Episode 94: Ashleigh Grace House Interview: God used Rock Bottom to Build a Calling!

Rock bottom is not the end of a story, but it can be the first honest page. We talk with Ashley Thomas, whose path runs through years of addiction, incarceration, and the crushing loss of trust, then into a surprising place of peace: late nights in prison reading a Bible and finally surrendering everything to Jesus. What follows is not a quick fix. It is a slow, steady rebuilding of a life, a faith, and a new identity that is no longer defined by the worst moments.

Ashley shares how Grace House, a faith-based transition home for women coming out of incarceration in San Antonio, became a critical bridge between prison and a stable future. We dig into why a nine-month reentry program matters, how healing takes time, and how discipleship and structure can protect women from returning to the same people, places, and patterns. We also talk about the deeper work underneath recovery: releasing shame, learning who God says you are, and letting grace shape your next steps.

From there, the conversation moves inside the Kendall County Jail through Christian Journey Courses (CJC), a five-week faith-based life skills and behaviour transformation course. Ashley explains why teaching boundaries, conflict resolution, anger management, healthy relationships, money management, and dealing with guilt hits differently when it comes from someone who has actually lived it. One moment in a Texas prison captures the heart of prison ministry: choosing compassion over judgment and speaking forgiveness where shame has been loud for years.

If you’re looking for stories about addiction recovery, prison ministry, Christian reentry support, and forgiveness that truly frees, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help more people find these testimonies.

Visit our website at www.fbcboerne.org for more stories, information, and service times.  

Transcript

Welcome And Why We Share Stories

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Hello, friends. Welcome to the FBC Missions Sew That Podcast. This is Brittany Holland, and today I'm super excited to share about the ministry and just the awesome testimony of Angeline Thomas.

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Welcome to FBC Missions Sew That Podcast. This is an encouraging place to hear how God is working in and around us. We know that he blesses his people so that they can bless the world around them. Join us as we discuss how to join God and all that he is doing. Why is God working in our life, church, and community? It's so that through us the world will know that he is new.

SPEAKER_02 0:42

Alright, friends. Well, this is Brittany Holland, and I'm so excited to have my newer friend, Ashley Thomas, in the studio with me today. Hey Ashley. Hello. How are you? I'm good. Besides freezing, right?

SPEAKER_01 0:54

I know it is cold in here.

SPEAKER_02 0:56

We got the AC going.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

Yeah, it's it's always freezing in this church.

SPEAKER_02 0:59

I know, I know. There's just so many warm bodies uh doing good things. We gotta keep it keep it cold. Right. You gotta stay awake. Exactly. I love it. Well, friends, this

Meeting Ashley Through Church Community

SPEAKER_02 1:10

is so awesome to have Ashley in the studio. I met Ashley, I don't know, Ashley, um maybe five or six months ago here at the church, maybe.

SPEAKER_01 1:19

I think so. I think it was in a quip when me and my husband were trying out a quip.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

The growth group, one of the growth groups here at church, which there's some amazing growth groups here. There is. They're so awesome. And so we met and just, you know, there's times when you just meet someone and you're like, I want to get to know them. And Ashley and I kept crossing paths, crossing paths. I was like, okay, we seriously have to like get to know each other. So we set a time to have lunch together a couple of weeks ago. And as she was telling me her testimony, I was like, wow, I really would love for you to allow me the privilege of interviewing you and sharing your story because you have such a beautiful heart, a beautiful story, and an incredible ministry based on your story. So Ashley, thank you. Absolutely. Thank you for like being willing to come in and share. And so will you start off by telling us a little bit about just how you came to First Baptist and and what what um like how long you've been here and how you landed at First Baptist?

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Okay. Um, so me and my husband, uh, we got married in 2021 and we needed to get involved in the church. And I had moved from San Antonio, and so I had already previously gone to this church before um when I was part of Grace House. And so I had known about it, and I was like, you know what, let's try this one out. And so um, we've been going here since about 2021.

SPEAKER_02 2:48

That's awesome. Okay, so you said we needed to get involved in a church. Yes. I love that. Um, because I mean, I don't know about you, but when Jesus said that the church is a hospital for sinners, I'm like, yes, I I need to be at church every Sunday, but I want to. Like I love, I love it. I love Sunday mornings and I love, you know, coming. So what's that about for you when you say, like,

Putting God At The Center

SPEAKER_02 3:10

I need to be at church?

