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An update from Bekah

Posted by Jenni James on 15 November 2024

Many of you know that I lost my lovely husband, Steve, in September. The Restored Board of Trustees were incredibly gracious in allowing me to take time to be with my family as we began to learn to live without him.

It has been and still is one of the toughest times of my life, and yet, as I return now to work and navigate a new normal I have so much to be thankful for.

I am beyond proud of the Restored team who have stepped into the breach and not just kept everything running as normal, but have onboarded new members of team, finalised new projects and on top of that delivered an incredible conference which I had the joy of attending a couple of weeks ago.

This tiny team achieves so much on a normal day, but they have gone above and beyond in a way that enabled me to have all the space I needed when I needed it most. 

Thank you.

As brilliant as my team is, they couldn’t have done what they do without you either. Your commitment through prayer, finance, volunteering and the occasional encouraging email or phone message keeps us going on the days when the scale of the need feels overwhelming and there aren’t enough hours in the day, or people on the team to do all that we can see needs doing

Thank you

I also want to say thank you for your ongoing support for me personally. As a family, we have been held so beautifully by the love and prayers of God’s people. It’s hard to put into words what that has meant to us; it’ has’s been quite overwhelming. We have a basket so full of cards and letters and a phone so full of messages that I can’t possibly reply to each one. But each one shows me that though I have lost the man who loved me so well, I am still held by the one who loves me most and I have a secure home in His wider family. 

And that motivates me as I come back to my desk and start travelling again and talking to churches.  It makes me ever more committed to creating a community and network of churches where every woman can find that same level of support. Every woman should know that they are loved and that they are not alone in their grief and loss, whether they lose their husband to an illness or through domestic abuse. Every woman should have the comfort of being held by God’s people and accompanied on their journey of recovery. I am determined to see that happen. 

Thank you for everything.

Bx