Providing Grace and Redemption through Christ

for Prisoners, Women in Recovery, and Military Veterans. 

Hello Stacey,

It’s a place one never wants to find themselves, or their loved ones.

A label once given, incredibly hard to remove. An experience which may haunt the nights and days for years to come.

A victim is defined by the harm that has come to them; anyone who has suffered harm to body or mind, damage to their belongings or loss of resources. Mental, physical, emotional, financial, the trauma incurred from the circumstances of victimization can instantly stop a flourishing life right in its tracks

The National Office for Victims of Crime annually sets aside one week every April to honor victims and the professionals who work to support them. This year’s theme: “Rights, access, equity for all victims” represents the mission and focus of all of Serving USA’s partner organizations assisting their clients in a myriad of capacities. It might be providing free legal services, accompanying victims to court to face their abuser, mediating during custody cases, or offering childcare while parents are indisposed, emergency shelter, transportation to medical appointments, therapy and trauma counseling, financial and job training, spiritual counseling. Every victim’s situation and needs are different, yet our partners provide the resources, expertise and compassion required to help a victim boldly meet their challenges, to heal their hurts and bravely move forward in the grace of God.

A survivor is defined by their life afterwards. When a client can find justice and the ability to reclassify how they view themselves-- moving from victim to survivor-- we celebrate courage embodying action. These transformations are made possible thanks in part to the dedication of staff at nonprofits, like the one’s in our Serving USA network. Converse Hope Center in Douglas County, Wyoming, featured below, is but one example of a place where survivors’ lives are being transformed.

Serving USA aides in transforming lives, with futures brighter, families reunited, and communities flourishing as a result. Thank you for your continued interest and support of our efforts. For further information about our work benefitting victims of crime, please see our website: www.servingusa.org

We had the opportunity to interview our partner at Converse Hope to shed light on Crime Victims Awareness Month and how they are helping to support those who are affected.

Who is the Converse Hope Center?

The Converse Hope Center was founded in 2017 to serve victims of crime, including survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, child abuse, and elder abuse. Our Mission is to empower victims and inspire hope through crisis intervention, advocacy, prevention, youth programs, and survivor support services. We envision our community working together to drive out the darkness of violence with the light of hope. 

These core values are the foundation of the

Converse Hope Center's purpose and perspective: 

• Service 
• Social Justice 
• Dignity and worth of a person 
• Importance of human relationships 
• Integrity 
• Competence 

What new techniques have you implemented

to support victims and those directly affected? 

Every survivor has unique barriers on their journey of healing and pursuit for safety. Therefore, CHC does not approach advocacy with a one size fits all model. Instead, we tailor our services to meet the needs of every individual we serve. In this way, we are consistently developing our services. In the last year, we had a Ford Expedition donated to us by the Converse County Sheriff's Office. This vehicle has truly opened our ability to reach more rural clients. While lack of transportation has always been a prevalent problem for many clients, it has been easy enough to address within town limits, but many of our potential clients live at least 10-20 miles away. This year we had 6 clients who were over 30 miles away from the nearest services, with a large portion of the drive being dirt roads our van could not traverse. Thanks to this new vehicle we were able to reach them and provide services. 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do/your job?

The most rewarding part of our job is when you can physically see the stress melting away from someone as they finally realize they are safe. When you see a client meet a goal. When you hear a client begin to understand their worth and find the path to self-love. We can't take credit for the hard work and decisions our clients make. Their success is their own, but seeing them find that power within themselves, to witness them cultivate it, and to see them achieve is beyond rewarding. 

What is something that you wish more people knew

about your industry or what you do as an organization?

Overnight victims of crime have thrust upon them a mountain of emotional turmoil, extreme medical bills, homelessness or relocation expenses, counseling fees, and so much more because someone else decided to harm them. These crimes are violent in nature both physically and mentally. Unable to understand how a person could commit such acts against another, people often think, "it doesn't happen here." It does happen. Sadly, these crimes are extremely common across the nation. Even in my small county of 13,000 in Wyoming. Even in smaller ones. While our organization, and others like ours, try to reach everyone who could use our services, we can't do it without our community. Please, find out about your local organizations and help spread the word. These survivors have gathered the courage to fight for their human rights because someone else chose to violate them. Let us all end the silence and fight with them.  

