The Compassion Care Center was dreamed up by churches in Arizona that had been hosting Compassion Clinics for several years and asked themselves how they could continue uniting to serve their neighbors year-round. The Care Center offers a variety of community services (English classes, emergency food assistance, housing services, counseling, pregnancy resources, and much more) to individuals and families in the San Tan Valley, AZ area. Although this model of service was born in the Southwest, we hope to see it grow into new cities and communities that are passionate about coming together to serve their neighbors in Jesus’ name! The following is a story from Jenny, a young woman who had experienced abuse and came to the Compassion Care Center hoping for the best but not knowing what to expect…
“I went through a lot…I was abused, unfortunately, at the hands of my stepfather and everybody that I knew in my family sided with him. I called the [Compassion Care] Center, that helps women in need like me. And of course I was hopeful, but I mean, I had been let down so much in my life that I wasn’t sure when I hung up with this person if I was going to get help or if I wasn’t. When a person is abused, they don’t think they need love, or they’re afraid they’re going to get the wrong kind of love.
When I first came to the Compassion Care Center, my son and I had nothing and no one to help. I’m a single mom and they offered me diapers, food boxes, clothes, counseling, so many things. I didn’t have great relationships in my life before, and it was nice knowing that there were people who wanted to help me and my son, and weren’t expecting anything else, they were just doing it out of the kindness of their heart. If I didn’t have that, I would still have a really harsh perspective on people. I have really grown in my faith in other people, as well as my my faith in God.
“When a person is abused, they don’t think they need love, or they’re afraid they’re going to get the wrong kind of love.”
I found out about Amadeo church through a woman who worked at the Compassion Care Center. She asked me if I was interested in going to church, and I told her that honestly my faith wasn’t fully there anymore but I would like to see if I could get it back again. I started going to Amadeo and my faith in God is strong again, I have a lighter heart. I feel as though I have a family with Amadeo. They have come around me and my son and made us feel like we are accepted and loved no matter what.
I was also talking with Jennelle at the Care Center about switching careers and having a different purpose to pursue. She mentioned looking into becoming a counselor. It made sense to me because I’ve always wanted to help people. She told me about Grand Canyon University, and gave me the number to an advisor. I ended up telling the advisor about my story and she helped me get a scholarship. Now I’m halfway through my classes to get my Bachelors in Psychology. Going back to school has helped give me a higher purpose and I love knowing that one day I can help other people the way my son and I have been helped.
Jenny (right) with her son and Compassion Connect Arizona Regional Director Jennelle Esquivel
Being around a lot of women at the Care Center has also helped me grow as a woman because I didn’t have very good female role models before. Having these women in my life has helped me become the woman that I want to be (and am still becoming) for my son, for other people, and for myself. They’ve become motherly figures and just really good supporters. They inspire me. Because you feel like if they can do it, why can’t I?
“Having these women in my life has helped me become the woman that I want to be (and am still becoming) for my son, for other people, and for myself.”
I feel through my experience with the Compassion Care Center in Arizona that I am a better mother, I am stronger than I was, I feel that I’ve found God again and that I will not lose God again. And that I am capable of being loved and loving others.”
Learn more about the work of Compassion Arizona and our work with women like Jenny by watching our recent video:
