20 Moments for
20 Years — #1

Twenty years of ministry means we’re celebrating all the good we’ve accomplished together through God’s leading and your partnership!

Throughout 2022, we will be sharing 20 moments for 20 years. RAHAB’s staff members, volunteers, and those we serve each have a unique story … and you’re part of it!

It’s our pleasure to introduce you to Leesha Timura today — our Minor Mentoring Program Supervisor. Watch the video below to hear about some of her favorite moments with RAHAB, what she’s looking forward to in the future, and more!

New Selah’s
Place Open

Selah’s Place has officially opened a Cuyahoga County location!

The furniture has been moved in, and we have begun receiving items off our Wish List — thank you!

Although we have been in Cuyahoga County building relationships and mentoring youth for more than a year, establishing a physical space makes all the difference.

The word “Selah” can be found throughout the book of Psalms in the Bible. It usually shows up in-between stanzas of poetry or song and indicates that a rest should be taken at that spot. This was likely musical direction for singing and reciting the Psalms.

RAHAB named our Minor Mentoring program “Selah’s Place” with the intention of it truly embodying the word: a place of rest.

We serve youth that have been identified as survivors of human trafficking or at-risk of being trafficked. In both of these circumstances, it means their world is not as safe as it should be. They often come to us with complex trauma and are used to operating in high-risk and stressful environments.

    • But at Selah’s Place they can exhale.
    • They can come in and relax, knowing they are safe and valued and loved.
    • They can be a kid again, playing games, doing crafts, and making slime with the staff and volunteers.
    • Some youth enjoy taking time at Selah’s Place to do their homework without disruption … or even to take a nap, trusting us enough to care for themselves in the way they need.

Having a physical space allows us to continue building relationships with these youth in a safe environment and offers peace of mind. We are grateful we are able to invite youth into a space like this in Cuyahoga County.

In order to make it as cozy and welcoming as possible, we need your help! Our Wish List is full of items for our Cuyahoga County location.

Please help us make this new Selah’s’ Place truly restful for the youth we serve. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Celebrating Milestones
at The Oaks

Healing is happening — and a new future is on the horizon …

Two of our participants from The Oaks are approaching their one-year anniversary of being in the program!

The Oaks is our transitional housing program for women preparing to gain independence. Through mentoring and extensive case management, our focus is on advocacy, walking with participants through this journey, empowering their voice, and helping them utilize life skills to remain independent after they’ve completed the program.

These two participants will be the first (of many!) to complete one year of the program since The Oaks became part of RAHAB.

Both had long-term relationships with RAHAB through the outreach team, the Drop-Ins, and the safe house before they were enrolled in The Oaks. During their time in the program, they have:

  1. become financially stable,
  2. found secure housing,
  3. learned how to build their job skills,
  4. found stable transportation,
  5. gotten connected in the community for support with sobriety, trauma therapy, and various social services!

“Extended case management is vital for our participants,” says Elaine Oliver, Senior Director of Safe Housing. “Within their time with The Oaks, both have faced hardships that, without community engagement, could have led them back to life choices that they have worked so hard to leave and heal from.”

Although these women are close to completing the program, their relationship with RAHAB will not end any time soon. We emphasize to every woman and child we serve that once you are connected with RAHAB, you are family. They will always be welcomed by the Drop-Ins, and our case managers will be available to help point them in the right direction, should they need anything at all.

We are so proud of them and excited to celebrate this achievement with them … please join us in doing so! God is moving in hearts and lives, and it’s an honor to witness it!

 

Joy Jar Moment

 

In honor of our 20th anniversary, RAHAB is taking every opportunity to share moments of joy with you from the women and children we get to serve.

As they handwrite a joyful moment on a piece of paper and put it in one of our Joy Jars, we want you to join the celebration as well … for “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Joy Jar Moment: A friend burst into the Drop-In Center and shouted, “I got a job!”

Getting a job is one of the first steps to independent and free living for women working to escape exploitation and leave that pain behind them. It is a critically important part of their journey.

A lot of our friends have been told — both directly and indirectly — that their value lies in how they can offer their body to someone. But getting a job reveals this for what it is: a lie. So a new job is the beginning of self-sufficiency — and can be a stepping stone to higher self-worth and physical freedom.

We’re praising God today for new jobs, new opportunities, and the new hope they bring!

 

Joy Jar Moment

 

In honor of our 20th anniversary, RAHAB is taking every opportunity to share moments of joy with you from the women and children we get to serve.

As they handwrite a joyful moment on a piece of paper and put it in one of our Joy Jars, we want you to join the celebration as well … for “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Joy Jar Moment: A friend burst into the Drop-In Center and shouted, “I got a job!”

Getting a job is one of the first steps to independent and free living for women working to escape exploitation and leave that pain behind them. It is a critically important part of their journey.

A lot of our friends have been told — both directly and indirectly — that their value lies in how they can offer their body to someone. But getting a job reveals this for what it is: a lie. So a new job is the beginning of self-sufficiency — and can be a stepping stone to higher self-worth and physical freedom.

We’re praising God today for new jobs, new opportunities, and the new hope they bring!

 

Long-term Care =
Lasting Success

 

RAHAB’s continuum of care is what makes us so unique.

We walk with those we serve for their entire healing journey, providing wrap-around care and support. And this means we are able to build meaningful and lasting relationships with women and children who trust us to put their well-being first.

One of many examples of this continuum of care is a friend of ours who has been involved with three of our programs as a teenager.

