Jessica Edwards

My name is Jessica Edwards, and I’m 23 years old. My story of how I came to the mission 5 years ago actually wasn’t for drugs and alcohol but suicide and depression. When I came into the mission at the age of 17, I was a very lost, scared, and confused kid. All my life I had struggled with feeling “Comfortable in my own skin.” Never really feeling like I belonged. But that changed the moment I walked through the doors to The Lion’s Den back in 2021. Now if you ever hear someone go through the mission for that long and say they never had any problems, they’re lying. The Devil is a powerful enemy that can tug at the flesh strings of even the most devote Christians. I’ve had setbacks, Relieved of duties (Or RODs), extensions, demotions, removed from mantles, and more blessings (written disciplines) than I can count. But it was all a part of the refining process because God didn’t want me to follow my own path but his. But, as my friend at the Ohio mission says, if you take two steps forward and one step back, you still moved forward a step. I may have been a knucklehead at times but I also became mature as well. All the hardships, the struggles, and the trials I went through coming through the program I would never change because they’re what saved me from the life I was heading for. Now, I got saved on my 18th birthday and since then my life has had a drastic change. A lot of times I look to the scripture Mat. 19:29, “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.” because I’ve had to let go of some damaging relationships to my walk. The crazy thing is, I've been so blessed with exactly that! I had to set hard boundaries with my mom only to gain a Christian family 100 times the size who shows me the care and support I truly need. To everyone who’s seen my story firsthand or read my testimony in these newsletters. I’m transitioning out of the Mission to become a Missionary in training at Grayling Baptist. In so many ways this next step feels... unreal! Like it’s meant for another more qualified. That's where the work God’s done in your life truly hits you. Often your growth isn’t meant to be seen by you but seen by others. My advice is simple, never give up hope. Sit still and wait for God to move, because he will move in the most incredible ways, better than anything you can ever plan. Trust me... I was planning to get a job at Taco bell! I’m so thankful to the staff at the Den and everyone God has used in my life over the past 5 years who never gave up on me.