Testimonies

“Back in the mid-1990s, I first met Alice and Cheri when they came to the church our family had attended for a number of years in Sanborn, NY. The day we met was certainly planned by God. After hearing of the work of SonRays Ministries, I was very interested in the ministry and introduced myself to the both of them. I met with them over the next few months a couple times, however, my involvement in the ministry was limited as my husband had accepted a temporary transfer to another state with the company that he worked for, and I joined him shortly thereafter. Upon returning home to our NY residence on a weekend in Spring, our youngest son, who was living at home and working in NY, approached me with a situation regarding a young woman who was pregnant with a child to whom he was the father. He was at a point in his life where he was searching for answers. He also told me of the confusion he was experiencing because of the physician who was treating her at the time, had not only brought children into the world, but openly had abortion material. Alice and Cheri from SonRays counseled me to follow in helping both our families. Our son had arranged for us to meet with the birth mom and her parents to discuss the services that SonRays had to offer and if those services could assist them. It became more evident to me, as God’s plan began to unfold, that the birth mom and her parents were very receptive to the offer, as they were already considering adoption but were unsure how to proceed. A second meeting was arranged with Alice and Cheri where they gave an overview of the adoption process and the birth mom accepted.
As the months past, our son and I met with the birth mom a couple of times to reinforce our support for her decision and to follow up with SonRays Ministries in receiving adoption information. That summer, I received a phone call at our out-of-state residence that a baby girl was born and we were invited with our son to visit her in the hospital the next day. As I traveled back to New York, many emotions hit me as another grandchild was to be born. One I would not have the opportunity to watch grow up with a family full of uncles, aunts, cousins, and her biological father and grandparents. After raising five children of our own, my husband and I knew this was going to be a difficult time, not only for our son, but for our entire family. My prayer at the time was focused on helping not only our family, but the family of the birth mom as well. God knew this would take an effort on everyone’s part in order to do the best for the child. On a beautiful summer morning in Western NY, my son and I traveled to the hospital to meet the new baby girl. The hour or so we spent with her will always be recalled as memorable. An excerpt from my journal from that day reads as follows: “I held you for about an hour and your dad sat next to me playing with your hands and touching your head. I could see the pride in him as he looked upon his daughter. I could also see the beginning of the internal struggle knowing he was about to let you go. After praying for you together, leaving our small gifts we had brought and placing you back into the arms of Alice, we left for home.” I quickly realized the circumstances of this situation were becoming more traumatic than I could have ever imagined for my family. My son did not carry this baby and go through all the emotions that the birth mom had, but from his vantage point, the emotions that he was feeling of not sharing in his child’s upbringing were real. The next few days were very chaotic for all of us. My husband, son, and I had several discussions about raising the little girl together. Our other four married children sought out alternatives to adoption. One of our sons, now a retired Army Colonel but a young Captain stationed overseas at the time, was confronted with the fact that his wife wished to adopt a child. We all knew deep down inside that the plan had been set, the baby would be adopted, and that God had pulled it all together. Two days later, our son and one of his brothers went to the court to sign the paperwork. At that hearing, our son took the time to ask permission of the judge in attendance if he could speak in order to convey to the court the feelings he had for the child as well as the decision the birth mom made. It is my understanding from speaking to my other son that the judge commended him for his thoughts, as all other men in his situation simply signed the paperwork and walked away. There were some tears shed that day by those few participants in the room. I was proud of my son as well as his brother.
Upon returning to our out-of-state residence the following week, my husband and I visited the church we were attending at the time. During the service, I had the opportunity to give a testimony of my previous week’s visit home, sharing how our family and our son struggled with his decision to place in adoption. After the service, a young woman in her late twenties came up to me and told me that she was adopted and that she loved her adoptive parents dearly. But until she walked into the church that morning, she continued to harbor much bitterness against her birth mother and father who “gave her up” for adoption. The testimony of God’s power in the life of our family moved her to tears. She never realized until that day that perhaps it was one of the most difficult decisions for her birth parents as well and she thanked me for sharing my story. I could see how God was beginning to use this testimony not only for our family, but to share with other families as well.
The process of adoption is not easy, but it is the best alternative to what society offers for unplanned pregnancies today. Through all of these years, the time surrounding the birthday of my son’s adopted daughter is a time of high anxiety for our son as he relives the past. Our son and his wife have two sons and a daughter and I know he longs to reunite with the one he placed in adoption. He knows it was the best decision for that time in his life and always appreciated the work of Alice and Cheri and SonRays Ministries for their guidance. God’s work through a ministry such as SonRays continues to change lives today. As a family, God has blessed us with 13 grandchildren, one of whom has joined HIM in Glory. We, as a family, wait for the day when we will meet our son’s adopted daughter, our granddaughter. Our son also waits for that day as well, so he can celebrate her life and their future lives together, knowing the void in them both has been fulfilled by a faithful and loving God.”

