God often leads us down paths we never expected, and my journey as a mother of seven has been a testament to that truth. Many years ago, while transitioning in ministry from the inner city of Grand Rapids to the rural community of Suttons Bay, our family faced an unimaginable tragedy that shattered my family, my ministry, and ultimately my marriage. Two of my precious daughters were repeatedly and secretly molested by their visiting grandfather in our own home. It was a horrific experience that no child should ever endure, leaving deep scars not only on my girls but on our entire family. Our sending church and mission board urged us to remain silent about it. They confessed that it was too difficult for them to think about, let alone pray with us or provide any measure of love, compassion, support, or counseling care. After the silence, secrets, and shame were exposed, it had a domino effect and took a heavy toll on us. Even our spiritual mentor of 20 years made it clear that he was “done wasting his time on us” when my husband was forced to resign due to moral failure and subsequently abandoned our marriage.
Yet, through the darkest moments and the many years of healing, I discovered an incredible source of strength and hope. In fact, it was this very horrific event that inspired me to write my second book, S.A.N.D. to Pearls: Reclaiming Your Power Through Forgiveness, as a personal way to find lasting healing through the trauma of it all.
Almost 25 years later, I can see how the Lord has been cultivating precious pearls out of my perilous past. He calls it authentication for greater ministry.
After working with Pastor John Smith for a few years on a film project, God called me to start serving within his church at Central Bible Ministries. Over the months, I've had the honor of developing genuine relationships with those who serve and those who attend. I joined the Bible Academy as a way of investing in my growth and learning.
It was in that very class that I was brought to tears after realizing the extent to which God had healed me and how he prepared me to minister to the very men and women who represented the grandfather of my girls. Months later, when Pastor John invited me to consider becoming the Minister of Discipleship, I immediately recalled what God whispered to my heart during the depths of my grief after losing my second husband to a sudden heart attack: “Tricia, I am not doing this to destroy you. Just like John the Baptizer was used to prepare the people for Christ, I am allowing all these things to prepare you for what I have planned.” Just in case I needed confirmation, only an hour later after arriving at church, my pastor—who had no idea about the drama at home—leaned over and whispered, “Tricia, God is not doing this to destroy you but to authenticate you for ministry.” I knew right then that this was the ministry for which God had been preparing me all along.
So, on August 5th, I was commissioned and began my official role serving alongside released prisoners, many of whom are convicted sexual offenders.
"Who’da thunk" my life would take such a turn? Each day, I witness firsthand the miraculous transformations these individuals undergo as they embrace the love and grace of Jesus. Serving Christ in this capacity has become sweeter and sweeter, reminding me of the power of forgiveness and redemption. It’s a privilege to pour love into these men and women, to pray for them, to bless them, and to walk alongside them as they learn what it means to truly live in the freedom of Christ—completely forgiven, as far as the east is from the west, never to have their sins remembered by their heavenly Father.
This journey has been deeply personal, ever increasingly and shockingly complicated, as I now personally can relate to being a victim myself, a momma of victims and momma of a convicted violator.
The price of sin has been greater than anyone can imagine. It hasn’t been easy, but my new ministry at CBM is profoundly cathartic, therapeutic, and worth it all. I often try to grasp just how much Jesus loves us—with grace, compassion, and forgiveness. This priceless and selfless love ignites and empowers me to be a disciple and to disciple others even more so those who have sinned in a manner that affected me and my family so personally and privately. It’s a beautiful reminder of the eternal blessing from God when we choose to pray for, bless, and do good to those who sin against us, and of the many chances that God offers us all to seek and receive forgiveness, die to self, pick up our cross daily, and follow Him.
Through my story, I’m still learning that healing is an intentional, intimate, continual process that requires vulnerability and daily courage. I’m also learning that it doesn't have to take decades when done God’s way. That's why I decided to become a Trauma Care specialist, and to implement it throughout our ministry.
The pain of my daughters’ experiences will always be a part of our story, but it no longer has a hold on us, nor defines us. Instead, the chains of shame, secrets, and silence have been broken off. The ashes of our past have become the fertilizer for a spiritual, mental, and emotional new life—a catalyst for growth that will reproduce generations of Godly fruit, both for me, my family, and for the individuals I serve. Each encounter, each moment of connection, is a reminder that even amid tragedy, God can bring forth beauty and purpose from the ashes and death of a vision.
As I share God’s story of how he cultivated, precious pearls out of perilous past with others, I see the impact of hope and love in their eyes. Many have walked similar paths of pain, brokenness, and sin, and then repeated cycles of sin, and my heart aches for them. Yet, in those moments, I also feel a surge of joy because I know that radical transformation is possible for everyone. The power of forgiveness and freedom are not just concepts; they are a reality that changes lives.
