Testify!

Marise Wilson attends Hastings Corps and volunteers her time at the Family Store and children’s Ministry. She shares her journey towards Jesus through The Salvation Army and the gift of transitional housing in a time of crisis.

There was a time a few years ago when I was really struggling. I was in active addiction and I was homeless, but I managed to get into a motel. I didn’t know where I was going and had a lot of worries, not to mention that I was pregnant at the time.

I met Susan, a Salvation Army social worker, through Work and Income. Susan managed to find me some transitional housing in Flaxmere, around July of 2018. Getting that opportunity at that time I’d say was lifechanging. This connection with Susan was how I started learning more about The Salvation Army, as I was coming in quite a bit to see her and receive support each week.

Having somewhere safe to stay did millions for me. Having that foundation means you can move from there and build on other things. I wasn’t a believer when I first came into transitional housing, but I had an encounter with Jesus. That was when I started seeking the church more.

I had been having a really hard time. I had lost my brother, and had almost lost my own life, and was still dealing with massive anxiety. When Covid-19 started, my anxiety was the worst it had ever been, but I had a friend who suggested Jesus to me. They prayed over me and from then on I became curious and started researching about who Jesus is. Because I was already in transitional housing, I just thought, I may as well start going to church.

I surrendered myself to Jesus, and it was the best thing that I have done.

From then on, heaps of things just started to shift and move; old things were falling off—my drug habit came off—and new desires appeared. Before The Salvation Army, I was a wreck and very lost. Jesus has just changed my life.

I would encourage anyone to reach out to those around you if you need help. I used to think no one cared, or that I couldn’t trust anybody. It took a lot of opening up and reaching out to discover that there are people who want to help and who are there for us.

Now all I want to do is help other people like I’ve been helped, especially in situations like mine. I am working some hours at the Family Store and working in children’s ministry at the corps. It’s hard to tell people when you need support, but I’ve been making great connections with others through the corps.

It’s been a huge journey, and it hasn’t even been long, but from where I was before transitional housing to where I am now working for The Salvation Army, my life has been changed.