As told by “Cynthia”, written by Lauren Rose

Before Called to Peace Ministries stepped in, I was drowning in fear and uncertainty. As a single mother with two young children, I didn’t know how I would pay rent or keep a roof over our heads. When CTPM offered help through their Emergency Fund, it was more than just money—it was safety, dignity, and a chance to finally breathe again. We’re safe today because of their generosity.

At the time, everything in my life was crumbling. I had just separated from my abusive husband, and I was still reeling from the trauma I had endured. I was unemployed, grieving the recent loss of my brother, and completely overwhelmed by financial instability. Rent was due. My landlord wasn’t letting up. The fear of being forced back into an unsafe situation just to survive felt unbearable.

That’s when Called to Peace Ministries’ Emergency Fund stepped in. They covered two months of rent—two months that gave me and my children the breathing room we hadn’t felt in years. It was the beginning of something new. For the first time in a long while, I felt a moment of safety—a chance to take a breath and start healing.

But what they gave me was so much more than just financial relief. They helped me understand my own story. For so long, I didn’t even think that what I went through was “bad enough”to be called abuse. But through their support groups and materials, I found the words to describe the pain I had lived through. Coercive control, emotional degradation, spiritual manipulation—that was abuse. I wasn’t crazy. And I wasn’t alone.

In the support groups, I met other women who truly understood. Their courage gave me courage. The community I found there has been life-saving. They didn’t just help me survive—they helped me start to rebuild.

The financial support gave us immediate safety. The emotional support gave me strength. The spiritual support is helping me break the bonds of trauma and reclaim my identity in Christ.

And for my children, this means growing up in a peaceful home with a mother who is healing and fully present. They’re happier. They feel secure. And I can finally exhale.

Today, I’m rebuilding—one courageous day at a time. I’m writing again. I’m advocating for others. And I’m preparing to attend law school so I can fight for women like me.

I’m still healing. I’m still grieving. But I’m free—and that makes all the difference.

When you give to Called to Peace Ministries’ Emergency Fund, you’re not just giving money. You’re giving safety. You’re restoring dignity. You’re offering families like mine a chance to breathe—and begin again.

Will you give today?

Because every gift is a lifeline. Every gift is a step toward peace.