Before Bethany came to Eben Ministries, her life had fallen apart. She was pregnant, homeless, and without a job, in the early stages of recovery from drug addiction. She was also dealing with trauma and multiple seizures a day. Living in a tent, she felt alone and was seriously considering adoption.
Some images are representative and are used to protect the family’s privacy.
A Place to Call Home
Addiction had damaged Bethany's relationships with family and friends, and her son's father had chosen not to be involved. Her faith in God was nonexistent. Then she received a call from Eben Ministries.
Eben invited her in and helped her make the house a temporary home.
The team helped her establish a regular schedule. What might seem like a small change became a source of stability, especially after her baby arrived.
Practical Support, One Step at a Time
Eben helped Bethany obtain her Social Security card, get to job interviews and appointments, apply for food assistance, and visit local food pantries. She remembers people being welcoming and willing to help.
A financial coach helped her learn to save money and prepare for the expenses of raising a baby. A social worker gave her space to talk through her problems, while a life coach helped her learn about God and explore what faith could mean in her life.
Weekly parenting classes covered practical skills such as swaddling, diapering, and feeding, along with childbirth preparation, CPR, and choking first aid. Together, those lessons helped her prepare for motherhood.
From “I Can't” to “I Did It”
Bethany also joined Celebrate Recovery through a church. Being around people who understood trauma and addiction helped her feel supported as she continued working on her recovery.
The people who walked beside her saw potential she was still learning to recognize in herself. Their encouragement helped her set goals, overcome obstacles, and begin believing she could move forward.
Building a Future for Two
In the testimony she shared, Bethany described moving in with her mother, who invited her to stay while she got back on her feet. That support gave her the opportunity to spend a year and a half at home with her son and continue working on herself.
At the time of her testimony, she reported being two years seizure-free, three years alcohol-free, and three and a half years drug-free. She was working part-time while attending an aviation technology program full-time, pursuing an associate's degree and airframe and powerplant certifications toward becoming a certified airplane mechanic.
She had earned a 4.0 GPA and passed all her classes so far with A's. Her son was thriving, surrounded by love, and had become her best friend.
Grateful for the Opportunity
Looking back, Bethany believes that without Eben, she would have remained in an unstable living situation and might have faced the difficult decision to place her son for adoption. She is grateful for the opportunity to prepare for motherhood and build a better life for them both.
