Not long ago, Denae’s life looked very different.
She had spent time in jail, experienced homelessness, and was fighting to recover from drug addiction. Like many people trying to rebuild their lives, Denae carried the weight of past choices and the heartbreak of being separated from her children.
Her turning point came when she decided to reach out for help and connect with 70×7 through the Holland Gateway Mission. From there, she was accepted into our women’s housing program and moved into Moran Park House, a home designed to give women the stability, accountability, and support they need while rebuilding their lives.
From the moment she arrived, Denae felt fully committed to the process.
She worked hard on her recovery, completed our Changes Program, and began taking steady steps forward. Not long after, she found employment and started building a new foundation for herself and her future.
While living at Moran Park House, Denae was mentored by Rachel, one of our women’s house managers. Rachel walked alongside her not just as a leader in the home but as an encourager, and someone who prayed with her, supported her, and helped her stay focused on the life she was working toward.
Along the way, Denae also found something even deeper: faith and community. She began attending Moran Park Church in Holland, where she found a church family that welcomed her with open arms
On March 4, 2026, surrounded by that community, Denae took a powerful step of faith and was baptized at Moran Park Church. What made the moment even more special was that the person baptizing her was Rachel, her mentor and house manager, someone who had been walking alongside her throughout this journey.
And the blessings didn’t stop there.
Just one day later, Denae was able to see her oldest child for the first time in two years.
And this coming Monday, Denae will receive the keys to her very own apartment, another huge step forward in rebuilding her life. If everything continues as planned, she expects to be fully reunited with all of her children by the end of the summer.
Denae’s story is a beautiful reminder that real transformation takes time and the support of people willing to walk alongside you.