In this ministry, I embrace the role of Minister of Discipleship being a listening ear, a guiding heart, and a source of Holy Spirit inspiration and empowerment. I see how, through faith and community, healing can happen even in the most unacceptable, unthinkable, and, yes, I can say it with bold truth in love—even perverted, wicked circumstances.
Yet, here I am, only by the grace of God—healed, whole, forgiving, and willing to pour out my life on behalf of victims, violators, and their loved ones. It’s a privilege to be part of their journeys, to witness the restoration of hope and purpose, and to celebrate the victories—no matter how small they may seem.
I often remind myself and those I serve that we are not defined by our past, but refined by the love of Jesus that surrounds us. This truth fuels my passion for discipleship and my commitment to being an agent of change in the lives of others. Each day, as I pour into these men and women, I am reminded of the unending grace that God has extended to me and my family.
Prisoners are often visited and find forgiveness and new life in Christ through the church and Christian nonprofits while they are behind bars. Central Bible Ministries exists so that they never return to feelings of still being imprisoned by being shamed, shunned, or rejected as outcasts when they are released. We love you behind and beyond your prison bars.
In sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to see the possibility of redemption in their own lives. No matter how deep the wounds, there is always a path to healing and restoration. The love of Christ is powerful enough to break chains and heal hearts. It’s a journey worth taking, and I encourage anyone who is a returning citizen and feels their crime is too great, or who feels too lost, broken, or rejected by society, family, or the body of Christ to take that first step. You are welcome at CBM. We have a safe place, a hot meal, and a church family that will embrace you as the hands and feet of Jesus.
Together, we can find hope in the ashes, joy in the sorrow, and purpose in our pain. As I continue to serve, I hold tight to the truth that God is, “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” And in the end, it’s not just about getting through the storms of life, but about extracting everything we can from them so we are empowered, equipped, and authenticated for greater, more effective ministry.od often leads us down paths we never expected, and my journey as a mother of seven has been a testament to that truth. Many years ago, while transitioning in ministry from the inner city of Grand Rapids to the rural community of Suttons Bay, our family faced an unimaginable tragedy that shattered my family, my ministry, and ultimately my marriage. Two of my precious daughters were repeatedly and secretly molested by their visiting grandfather in our own home. It was a horrific experience that no child should ever endure, leaving deep scars not only on my girls but on our entire family. Our sending church and mission board urged us to remain silent about it. They confessed that it was too difficult for them to think about, let alone pray with us or provide any measure of love, compassion, support, or counseling care. After the silence, secrets, and shame were exposed, it had a domino effect and took a heavy toll on us. Even our spiritual mentor of 20 years made it clear that he was “done wasting his time on us” when my husband was forced to resign due to moral failure and subsequently abandoned our marriage.
Yet, through the darkest moments and the many years of healing, I discovered an incredible source of strength and hope. In fact, it was this very horrific event that inspired me to write my second book, S.A.N.D. to Pearls: Reclaiming Your Power Through Forgiveness, as a personal way to find lasting healing through the trauma of it all.
Almost 25 years later, I can see how the Lord has been cultivating precious pearls out of my perilous past. He calls it authentication for greater ministry.
After working with Pastor John Smith for a few years on a film project, God called me to start serving within his church at Central Bible Ministries. Over the months, I've had the honor of developing genuine relationships with those who serve and those who attend. I joined the Bible Academy as a way of investing in my growth and learning.
It was in that very class that I was brought to tears after realizing the extent to which God had healed me and how he prepared me to minister to the very men and women who represented the grandfather of my girls. Months later, when Pastor John invited me to consider becoming the Minister of Discipleship, I immediately recalled what God whispered to my heart during the depths of my grief after losing my second husband to a sudden heart attack: “Tricia, I am not doing this to destroy you. Just like John the Baptizer was used to prepare the people for Christ, I am allowing all these things to prepare you for what I have planned.” Just in case I needed confirmation, only an hour later after arriving at church, my pastor—who had no idea about the drama at home—leaned over and whispered, “Tricia, God is not doing this to destroy you but to authenticate you for ministry.” I knew right then that this was the ministry for which God had been preparing me all along.
So, on August 5th, I was commissioned and began my official role serving alongside released prisoners, many of whom are convicted sexual offenders.
