Walking with God Through Hard Times

Sofia and Cora, two young cousins, haven’t had it easy. Their neighborhood in Denver is one of the poorest, most dangerous, and historically underserved communities in Colorado.

      But more than a decade ago, Crossroads of the Rockies established a S.A.Y. Yes! Center there. S.A.Y. Yes! is the biblically based after-school program for at-risk children that Here’s Life developed and makes available to inner-city churches.

      Sofia’s father is out of the picture, and her mother is a drug abuser who often brings men home. Because of the instability in her home, Sofia moved to Cora’s house — Cora’s mother is “just” an alcoholic.

      You might expect Sofia and Cora to have very hard-shelled hearts ... but the truth is just the opposite. First Cora and then Sofia began attending S.A.Y. Yes!

      “Despite their rough backgrounds, Sofia and Cora still have soft, teachable hearts,” says Here’s Life staff member Jean Johnston. “They are a joy to work with. They are such precious, beautiful girls ... diamonds in the rough.”

      Both girls gave their lives to Christ through the S.A.Y. Yes! ministry; Sofia in particular began “soaking up God’s Word like a sponge,” Jean says.

      But then Cora’s mother disappeared on a week-long drinking binge, and there was no food in the house.

      The girls walked in the snow to the church.

      A family from church took them in, and Social Services got involved. Authorities turned up an active meth lab in Cora’s house! Cora and Sofia were placed in foster homes.

      Sofia’s foster parents recognize the value of her relationship with Jean and the S.A.Y. Yes! program. They make sure she has a ride to church and S.A.Y. Yes! activities.

      “Sofia knows that true joy and real stability come only from God,” Jean says. “I believe God is going to use Sofia in big ways. She is faithful, available, teachable, and also a leader among her peers.”

     “These girls have a tough road ahead of them and will have much to overcome. But there is definitely hope…with God, all things are possible.”

Previous Stories of Hope:

• Life With a New Focus
• How Dreams Come True
• New Meaning for “Spring Break”!
• S.A.Y. Yes! is for Parents, Too
• The Turnaround
• Celebrating New Lives
• Extreme Makeover
• Something Beautiful
• Walk a Year in These Shoes
• Authenticity From Experience
• Transformation Station
• The City Pulled Me Up
• Language of Love
• Thriving at 13
• S.A.Y. Yes! Celebration
• Urban Immersion: One Life-Changing Day
• Reach a Child, Impact a Family
• It Started With a Fishing Trip
• Hope Grows in Brooklyn
• A Transformed Family
• S.A.Y. Yes! Long Term
• Partnership in Brooklyn
• S.A.Y. Yes! for the Long Term
• Moving Toward a Career
• Breakthrough at S.A.Y. Yes!
• We Don’t Ever Have to Go Back!
• Prison Prevention Ministry Helps Redirect Lives