The Healing Hearts Ministry of Bella Vista Church is a ministry offering grace groups for women and men who have experienced abuse in childhood or at any time in their life through an abusive or hurtful relationship. These groups are usually 6 participants and two leaders who come together weekly for a two-hour session over a 12-week period. These groups are called Grace Groups and use the curriculum developed by Open Hearts Ministry.  These sessions help you work through the hurt and pain of the past in a supportive and safe environment.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you and will bring you back from captivity." Jeremiah 29:11-14

The following is one woman's story.

"As I write this, I am saddened. You are probably reading this because you were abused. So was I. Perhaps we can relate in some ways. Perhaps we both have lives that have been consumed so often with pain, shame, and anger from our pasts. Perhaps, like me, you know the fear and anxiety that comes when we try to resolve the effects of the past.

"I have felt very alone. I had determined that nobody is as worthless as I am. I had denied and minimized the past, and felt forever degraded by what had happened in my past. I shut down my emotions, effectively becoming numb and no longer wanting to live.

"God has brought about much healing in my life since I understood that He was fighting this battle. All I had to do was to cooperate with Him."

God tells us, "I will not in any way fail you, nor give you up, nor leave you without support. I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake you, nor relax my hold on you!" Hebrews 13:5

What about you?

Has your past abuse produced similar reactions? Did you ever feel, like this woman did, that God had abandoned you? You certainly are not the only one who has felt that way! God cares about your pain! He wants to comfort you and allow you to experience joy and freedom. If you try to hide from your past and close the door of sorrow, you also close the door to joy.

God's presence enables us to grieve the past - He can hold us when we feel overwhelmed. He gives us strength to not give up when the surgery and healing of our hearts seems to take so long. Unlike our abusers, God loves us with an unselfish love. We can begin to trust again.

God often shows His love and grace through other people.

Through the Healing Hearts Ministry Grace Groups He will provide understanding people to help you as you work through your difficult journey. For information regarding the Bella Vista Church Healing Hearts Ministry, contact Rose Frederick at 616.887.5766 or Lynn Vecziedins at 616.364.9840 or Mike Richardson at 616.225.8218.