a part of this life-changing work.”
HomePlace provides homeless women and their children a place to stay for six to 12 months at no cost to the residents, and their stay can be extended. More than 300 women and their children have participated in the program since its inception. While there, the women may work toward their high school equivalency and receive life and employment skills training through the Christian Women Job Corps.
More than 80 percent of the women who have participated in HomePlace have successfully earned a degree and completed necessary training to land a job outside the campus.
