Mary's Song Christmas Newsletter

MARY ’S SONG Restoration Center For Women

Winter 2012

And Mary said, “I am bursting with God-news: I am dancing the song of my Savior-God. God took one look at me, and look what happened I am the most fortunate woman on earth!

Luke 1:46-47

Always A Win Win at Mary’s Song

by Pastor Parris Bailey • Page 2 Over and Above • Page 3 A special thank you to our sponsors

Highlights from the Mary’s Song Banquet-2012 •Page 4

Completing the Dream!

2012 Graduates •Page 6

Testimonies from our students Rachel Galaini & Hope Fletcher •Page 5

2012 Photo Montage •Page 7

Always A Win/Win At Mary’s Song by Pastor Parris Bailey

my future husband and by that August we became born again and married, going off to Bible School. Compared to my previ‐ ous life without Christ, which was filled with misery, sorrow, and depression, I can say these past forty years have been most definitely a “Win Win”. I nd ye shall go forth, and am sure I have had disappoint‐ grow up as claves of the ments, terrible setbacks, and stall” Mal. 4:2. We have had an failure, but the feelings I had amazing year at Mary’s Song. when I was lost are over and We were able to add another gone. I am certain that when house into our Third Phase someone is put in Christ they program. We call it Hannah’s can experience exponential House and have allowed the growth. mothers to reunite with their

children! After all, God is about The girls at Mary’s Song have restoration. We are so excited nothing to lose and everything about this new addition. Also, to gain when they make the two more girls have decided to decision to come into our res‐ stay past their 10 months and toration center. I never tire of intern back into the program. seeing the girls making a dra‐ Christmas time is always special matic turn around. The for me. Forty years ago I met

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Bible talks about amazing growth when we give our lives to Christ. Their growth is com‐ pared to that of the calves of the stall, which is quick, strong, and expresses the joy of the saints, who rejoice in Christ Jesus; they shall begin to leap for joy; for God always causes them to triumph. Yes, the girls begin to experience joy un‐ speakable. Christ says His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

When we are planted by the rivers of living water we will grow in the courts of our God. Being set free from captivity is liberating. It’s no wonder we want to dance!! Our sphere of influence becomes broader when we realize that we are transformed. Yes, my friend, it’s a Win Win! When you allow yourself to be

carried by the love of God, you simply cannot fail. Walking in humility by staying in a local church, pressing into the Word of God, praying in the Holy Ghost, and surrounding your‐ self with strong believers, all make a Win Win! The girls real‐ ize that being in Christ and with Christ makes one happy, pros‐ perous, fat, overjoyed, exuber‐ ant, fulfilled, blessed, peaceful, and full of bliss. I think it’s time for all of us to dance!! ●

A Year Full of Thanks

Thank you!!! Those words cannot express what your contributions mean to us!

Victory Fellowship

Pastors Frank & Parris Bailey

Tom & Angela Bradshaw

David Barreca of Barreca’s Restaurant

Don & Etta Lutz Norman & Nancy Alonzo

Steve & Susan Shelton Mr. & Ms. David Batten

Nick & Donna Veasey

Tim & Robin Bills

Mike & Cathy Palermo

Mrs. Aurora Castillo

Pastors Chris & Brandy Monnerjahn Jo‐Ann Kempff

Shirley Brehm Richard & Joyce Bonck

Louisiana Purchase Restaurant Flour Power Confectionery Costal Shoring, LLC Auto‐Chlor Services Anna Donahue Ministries Riverwalk Fellowship, Dallas TX

Karen Boudreaux

Toni Nelson

Dr. Mark & Ann Dalcorso

Rebecca Olsen

Cornerstone Christen Center

George Pickett

M. O. P. S. Women’s Ministry

Terry Tyler Dan Vogel

Henry & Cherryse Zeller

Mimi Crabtree Donna King Marianna Clayton Tracy Fisher Steve & Barbara Hickey

Lisa Hebert David LaPort F. E. O’Conner Tara Shaw Bronwyn Picolo

The Vinyard Church

Faciane Photography Paint Posh Pub The High Place Retreat Center The Vine Inc. Jesus Miracle Power Grace Fellowship of Slidell

Beth Schexnayder

Gloria Sullivan

Dwelling Place

Maureen Gillane

Pamela Malone

Hosanna First Assembly

Salon M CLK Hair Salon Gr1eff Moters Shirley Brehm

Rachel Fleetwood

Vida Assembly of God

Organic products infused with essential oils & herbal extracts . Packaged with love by the Mary’s Song Women

Face Facial Serum Facial Moisturizer Facial Exfoliant Facial Masque Facial Toner Eye Cream Hair Shampoo Conditioner Scalp Treatment Styling Gel

Balms Stress Balm Perfume Balm Lip Balm Body Body Cream Body Lotion Bath Salts Muscle Gel Organic Soaps

Mary’s Song Snapshot

Many women are trapped in a world of hopelessness, held in the bondage of drug and alcohol addiction, resulting in low self esteem and self‐destruction. Mary’s Song Restoration Center for Women offers an opportunity to permanently change their lives with the love of Christ.

