Staff Blog from Rachel Berry
WellHouse Woman Program Director
My name is Rachel Berry, and I have the honor and privilege of serving at The WellHouse as the WellHouse Woman Program Director. Prior to my current position, I also served as the Case Manager at The Immediate Shelter (TIS) here on campus. I have known about The WellHouse since the very beginning when the founder was just getting started and the very first house was acquired in Birmingham. The first residents were attending my church and my small group volunteered, served, and got involved in various ways. I moved around a lot with my prior employment and when that wrapped up for me after a 30 year career, I moved back to Birmingham. I took some time off to think, reflect, pray, seek, and ask the Lord to lead me to what and where He wanted me to be and be ready and open to just say YES! The WellHouse was where He led me to be and He of course orchestrated all of that to fall into place!
I love how we get to walk alongside our residents help them accomplish their individual goals. Here are just a few of the things:
Getting benefits and obtaining important documents
Addressing medical and dental needs
Working on their education goals (GED, College)
Learning and developing valuable Life Skills
Focusing on their sobriety and navigating life and events in a sober living environment
Job Readiness training and getting their first job working at ShopWell and then transitioning to off-property jobs
Opening a bank account, saving money, and paying off fines
Getting a driver's license and saving money to purchase a car
Working on getting their records expunged
Helping support them with healthy family reunification
Watching them have time and a safe space to dream and imagine what they want to do, helping them identify their individual and unique goals, and then working with them to help achieve those goals
Graduating the program and transitioning to more independent living in our apartments
I could really go on and on, but I will stop there.
One of my absolute favorite things that we get to witness and have a front row seat to is Graduation Day! What a joy and privilege it is to watch these women that have walked through horrific and unimaginable abuse, trauma, and pain, and then to see them after twelve months of intense, difficult work they put in is amazing. Oftentimes they have wanted to quit during numerous parts on their journey and just walk away, but ultimately standing up and praising God that they chose not to! I am continually amazed that I get to bear witness to their incredible transformations, watch them get to a place where they can stand up before a crowd of witnesses in our chapel, completely transformed and able to testify to God's goodness in their lives. Hearing them share how the Lord has come into their lives and saved them, changed them, and has given them hope, peace, and joy like they have never experienced before in their lives.
Part of the graduation ceremony is also hearing from their mentor as they stand beside them, speak over them, and share what they have also witnessed. It is such a beautiful picture of the Good News of Jesus Christ. If you know me, you know I love music and like to sing (not saying I am good at it) and love worshiping Him in song. There was a song I heard just the other night while driving home from The WellHouse that highlights the "Good News" that is available to everyone and is such a beautiful picture of what the Father wants us to all know, experience and share with others. And we get to do that everyday! The song was Good News by Maverick City and below are the lyrics to the chorus and bridge.
This is the good news
If you're breathing it's for you
An empty grave, a life that's changed
It all points to Jesus’ Name
If you've been searching and nothings been working
I've got good news, Jesus Loves you.
No matter what you bring oh He's in love with you
No matter your history oh He's is in love with you
No matter your unbelief oh He's in love with you
From now til eternity, He'll still be in love with you
Much of what we do at The WellHouse can only happen with amazing and dedicated staff and SO MANY volunteers, mentors, and donors that help us serve, support, love, and care for our residents so well. We are so grateful to those that have accepted the call and said YES! But ultimately it is the Lord's doing, and we just get to share the Good News and watch Him work!! To God be all the Glory!