SPEAKER_01 3:11

Well, we realized that in our marriage, we needed God to be the center. Yeah. Um, instead of putting each other first or ourselves um for this to work, we needed to realize that he needs to come first.

SPEAKER_02 3:25

So good. My husband and I are taken um on Wednesday nights. So Ashley and I love catching each other on Wednesday nights at dinner here too. And on Wednesday nights we're doing the biblical blueprint for marriage class, stepped stepping all over my toes. And the Lord has been really showing us how marriage isn't meant to make you happy, but to meant to make you holy.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

Right. So you can correct cor correct each other pretty much. There's gonna be a lot of correction there.

SPEAKER_02 3:49

Yeah, helping each other to walk faithfully, to be closer to righteousness and holiness and goodness and and honor the Lord with our marriages. Right. So y'all sought um the church as a means uh to enhance your marriage. Absolutely. That is so beautiful. And then you've already referenced that you knew First Baptist because of its connection to Grace House, which is one of your two ministries that you serve faithfully. So, friends, Ashley um serves through Grace House and CJC. So you'll get to hear about both of these today. So, Grace House, you already mentioned, so we want to hear about that in a second. But CJC also is Christian Journey courses. So let's let's kick it off with Grace House. Okay. Um, Grace House, you can look it up online. It is a faith-based transition home for women coming out of incarceration. So tell us a little bit about that. And your your I know you're gonna touch on your personal testimony, which is incredible. So we'd love to hear about Grace House first.

SPEAKER_01 4:44

Right. So um, you know, I struggled with um many years of addiction. And um, I was in and out of jail, and that's when um the Thornton's they would go into the jail and they would talk about Grace House. And at that time I wasn't um wasn't sure where

Grace House And Finding Hope

SPEAKER_01 5:05

my life was gonna end up, and but I'd always kept that in my heart, and so when I was being released from prison, that was one place that I I wanted to go. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

The Thorntons are members here also. Yes, here at FBC, and so you got to meet them, and then because of that connection, you were like, I want to I want to try out FBC.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 5:31

That's amazing. And so, listeners, the Grace House, you can learn about it um if you want to just look back. And at episode 29, Chad Mason, our missions pastor here, interviewed the executive director, Leanne Jackson. So you can definitely learn more about it. But when you when you were incarcerated and you were getting to hear about Grace House, what got you excited about it and and what did you see in the Thorntons that were like, okay, that's that's something that that, you know, you could see the light, you were attracted to it.

SPEAKER_01 6:01

All right. Um, you know, when you are um locked up in jail, and um, you know, everybody has lost trust in you. And at that point where you have even lost trust in yourself, that you were looking for something else. And that's when I just started opening up the Bible and reading about God and knowing more about who He was. And um, you know, when you're in that state when all you can do is look up, and so I was just needing that comfort and knowing that there is somebody there that can forgive me for you know all the things that I've done. And so I just felt drawn to just start seeking the Lord. Um, and that's that's I had to hit rock bottom for that.

SPEAKER_02 6:54

I love that. I love what you said about knowing that I could look up and know there's someone there, his name is Jesus. Yes, and it came through the Thorntons. Yes, praise the Lord, yeah, yeah. I mean, we all we all struggle, we all go wayward in one way or the other. And I I'll just say, um, you know, Ashley, I've already shared with you with my life, your story is extra special to me um because of a relationship I have in my life. And the Lord really blessed me with an incredible sister in Christ who I've been able to um just just be a part of her life and witness to her. And a lot of the witnessing and sharing that I got to do with her was during her time in prison. And I remember telling her one time, you know, she was she was talking to me, this friend of mine, she was talking to me about having a lot of shame around being in prison. And I just told her, I said, you know, I have I have lots of sin too. Your sin it landed you different consequences than my sin landed me. And it's okay. His grace is sufficient for it all.

