Buckner Works!
By Dr. Mark Denison
The effectiveness of the ministry of Buckner International is not measured by the thousands of lives they touch, but by the individual lives they touch – thousands of times. Let me highlight just one example.
Ashlee Robinson.
Reeling from a series of failures and the death of her best friend, Ashlee awoke each day in a pit of pain, reliving the hard moments of her life. And then Buckner stepped in – and everything changed.
The Conroe, Texas woman found herself in the office of Anna Rodriquez and Carrie Johnson, at Buckner Family Pathways in Conroe. This Buckner ministry provides housing, counseling, and assistance for single-parent families so parents can accomplish their educational goals.
Ashlee says, “When I came here, I had lost faith in the journey God had for me. I had lost faith in myself.”
After a short visit, the two Buckner staff members prayed with Ashlee, who reflects, “At that moment, I felt like God sent down angels. I felt like a different person.”
What followed was a period of grief counseling and mentoring. Buckner challenged Ashlee to grow in her faith and assisted her in meeting the basic needs of her life. The Family Pathways provided a way to connect with other moms, and most importantly, with God.
Johnson is quick to praise Ashlee’s progress. “She was broken and decided she wasn’t going to be that way anymore. When she speaks to people, she already knows what it’s like. She tells them we don’t have to do this anymore. And she lives it out. A few of the moms knew her before the program, have known her in the program, and see the transformation is real.”
Rodriguez, the Family Pathways director, adds, “Prayer has been transformational in Ashlee’s life. When she established a true prayer life and true connection with Christ, it turned her life around.”
Today, Ashlee attends Lone Star College in Conroe, where she is working toward her associate’s degree. Then she will work toward her bachelor’s degree and later a master’s. She wants to be a teacher, where she can help shape young minds.
“I will have my associate’s degree in May,” she said. “I’m going to walk across the stage not because it’s the end of something. It’s the first of a few degrees I expect to have. I can see the future, and I will keep going forward.”
Ashlee’s four-year-old daughter, Kadence, has noticed the difference. She sees her mom feeling good and getting good grades. It inspires her to work hard in preschool and dream herself.
Ashlee says, “Children are sponges. They take in everything. Maybe a month ago, my daughter looked up at me and said, ‘Mommy, if you can do it, I can do it too.’ I’m a trailblazer for my family. I’m making a path so she can keep it going.”
It all starts with God – and for Ashlee Robinson – with Buckner.