Groundtable {The Origin Stories} The Pursuit of Wholeness, With Susan Binkley, Shakia Craig, & Lauren Mason
In today's episode Brit and I have the honor of a returning guest, Susan Binkley, Author of My Front Row Seat A Collection of Stories From My Time Working Alongside Women In Recovery and Founder of non-profit, Blue Monarch. A refresher that Susan and I (Juliette) were beautifully connected through Tyler Bertola, Literary Agent, with our publisher, The Fedd Agency.
Blue Monarch recently celebrated their 20th year as an organization! Blue Monarch's mission is to provide a long-term, residential and therapeutic Christian community for women and their children to break adverse cycles and rebuild their families. They assist women and their children who are overcoming addiction, abuse, and economic hardship to transform in mind, body, and spirit. Their program focuses on the child’s recovery as much as the mom’s and Susan shares more in depth with us just how important these children are to her! They also provide hands-on coaching for mothers learning to parent their children sober. They believe destructive cycles can be broken, families can be healed, and freedom from addiction can be found through Christ.
Susan and her team have supported families since 2003 through Blue Monarch and has served nearly 1,000 women and children and close to 350 children have been reunited with their mothers who had previously lost custody!
Today Susan is returning to Groundtable with two special women who not only came through the program with Blue Monarch, but also serve on staff! Brit and I are in awe as we listen to the unfolding of the miraculous stories from the lives of Lauren Mason, and Shakia Craig! We could not wait to have these champions come to our table today to inspire you and encourage you to remember how far-reaching God's love is for every human being! Lean in with us to hear how they did the work, but know their staying power is through God-strength! Enjoy learning more from their bios below:
Shakia Craig: Officer of Development & Community Relations. She is a passionate speaker and loves to take every opportunity to bring the mission and raise awareness to each and every community. She also markets for Out of the Blue Granola. She knows first hand the transformation that takes place here and is over joyed to share and spread the word so more women and children can walk in true freedom.
Lauren Mason: Director of Case Management. I love serving the women here at Blue Monarch because I too once was a single mother battling for a better life for me and my children in this very same program. I am very passionate about seeing these women find the freedom that I have found through the love of Jesus coupled with the staff's obedience to the Lord in helping me along the way. I lived many years in meth addiction with 2 of my children and it was dark, hopeless, and left me with suicidal ideology. My children were left to suffer the consequences of my poor choices and my oldest felt like she had to be the adult in our family but God's reckless love was chasing us down. I am now 6 years drug free, met and married my best friend, got my pilots license, and had a baby that never has to know an addicted mother. Me and my precious children now live this incredible life that still brings me to tears every time I think about how the hand of God snatched me out of that pit and placed my feet on solid ground.
We believe this could be the best part of your day!
Thank you for listening friend!
Buy Susan's Book: Buy My Front Row Seat
Susan's Blog & Blue Monarch: Read here
Connect with me: All Things Here!
Music Provided By @LAKEYINSPIRED - Warm Nights
Genius co-producer Ben Valdez