SPEAKER_03 7:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 7:56

And I even, she's so sweet, she sent me a picture the other day because after she had gotten out of prison, I gave her that scripture about, you know, his grace being sufficient. I'm and I'm gonna have to like go look it up here in a second, but she sent me a picture and she said, you know, when she first told me that when I was in prison, I didn't quite understand what it meant. But I mean, he's just been rocking her world and he's alive in her life right now. And she sent me a picture of it and she said, I understand what it means now. And so what you're sharing is so powerful. Um, we all go through hard times, we all go through things. And isn't it crazy that in all of our stories, the hardest part, the hardest things in our life, the biggest struggles where we're not walking with the Lord are what brings us to the Lord. I mean, isn't it cool how that?

SPEAKER_01 8:42

Yes, yeah, you know, and that's kind of where I knew I was called to my ministries, is because where I used to be in my past, yes, and where God has brought me out of is where he is calling me to speak of him. And so Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:00

The Great Commission, Matthew 28, 19 through 20. We talk about that all the time on this podcast, but go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I've commanded. I probably missed a few words there. But that's what you're doing is you're going and discipling. And you that is all of our purpose, and your unique calling is for um is it it's mostly women?

SPEAKER_01 9:24

Right. It it's just women with, I mean, addictions or um homelessness. Um you know, I've talked to um women who were coming out of prostitution. Um, just any kind of, I mean, mistakes that we have made, which we don't have to define, that doesn't have to define who we are now, especially in Christ. Um, and just learning to know what our true identity is in Him. And um, you know, we are harder on ourselves than probably most people. And um so knowing that Um He doesn't look at us in that brokenness.

SPEAKER_02 10:08

I love that when you talk about our identity in Christ, there's so there's so much we could unpack there. Tell me a little bit about what that means to you.

SPEAKER_01 10:19

Well, I know that's one of the big things that also with CJC is that we teach when we go into um the gels and and we that program is more of you know unwrapping um who we are in God's eyes, not what we might think we are or others might say that we are. Um it it's written, you know, in the sword.

SPEAKER_02 10:43

That is so awesome. I know like my identity for a long time. My my my sin, my worst way is is trying to perform to prove who I am, and I overdo it and I try to please people. That's my like an idol for me. And you too. You too. Yeah, I mean, and it's like, no, that is not that is not what God says. That is not who I am. And he's just so gracious to slowly unwrap the truth for us. You know, we've we've got to go through and see the dark to appreciate the light, but it's powerful. And I love I love that you do that. I love that you've used your tests to become your testimony to impact lives, and so it's not just women that you work with, but it sounds like mostly women. Right. Okay, mostly women. And so you were after your time of incarceration, you were living at Grace House.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Right.

SPEAKER_02 11:37

And that's here in Bernie.

SPEAKER_01 11:39

It's in San Antonio.

SPEAKER_02 11:40

Sorry, in San Antonio, yes, but they're connected to FBC Bernie. They are so that tell us a little bit about how long did you live at Grace House? What what are some of the kind of the highlights? Because again, we can we can reference, you know, episode 29, where I'm sure they unpack it more if anyone's really interested in knowing more, because we do want to share about CJ CJC also and and how people can help with both. But will you unpack a little bit of

Reentry Healing And A New Identity

SPEAKER_02 12:05

what what that did for you during that time of transition after incarceration?

SPEAKER_01 12:09

Right. So um when you're coming out of incarceration, um you want to avoid all the people, places, and things that probably helped you end up in that place. Not only journey. Right. And I mean, we make our own decisions and choices, but um I think it's right. It's super important to not go back down that road. And um, so I went to Grace House and it it's a great nine-month program um where they just teach you um to grow a relationship with Christ. I love that. And where He is your foundation, and um, you know, just classes and and just being the hands and feet of Jesus, there's so many opportunities um in the program. So nine months. Right. Yes. Um I you know, I'm so thankful that it was that long because I think the healing process of coming from whatever trauma that you've either caused yourself or you've been through as a child, um, it takes time. It takes time. It does.

SPEAKER_02 13:16

I remember the day we ate lunch, you talked about how neat it is that it's nine months too, because it's like a how did you I'm gonna let you say it.

SPEAKER_01 13:23

Oh, like the baby in the womb. Yes. And you're being born, you know, um, just knowing the Lord and um having that special relationship with him.

