[HeartStrongList] February Message from Marc Adams

[heartstrong at heartstrong.org]

Dear HeartStrong Friends,
        My heart breaks every time one of our students shares their story and
Drew’s is no exception.  His story is featured on the front of our
website.
        I remember well the emotional roller coaster of being trapped in an
abusive religious system and trying to live up to the standards I
believed were right and then the daily fight against myself.  Like Drew
and many others, I kept moving around in my efforts to find peace.
Between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one I moved thirteen times.
Clearly a sign that I was searching for my place to belong.
        That search is reflected in Drew’s story.
        What is hopeful about Drew’s story is that, thanks to HeartStrong, he
won’t have to endure any more years of searching.  He is at a place now,
at 22, where he is moving forward in his journey of self acceptance and
personal healing.  Something he could never find in his former harsh
religious experience.
        We are continuously amazed at the bravery of so many of our students.
They endure things at school, home and in their religious congregations
that most of us are not even able to comprehend.  But that is the
importance of HeartStrong.
        For more than ten years, HeartStrong has been and still is the only
organization in the world with a mission to provide hope and help and to
educate the public about what can and does happen in religious
educational institutions.
        And it only because of you, our supporters that we, as volunteers,
can
even begin to do our work.
        We are still trying to raise about $1800.00 leftover from last year’s
expenses.  If you are able to help with that, your gift will be greatly
appreciated.  We also need to raise about $10,000 for our 60 Spring
Outreach Trip which begins on April 3.
        Thank you for your ongoing support of the work of HeartStrong!

Marc Adams, Executive Director

http://www.heartstrong.org