Summer 2009 - Brethren in Christ Church

“I’m addicted to miracles,” says Carmen Hall.And after more than five years as executive director of Pacific Lifeline(PLL) in Upland, Calif., she has witnessed plenty. Yet for Carmenand her staff, watching “with sheer awe as the human spirit choosesto rise” never loses its wonder.Laying the ground rulesPacific Lifeline is a Brethren in Christ–affiliatedshelter celebrating 101 years of ministry. And forthe last two decades of that century of service, it hasbeen dedicated to reaching out specifically to womenand children facing homelessness or the prospect ofbecoming homeless. For the women who come toPLL—women who are either victims of domesticviolence, going through drug rehab, on probation, oron parole—it is no ordinary shelter. PLL is where theparadigm changes, where they begin, says Carmen, toexperience “a shift in how they see their world—a shiftin what they want for their world.”Focused on developing self-sufficiency, the one- totwo-year residential program (which can serve six familiesat a time) provides therapeutic support and a curriculum-likeprocess that involves goal-setting and a structurethat is alien to many of the residents. Carmen asserts thatthe rigorous program at PLL makes it “college level” inthe world of shelters and is not for everyone. Case managers,doctors, and therapists throughout the state assesswhen a client is ready for the program. Those seekingrefuge at PLL must then complete a 13-page application.When accepted into the program, participants mustsign a covenant agreement that sets out the expectationsfor being a part of the community: They agree to abideby a curfew, complete daily chores, and attend classeswhere they learn skills including parenting, nutrition,and self-defense. Within this environment of supportand accountability, residents are asked to give up selfdestructivehabits, trading them in for self-discipline andincreased maturity of thought and action.And if they don’t choose to stick to the rules, thereare consequences, which are well defined within thewritten agreement. “My theory,” Carmen says, “is bythe time you get to our home, you’ve wasted a lot ofyour life. This is no time to sit down. I mean business.The carrot is that you have a free place to live, food, andmedical care. You will work. You will take care of yourchildren. And if you don’t, there’s the door.”Carmen likens PLL to a household and her rolethere to that of a parent who isn’t afraid to say “no” tothe daughters under her care. A former high schoolprincipal who has children of her own, she has experiencecombining tough expectations with generousgrace and love, firmly grounded in her belief that Godis all about offering second chances.Encountering obstacles,celebrating breakthroughsLeaving behind their own set of obstacles, PacificLifeline “daughters” face a whole new set of challengeswhen they come to the shelter. Adapting to a structuredenvironment in which they are held accountableis extremely painful and scary for many of thembecause they have lived in both physical and emotionalPhotos by Cynthia Stamatissummer 2009 11