Miracle’s Perspective
Recently, Tammy Crane, our executive director, sat down with Miracle and Danielle. Miracle is a former dancer who developed a relationship with Danielle, our longest-running Outreach Team member. They have known each other for 10 years, and Danielle has become Miracle’s mom.
When Danielle met Miracle, she was dancing in a club while attending college. Miracle admits that she didn’t believe in God at all. She was molested in a church when she was a child, so she stopped believing in God. Miracle said, “My childhood was horrible because of my foster mother who was abusive physically, mentally, and emotionally. She was the devil in angels’ clothing.” She also reported that her living arrangements were not as stable as they could have been because they moved a lot. They couldn’t afford any of the places where they lived. She learned the meaning of “living above your means”. As a teenager, she trusted her stepmother and they were really close. She loved stepmother unconditionally, but as an adult she realized that she was indeed trafficked by her and that was very painful.
All this pain fueled her desire to become a social worker. She said, “I always wanted to be a social worker from the time I was a kid because I wanted my workers to care more about what you didn’t see in these homes, that should have told alerted them what was really happening.“ Today, Miracle works at the Department of Child Services. She has accomplished her dream, and we are so proud of her!
When Tammy asked Miracle about the biggest impact Danielle has had on her life, she replied, “She took me from the darkness and brought me into the light.” She went on to say, “Danielle is one of those people who truly loves you, someone who wants you but doesn’t want anything from you, and who genuinely loves you without expecting love in return.” Miracle had never experienced that kind of love before. She thought she had from a woman that she met though another program but then realized that was not unconditional love after meeting Danielle.
Danielle and Miracle admitted that they immediately clicked and became friends quickly. Danielle started to invite Miracle to her family holiday gatherings. The love Danielle demonstrated to Miracle helped her begin to see the love of God. She invested in Miracle spiritually over the next several years. On August 20, 2023, Miracle was baptized as a sign of her surrender to Christ. She now attends Come As You Are Community Church regularly and is engaged to a Christian man who also attends this church, as well.
Miracle is still very motivated to continue her education. She wants to get her master’s degree in Organization Leadership or Social Work. We know that once she puts her mind to it, she will accomplish it. She also wants to write a book about her testimony. She hopes God will use it to help other young girls and women come out of the darkness and into the light of God’s love.
Daniele’s Perspective
We asked Danielle what changes she has seen in Miracle over the years and especially since coming to Christ. Danielle has noticed that Miracle is more present now instead of always on her phone. Danielle had been with Miracle and her nephew in the past and Miracle didn’t have a lot of patience with her nephew and tended to ignore him when they were together. Now, Miracle is very attentive and patient with him. She used to treat children with aggression and anger, but because that is what she knew growing up. But now she understands you need to listen to them and respect them.
Danielle also saw Miracle try to control people with money. Now, she realizes it isn’t her job to control people and especially not with money. She also treated others like she was better than them. God has convicted her about her arrogance, and she tries to be humble around others and have compassion for them. She has become more introspective, able to see her shortcomings. She wants to grow in her faith, and she takes it seriously. We praise God for all He has done in her life and for the testimony she is for Him. And for Danielle being faithful to be the hands and feet of Jesus.