“I would like to give a brief testimony of how God has blessed me. I have known the Lord since I was 22; I went through many mountains and valleys during that time. I have chosen to walk closely with God and to never stray from His awesome presence. But I mainly want to focus on the last seven years. After many years of walking closely with God and seeking His face, I began to stray. Pride got in my way and I began to think my way was better than God’s. I ventured back into the world and found myself in a dead end relationship with someone who wanted nothing to do with commitment or with God (the two things I wanted most in my life). I, however, fell in love with his three children aging eight, eleven, and thirteen; by the time I was thinking of breaking away… BAM… I was pregnant. I suspected I was pregnant within a week of it happening. I mulled over the whole situation within myself, with God, and one friend who I felt I could confide in. This was a situation: I never thought that I would have any children, I was not sure I was worthy of being a mother, and I felt way too old to be a new mom. I worked full time in a demanding job and wasn’t sure if I could do the mother thing. I was afraid! What would people think? Was I capable? I didn’t know how to take care of a baby. I also knew the father of my child was not interested in any sort of commitment, more children, or responsibility. I was still attending church regularly and had gone up for prayer. At some point during that first month of pregnancy, I truly accepted it as a gift and began to search for God and His will once again.

I waited the initial month to do an actual pregnancy test and was not surprised at the positive result. Then I had to sit down and tell the father. I prayed about it and tried to word it as tactfully as possible. His response was as expected: ”I don’t need another child, I support 3 already, this will change everything!” So I accepted his excuses but felt I should give him a chance to remain friends, hoping he would change his tune as time went on.

On November 3, 2004, my daughter Amber was born. I was well prepared because my family, my church family, and those I worked with, all had given me showers and many necessary baby items. My sister had also saved all of her granddaughter’s things and gave me those as well. Praise God! I had to return to work six weeks after Amber’s birth. God provided loving friends to watch Amber. I did not have to consider day care until she was six months old, and then it was only half days, twice a week. She did not have to attend daycare full time until she was almost three. God also provided a loving, spiritual grandfather for my daughter through a longtime friend of mine who accepted the Lord as his savior just prior to my pregnancy.

I was invited to a SonRays Single Mother Christmas Luncheon shortly after Amber turned one. Since then, we have been blessed at Christmas and Easter repeatedly, as well as at each monthly luncheon we attend. I have found guidance and understanding from willing hearts at SonRays Ministries. They have answered my questions and hugged me when I was overwhelmed. God has given me a strong Christian network of loving support and has held us up in every way. I am ashamed that I did not trust God’s will for my life but I am very thankful that He has forgiven me and given me a precious child to raise in Him. A few years ago, a sister in Christ gave me a card with the meaning of Amber’s name: precious one.”