"Who’da thunk" my life would take such a turn? Each day, I witness firsthand the miraculous transformations these individuals undergo as they embrace the love and grace of Jesus. Serving Christ in this capacity has become sweeter and sweeter, reminding me of the power of forgiveness and redemption. It’s a privilege to pour love into these men and women, to pray for them, to bless them, and to walk alongside them as they learn what it means to truly live in the freedom of Christ—completely forgiven, as far as the east is from the west, never to have their sins remembered by their heavenly Father.
This journey has been deeply personal, ever increasingly and shockingly complicated, as I now personally can relate to being a victim myself, a momma of victims and momma of a convicted violator.
The price of sin has been greater than anyone can imagine. It hasn’t been easy, but my new ministry at CBM is profoundly cathartic, therapeutic, and worth it all. I often try to grasp just how much Jesus loves us—with grace, compassion, and forgiveness. This priceless and selfless love ignites and empowers me to be a disciple and to disciple others even more so those who have sinned in a manner that affected me and my family so personally and privately. It’s a beautiful reminder of the eternal blessing from God when we choose to pray for, bless, and do good to those who sin against us, and of the many chances that God offers us all to seek and receive forgiveness, die to self, pick up our cross daily, and follow Him.
Through my story, I’m still learning that healing is an intentional, intimate, continual process that requires vulnerability and daily courage. I’m also learning that it doesn't have to take decades when done God’s way. That's why I decided to become a Trauma Care specialist, and to implement it throughout our ministry.
The pain of my daughters’ experiences will always be a part of our story, but it no longer has a hold on us, nor defines us. Instead, the chains of shame, secrets, and silence have been broken off. The ashes of our past have become the fertilizer for spiritual, mental, and emotional new life—a catalyst for growth that will reproduce generations of Godly fruit, both for me, my family, and for the individuals I serve. Each encounter, each moment of connection, is a reminder that even amid tragedy, God can bring forth beauty and purpose from the ashes and death of a vision.
As I share God’s story of how he cultivated, precious pearls out of perilous past with others, I see the impact of hope and love in their eyes. Many have walked similar paths of pain, brokenness, sin, and then repeating the cycle, and my heart aches for them. Yet, in those moments, I also feel a surge of joy because I know that radical transformation is possible for everyone. The power of forgiveness and freedom are not just concepts; they are a reality that changes lives.
In this ministry, I embrace the role of Minister of Discipleship being a listening ear, a guiding heart, and a source of Holy Spirit inspiration and empowerment. I see how, through faith and community, healing can happen even in the most unacceptable, unthinkable, and, yes, I can say it with bold truth in love—even perverted, wicked circumstances.
Yet, here I am, only by the grace of God—healed, whole, forgiving, and willing to pour out my life on behalf of victims, violators, and their loved ones. It’s a privilege to be part of their journeys, to witness the restoration of hope and purpose, and to celebrate the victories—no matter how small they may seem.
I often remind myself and those I serve that we are not defined by our past, but refined by the love of Jesus that surrounds us. This truth fuels my passion for discipleship and my commitment to being an agent of change in the lives of others. Each day, as I pour into these men and women, I am reminded of the unending grace that God has extended to me and my family.
Prisoners are often visited and find forgiveness and new life in Christ through the church and Christian nonprofits while they are behind bars. Central Bible Ministries exists so that they never return to feelings of still being imprisoned by being shamed, shunned, or rejected as outcasts when they are released. We love you behind and beyond your prison bars.
In sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to see the possibility of redemption in their own lives. No matter how deep the wounds, there is always a path to healing and restoration. The love of Christ is powerful enough to break chains and heal hearts. It’s a journey worth taking, and I encourage anyone who is a returning citizen and feels their crime is too great, or who feels too lost, broken, or rejected by society, family, or the body of Christ to take that first step. You are welcome at CBM. We have a safe place, a hot meal, and a church family that will embrace you as the hands and feet of Jesus.
Together, we can find hope in the ashes, joy in the sorrow, and purpose in our pain. As I continue to serve, I hold tight to the truth that God is, “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” And in the end, it’s not just about getting through the storms of life, but about extracting everything we can from them so we are empowered, equipped, and authenticated for greater, more effective ministry.
A huge P.S. God gave me the tremendous blessing and joy of allowing 3 of my daughters to attend my commissioning ceremony. One of them was Leah, from California, who was one of the victims when she was younger than five years old. She has such an amazing testimony of how God has healed her heart, soul, mind, and body through the power of His Word, Teen Challenge, and continued biblical counseling. She, along with my husband, Scott, and other children has been such an amazing team of cheerleaders, a source of prayer and support through this journey. I am more than blessed. My cup surely is running over. Praise God!
I'm so grateful for your continued prayers, support, and investment in this unique ministry in West Michigan.
Truly an inspiration ❤️