Echo Spring 2021 - 22

By Amy Mongiovi
ust a short drive from Lancaster Bible College,
a brick house with a wide porch and flowers
in the yard is home to a group of women who
are in the midst of the most restorative time in
their lives.
" I believe in this
season God is
calling us to
look harder and
to thank Him
for the work He
is doing in our
lives and the
lives around us. "
- Becky Rupp ('21)
North Star Initiative in Lititz, Pennsylvania, is on
a mission to support women who are survivors
of domestic sex trafficking by providing physical,
psychological, emotional and spiritual care
through a Christ-centered focus. North Star's 24/7
restoration home and program is called The Harbor,
and a trio of LBC | Capital women are part of that
mission.
" Our goal is for every survivor to leave The Harbor
fully restored so she can return to the community
and enjoy a life of sustained independence, " says
North Star Executive Director Alicia Corrado.
Several LBC | Capital students and alumnae have
volunteered, interned or worked for The Harbor
since it opened its doors to the first resident
in December 2017. Three Women in Ministry
Leadership students share why they serve North
Star Initiative and the brave survivors seeking
restoration.
" For the longest time, I have had a heart for helping
survivors of human trafficking, " says Hannah
Greineder ('22), who completed an internship with
North Star this academic year and continues to
volunteer. " North Star has provided opportunities
to learn more about trafficking and the needs of
survivors, as well as learning how to advocate and
support women coming out of this lifestyle. "
Greineder and other staff and volunteers are
central to the operation of The Harbor and to the
women arriving at North Star through a variety of
avenues. Seemingly simple tasks such as preparing
meals, driving residents to appointments, leading
therapeutic craft times, organizing donated clothing
and supplies or leading Bible studies make a
significant difference in the lives of the survivors
who spend months healing from trauma.
" I serve at North Star because I believe every
woman should be free, " says Ashlyn Fabrick ('20).
" Healing from trauma is a long and exhausting
process. Everyone deserves a friend who says, 'I see
you, and I am here for you.' When I am serving at
North Star, I get to be that friend. Honestly, it is the
highlight of my week to share a meal and be with
the strongest women I have ever known. I learn so
much from them and feel honored that I get to see
God at work. "
Becky Rupp ('21) has not only seen God at work
in the lives of the survivors at North Star but in
her own life as well.
" Four years ago when I began my journey at LBC,
my goal was to pursue Christian higher education
to become better equipped to serve God through
serving others, in particular those who are often
overlooked or even discarded by the world and,
at times, the Church, " she says. " My life up to that
point had been a rocky road, marked with addiction,
homelessness, single-motherhood and many other
hardships. I wanted to learn more so that God could
use me in unique ways to reach people with similar
life stories. "
Rupp learned about North Star during her third
semester at LBC | Capital and immediately " fell in
love with the mission and work they were doing. "
By the summer of 2020, Rupp was scrambling to
find an organization that would take her on to
complete her practicum in the midst of a pandemic.
On a list provided by Rupp's advisor was North Star
Initiative.
" I contacted Alicia, we met and the rest is history, "
Rupp says. " I began my practicum in the fall and
almost immediately felt that this was the place
for me. In December, I was offered a position
as a Restoration Coach, which I enthusiastically
accepted. ... I feel very strongly that God has led me
to The Harbor. It is like a dream come true, and I
am loving every minute of it. Spending time, doing
everyday things like grocery shopping and going to
appointments, eating meals and having devotions
together has given me many opportunities to speak
into the lives of these incredible survivors, but more
than that, they have spoken into mine and they
bless me beyond words!
" Their strength, determination, willingness to
learn and grow, passion for the Lord and amazing
personalities give me hope for this world to know
that God is always working! " Rupp continues. " It
is often in the small things-things that are easily
22 ECHO
Echo Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Echo Spring 2021
