In early 2015, Christine Gilge’s husband asked if she would like to merge her women’s ministry (which had been held in their home) with his dental office in Tacoma, WA, which he was planning on remodeling. That evening she went online to ask if anyone would like to donate gowns toward the ministry. Our Adorned In Grace team in Portland saw the post and offered to donate 300 dresses, which began the beautiful journey of Adorned In Grace Tacoma (AIGT).
For the past three years AIGT’s team, led by Christine and a passionate team of volunteers, has focused on spreading awareness of human trafficking through the sales of bridal and formal gowns as well as being engaged in a multitude of community events, presentations, & teas to educate the public.
Adorned In Grace Tacoma is a beautiful picture of what can happen when passionate people come together to serve their neighbors as one, and we are proud to help support their work! The following are a few stories highlighting the impact Tacoma’s team has had in recent months; we hope you’ll share our joy and celebration as you read them!
Disclaimer: Most survivor names have not been used to protect their privacy and safety.
Story #1: Hope for a Family In the Aftermath of Abuse
“The ministry of Adorned in Grace has impacted and blessed our entire family. When our daughter was subjected to unspeakable abuse, we as her parents did not know what to do or how to help our daughter. Providentially, in the Lord’s merciful timing, AIG came alongside our daughter, and alongside us.
Not only did the AIG staff minister to and physically help our daughter and her children, they provided us with resources, training, and much needed personal encouragement. Perhaps their greatest impact was to listen carefully to what was going on, …understand it, …and then to help us comprehend what was happening, and what the next steps could be.
“The life-impacting work of Adorned In Grace is desperately needed and words cannot express how grateful we are to the Lord for having Adorned In Grace ready to freely and sacrificially serve us at a time in our life when we all needed it the most.”
But their help did not stop there. Their staff had become personal friends and confidantes, and made themselves available at critical times. Their commitment to victims and their families reflect a genuine understanding of Jesus heart in their service.
We live in another state and were stunned to discover that our home state has no group such as this that provides for the victim as well as the victim’s family. The life-impacting work of Adorned in Grace is desperately needed and words cannot express how grateful we are to the Lord for having Adorned in Grace ready to freely and sacrificially serve us at a time in our life when we all needed it most.” -From the Mother of a Survivor
Story #2: The Ministry of Relationships
“We were invited to give an awareness presentation at the local Salvation Army and shared what we were doing and one of the ladies who happened to be there has daughter who had been sex trafficked as an infant by her ex husband. It wasn’t until much later in her daughter’s life that she figured it out. Fast forward, they ended up coming to our fundraiser. We gifted a dress for the daughter, and it’s been a ministry to them, just kind of organically. We sent her to Portland to get her wedding dress at the Adorned in Grace in Portland and a week before the wedding it didn’t fit so she came to us and exchanged for a new one.
Her family came with her to shop for the dress and they shared that they felt loved and accepted so we shared about the classes we had coming up. Before this month I was contacted by the girl who had been trafficked, as she needed help but couldn’t get any. She is 20 now, and the mother is in an abusive situation now as well. So that opened up the door because it’s obvious she’s not in a healthy situation. A lot of people in the community have come together to provide gifts and things to survivors at our open house, and this family came. Our licensed counselor meets with the mother. We have been able to help this family financially, physically, and emotionally, as well as by offering our craft, bible, and cooking classes. It’s a difficult situation but we are praying and seeing the small transformations that God can bring about!”
Story #3: “I Changed My Mind About Suicide Because of My Experience at AIGT”
“A woman recently came in to browse through the gowns at our new boutique. She was fairly shy but our retail volunteer soon had her at ease and having fun trying on a variety of bridal gowns, until she found her perfect princess wedding dress.
As our team gathered to admire her, she shared that she felt unworthy to be engaged to such a great man, as she had gained a lot of weight due to past medical circumstances. At that time we had one of our regular supporters of the ministry stop by and offer to pray for Sarah. She left our boutique with a smile on her face, joy and peace in her heart, and a wedding gown in a bag!
