Sparrow Ministries

When I came into the Sparrow program, I had been stuck in survival mode for years. Participating in the mentorship program gave me and my children a chance to breathe, get organized, focus on goals and dreams, make connections with the local community and begin building a better future.

I had a place to process my feelings, learn who I was, see the hurt and pain from my past and that I was using it against people. In the program, I learned how to accept my past and realized how freeing it could be to let the past go to move on. I discovered that praying helps too. I learned to develop the spiritual part of me, to read, talk and pray. From our meetings, I practiced doing it at home by myself.

I learned a lot in the Sparrow program. I discovered the spiritual side of me, more about myself and how to rebuild my relationships. I had a place to process my feelings, learn who I was, recognize the hurt and pain from my past and that I was using it against people – I learned to accept my past and that bringing it into my life now wasn’t helpful. I discovered that praying helps too and to develop the spiritual part of me, to read, talk, pray and to do it at home by myself.

If you give the program all that you’ve got and you stick to the commitment you’ve made, you can do wonderful things. If you don’t want to grow and change, you won’t You only get out of it what you put into it. It’s a hand up, it’s not a handout. You have to ignore all the outside stuff and stick to the rules in order to help you reach your goals. It’s all about what are you willing to do to have a better life.

When I started with Sparrow, I was at a very low point and by the end I had achieved goals I set many years ago. Day by day, with support, and facing myself and my situation every day, I can look back and see great change. My very specific needs were to make my cost of living reasonable, so I can work part time and still be an active mother. There was a healing aspect for me as well in receiving focused, attentive care. It spoke truth into my core belief of unworthiness. I still have a lot of work and healing to do, but I am so grateful for my time and experience with Sparrow ministries. Shelly and Audrey are deeply compassionate and give so much of themselves to helping each person in whatever way they need.