The Bible shows time and time again that Jesus was near to the broken. He was close to those that society discarded, He brought healing to the hopeless, and He reached into the pit of sin and rescued those who didn’t even believe themselves worth rescue. That is our call as Christians, to provide that same type of love and support to those who need it the most, rather than turning our backs on them. CEO of the Sanctuary Project, Holly Hayes, was saved from a life of violence and trauma by turning to a stolen Bible. Now, Holly uses her company, which creates jewelry, to employ women coming out of violence, trafficking, and addiction, giving them a place to start fresh, a place to feel loved, and a place to develop a relationship with Christ, free of judgement. Founder of Better Life Bags Rebecca Smith thought God had made a mistake calling her to move to a little town in Michigan, thinking she’d never feel at home. But after Rebecca’s bag company grew too big for her to handle by herself, she found that there was a large community of women who desperately needed employment and a place to connect with other women. Holly and Rebecca have both experienced the call of God in their lives, and now hope to make that same difference for the people they help by meeting them in their pain and needs. 

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

Jesus Calling Podcast

Mark 2:17 NIV

Jesus Calling

Life in His Presence

Past interview: Tammy Arnold

Upcoming interview: Lucas Hoge

Holly Hayes

The Sanctuary Project

Oprah’s book recommendations 

John 8:7 NIV

SanctuaryProject.com

Rebecca Smith

Better Life Bags

Kiva

www.betterlifebags.com

A Better Life

Interview Quotes:

“I went from this really normal, healthy young girl who had trauma but didn't know it to someone who began acting out in every sense of the word and in every way. And all of the sudden my inward trauma became very outward.” - Holly Hayes

“I was homeless, addicted, completely lost, completely broken. And I was on the floor of a public bathroom just crying and watching my tears hit the floor one day and three words fell out of my mouth. I said, ‘God help me.’” - Holly Hayes

“You would think I cried out to God and then I was all better, right? It took years for me to even realize who that God was that I cried out to.” - Holly Hayes

“I was desperate to know who this God was that saved me all those years ago on that bathroom floor, because at this point, I knew I had been so miraculously rescued and everything I had searched for had come up empty.” - Holly Hayes

“I stood face to face for the first time with this God who had rescued me off the floor of that bathroom those years ago. And so it was so clear in that moment that Jesus was the God that would rescue someone in the pit of sin and give them a whole new life.” - Holly Hayes

“I know there is only one way to get needs met, and that is through prayer.” - Holly Hayes

“He is so faithful to the people He loves, especially the vulnerable.” - Holly Hayes

“When it comes to meeting the needs of his Beloved, of His people, He is so faithful.” - Holly Hayes

“Anything that's different than what we grew up with or are used to is scary if you're just entering it. But my challenge to myself and to people who are scared, I think any time we are confronted with fear of any sort of race, religion, like any sort of difference, is just meet somebody. Like, get a face and a name and shake their hand, get to know their story.” - Rebecca Smith

“If we're hurrying through life and rushing, we can't hear those [whispers from God]. We're just too loud and too busy to be able to hear His still, small whispers.” - Rebecca Smith

“God has a plan for each one of our lives.