10/23/2026
20 Years, 20 Stories, 20 Weeks ❤️
A New Beginning: My Journey with FaithWorks at Francis Court
Before entering Francis Court, I was living at Visions of the Cross, a sober living program. My one-year-old daughter and I shared a bedroom with another mother and her child, and I had just learned I was pregnant with my son. I had been clean and sober for a year and a half, was working part-time at Black Bear Diner, and had just started my first semester back in college.
I was determined to build a better life for my children, but I didn't have the financial resources or the knowledge to live independently. Looking back, I can see how God was opening doors and making a way for my family.
Francis Court was one of those doors, and it changed our lives.
When we moved in, we were given our own fully furnished home. For the first time, I had a safe and stable place to raise my children while continuing my education and working toward independence. But Francis Court offered so much more than housing. They taught me how to budget, save money, maintain a home, and be accountable. They gave me grace when I needed it and never made me feel judged for my past.
I am especially grateful for Melissa, Crystal, and Mamie, who were incredibly loving and supportive. They had a beautiful way of making everyone feel safe, seen, loved, and welcome. As a young mother, knowing my children were surrounded by people who genuinely cared about them meant everything. Through these women, I experienced God's love in action.
Francis Court also gave me a community and lifelong friendships. One of my favorite memories was helping deliver my best friend's baby while I was pregnant with my own! Our friendship grew during our time there, and today we are still best friends and aunties to each other's children.
After a year and a half, I was ready to move into a home outside the program. Faith Works had set aside $100 from my rent each month, so when the time came, I had enough money for a deposit. More importantly, I had gained the skills and confidence to live independently.
That was in 2019, and I am overwhelmed by God's faithfulness when I look at my life today.
Since leaving Francis Court, I have raised my children as a single mother, purchased my own home, earned two associate degrees and a bachelor's degree from Simpson University, and am now pursuing my master's degree to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. God has also blessed me with an amazing husband and another son, growing our family in ways I once only dreamed of.
And on October 14, 2026, I celebrated 10 YEARS CLEAN!
I know firsthand how powerful it is when someone believes in you before you fully believe in yourself. As I work toward becoming a therapist, my hope is to offer others the same compassion, encouragement, and hope that were given to me.
Faith Works didn't do the work for me, but God used this program and the incredible people there to give me the foundation, tools, and opportunity to build a different future for my children.
Ten years ago, I was fighting to create a better life for my family. Today, by God's grace, I am living a life I once only dreamed was possible.
I will forever be grateful to Faith Works, Francis Court, and the people who poured into our lives. My story is proof that our past does not have to define our future, and that with faith, grace, support, and determination, lives can truly be transformed.
To God be all the glory! ❤️-Kendra-
