(As promised in the previous post, this is the first in a
three part series explaining what Legacy is all about. A foundations class, if you will… “Life at Legacy 101”)
by Stephanie Miller
The most terrifying words in the English language are:
I’m from the government and I’m here to help.
~Ronald Reagan
If you agree with Ronald Reagan's famous quip above, you'll appreciate the unique, faith-based, non-governmental ways Deborah's Legacy seeks to reach struggling women in our community.
Let me state upfront that DL gladly partners with a number of wonderful government agencies including: DHHS, Workforce Development, Heartland Counseling & Consulting, North Platte Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, Midwest Nebraska Drug Court and others. We appreciate the important services each agency provides and have seen incredible examples of the love and dedication motivating these public servants. So no government bashing here.
Legacy, however, has purposefully chosen an alternate path. While the government can legislate obedience and punish disobedience to affect change, a
life transformed by the gospel of Christ changes a person from the inside out. This is lasting change.
Such a task is "messy" and hard to systemize at times. Loving people well (like Christ loves us) includes holding them to certain standards as well as forgiving "seventy times seven" (Matt 18:21-22). At Legacy we strive for a balance between accountability and freedom, truth and grace. So, we attempt to run each decision, each rule, each activity through that messy & inexact filter…
Here's a glimpse at several practical and specific ways DL offers Christ-like love to each resident:
- Giving
each woman her own house key. This simple gesture powerfully communicates love to our residents, many who are trying to escape some sort of imprisonment (both literal and figurative): jail, substances, unhealthy relationships, poverty. By simply giving them a key, we are saying,
“We believe you can do this! Welcome HOME, where you are valued beyond measure.”
- Giving
each woman an individualized welcome basket including a Life Recovery Bible,
beauty products, journal, other personal items, and a note from our staff or
prayer team. We want each woman to know she has been prayed over and loved
before she has even stepped foot onto Legacy property. The message we hope to communicate: "You are loved for who you are, not what you do."
- Offering personalized
attention. We want each woman to know we are “for them” in a very practical,
individualized way- prayer in the ER, a supportive shoulder in the court room, cake
to celebrate milestones, tears over coffee in times of defeat. We hope to foster a sense of "one" community (including residents, staff, volunteers…)- A community of fellow strugglers who share burdens and walk this difficult road of life together.
- Praying
for each woman in a meaningful, concentrated, intentional way. God has assembled
a team of Legacy prayer warriors, who humbly and fearlessly engage in spiritual
battle on behalf of the entire community. Recognizing residents as
sisters and fellow strugglers, our team meets weekly to pray for and encourage one another.
- Connecting
ladies with faith-based resources.
Because we believe Christ is what truly changes lives, we encourage our
residents to tap into some of the amazing faith-based resources in our
community: counseling, legal support, church, recovery programs etc…We are so thankful for the many Christian professionals who have partnered with Legacy to provide services to our ladies! We also offer our own classes as well, covering everything from healthy finances to healthy relationships, all based on Biblical principles.
Again, while our faith guides Legacy, our desire is to love and serve all. Therefore, we strive very hard to avoid any
sense of “legalism” or “required belief” in order to succeed here. Legacy residents represent a diverse cross-section of beliefs- ranging from Christian to Wiccan,
Jehovah’s Witness to “unaffiliated” … We hope to love and serve each, to the very best of our
ability, as a sister and a friend.
In addition to the unique opportunity our status as a faith-based nonprofit provides, there are challenges as well. Government funding comes with
“strings attached”, and we have therefore chosen to forego such funding. That's where you can potentially "stand in the gap". If our vision resonates with you, please consider joining our Legacy community by donating your time, talent, or resources. You can visit our webpage to learn more.
Thanks for reading, please share with your friends, and check for updates regularly!
