Radical Love > Radical Change

TWO YEARS. In the grand scheme of life, two years may not seem like much, but for the mothers and children on our Homes for Families campuses, it can dramatically alter their lives. For Brooke and her son Jacoby, their two years on the Bluebonnet Campus have brought healing, new life, incredible growth and inexpressible joy. 

At the young age of 17, Brooke found herself struggling with drugs and the lifestyle that accompanied them. After Jacoby’s birth in 2013, she felt the weight of her decisions beginning to crash down around her, as she did not know how to escape the bondage of drugs. A few years later, Child Protective Services opened a case and ultimately decided to remove Jacoby from her care. Brooke felt lost, confused and broken. “I was in the pit, I didn’t care anymore, and I didn’t know what to do,” Brooke shared. 

In her brokenness, the Lord began to move in her life in ways she could not comprehend. Shortly after Jacoby was taken from her home, Brooke moved to a faith-based recovery home where her healing began. One day, she shared with a staff member how exhausted she felt and how ready she was for a change. The staff member explained how a relationship with the Lord could offer peace beyond understanding. Brooke decided to give her life to Christ that night and start anew. “The feeling of being free is unbelievable,” Brooke exclaimed. Soon after that moment, she moved to the Bluebonnet Campus as she reunited with Jacoby. 

Coming onto the campus, Brooke faced many difficulties, including reading. In first grade, she discovered she struggled with reading due to dyslexia. The moms on our campuses are encouraged to read their Bibles and participate in Bible studies daily. This became a major roadblock for Brooke as she felt she could not participate. The staff did not give up on her, though, and taught her ways to cope and excel in her reading. 

“God and the women here have helped me learn to read,” Brooke shared, “I am reading better because of God, and I have learned God will help your needs if you just let Him in.” 

She worked diligently to learn to read and now can read her Bible and looks forward to reading and learning the scriptures. What once caused her pain now brings her joy. 

Many other areas of Brooke’s life beyond reading have been impacted. The staff on our campuses work to equip the mothers with important life and parenting skills. Since moving to the Bluebonnet Campus, Brooke has learned how to cook, how to be financially responsible, how to care for her household and how to parent Jacoby with confidence. Recently, Brooke finished the Raising Highly Capable Kids course, which provided her with the tools and skills necessary to raise her son to be healthy, caring and responsible. She took every lesson to heart and is excited to put what she learned into practice. 

While learning to read and being equipped as a mother were major accomplishments for Brooke, her biggest success has been the growth in her relationship with her son. When they first arrived, Jacoby shied away from his feelings and acted in frustration towards his mom. Through the support of the staff and other moms on campus, Brooke has learned how to respond, support and show love to her son. More than anything, though, she has learned how to pray and share God’s love with him. She finds purpose in being an example for her son and discipling him. 

Their relationship has drastically changed due to Christ being the center of their lives and the lessons they learned. Jacoby talks with Brooke now instead of responding in anger, and they share conversations about feelings, hardships, celebrations and everything in between. “I am all he has,” Brooke said through tear-filled eyes. 

“He doesn’t know his dad, but now he knows his heavenly Father.” 

Brooke works hard to show Jacoby that he can trust her, and she is there for him through everything. While they are both still growing, she is confident their relationship will only become stronger. 

The Lord has moved radically in Jacoby’s life as well. Brooke can see God in him now and speaks about the immense transformation in her son. “He loves taking his Bible to school and sharing Christ with other students,” Brooke shared. “He even asked to give a Bible to a child who didn’t have one.” 

Every day, Brooke and Jacoby pray together. They pray before he leaves on the bus for school, before meals, before bed, any opportunity they find; they pray together, something they had never experienced before. 

Today, Brooke is sober, free and praising Jesus every second of every day. She acknowledges that the Lord came knocking on her door in her darkest moments, calling her to live for more. She loves the woman she has become and enjoys encouraging the other mothers who come to live on the Bluebonnet Campus. Brooke shared, “If I can do it, anyone can do it. The Lord has helped me with my needs, and He will do it for other women, too.” She looks forward to the future and life after graduating from the program. She dreams of becoming a cosmetologist and using her job to share Christ’s love with others. She wants to give back to the community she came from by serving in ministry to the homeless community and using her spiritual gift of evangelism to help lead others to a relationship with Jesus. 

Brooke often reflects on her favorite Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” She recognizes that only God knows what their lives would have been if they had not come to the Bluebonnet Campus. Because of Jesus, the staff, volunteers and other mothers, Brooke and Jacoby are living examples of the impact radical love can have in just two years. 

If you or someone you know is in need of help, please visit www.STCHM.org/campus-ministries or call 361.645.3005.