What tools and resources would you recommend?

If someone has harmed you, it is not your fault and you are not alone. There are organizations like ours across the country. The following can help you find resources in your area. 

VictimConnect: 855-484-2846 

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 (Text START to 88788) 

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. 

David States Story:

After being released from prison in December 2014, David States came to Brookside Community Church. When asked what Brookside could do for him, he said, “I just need to be in my Father’s House.” He struggled to hold back tears as he began to share his story.

He had just served a 10-year prison sentence. There, he encountered Christ and his life was transformed. Getting out of prison was a huge reality check for him. He was scared. He didn’t want to return to his old ways. He knew that left to himself, he would. He didn’t know what he needed, but he knew where he needed to be; in His Father’s house.

Brookside Community Development Corporation established a reentry program to walk alongside individuals like David. People often find Christ in prison or in recovery programs and long to walk this newness successfully. But many get sucked into old habits, friendships, and lifestyles, leaving them with debilitating guilt and shame. They desire change but need a place to succeed. A place that will walk with them through the pain of leaving behind past friends or family, and the struggle of addiction. They need a place that will open up opportunities for housing, jobs, and mentoring. A place where mistakes can be made, and forgiveness is freely offered. Brookside CDC creates a place where people like David can walk reentry out in a dignified way, within the context of Christian community. This is the work that Christ has called the Church to do, to throw open the doors and help others to pursue new life in Christ.

David States committed to our community the very first day out of prison. In October 30th, 2015 he was accepted as the first resident of Isaiah House, Brookside CDC's transitional housing program. Soon after he became the house manager, overseeing four other men in the house. He worked through difficult employment struggles with a sex case that kept him from good jobs and the struggle of past relationships, but through it all, David continued to be faithful to God and his Brookside community. David has said, "I don't know where I'd be without a community that continued to believe in me. Even when I made the wrong decisions, the church stayed with me. They have shown me Jesus in ways I needed even when things were hard."

On December 2019, David finally said good bye to Isaiah House and finished Parole. He received affordable housing through Brookside CDC's housing program. Got his dream job in electronic manufacturing, and teaches Bible Study for Brookside Community Church family. He continues to be a mentor to each man who is transitioning into the Isaiah House programming.

In 2020, He met his new wife. God took a man who once ripped apart the fabric of this community and is now restoring him to be a man who is mending the broken pieces of our community.

Nicole's Story

I have had a hard story that involves eight years of chronic homelessness, domestic violence, and unbelievable hardship. Upon finding out I was pregnant again, 5 years ago, I became willing to turn my life around. I began a journey through several different programs and began to heal and strive to be better.

It has been a long and painful journey with the best reward. I found housing, re-established relationships with my family, and got back into college.

The biggest obstacle began to be finding a way to support my kids, with all of the difficulty to find employment. My past has haunted me and stolen several opportunities from me.

Now at Kherut, I have found acceptance and flexibility I cannot find in other jobs. Not only am I working now, but getting mentored by amazing individuals that care about my future and my family. I instantly knew I wanted to be apart of Kherut, to help myself grow and succeed in providing for my two boys.

Working provides me with self esteem. It feels good to contribute to my community and to feel stable. Being part of such a driven team and learning hands-on training will continue to help me develop skill sets I can use for a lifetime. I am excited to continue to grow with Kherut!

1 Corinthians 13

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

Crime Victims Awareness Month

The Month of April

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The Month of April

National Volunteer Month

The Month of April

Things To Include On Your Website



• Contact Page
• Phone number
• Email

• Mission, Vision, Values
• Have a page dedicated to why and how you do what you do

• Photos Of The Team
• This adds to your culture and shows who you are as an organization

• Donate Buttons (In Multiple Places)
• The more you remind people to donate, the more likely they are to take action

• Upcoming Events
• Drive donations and event attendance by adding an event calendar on your site

• News: Press Releases And Articles
• Keep people in the know and show your initiatives

• Blogs And Success Stories
• Show people your WHY

Pro Tip:

Make Sure Your Website Is Accessible

Questions?

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding information within this newsletter, please contact info@servingusa.org



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