Earlier today I had my first one-on-one parenting skills session with my new client. It is also my first client for a new job that I started earlier this month. I was encouraged in my training to evangelize the clients and to see the job as a ministry. In the first session, I decided to start off by having the mom (let’s call her Angela) tell her story, how she got to this point where her children are in DCS custody and why she is required to have my services. Angela explained that she had custody of the children, but when their father was released from prison, he received visitation; eventually, he was given part-time custody but would not allow Angela to see her children. A few months ago, the father was arrested, and the kids were put into the foster system without Angela even knowing. Angela continued to tell her story, how she eventually found out about her children being in DCS custody and living in foster homes. Angela had more than a few moments with tears in her eyes.
When Angela was finished telling her heartbreaking story, I told my story. I told Angela that I do what I do because I want to serve my God and tell people who are in difficult places in life how great and wonderful my God is. I told her about the God of the Bible who created everything and, that when He did, it was considered good. I described how the disobedience of our first parents introduced sin to a perfect world and how the consequences of original sin stay with us in the form of mass shootings and the hurt of losing one’s children to the state. I went on to tell Angela that not only is the world fallen but we, as individuals, are fallen and broken people. I said, “I am a sinner and you are a sinner” to make clear what her status is before God. I told her that even though there is much bad in this world there is still hope. That hope comes in Jesus who came upon this earth as God in the flesh, who lived a sinless life, and who died on a cross and rose from the dead. I told Angela that God sent Jesus to bring people back to God. I let Angela know that she has an opportunity to turn away from sin and turn in faith to Jesus.
Angela was receptive but didn’t take the step of placing her faith in Jesus.
At the end of the session, I asked Angela if I could pray before we ended our parenting session. Angela agreed, so I prayed for her to understand the reality of sin in her life, the gift of eternal life, and her need for Jesus. I also prayed for Angela’s children, that God would protect them and also bring them to faith in Jesus.