November 2025 Highlights
Re:Storing Futures
Developing Resilience
Our Re:Store Commitment Willingness class teaches how we can follow through on important commitments, even when they are hard or we really don’t want to. It puts a few questions in front of our clients: what is the commitment you’re putting off, how much time will it take and is it worth it. Understanding that you ultimately have to believe that the end result of a commitment is worth the time is a crucial understanding to have. Believing it’s worth it is the only way you’re ever going to follow through.
One of our clients summed up what she got out of the class nicely: “the stuff that we don’t want to do and is hard is still good for us to do.”
For so many of our women struggling to find work, this hits close to home. Imagine you have been a stay at home mom for years and suddenly find yourself needing to be the breadwinner after divorce. If you haven’t been in the workforce for a long time, it can be a very daunting task to put yourself out there. Finding a suitable job that pays the bills and allows you to save a little is a worthwhile commitment, but fears and anxieties can interfere with the belief that it truly is worth it. A class like Re:Store Commitment Willingness can expose those fears and anxieties and help our women work through it. In the end, making that commitment and following through will lead to independence, even when the road to get there is hard.
Do you have a unique skill, area of expertise or a passion to coach others? Join our volunteer team as a Practical Advisor!
Practical advisors are volunteers who meet with eligible clients on a one-off basis to discuss a certain topic. It can range from something practical like explaining how insurance or creating a budget works to being a sounding board for a big life decision or going over the content from a class they missed.
Your time and care can make a big difference in a woman’s life — Sign up today!
Re:Building Confidence
Authentic Community in Action
One day, a client (we’ll call her Gina) came in to the office unexpectedly and was clearly in distress. We learned quickly something significant had happened. She explained to Rachel how someone (a man living in her building) had tried to break into her apartment while she was home. He had banged on the door and truly attempted to get inside. Gina was very scared and came to a place she knew was safe - our office. After getting everything sorted out with the police, she said she did not want to stay at her apartment for the weekend. Making the need known to our other clients, one of them immediately stepped up. She offered for Gina to stay at her place for the whole weekend and ensured her that they were going to have a good time. And they did. Gina told Rachel later that they had watched movies and played games, a great way to wind down from this scary encounter.
A huge turnout for November’s Family Meal!
Gina has come into the office since to look for a new place to live. Our Client Advocate, Robin, has gone with her to look at a few of her options. Gina has grown very close with the client she stayed with, and they are developing a beautiful friendship.
I share this story to show that Gina’s Authentic Community is what helped her through this situation. Before getting involved with 431, Gina was on her own. She fled from a very toxic family who was heavily involved with a cult. She took the brave step to distance herself from that, at the expense of completely starting over in the “real world” that she had no idea how to navigate. Getting involved with 431 Ministries has helped her slowly start to trust again, open up to other women around her, and form friendships. Being able to come to our office to look for a new place, have Robin to guide her through that and do site visits with her, allows Gina to be in charge of her independence and utilize safe resources at her disposal. She had a safe space to learn how life works, and people to lean on when that life gets hard. This is 431 Ministries’ value Authentic Community in action.
HER STORY ISN’T FINISHED
We want every woman to be able to find community like Gina did. On top of that, we want every woman to be able to live an independent future. As a start to that mission, this holiday season, we have a fundraising goal of $114,700.32 to bring 12 women, just like Gina, through our Side-by-Side Program in 2026. Besides community with other clients and support from staff like Robin, she would have a Personal and Financial Mentor at her side to guide her towards her goals. She will also be able to receive discounted counseling from a professional licensed counselor. You can give today to our “Her Story Isn’t Finished” campaign to ensure women like Gina can live out that independent future they are longing for.
Re:Newing Hope
Beauty from Ashes
A blooming amaryllis, planted by a client during class.
This past month, we wrapped up our 9-week Re:New Emotional Health class, and the ladies got to physically (and symbolically) plant their surrendered dreams, plans, expectations and beliefs by planting an amaryllis they all received in class. The women shared how they had found HOPE in the midst of grief, and surrendered things like justice, the future, anger towards an ex, beliefs about their children and more. It was a powerful moment. Rachel, who taught the class, was so honored to be a part of this journey with all these women.
“When you first start the class, it can be hard because you learn that grief will always be with you. You learn that it shrinks, but never really goes away. At first I found that a bit depressing, but as the class progressed, I loved seeing how that concept became reality while processing my grief and sharing it with others. It was helpful to meet others who were on the same journey in one way or another and seeing how we could support each other. The class really helped me understand how God gives you the gift of community to hold you up during difficult times if you choose to be vulnerable with others instead of holding it in.” - Class Attendee
THE IMPACT IN NOVEMBER
Want to be part of this impact? Your faithful giving allows 431 Ministries to keep touching the lives of women around you.
She could be who you sit next to in church, your neighbor or maybe a mom dropping off her child at daycare. She could be anyone. You can fuel hope in their lives today!
