...But God had a different plan for LaShay and He brought her to Recovering Hope at Mercy Hill Church. By the grace of God and with the proper care and resources, LaShay's story is one of mercy, hope and redemption.
This is LaShays story: “I was a junkie on the streets.” "I was completely lost and alone.” “You should let me die,” then “all my suffering would be over.” This is what LaShay felt four years ago, before God rescued her out of her addiction and brought her to Mercy Hill Church. LaShay was pregnant with her fourth child and the feared that she wouldn't be able to care for her. She feared she would have to give up her daughter, like her other children. LaShay just wanted her suffering to end and be done with life. After she gave birth to her daughter, LaShay suffered from massive blood loss and health complications. She should have died. LaShay knew God was showing her that He could break the generational destruction of her family. LaShay was determined to live this new life in sobriety and make different decisions than her past life. God began restoring her family and LaShay was reunited with her oldest son, who lives with her now *praise to God !
One year ago, LaShay was invited to the Recovering Hope meeting at Mercy Hill Church in Phoenix. "I love this church and this recovery group. Though hearing the Gospel growing up, it was attending this church and recovery group, that I understood the Gospel for myself and how to apply it to my life.” LaShay and others in the group celebrated her one year of sobriety and walking with Jesus in April!
" I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. " Job 42: 2
But the story doesn’t end there. Redemption is infectious. God continues to use LaShay’s story to move the hearts of others who are feeling lost and hopeless. A fellow sister, Tammy, sometimes attends the Recovering Hope meeting at Mercy Hill Church, but doesn't typically interact. A couple of weeks ago, she walked into the meeting and was encouraged by LaShay's testimony of God's saving grace. Because of her own redemption story, LaShay was able to connect with and help Tammy the way God had done for LaShay. Though Tammy is experiencing homelessness and it's difficult to know how to approach her, LaShay without hesitation fully embraced Tammy in love and affection. Just as Christ embraces us in our messiness. God had a plan for LaShay long before she was born. She should have died four years ago, according to the doctors, but the Lord's plan for her was not complete. Now LaShay is helping others see Christ’s love, forgiveness and plan for their lives.
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"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. " 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
We are so thankful for LaShay's humility and courage in sharing her story. The purpose of Hope for Addiction is to provide resources to equip local churches to bring hope to struggling addicts. These success stories show the great need and the power in the gospel to transform lives. We know and have seen time and again that Christ's finished work at the cross and his resurrection gives hope to the disparaged and hopeless. The gospel brings life-giving hope and freedom, not just sobriety (Galatians 5:1).
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“Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”