Later on that day she called back to tell us it had been her intention that day to commit suicide. But because of the love and joy she experienced at AIGT, she was no longer going to follow through with her previous decision! In fact she wants to join un in the ministry as she is getting her degree in criminal law! We praise God for this beautiful story of redemption!”
Story #4: Survivor Testimonies
“If you want to feel safe and loved and not judged, but welcomed with open arms, Adorned in Grace and the ladies and gentlemen that work there is the place you want to go. Not just for the beautiful wedding gowns and special occasion dresses, but because they will love you, and help you when you have fallen. They will be the hand of the Lord to pick you up….dust you off….give you a meal….and a great big loving hug. Without them being in my life the last couple of years, I wouldn’t be here. Thank you Adorned in Grace.” -Survivor
“If you want to feel safe and loved and not judged, but welcomed with open arms, Adorned in Grace […] is the place you want to go. Not just for the beautiful wedding gowns and special occasion dresses, but because they will love you, and help you when you have fallen.”
“Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” My entire life, I felt inferior, but at AIGT and through the program “Mending the Soul” I learned that I am not inferior, that in God’s eyes, in the eyes of our Loving Father in Heaven, I am not inferior, but a daughter of the King of Kings!” -Survivor
Story #5: Volunteers of All Shapes & Sizes
“Recently a donor gave us four wedding dresses, and her mother, Sue, brought them to the shop. She happened to have a few minutes, so she stayed for a quick tour. After the tour she shared that she’s a retired engineer and she’s been praying about what she should do with her time. She felt compelled to get involved so she and her husband Ed have rolled up their sleeves and jumped right in!
They have now completed building out a washing machine station at the bridal shop, a kitchen for our cooking classes at the ministry studio, and rewiring our computer station for trafficking survivors to use. The story of these passionate volunteers is further affirmation that no matter your skill, you can make a difference in the fight against trafficking!”
Story #6: Making An Appearance on the Evening News
“We don’t see these dresses as just a commodity. They represent a soul.” -Christine Gilge
Our lovely group in Tacoma was featured on local KING 5 Evening recently! As with our work in Oregon, Adorned in Grace Tacoma is made possible by many local volunteers and churches working together to fight and prevent human trafficking. Together, we are all part of something so much bigger than ourselves!
Watch the video here:
Story #7: Survivor 180’s
“One of the biggest changes is one of our survivors, who was abused by her ex. She came to us about a year and a half ago after attending our fundraising event, after which she went through our dental assisting program and Mending the Soul. She works for TSA now and has found so much favor with them–she’s helped them establish anti-trafficking measures. Her transformation is night and day.”
“Another woman on our ministry committee, Deborah, had a complete 180 as well. She’s a pediatrician, and at first she wouldn’t even talk about her abuse and now she’s all over the US speaking and teaching anyone who will listen on being trauma informed!”
Story #8: Ministering to a Family Through Prom Dresses
“A grandmother called to tell us about a desperate situation with her granddaughters in an neglected environment, and it just so happened that all three needed prom dresses. We were able to listen, pray, and bless them each with a beautiful prom dress as well as invite them to our Grace Ministry Studio for additional fellowship and classes.”
Story #9: International Fashion!
“We have donated our wedding gowns for brides in Mongolia, Africa, Jordan, and Thailand. Recently we also just received 25 handmade wedding ring pillows from Israel!”
Story #10: Honoring the Memory of Brides No Longer With Us
“The Adorned in Grace Tacoma team was honored to receive a designer Ines Di Santo wedding gown worth $15,000 donated by a husband, Sean Roach and son, Reagan, in loving memory of their wife and mother, Pia Aip. Sean hopes that his son will receive a letter from the new bride. We have embraced the family and have been in regular communication with them. They may be coming out to visit us in April. It has been a blessing to be part of their lives and help honor Pia’s legacy.”
To learn more about the work of Adorned In Grace Tacoma, watch their video below!
