“I knew I didn’t want to go back to the way I was living.”
These words, spoken by Claire, an ISP alumna and leader from Houston, echo what so many feel at a turning point in life — when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the fear of change. Her story marks the beginning of a larger journey we’ve seen unfold in many lives: six waypoints of transformation.
Waypoints 1 and 2: Seeking Change & Encountering Hope
Watch Claire share her turning point (5-minute video)
Claire spent 18 months in prison, which she calls her “sabbatical.” She read the Bible front to back. But it wasn’t until she encountered a community that welcomed her exactly as she was that hope was sparked.
“When I spent that retreat weekend in solitude with God, I realized I could be completely happy. Even though you are with other people, it is very quiet. It was there that I realized I wanted God to be the center of my life all the time.”
Why Seeking Matters
Decades of research affirm what Claire discovered: faith and spiritual community open doors to healing in ways that nothing else can. A major 2019 review examined hundreds of studies and found overwhelming evidence:
People who engage in spiritual practices are far less likely to fall into addiction,
and far more likely to find recovery that lasts.
The authors concluded that the value of spirituality in prevention and healing is “indisputable.” It is a public health reality, not just a personal belief (Grim & Grim, 2019).
And yet, federal programs face significant barriers funding explicitly spiritual/religious care. That’s where a spiritual community can make hope possible — creating circles of belonging where people can seek, be heard, and find grace in their daily life and relationships.
Your Part in the Journey
Thank you for making encounters like the one between Claire and her witness possible. Your support creates the sacred space where someone like Claire can discover:
“I am who I am today because of what happened.”
This is only the beginning. Claire’s story introduces the first two waypoints — Seeking Change and Encountering Hope.
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