SPEAKER_02 13:33

That's so cool. But your relationship, you said you've did you come to know Christ during your time in prison?

SPEAKER_01 13:41

I did. Will you tell us about that? Yes, absolutely. So there would be nights. Um, I would usually stay up all night um by myself and just read the Bible. And, you know, there was one night that um I just decided to just surrender everything to him and I was ready to just start a new life. Yes. Yeah. And how did you get um your Bible? Oh, well, so they actually provide one for you when you go into the jail, they they do give you a Bible, and so I just held on to it the whole time, and that's where I just mostly spent my time.

SPEAKER_02 14:18

That's incredible. Do you remember? Like, was there anything specific that you were reading um prior to that time of salvation or that surrender? Do you remember? You know what? I don't that's okay. No, it was okay, it was like 2015. I don't remember what I did for breakfast. Right. No, you know what?

SPEAKER_01 14:39

I can't say that there was actually a scripture or something specific that I read. I just knew that I felt a certain joy and comfort. Um, and you know, a lot of people are not can't say that, oh, how can you have this joy and comfort being in prison? Yeah. And, you know, it wasn't just my first time, it was my second time. And um, you know, something had to change, but there was a certain feeling of just calmness and um reassurance and and a feeling that I had never felt before, even being in a place like that.

SPEAKER_02 15:20

That's amazing. So then you have then you're then you've already, you know, come to that place of surrender. Then you go to Grace House and trying to figure out next next steps, what to do next. There's people there walking you through the healing, the healing process of the things that contributed um to that time in prison, and it's like these people are amazing. Yes, and then you found that connection to FBC, which then you and your husband started coming to FBC. Right.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

So while I was at Grace House, I had gotten baptized here. Um, I think it was November of 20, I think, 17. Wow. Um, that I'd gotten baptized. And so when I ended up eight years later moving to Bernie, I was like, oh my gosh, this has to be a God thing.

SPEAKER_02 16:09

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 16:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:10

I I mean, and I'm so grateful that, you know, those like God is so good. Like all those connections along the way, even the Thorntons coming and being, you know, there and you meeting them. Right. And and how cool is that? You know, for people, people on the outside or people, some maybe some people even hearing this, they might think, Oh my goodness, that sounds scary, or to go into, you know, a prison or whatever. But in reality, it's a lot like going into church. We're all sinners, we're all fight trying to find our way, and the Thorntons walk in there. Right. Like, what what do you remember about that?

SPEAKER_01 16:50

You know what? I just remember it always sticking with me. Like it wasn't just like a oh, I'm gonna go there, because when you're in that, you know, two years before you're released, you don't know what's gonna happen. Sure. So um, so many things change, and um, you know, my mind could have changed, but it was just something that I always kind of held on to. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:14

What did the thought when they came in, and and of course you were able to make the connection to Grace House, but when they came in, what what were they doing? Were they ministering? Were they reading the Bible? Were they praying? What were they doing?

SPEAKER_01 17:25

Right. So I think but even before she came in to talk about Grace House, I think they would um just have classes in the jail and would just um minister or, you know, just talk to them and and make disciples in that. And I think she just felt so led to the women in Bear County that she then God had pressed it on her heart to, you know, have this house that is available for the women when they are released, that they can have a second chance, that there is a way out. Wow. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:04

So then she founded the home and how many people or how many women live in the home typically, do you know? So there's 12 beds. Wow. Right. And I bet a sweet sisterhood that is formed also. Right. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. That's so cool. Okay, so the power of being ministered to when you're in a hard space. We've heard about that. We've heard how that led you to Grace House. So, of course, you're still an advocate for Grace House.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

Right. Yes. So I teach there now. You know, I felt like, you know what, this place has done so much for me, and um it's time for me to give back. And so I I really enjoy volunteering and and teaching the women there now. That's incredible.

SPEAKER_02 18:51

And you also um work with CJC, which is Christian Journey Courses, and that is a five-week faith-based life skills and behavior transformation course.

CJC Classes Inside Kendall County Jail

SPEAKER_02 19:05

Yes. So you have two ministries. Yes. That's incredible. Can you tell us about CJC?

