IMPORTANT AND GRATIFYING

Volunteer says work at Lifeline is ‘highlight of my week’

Like many volunteers before they start, Heather Taylor had many reasons for NOT volunteering.

• She’s a busy mother of three.

• She helps her husband arrange international mission trips to provide eye care.

• They’re involved at their church, Heartland.

• She’d never taught adults before.

• She didn’t know much about addiction.

All were good reasons to say, “No, thank you,” when her friend asked her to teach a Bible class for women at Lifeline. “This was way out of my comfort zone,” she said, “but I felt like God was saying, ‘You should do this.’ “

So, she said yes.

For several years now, Heather has spent Wednesday afternoons with co-teacher Vicki Gough, teaching “The Life of Jesus Christ” to women in the first phase of their residential treatment.

“I just fell in love with watching the transformation of these women during this class,” she said.

First, she got to know her class. “They’re just people … in hard circumstances,” she said. “I was surprised, though, at how young many of them are when they’re first exposed to drugs and alcohol. As a parent, it scares me.”

For 13 weeks, the class covers the life of Christ, from his birth to the resurrection. Depending on their admission date to Lifeline, the women may enter in the middle of the sequence, but they get all 13 lessons in some order.

Some of the women have faith backgrounds, some do not. “Most of them are overwhelmed when they realize what Jesus did for them.”

The women’s questions and responses can vary initially. “Sometimes they’re skeptical coming in, but it brings so much joy to see the light bulb go off,”

Heather admits she didn’t know what to expect when she began teaching the class, but now she knows to expect that God will change lives.

She has seen women complete the program and go on to be successful, reuniting with their families and getting jobs. Some of them even work now for Lifeline. “The first time I saw that, it really solidified that this is very important volunteer work,” she said.

Important and gratifying work.

Heather recommends it to others. “These ladies are so thankful that people care enough to give their time,” she said, “and it is a blessing to me every week. The highlight of my week is spending time with them.”

Heather said. “They’re so hungry for the Word, and I teach the Word.”