I first met Naomi (name changed) when she came to Parent Life with a friend. She was very quiet and shy. As I got to know her better, she shared with me that her dream had always been to become an art teacher. Her passion for art was amazing. As she slowly shared more of her story, she said she felt ashamed and sad because she believed her dream of becoming a teacher was no longer possible. I asked, “What’s stopping you?”
She responded, “Well, I have a son now.”
I shared with her that I was also a teen mom who went to college and raised my child as a single mom. It wasn’t easy, and there were struggles, but I made it through. She was surprised to learn that there were daycare and housing assistance programs available for students, as she thought college was only for people who didn’t have children yet. I helped connect her with those resources, and today, she’s enrolled in college!
She often comes back to our group during breaks, and I can see how God is working in her life. At first, she would tear up and say, “Why do you keep helping me? I don’t deserve this.” That’s when I could come alongside her and remind her, “Yes, you do.”
In December, she made the decision to follow Jesus at a candlelight dinner. Since then, I’ve been opening the Bible with her, and she is learning more about God’s unfolding story. About a month ago, she Face Timed me, asking if she could talk to me about a Bible question. When she called, I noticed a group of college girls behind her. She hesitated and said, “They’re not moms. Is that okay?” I told her, “Of course, that’s totally fine!”
As she asked her question, I was introduced to some of her college friends. Later, I asked her, “Did you realize you’re sharing the gospel with them?” She said, “But I don’t know the Bible yet.”
I replied, “What made you want to share your story with them? What prompted you to call me with a Bible question?” She said, “I shared a bit of my struggles, and they told me they had similar ones, even though they’re not moms. I just wanted to show them that God loves them, that He forgives them, and that they can talk with God and even come to church with me.”
I smiled and said, “That is sharing the gospel! You didn’t need to know everything about the Bible. You simply shared your heart, and when you didn’t know something, you reached out for help. You’re doing it!”
“My favorite part of Parent Life is seeing how God softens these girls’ hearts and restores their hope. Many of them come to us without any hope at all.” – Michelle, Parent Life Leader