SPEAKER_01 19:10

Right. So that kind of started off. It was really amazing how that worked. So me and my husband had, I think it was on a growth group Sunday where we had talked about kind of our testimony with Growth Group and kind of a little bit about our brack our backgrounds. And um, you know, one of the ladies in the church came up to us and she was like, Oh my gosh, y'all would be perfect. Would you love to come into the jails and just talk about Jesus and um, you know, share your story? And and that's where I think it resonates the most because when you're have been in that previously in your life, and you go and you talk to somebody about Jesus, and you've already come from that, and and just being vulnerable and opening up, um, it's received differently.

SPEAKER_02 20:02

That's so cool. That's that is truly one of the things I love so much about our church is I feel like people are willing to take their masks off and share. And even the fact in the growth group that you and your husband were able to share about your background, that's not always easy to do. No, nobody wants to talk about the ugly stuff. No, no, no. Like I I really don't want to tell you about the time I was a jerk, and I really don't want to tell you about the time I did XY. You know, like I don't I really don't want to tell you about that. But however, right when we do, not only is there a continual transformation and healing within our own heart and soul, but that opens the door for other people to feel safe, right, and possibly opportunities to step into a ministry. Right, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

So we just we go into the Kendall County Jail and we teach um the program through CJC, and and that's more of like um, you know, breaking those dysfunctional um patterns that you've lived for so long and that we think is so normal, yeah, that is probably not. Um, and that's finding your true identity in Christ is is really what that book is based on, too.

SPEAKER_02 21:13

That is awesome. When I looked um on the website, it said that part of the the course, it said dealing with hurt and guilt, setting boundaries, building character, conflict resolution, anger management, healthy relationships, domestic violence, and money management. And I'm like, we all need that.

SPEAKER_01 21:32

Oh, yeah, for sure. Definitely.

SPEAKER_02 21:35

I mean, I'll take a class in every one of those, please. Thank you, and yes.

SPEAKER_01 21:39

Well, that's the thing that's so amazing about it is even though you're going in and and you're spending your time trying to share um with these people that you don't know, um, and they've been down the same road, I'm learning myself. Yes, like I'm going through something at that time to where what I'm teaching God. God is bringing me through. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 22:02

Yeah. I say all the time when you teach it, you learn it twice.

SPEAKER_01 22:06

You do.

SPEAKER_02 22:06

Absolutely. You learn it twice. And really, I'm only like a millimeter ahead of you.

unknown 22:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:14

It's like that's it. Um, but I mean, what a blessing, Ashley, when I think about the women um that you're helping at Grace House and the the people that you're helping at Kendall County Jail. Like you have massive credibility with them. And the only reason you have massive credibility is because you've walked ahead of them. You've been in the very same place that they were that they are in. Right. And you're on the outside now, creating success in your life, all for God's glory.

SPEAKER_01 22:43

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 22:44

I mean, like, how cool is that? Like massive credibility. Yeah. If I were to walk into a prison right now, I mean, I I could love and I could say things, but it wouldn't land the same with you being there. Right. And that is incredible. You know, like I can I can talk to people about like health significant health things and adoptions and divorce and things that that have been the hardest moments of my life. But I I I wouldn't carry the same credibility. So I just praise the Lord that you're willing to share and you're willing to say this blessed me and I was blessed to be a blessing. Right. That's amazing. Yes. I love that. So um it is just crazy how fast our time always goes on these shows. But um before we start like wrapping it up, when you think about your time at either Grace House or with with C the CJC ministry here in Kendall County, um do you have any specific conversations or lessons coming to mind with with some of the people that you've interacted with and blessed with with you going in and doing your ministry?

Forgiveness That Breaks Shame

SPEAKER_01 23:50

No, I think maybe forgiveness is the big one. We'd love to hear about that. Yeah, I mean, when you know, so when I was in my addiction, I had not only lost my kids, um, my family couldn't trust me, I'd lost myself pretty much. And so you go through this long road of this unforgiveness, um, not only from others, but even for yourself. And um, you know, you don't have to, I mean, God forgives you. Like, if if God can forgive you and wipe away all that and you get a fresh, new, clean slate, then He will fight your battles for you. Like, you don't have to fight your battles anymore. He's there to lift you up and carry you through the unforgiveness.

