My wife and I have been married for over 25 years now, but for the first 20 years or so, I felt like she wasn’t totally available to me. From time to time she would withdraw from me, and go off into her own little world and try to cope with her demons.

Her issues began long before our marriage, starting as a little girl, born into a family impacted by alcoholism and sexual abuse. Her first marriage was abusive and ended in divorce. Food became her coping mechanism, her comfort, the place where she could escape from the pain of abuse. This coping mechanism became yet another demon, turning into anorexia and bulimia.

Then, five years ago, she began the Her Journey classes at ARMS. I began to notice that something had changed. She began to feel some sense of healing and as a secondary benefit, our marriage got better. After she completed the 15-week program several times, she felt God’s call to serve him by helping others. She received training and is now a volunteer Her Journey leader. Her desire is to see others gain the freedom that Jesus has given her.

In helping others find healing from the consequences of abuse, she has received from God even deeper healing for herself.

For my part, it is my joy to support her in this ministry. It feels like I have more of her now than I have ever had before. We are both optimistic that the years ahead for us will be even better.