At Lincoln Village Ministry, one of our core values is Bold and Courageous Faith. This means trusting God enough to step into hard conversations and to love people right where they are.
Last month, that faith came to life in a powerful way.
One of our preschool students, a bright and spirited three-year-old, had been struggling with significant behavior challenges. His teachers worked to support him, but communication with his mother had been difficult. She was defensive and discouraged. After hearing about her son's behavior, she said she would not be returning next year.
The next day, Ella, our youngest staff member, was leaving Lincoln Academy when she saw this mother on the porch.
She immediately felt the tension and wanted to slip out the back door to avoid what might have been a hard conversation. Instead, Ella chose courage. She chose faith.
She walked out the front door and greeted the mom. To her surprise, the mother shared that she had just been accepted into Lincoln housing and the Evolve Program, where she will begin her 4-5 year journey of having a Neighborhood Coordinator walk alongside her as she sets and reaches goals.
As they spoke, the mom opened up about her struggles, her exhaustion, and how helpless she felt as a parent. In turn, Ella shared her own story. She told the mother about a time when her own mom reached a breaking point and gave her life to Christ. The change was not immediate, but Ella witnessed how the Holy Spirit transformed her mother's heart and, in time, their family's story. She gently reminded the mom that Jesus loves her deeply and wants to walk with her through every challenge.
Tears began to flow. Walls came down. God's presence filled that porch.
The very next day, the mother reached out and agreed to meet for a parent conference, something we had been praying would happen for weeks.
We believe this is only the beginning of God's redemption story in this young family's life. Praise the Lord for Ella's boldness and for the way He continues to work in hearts at Lincoln Village every single day.