SPEAKER_02 24:44

Amen. And you is that a lesson that you teach or just mo mostly personal testimony?

SPEAKER_01 24:52

I think I think that's just the hardest one that most of the girls or the ladies um talk about is just having this unforgiveness that they cannot let go of, whether it has to do with their children or their families or their husbands. Um it's it's one of the harder things that they struggle with.

SPEAKER_02 25:12

Yeah. And I've I've I've recently um been learning about like how lack of unforgiveness or lack of forgiveness, unforgiveness, how that even blocks so much in your life in terms of the abundant life that we all have access to right now.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

Right.

SPEAKER_02 25:32

That if we're holding on to things that Jesus has already died for, right, then we're we're just we're not able to fully receive, we're missing what like is available and impossible. Exactly. That's amazing. Are there any women um that you've encountered that you're maybe coming to mind right now that it's like, oh my goodness, like getting to talk to her was such a blessing, or hearing and and getting to be in community with her or fellowship with her just was so impactful.

SPEAKER_01 26:00

So you know what? There is one thing that comes to mind. Um not too long ago, I had gone actually into the Texas prison.

SPEAKER_02 26:08

Where is that? Is that in San Francisco? So there's a lot of them. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 26:11

Um they're all over Texas, and this was a uh this I believe was the Murray unit. I think it's in Gatesville. Okay. And I had gone and talked about my testimony and kind of opened up about what that looked like. And, you know, I had spoken on um something that resonated with one of the ladies. Um and I can open up and share. So uh it was something that I had I had had an abortion when I was younger. And so when I had spoken about that, um this young lady had come up to me, and it was just so powerful. Like I knew that that moment was why I was there. You know, I thought, oh, okay, I'm gonna go and I'm gonna share my testimony, but um, it was me having to just give her a hug and pray for her because she had killed her child, and that's why she was in prison. And so for me to just be able to wrap my arms around her and just let her know that she is forgiven and that God does love her. Um, it was it was just it was really powerful.

SPEAKER_02 27:24

Wow, and that the Lord opened the door for her to be struggling with that and be willing to share that at that moment. And you're like, I I understand. Right. I've been there. Yes. Oh, Ashley, that's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 27:38

It was, it was, it was, it was beautiful, painful and healing and it was because she was just having the hardest time um with forgiving herself for something like that. And you know, it kind of made me realize I was like, you know what? What a beautiful thing that now that I am have Jesus in my life, that I don't judge her. Like I will wrap my arms around her and tell her that she is loved and that, you know, regardless of the mistakes that she did make um in her past, that um she is forgiven and God loves her.

SPEAKER_02 28:14

And so that's that takes me back to remember the verse I was talking about with my sister in Christ. Uh, it's so good. It says, uh, but he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. And I'm just recognizing God's power in that moment of both of y'all being a little bit weak and saying, This is what's going on, this is my hurt, but his grace, his power.

SPEAKER_01 28:42

Right. I know, I know, and it it's it's so hard, like even for me to just open up and talk about that, you know, you already have that feeling of like, okay, judgment, but that's where I'm like, you know what? I'm redeemed, that no longer defines who I am. Um, I'm, you know, it's it's something that I can see God's glory shine through.

SPEAKER_02 29:07

Well, and I I just also think that you really become uh the hands and feet, you become um his voice. I mean, when someone can sit across from someone and it's someone who's who's walked in their shoes. I used to be a school counselor and I would teach kids about empathy and trying to imagine walking in someone else's shoes. They don't have to imagine that you would walk in their shoes. You have.

SPEAKER_01 29:30

Right.

SPEAKER_02 29:30

And there that creates connection and love. And that's that's what our God and our and our Jesus are. They're love. Exactly. He left heaven to draw close to us, and that's what you're doing. You're drawing close to people, right? You're sitting with them, you're loving them, you're helping them. I'm just I'm just in awe. Yeah. God is so good. It is. I'm so grateful. I mean, I'm not grateful for your trials and your hard times, but I'm so grateful for your testimony, and I'm so grateful for your ministry, Ashley. Oh, thank you so much. I mean, I got to learn more today than I'm like all scared. I'm like, oh no, I hope you'll call me next week. Oh, Ashley. Well, so there's some dear women in my life um who've walked through that very same thing. Right. And I'm an adoptive mom, so I've I've never even been pregnant. Um, you know, wanted to, wanted for years, like I I desperately wanted to to be pregnant. And so like I have a different heart around it. Like the pain that I felt around children is a little different, and yet it's the same. Right. It's this longing, it's this desire, it's this hope, it's this this sadness. I mean, there's just so much together that's different, but still together. Right. And so I love you even more because I just I know other women who've gone through that too. And I'm just like, I just am so sorry, and I'm so grateful.

