846 Eastern Place, Aiken, South Carolina 29801, United States
Background
Deborah Lamb started the ministry in the year 2000 when her father gave her a house that was part of some rental property. The house was not in good shape, but with the help of volunteers they made it into a home she called “My Father’s House.”
In 2007 the ministry became a non-profit 501-C named Stand at the Crossroads Ministries (SATCM). Outgrowing the capacity of My Father’s House, the ministry bought property with apartments to accommodate women with children and a house to assist single ladies.
Over twenty years after My Father’s House became home to a handful of women who needed transitional shelter and support, SATCM has grown to provide sanctuary and a supportive community for 4 single women and 7 women with children. The campus includes Grace House for single ladies and Crossroads Community apartments for women with children. There is also a Community Center for meetings, a laundry cottage, an office, a thrift store (Redeemed Treasures Thrift Store), gardens, a playground, and several storage buildings.
Never in her most far-flung prayers or wildest imaginings could Deborah have foreseen what God would do with her small dream --- or what He can do when we trust Him and follow His lead. He brought in the volunteers, donors, and resources needed to build SATCM into a Community, and as we have continued to pray and remain faithful to His guidance, He has never failed us. Though we are not able to accommodate all the women who turn to us, we believe that the Lord brings in those who need us most.
God's Blessings
Jodie has been a resident here at Stand at the Crossroads Ministry since November 2021. She was recently given a position on our staff as our Redeemed Treasures Store Associate Manager, and Crossroads Community Manager. Over the past year and a half, Jodie has shown responsibility and an eagerness to be a part of this ministry, reaching out to the ladies here, helping them adjust, planning parties, taking some to Celebrate Recovery meetings, etc.
Seeing Jodie now, you would never know what a rough background she had in the past. She was addicted to Methamphetamine drugs for years, hanging with wrong crowds, getting pregnant at 13 and having 4 additional children at a young age. Being on drugs led to incarceration and time on an ankle monitor.
From jail, Jodie went to Recovery Road Ministries, a 10-month drug rehab program in Graniteville. It was there that she heard about Jesus for the first time and received him as her Lord and Savior. Jodie got a fulltime job at Millbrook Baptist Church in maintenance and has been attending there and getting encouragement and teaching from them ever since.
When Jodie graduated from Recovery Road, she tried staying with her older daughter (now married and with 3 children) for a while. Eventually she came to Stand at the Crossroads where her twin boys could come on the weekends. Thanks to God, she has restored her broken relationships with all of her children and stays active in their lives. And at only 37 years old, Jodie is a very involved grandmother of three!
Jodie was going to her job at Millbrook at 4 a.m. every day, and then came home from a full day and worked part-time at our store! Talk about a good work ethic! She had to report to her parole officer on a regular basis, and got off the ankle monitor shortly after coming here.
Jodie has been clean for almost four years and looks totally different from the days of her past life. She keeps active going to Celebrate Recovery or AA meetings and encouraging others with past addictions.
Jodie now has a passion to help others in difficult situations. That’s why she decided to leave her fulltime job at Millbrook (she still occasionally helps them out) and join our staff full time. She started at the end of December and has been a huge help to us.
Here’s what Jodie said: “So there I was, a broken, hopeless drug addict…until one day God reached down and rescued me. I give all the glory to the Lord. I truly believe God has a plan and purpose for me at Stand at the Crossroads Ministry.”
Tay (Chantavia) and her daughter Amya have been with us for almost two years. She is preparing now for a future move out on her own after reaching many of the goals she set for herself. Tay came here with no driver’s license and lots of fines needing to be paid off to get a permit. She had no home, no job, no child care, and little hope.
After being in several foster homes until she was two years old, Tay’s grandmother raised her in a Christian home until her health made it too difficult. After that, Tay moved from house to house and even to motels with her youngest child. Her older child is with her dad in Columbia.
Since Tay has been here, she has made tremendous progress: She got a job working in food services at Aiken Regional Hospital and got her child in day care. After many months, Tay paid off all of her fines and was able to get her driver's permit and eventually got her driver’s license. Tay worked with Christ Central’s Bridge Program for a while to help her move forward. Another goal that Tay accomplished was getting her GED after many months of classes and studying. The ministry had a car gifted to us that we were able to recently give to Tay, so she is able to get to and from work on her own.
Tay has been trying to get more hours at her job or something with more pay to prepare for getting a place of her own. The challenges right now for Tay are learning to stay within a budget and learning to manage her finances, which Security Federal is working with her to help. She has had some setbacks with health concerns, which she is trying to stabilize. Her goal is to get into phlebotomy and eventually the medical field.
Tay knows her time with us is coming to a close soon. It will be hard seeing her and Amya leave us, because we all love them, but we also know that this is the next stage in her life and we pray for God’s direction. Please join her in praying for an affordable place to move on to.