About Rivers of Grace Ministry and Michelle Rodriguez |
| How Rivers of Grace Ministry Began... Rivers of Grace Ministry started in 2006 as a result of a dream and a vision God gave Michelle. He not only supplied a vision, but placed a deep desire in her heart to use the many trials and tragedies encountered on her journey for a greater good. Michelle's vision includes helping other single moms navigate the challenging life of raising children alone while teaching them about God's grace, love, and peace. "Empowerment" is a big word to Michelle and she wants women to be empowered by discovering their true identity in Christ. The ultimate vision of Rivers of Grace Ministry is to one day build Oasis House, a large transitional maternity home and empowerment program that is free of charge for unwed, pregnant young girls and women ages 14-28 with other children and mothers who are in other crisis situations. In this house, residents will be taught who they are in Christ through God's word and discipleship opportunities, receive counseling and support, parenting and life skills training, education classes, financial freedom classes, and job training that will help them become self-sufficient and have a brighter future for themselves and their children. Mothers and other women who have experienced physical or sexual abuse will also be able to work through the life issues that stem from the abuse through bible studies and counseling. Our greatest desire is to empower others to live to their full potential and realize the identity given to them by Christ. The History of New Haven Ministries New Haven Ministries was started in 2002 by three concerned women, one of whom was Martha Breeden, to find a solution to the growing need for the shelter, care, and training of homeless pregnant mothers with children. New Haven Ministries was incorporated as a non-profit in March of 2002. Shortly, thereafter, New Haven Ministries became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization. Through the leadership of these women and God's provision, money was raised to lease and operate a facility near New Braunfels, TX, to house homeless, pregnant women and their children and teach them necessary life skills. New Haven Ministries' maternity home helped many young women in crisis. The Two Shall Become One~ In October 2008, the lease on maternity home expired and a new season for both New Haven Ministries and Rivers of Grace Ministry began. God brought Martha and Michelle together through a ministry outreach for such a season as this. During this transitional time, Rivers of Grace Ministry merged with New Haven Ministries and has become the hands and feet of Jesus seeking to bring hope to the hurting mothers of San Antonio and the surrounding cities. Through this merger, Rivers of Grace Ministry is now recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under New Haven Ministries. All financial and resource donations are tax deductible through New Haven Ministries. Please see the "Contact Us" page for information on making donations. Our God-Sized Dream! Rivers of Grace Ministry, under the umbrella of New Haven Ministries, has dreamed a GOD-SIZED dream that will one-day include a transitional maternity home for up to 25 mothers and 75 children (Oasis House), on-site professional counseling services, on-site day care, on-site school for the children and any teen moms, parenting and life skill classes, financial freedom, grief share, divorce care, and physical/sexual abuse bible study programs, education, job training, and partnership with crisis pregnancy centers and medical professionals to offer part-time services on-site. Oasis House will be the home for the mothers and children living there and New Haven Ministry/Rivers of Grace Ministry will continue to reach out to area mothers who need our help. We appreciate any assistance that the Lord lays on your heart to help us with this God-sized dream. We know that this IS God's desire and thank Him for the provision He has already made. We are currently in the process of raising funds to secure a location and building for at least 3-5 mothers and 6-10 kids with enough room to offer the many programs needed to transform lives. We are believing God for a donation of a large house (5-6 bedroom/3.5 bath house) or land with money to build. Please keep our ministry in your prayers! New Haven Ministries Board of Directors Advisory Board Michelle Rodriguez (President/Treasurer) Executive Director Joshua Caleb Rodriguez Carla Dudley (Secretary) Outreach Services Coordinator Yvonne Poe Eva Fernico-Young (Vice-President) Volunteer Coordinator Martha Breeden About Michelle Rodriguez: Michelle lives with her young adult son, Joshua Caleb. They are both active members of their home church in San Antonio. Michelle sings in the choir and is part of the Counseling Ministry and Joshua Caleb is a four-year old teacher. Michelle is a Master Reading Teacher and currently teaches Reading at the middle school level. Michelle has earned a Master of Education Degree in 2004 and a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling in 2010. In September 2008, Michelle was licensed and ordained as a minister. Michelle has been divorced for 22 years and has raised her son alone since his birth eighteen years ago while working and going to college full-time. She gives all the credit and glory to God. Without His amazing grace in her life, she would still be lost and suffering. She is faithfully committed to Jesus and is thankful that He is not only her Savior, but her Father and her husband in life. She is married to Jesus and to the calling He has placed on her life to reach out to the poor, needy, broken, and abused. Michelle's Brief Testimony and Bio: Michelle was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Orange County. Her parents provided Michelle with a solid foundation that she would use later on in life to raise her own son. Michelle was a competitive figure skater in the late 1970's and early 1980's and her mother was her biggest fan. Michelle's life was wrapped up in her mother's existence and in March of 1980, the unexpected death of her mother sent Michelle on a downward spiral filled with hopelessness, despair, and feelings of abandonment. Michelle tried committing suicide and had a nervous breakdown ten months later at the age of 16. These events would later lead Michelle into a dangerous marriage the year following high school graduation. Throughout the marriage, Michelle was the victim of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by her husband. Her father died suddenly during her first year of marriage and because of the abuse, Michelle was not able to be that close to him. When it became clear that Michelle was still not safe even after the divorce, she left California to come to Texas. Michelle was walking with God and had a relationship with Him, yet she was still struggling with issues from her past. After moving to Texas, she found herself pregnant, alone, and had no permanent home. She knew that God was the source for everything and if she was going to give her child a future she would have to go to college. With God's grace, mercy, and educating herself on financial aid options, Michelle began college when Joshua was only 5 weeks old. It was a long, tough road raising a baby, going to school full-time, working, and taking the bus everywhere. Despite living in poverty and with all the hardships that come with it, Michelle pressed on toward her goal. She knew that with every step she took, God was walking right there beside her. Earning her Associate's Degree was not enough for Michelle since she needed more money to become totally self-sufficient so she embarked on a four year degree in education to become a teacher. Earning her Bachelor and Master Degree's in Education was no easy feat. It was a long, hard struggle still filled with poverty, sacrifices, and courage. God was in the middle of it all providing a way for everything as Michelle took each step toward a better future. Through all these years Michelle has been walking with God and talking with Him each day. She still faces the same struggles and trials that everyone faces. She has been growing and maturing in her walk. Through daily prayer, faith, perseverance, learning from great teachers at her church, and a deep relationship with Christ she has overcome many of the things from her past that have followed her through the years. Michelle now lives life as a victor with Christ by her side instead of as a victim. In one chapter of her book, Michelle characterized herself as a "little girl" lost and alone in the world. That is not the case today! God has truly turned her mourning into dancing and she sings praises to the Lord daily. She knows God is waiting to do the same for you. All you have to do is ask Him, then trust Him, take a chance, and go for it! He loves you too much to let you stay the way you are today. He wants you to have a life filled with grace, peace, joy, and abundance. Copyright 2011 by Michelle T. Rodriguez |
About Rivers of Grace Ministry
(New Haven Ministries~501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization)
(New Haven Ministries~501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization)
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