Ellen’s Story
“The biggest relief came when I regained custody of my son…”
Ellen, A Family Cares Services and GAIN Initiative Participant
One of the worst possible things a mother can imagine is having her children taken away. It’s what nightmares are made of. After spending time in jail and having my son taken away by DCS, I came to the Life Center with limited options and a broken heart. I wanted to do everything I could to get him back and have him home with me where he belonged. I stepped into Family Care Services scared and completely alone. I was having a hard time not only trusting myself but also trusting anyone around me. However, whatever my advocates in Family Care Services told me to do, I did it. Their loving and compassionate encouragement kept me going. I completed virtual courses through BrightCourse, met with my advocate consistently, listened to her advice, let her pray with me, and took every step I needed to move forward. The biggest relief came when I regained custody of my son—holding him in my arms again, knowing I am continuously learning how to be the best parent I can be made the weeks of struggle and uncertainty worth it. I recently joined a GAIN cohort to keep myself on the right path towards complete financial stability. Since then, I’ve been able to buy a house! I continue to meet with my advocates at the Life Center because I know that supporting my son and giving him the best and fullest life doesn’t only mean providing for him financially. It means learning how to help him grow as a whole person. As crazy as it is to think about, he’ll be a grown adult one day too, and I can only hope that he has people to walk with him and encourage him the way I have over the past year. It has made all the difference in the world. – Ellen, A Family Cares Services and GAIN Initiative Participant
*Names have been changed to protect community members’ identities.
About Evansville Christian Life Center
The Evansville Christian Life Center brings restoration by strengthening families with a stronger foundation. The mission of the ECLC revolves around preparing those we serve with the opportunity to transform their lives drastically. We strive to equip under-resourced individuals in our community with valuable information and resources to move from poverty to their potential personally and professionally.
Evansville Christian Life Center’s Services include:
- GAIN Anti-Poverty Initiative
- Accent on Christ 12-Step Addiction Recovery Program
- Clothing Resource Department
- Food Co-op
- Family Care Services
- A Health Clinic that provides Medical, Dental and Pregnancy Services