    1. We first met her at Selah’s Place — which provides a warm atmosphere where girls can have one-on-one time with safe adults who speak life, love, and encouragement to them. It’s a place for play and creativity to come alive. In this space she was able to develop trusting relationships with women who wanted to pour into her life.
    2. She then moved into Rebecca’s Place, our former minor safe house. Here we got to witness her find her identity. She became more confident, feeling the freedom to express herself through both her physical appearance and discovering her true personality. She became radiant with confidence. She built strong and healthy boundaries and grew in her relationships. We found out she had never had a birthday party, so we were able to give her the gift of her first birthday party!

      After graduating from Rebecca’s Place, she kept in touch with Selah’s Place. Just a few weeks ago, they were able to throw a surprise party for her, inviting past staff from Rebecca’s Place she hadn’t seen in over a year. She dissolved into tears when she saw the room filled with so many people that loved her. She was gracious and full of joy, declaring, “You made my day!” with a bright smile on her face.

    3. As she transitions into adulthood, she is now connected with The Oaks, our transitional housing program. Here she will be further empowered to find her voice, stability, and lasting independence.

We love that she has had multiple touchpoints within RAHAB and trusts us with her journey. She knows she is well-loved by so many, and that we are all rooting and praying for her success.

As RAHAB Ministries works to expand our street outreaches, invest in our Drop-In Centers, build our new community-based, family-centered minor program, and more this year, it’s all with the aim of offering healing, hope, and joy to more women and children who need our help — your help.

We can’t wait to see God at work through your love, prayers, and support … so that we can share more stories of real and lasting transformation!

Long-term Care =
Lasting Success

RAHAB’s continuum of care is what makes us so unique.

We walk with those we serve for their entire healing journey, providing wrap-around care and support. And this means we are able to build meaningful and lasting relationships with women and children who trust us to put their well-being first.

One of many examples of this continuum of care is a friend of ours who has been involved with three of our programs as a teenager.

    1. We first met her at Selah’s Place — which provides a warm atmosphere where girls can have one-on-one time with safe adults who speak life, love, and encouragement to them.

      It’s a place for play and creativity to come alive. In this space she was able to develop trusting relationships with women who wanted to pour into her life.

    2. She then moved into Rebecca’s Place, our former minor safe house. Here we got to witness her find her identity. She became more confident, feeling the freedom to express herself through both her physical appearance and discovering her true personality. She became radiant with confidence.

      She built strong and healthy boundaries and grew in her relationships. We found out she had never had a birthday party, so we were able to give her the gift of her first birthday party!

      After graduating from Rebecca’s Place, she kept in touch with Selah’s Place. Just a few weeks ago, they were able to throw a surprise party for her, inviting past staff from Rebecca’s Place she hadn’t seen in over a year.

      She dissolved into tears when she saw the room filled with so many people that loved her. She was gracious and full of joy, declaring, “You made my day!” with a bright smile on her face.

    3. As she transitions into adulthood, she is now connected with The Oaks, our transitional housing program. Here she will be further empowered to find her voice, stability, and lasting independence.

We love that she has had multiple touchpoints within RAHAB and trusts us with her journey. She knows she is well-loved by so many, and that we are all rooting and praying for her success.

As RAHAB Ministries works to expand our street outreaches, invest in our Drop-In Centers, build our new community-based, family-centered minor program, and more this year, it’s all with the aim of offering healing, hope, and joy to more women and children who need our help — your help.

We can’t wait to see God at work through your love, prayers, and support … so that we can share more stories of real and lasting transformation!

Your Dedication
Multiplies Hope!

You are cordially invited today to partner with us and multiply hope …

By giving monthly to RAHAB, you help make our boots-on-the-ground work possible:

 

      • Seeing survivors set free from physical, emotional, and spiritual captivity.
      • Continuing to build relationships with women and girls on the streets, in strip clubs, and in correctional facilities — to show them their worth.
      • Welcoming women and children into our Drop-In Centers and safe house — where we minister tangibly by feeding them, clothing them, and more.
      • Providing community-based minor mentoring — making sure girls are shown unconditional love and given hope for tomorrow.

You’ll let them know they’re NOT invisible — and that you’re dedicated to helping them become all they were created to be!

As you join us today, please let us send you a special gift of thanks:

The Call to Commit — a beautiful collection of inspirational stories and highlights about the work RAHAB accomplished in 2021 in our efforts to eradicate sex trafficking.

Join us in serving as the disruptive hands and feet of Christ for the sake of women and children. Click here to play a personal and powerful role all year long!

Your Dedication
Multiplies Hope!

You are cordially invited today to partner with us and multiply hope …

By giving monthly to RAHAB, you help make our boots-on-the-ground work possible:

 

      • Seeing survivors set free from physical, emotional, and spiritual captivity.
      • Continuing to build relationships with women and girls on the streets, in strip clubs, and in correctional facilities — to show them their worth.
      • Welcoming women and children into our Drop-In Centers and safe house — where we minister tangibly by feeding them, clothing them, and more.
      • Providing community-based minor mentoring — making sure girls are shown unconditional love and given hope for tomorrow.

You’ll let them know they’re NOT invisible — and that you’re dedicated to helping them become all they were created to be!

As you join us today, please let us send you a special gift of thanks:

The Call to Commit — a beautiful collection of inspirational stories and highlights about the work RAHAB accomplished in 2021 in our efforts to eradicate sex trafficking.

Join us in serving as the disruptive hands and feet of Christ for the sake of women and children. Click here to play a personal and powerful role all year long!