Mary’s Song is a non‐profit organization that relies entirely on donations volunteer efforts of individuals, organizations throughout our communities. It is our belief of that community in‐ volvement and support is an essential component of recovery. For more information you can call Debra McNabb, our director at 504‐606‐9684.

Highlights from this year’s

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold! the new has come. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

TESTIMONIES Rachel Galani

A cts 26:18 “To open their

Be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, Romans 12:2

eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheri‐ tance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” I grew up in a very unsta‐ ble environment polluted with drugs, abuse, mental illness and religious perversion. I lived in a state of constant turmoil, bound with fear that led to self‐ hatred & a deep anger towards God. In order to cope with the reality that God hated me and I was doomed to a life of misery, just like everyone in my family, I escaped by getting high on whatever I could find. Death seemed to follow me and it became a part of my identity. I embraced the darkness and it enveloped me.

I could no longer contain the anger & fear and I put a gun to

my chest & pulled the trigger.

Immediately it became clear what I had done, I knew I had made a mistake. I opened my eyes and saw an arm reach down from the darkness and grabbed a hold of it. At the time I didn’t realize it was God but now I know it was Jesus. He saved my life because I be‐ longed to Him before the foun‐ dations of the earth and He was not done with me yet. I fell back into my old habits and became a needle junkie, be‐ cause I hadn’t yet realized that it wad God who had saved me. I lost someone I loved more than anyone I had ever known to a drug overdose, and became utterly hopeless. It demolished any doubt I may have had that God hated me, and solidified the belief that I was destined to be miserable, or so I thought.

Then God walked into the room. I was arrested and put in jail for thirty days. I was going

to be released to put my name on a list to be accepted into a thirty day drug treatment pro‐ gram, but I knew it would not be enough and I would end up back in jail. God was already working on me and I didn’t even know it. Someone in prison ministry told me about Mary’s Song and arranged for me to come here straight from jail. Every day He is setting me free from the fear that kept me in bondage my whole life and He is using my experiences to help change other women's lives. I am no longer hopeless and wandering aimlessly in the dark. I will never be the person I used to be. He has given me a new heart and new desires. He has shown me that He is all that I need and the only thing that matters and I LOVE Him be‐ cause He loved me first. It brings me joy knowing that nothing I went through was in vain and that God is going to use me for His Glory! •

Hope Fletcher

I had a drug addiction for 36

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

years. I was 11 years old when my mother abandoned me and my 4 brothers. I was raised by my father who sexu‐ ally molested me for 8 years. At 18 when I finally left home I was a full blown addict, be‐ cause my father put me on crack cocaine at age 11. My life was like an unending cycle.

Finally after several trips to jail over the years because of drug charges, I was sitting in Jeffer‐ son Correction Center when the Lord said, “Hope you have dwelt long enough on the same mountain, it is time to move on.” That day He brought me out of darkness into His marvel‐ ous light through Pastor Heather. I was released from jail December 19, 2011 and walked into Mary’s Song on

December 23rd. I was no longer lost, though still broken and knowing nothing about this God that had called me forth.

I am now a graduate & staying the additional 5 months as an intern here at Mary’s Song. I thank God for this program. It is what I needed; compassion‐ ate people to walk alongside me as I struggle with the issues resulting from sexual abuse. So, yes the healing is huge, yes the work of healing is grueling. I admit some days are easier than others, but Christ is alive and HE is working right now!

The day I walked into Mary’s Song I decided to let go of that victim mentality and let God heal my heart. And in return this is what God gave me (Jeremiah 29:11) “This is the

plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope”.

He knows you are hurting, but as you begin to lift your head again, He will hold your hand and walk with you through the healing process ( Psalm 3:3) You see, God’s desire is for me to be completely whole and restored.

Asking Jesus to be my personal Lord and Savior was the most important decision I have ever made in my life . Not only does it entitle me to eternal life in heaven, but making that deci‐ sion has allowed me to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. •

Graduates

2ND PHASE

3RD PHASE

Judy Mikell

Rachel Galaini

Judy graduated in October.

Completing all three phases of Mary’s Song.

She has stayed as an intern at the 3rd phase house and is attending Bethesda.

Rachel completed 1st & 2nd phases and is interning at Mary’s Song.

She is excited about starting Bethesda in January.

Hope Fletcher Hope completed 1st & 2nd phase. She is serving as an intern & attending Bible college.

1st Phase Completions Colleen Turner

Brandy Trasclair

Kelly Mosley

Blayre Walker

Mandy Jones Mandy completed 1st & 2nd phase.

She entered 3rd phase in December.

She is looking forward to bible college in January and is currently interning in Victory’s Administration Office.

You will eat the fruit of the labor of your hands.

Psalm 128:2

A Full Gospel Christian Church Victory Fellowship 5708 Airline Drive Metairie, LA 70003

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 79 Metairie, LA 70002

Thank you to our donors We are very grateful to the many individuals and companies who have given so generously to assist Mary’s Song since its conception and throughout its infancy. Our most needed nourishment can come only through the prayer of intercession (James 5:16b) and we are daily seeing the results. Thank you and please fervently continue.

Donations For more information, please email Mary’s Song at maryssong@victoryfellowship.net or call 504-822-1341.

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