FROM GUILT TO BREAKTHROUGH

From mid-2021 to the present, I have been working with a family whose young teenaged son was molested in a steam room at a local gym. During a counseling session with the boy and his dad, we had a breakthrough. The boy carried an enormous amount of guilt over this terrible event, but together we were able to help him release that guilt from his white-knuckled grip.

I was also able to pray with the boy and his family throughout the perpetrator’s court case. Thankfully, the man was convicted and sent to prison for the rest of his life. This experience, for me, was my finest moment in serving ATP.

In another situation, an adult woman living at home in a highly toxic family system contacted ATP for prayer and counsel. She and I have met monthly. As a pastor, I’ve prayed with her. I’ve also directed her to professional counseling resources where she’s made tremendous progress.

Helping someone break free from oppression, part with unfounded guilt and find health has really been a delight to my soul. I can confidently say that ATP has served this woman well.

A veteran suffering from PTSD and schizophrenia contacted ATP for prayer and support. He and I have engaged in numerous email conversations. At one point, the veteran’s teenage son contacted me to ask that I call his dad. The boy said I was able to talk his father out of his sense of hopelessness.

Later, the veteran’s wife contacted me and made it clear that her husband was desperately struggling, but the VA was overwhelmed and unavailable to help him. I put her in touch with a well-connected friend who was able to help them get the answers they needed. This family is still struggling, but they’ve found a bit of light thanks to ATP.

*In January 2023, Jim became ATP’s Discipleship Pastor. We are excited to see him expand our interaction with our followers. If you aren’t part of ATP’s Prayer Wall, please consider signing up. There is incredible power in sharing our troubles and hardships, taking them to the Lord in prayer, and having over 10,000 other faithful followers of Yeshua lift each other up in prayer. facebook.com/groups/AllThingsPossiblePrayerWall

PASTOR JIM PICOU Pastor of Discipleship

What a year at our House of Refuge! While we are working to bring hope and healing in the lives of many girls at our safe house, we would like to share one story, in particular, to provide a glimpse of the challenging work we’ve been doing.

Naomi has been raped, molested and trafficked since she was just 5 years old. She was never sent to school to learn to read and write. When our team took her in, she was 13.

During the time she was trafficked, Naomi’s captor took her out to eat at different restaurants where he would line up men to have sex with her in the bathrooms.

We were able to rescue Naomi because, one day, her trafficker was raping her in broad daylight behind some bushes. Thank God there was someone nearby who witnessed this individual sexually abusing her and did something about it.

After Naomi was rescued, we rushed her to the doctor and collected sufficient evidence to go after this predator.

With some effort, Praise God, Naomi’s trafficker was arrested!

When Naomi first arrived at the safe house, her trauma was so intense that she told us she was a boy and that she never wanted to be around men.

Since then, she’s been doing really well, but like some many trafficking and rape victims, her recovery is a process of baby steps.

Now safely living with us at the House of Refuge, we are teaching Naomi to read and write. She goes to Christian counseling and attends church with us weekly. Soon we will be going to court to ensure Naomi’s trafficker spends a significant amount of time in prison.

We are truly grateful for our supporters and prayer warriors who’ve helped us bring freedom and healing to our sweet Naomi and many other young girls at our House of Refuge.

We ask that our supporters and prayer warriors please continue to keep Naomi in prayer.

Let that sink in. These men were paying to have sex with a child in a public bathroom.