SPEAKER_01 30:55

Right, me too.

SPEAKER_02 30:56

I I that's God's that's God, right? It's an and it's like all these things. Yes, and it's yes, absolutely. Thank you for sharing that. Yes, of course. And what I'm also thinking is that there's probably gonna be someone who hears these things, um, and it's gonna bless them. And so I just am praying right now that whoever's listening to this that needed to hear that as a means for breaking through in their story and in their heart, there's just so much love for you. Whoever you are, whoever is listening right now, you are loved. And there's a place for you. There's a place for you here at FBC. Yeah, Ashley.

SPEAKER_01 31:35

Oh, absolutely. Please come join us.

SPEAKER_02 31:38

Yeah. Oh, so good. You're so awesome. And I know that was I know that was hard and brave, but I'm so glad you shared that. Oh, thank you. Seriously.

unknown 31:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:46

Um, okay, so wow. Yeah, we are like out of time. Oh, don't. Did it feel like 31 minutes?

SPEAKER_01 31:53

No, no, it didn't. It goes by so fast. Yeah, you make me feel so comfortable. So just thank you. You're welcome.

How To Support Grace House

SPEAKER_01 32:00

I love you bunches. Like you're amazing.

SPEAKER_02 32:02

So, friends, as you are just hearing this episode, I know you've enjoyed it, and I thank you for listening. Go check out Grace House. Um, episode 29, uh, Chad interviews executive direct director Leanne Jackson. Um, so you can learn more about Grace House also coming up this uh month after.

SPEAKER_01 32:22

Yes, I think it's May 15th. You're right. Yeah. Tell us about that. Yeah, so we are having a uh luncheon at the Kindle Inn. Okay. I think it's at 11:30. Okay. Um, but if you go on the website, um there's uh a link that you can click and it gives you more info on awesome.

SPEAKER_02 32:39

And I think it's called Boots and Bloom. It is, right? So it's a luncheon to support the work of Grace House, which is amazing, supporting supporting women coming out of incarceration, getting plugged back into um life. We don't want to say the world because we know we got to be careful with the world. Right. But but we really just want to um encourage you to check it out if you're feeling that tug. And then also, how can people get involved or support um CJC?

SPEAKER_01 33:08

Um, so you can also go on the website. I think it's cjcburny.org, I believe. And um, there's also you can volunteer or just look into that and see what what that's about.

SPEAKER_02 33:18

Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 33:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 33:19

Okay, as we wrap it up, is there anything else that you would want to say or share?

SPEAKER_01 33:24

Uh no, I'm just very thankful for this opportunity. Um, just for me to share um what God has done in my life. And um, you know, I I'm kind of thankful for the brokenness because that brought me to him.

SPEAKER_02 33:41

So the brokenness does bring us to him. It does. And we don't appreciate the wholeness without the brokenness. Right. I love that. Ashley, thank you. Absolutely. Thank you for your testimony, thank you for your ministries, thank you for your faithfulness. Um, we are blessed to be a blessing.

SPEAKER_01 33:58

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 33:58

Amen. So, listeners again, um, we are so grateful that you tuned in. I have no doubt that this blessed you, and truly, I would just encourage you, um, if any of this resonates with you, perhaps you go check out the Grace House website or CJC Christian Journey courses um online, or certainly reach out to someone here at FBC and we can connect you in in any way with any resource that you need that would just help you on your journey. Because we are, we are all blessed to be a blessing. So thank you again for listening and have a great rest of your day.

SPEAKER_00 34:32

We are so thankful that you joined our podcast today. We would love to hear any feedback you may have for us. Remember, Psalm 67 says, may God be gracious to us and bless us. Make his gracious.