The Path to Restoration
The Heart Behind Restoration
One of the service pathways we provide at Collins Family Ministries is called Restoration. Through this pathway, we serve children and families who have experienced profound brokenness. Over the years, I have learned that brokenness takes many forms. While the circumstances may differ, the outcome is often the same: deep-rooted trauma that affects generations.
A Lesson from the Roots
A few years ago, my husband and I set out on a mission to eliminate the kudzu growing on our property. Kudzu was first introduced to the United States in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, where it was celebrated as an ornamental plant. By 1935, the federal government was actively encouraging its use to control soil erosion and distributed more than 85 million seedlings across the country.
Getting to the Root
What once seemed beneficial is now considered one of the most invasive plants in North America. In the southeastern United States, our climate allows kudzu to grow as much as a foot each day. Over the years, countless methods have been used to fight it, but the most effective solution remains the same: find the root crown and dig it out. From personal experience, I can tell you that this is no simple task. At times, it feels overwhelming and nearly impossible.
Created for Connection
Dr. Curt Thompson writes, “Trauma compromises our ability to engage with others by replacing our need for connection with a need for protection. God designed us for connection.”
Uprooting the Source of Trauma
At Collins, we believe that the restoration of a child, through the power of Jesus Christ, can be the beginning of breaking cycles of pain and uprooting generations of trauma. Trauma is much like kudzu. It spreads quickly, becomes deeply entrenched, and cannot be overcome by addressing only the visible symptoms. Temporary fixes may remove what is seen on the surface, but lasting healing requires us to get to the root of the issue.
Creating a New Normal
As we walk alongside children and families, we often discover that the challenges they face today are connected to wounds that have existed for generations. That is why our work goes beyond meeting immediate needs. We are committed to helping create a new normal, one marked by stability, hope, healing, and connection.
Breaking Cycles of Brokenness
Serving some of the most vulnerable and neglected children in our community has opened my eyes to the far-reaching impact of trauma. Every day, I gain a deeper understanding of how critical restoration is for the families we serve. Consider this reality: approximately 50% of children in foster care have at least one parent who was also in foster care. Behind that statistic is a powerful reminder that unless the root causes of trauma are addressed, cycles of brokenness are often repeated.
Changing Generations Through Restoration
Through Restoration, we seek not only to help children heal from their past, but to help transform their future. By God's grace, the healing of one child can become the starting point for healing an entire family and changing the trajectory of generations to come. For more information about how to join our efforts visit collinsfamilyministries.org.