Serving abused women and their children in Tarrant county
BIO
Here is a my bio written by Frank Ball, Published Author, Pastor, and Advisor, from the yearly days.
Answering Screams in the Night
by Frank Ball - Founder, North Texas Christian Writers
Help, it’s a cry seldom voiced, and heard even less. Women cover their black eyes, and bruised lips, with a belief that somehow, things will get better. Thinking tomorrow can't be as bad as today, they hang on until all their strength is gone and they have to let go. What happens after that? Some commit suicide, others react in anger and kill. Many run away but, finding nowhere to go, return to suffer more abuse. A fortunate few reach out and find help. They call us.
"Hi, How are you tonight?" Silence, broken only by muffled sobs, is all she hears as the caller tries to find courage to tell what happened. We listen to the stories more brutal than Halloween's worst fright.
Brenda isn't a degreed psychologist. She is one with an intense desire to help. Because she was beaten and left to die more than once, she understands what has happened on the other end of the phone. She cries because she knows the caller's pain, and then begins to turn desperation into hope. "They don't know where to turn or what to do," Brenda says, speaking of her callers. "We just point them in the right direction. If they want spiritual support, we pray and refer them to a nearby pastor.
If they are local, we help them find a place to stay, or get counseling. We do a lot of referrals to other shelters in our area. We assist in job placement, utility bills, foods, clothing, and emergency needs. Trained workers assist them in getting food stamps, child care, section 8 housing and medical care. The rest is up to them."
Abused women can't see an alternative to their pain, so they endure it. The pressure builds. The injuries become more frequent and more severe. By the time suffering women finally reach Brenda, they are often on the verge of suicide or their lives are threatened.
"Callers are not just bruised in their bodies, their spirit is destroyed", Brenda says. "They have lived without hope for so long; they can't imagine how they would find a job and take care of their children. The hardest part is getting them to believe that is possible."
A woman will often leave her husband 5 - 7 times, maybe more before she leaves for good. Thirty percent of all women who are killed in the United States, are murdered, by the same man their husband or boyfriend. Over 3,000 are killed each year in the U.S. alone. Studies show less than 20% of all abuse is even reported nationwide. This is such a tragedy! Last year 130 women / mothers / daughters / wifes were killed in Texas.
Why does she keep going back? The husband says he is sorry, and he won't do it again, and the wife wants to believe that, so she does. Yet, each time the problems get worse. If she waits too long to break away we may read about her untimely death.
The need greatly exceeds the resources available. Shelters report than less than 30% of the women seeking help, will find long term housing. If relatives or friends don't help, there is nowhere else to go. A woman has no choice but to return to the life of abuse.
"We do all we can," Brenda says. "It will never be enough." With their small budget, they are able to do more by using the volunteers willing to work to those who support them with food, clothing and more. Like Brenda, many volunteers came from an abusive environment, they know what it's like, and want to help. Our goal is to show families that God loves them and with God all things are possible. Please call us if you need help.
I have known Brenda Jackson for many years. I was one of the original lay Pastors she consulted on starting this ministry to work with Battered Women in 1995. She and her Programs have helped change thousands of lives over the years. I encourage you to be a part of this great work, any way you can…. Frank Ball, Author