Surprised by Grace: Living a New Story

FROM A YOUNG AGE, Diane believed that Christianity had nothing to offer her in terms of hope for her life. She could not imagine experiencing a loving relationship with God or finding solace in the church because of the hurt she experienced from people around her. Through STCH Ministries Campus Ministries, God intervened and surprised her with His grace, and now, she sees that God is creating a beautiful, new story. 

As a child, Diane experienced a tumultuous home life and felt betrayed by those close to her. Seeking to escape her family, Diane fled home in her early teen years and soon found herself homeless. She recognized her life was moving in a dangerous direction and began to ask for help. Through a series of connections, Diane was able to stay temporarily with a friend’s parents. They helped her to register for a military boarding school where she could live and study in a safe environment. Diane was excited about the future and worked diligently on the enrollment process. 

During the time she spent preparing to register for the military school, Diane became pregnant with her daughter, Madelyn. Sadly, Madelyn’s father was not supportive, and Diane knew that she could not safely share the news of her pregnancy. Not wanting this to hold her back, she hid her pregnancy as long as possible and continued pursuing her plan. At seventeen years old and five months pregnant, she moved into the military school. Staff at the school soon realized that Diane was pregnant and told her she could not remain there. Authorities from the school contacted the parents of Madelyn’s father, who assisted Diane in finding a new place to go. 

At seven months pregnant, Diane left military school for maternity housing. Due to Diane being a minor, she would only be allowed to stay there until she gave birth to her daughter. The home offered her the option of adoption, which Diane considered but decided against. “Even then,” she said, “I knew I did not want to give my daughter up for adoption.” Diane already adored Madelyn and was determined to do anything to protect and care for her. 

With only a short time before her daughter’s arrival, she began an earnest search for housing that would allow her and her daughter to stay together. This is when she heard about STCH Ministries. “I had so much faith that it would be the right place for me,” Diane shared. Since she was a minor, the staff helped place her with another ministry for a few months until she turned 18 and became eligible to move to Marshall Campus. Her anticipation was high, and her belief that this program could help her was so strong that she did not care what rules or expectations would be required. She knew she would do whatever was necessary to stay with her daughter and find a fresh start in her life. 

Since moving to the Marshall Campus, Diane has built relationships with staff members and was surprised to realize that they lived truly changed lives because of their relationship with Christ. Witnessing their consistent grace and steadfast faith transformed Diane’s understanding of Christianity and gave her fresh hope. She had realized, “In this world, there are genuinely good people. That’s what I’ve seen in STCH Ministries staff: genuinely good people who are seeking to follow Jesus and actually care.” 

Diane’s changed perspective has opened her to a relationship with Christ, and she has experienced God’s redemption in her life. “Now, I know that Christianity is not just a religion; it’s more than that. It’s a relationship,” Diane shared. This relationship has changed everything. It has given her new peace, new conviction and a new, hopeful story for her life and future. Diane found that she does not need to rely on harmful behaviors or habits to find rest and peace. With a smile, she shared, “I don’t need anything to comfort my mind except for Jesus.” 

Diane has also learned that God wants her to see her family the way He sees them. For a long time, she struggled with feelings of anger towards her family. After accepting her own brokenness and seeing the redemptive story God has provided in her own life, Diane has been able to extend grace to her family. “My heart had to break for my family,” Diane said. “I had to see them through God’s eyes, and He showed me that we are all broken people.” After this, God gave Diane the strength to apologize to her family and seek a positive relationship with them. Today, Diane ministers with hope to her family by treating them with patience and praying that they will find healing. She also strives to share the grace God has given to her by loving every new mom who comes to the Marshall Campus. “I am learning how we can bear with one another and give each other grace,” she shared. 

Diane’s experience in the program has reshaped her vision for what it means to live a good life. When asked about her hopes and dreams for the future, Diane recalled that she used to think she wanted to attain success that would be reflected in material possessions like houses or cars. Now, she reflected, “it’s not any of that that matters anymore. I just want to see myself serving the Lord.” This desire to live a life of service is exhibited in Diane’s joyful relationship with her daughter, her leadership amongst her peers on campus and even a transformed connection to her family. Josephine, resident coordinator on the Marshall Campus, praised Diane, saying: 

I have seen Diane grow in her maturity as a mom and in her dependency on the Lord. She’s been leading our Health Class for a few months now; in that role, she has grown from being timid to leading it with her whole heart with confidence. The other moms’ participation reflects her leadership. They leave grateful for the challenge and her leadership. Her connection with the Lord and putting her self-worth in Him has enabled her to set and keep boundaries in the cottage as well as in her personal life. 

The grace Diane encountered through her time on the campus has allowed her to enter the new, God is writing in her life story God is writing with her life. Now, Diane delights in knowing that she is breaking generational patterns of hurt and providing her daughter with a foundation of trust and identity in God. Her greatest joy so far has been seeing her daughter grow and learn to love and praise the Lord. “Being able to have my daughter in chapel and planting seeds so early is amazing,” she shared. 

Before coming to STCH Ministries, Diane was running from the hurt others had caused. She felt locked in a narrative of despair and did not see hope for her future. Now, Diane has found a reason to hope not only for herself, but also for those she loves—even those who are still struggling. She recognizes that every person she meets has their own story and must be met with compassion. The compassion of Christ in her own life gives her strength to extend that grace to those around her. From her own experience, she has learned that no matter what struggles a person’s past may contain, God is ready to weave all the details of their life into a new story.