“When I became pregnant, I was full of emotions, When I finally told two of my closest friends about my pregnancy and the emotions I was feeling, they recommended that I call SonRays Ministries. I am so glad that I did.
The first time I met Alice and Cheri, they had mentioned they were doing a summer Bible study for the children on the theme F.R.O.G., meaning Fully Rely On God. They were giving each child a miniature frog figure that said “believe” on it. I was able to get one of those figurines and little did I know how much it would help me to rely on God fully. As a newer Christian, I really needed the support from other believers. The people at SonRays Ministries are perfectly appointed by God. Each one of them has different traits and personalities, yet they all work together so well! The monthly luncheons that SonRays does for single mothers is an amazing opportunity to learn about local churches, fellowship with other single parents and families, and pray for each other. I especially look forward to the Bible lessons. The women from SonRays are like a second family to me. When I was pregnant, I had gestational diabetes. They helped me learn about nutrition, monitoring my sugar intakes, and changing my diet. After my daughter was born, the help never stopped! SonRays donated a multitude of baby items to me and my daughter and they were always so generous to help us find anything we needed! They helped me grow in so many ways and I began to see myself as God sees me. SonRays helped me become a better mother, but most importantly, they helped me become a better mother in Christ. They have taught me how to raise my daughter with God in her life. I have been so blessed to have gotten connected with SonRays Ministries.”

“Twenty years ago, I was pregnant with my second child and had found out there were complications when I was at 24 weeks. A friend of mine gave me the number of SonRays and I reached out to them, believing they could help me pray for a miracle in my difficult situation. But sometimes miracles aren’t what we expect them to be.
Cheri and Alice were there for me at all hours of the day and made my out of control situation a lot easier to bear. They kept me focused on the Lord and I know that when I was at my weakest, my faith was at its strongest. As an adult, I fluctuated in and out of the church, and although my daughter was beautiful externally, she had serious internal health issues and only lived for three days. She was my greatest tragedy but also my greatest blessing. SonRays helped me through it all.”

“I was born on May 17th, and May 18th was the day I was placed with my family. Thanks to SonRays Ministries, my birth parents were guided with tons of love and care in the process of making the decision to place me securely in Christian adoption. My birth parents felt that they weren’t capable at their age and place in life to take care of me, and I am so thankful that they were selfless enough to do that for me. With the help of SonRays, I can confidently say that both families were provided with so much support as they went through this life-changing process. And because of how this impacted my life, God laid it on my heart to pursue a career in foster/adoption care. I am so thankful to SonRays and how they impacted my life and the life of my family. They gave me the opportunity to be in a family that introduced me to a perfect God!”

“It is difficult to start a new life 10,000 miles away from home with no help from families and no friends. We had to do every little detail by ourselves. It is even more difficult when one is expecting a new addition to the family away from home. My husband and I, along with my three year old daughter, came to Buffalo from Australia, after more than a 35 hour flight, in late September 2007. Through God’s guidance, we quickly settled down, started to make friends and got on with our lives. Five months later, we found out that I was pregnant with our second child. We were overwhelmed with joy and thanked God for this baby; but at the same time we were also worried about the new addition to our family and how the newborn would drastically change our newly-started life. We were troubled by many things: who would look after my daughter when I am in the hospital, what if it happened in the middle of the night and so on. Our eyes were on the Lord and we knew that God would not leave us alone. It was not long until God answered our prayers. He led us to SonRays Ministries and we met Alice and Cheri; two wonderful women from SonRays. We shared our concerns and they assured us not to worry; they offered to be our birth doulas when the time comes and we gladly accepted their offer of love. As time went on, we got to know each other better through Childbirth classes (which often times were full of laughter and jokes), the Backyard club program for our daughter, and through prayer.

Fast forward to October 21, 2008. It was midnight and I felt regular and strong contractions. We felt worried again because my daughter was fast-asleep but I felt that it was time; my husband called the doctor and she asked us to go to the hospital because she believed we were in labor. So we called Alice and Cheri, prepared our bags, and woke up our daughter. She immediately woke up and was excited about it. We arrived to the hospital around two in the morning and were admitted to the labor and delivery room around three. Alice and Cheri arrived shortly after we were admitted. Again, fast forward a couple of hours, it was time for the baby to come. Cheri helped us with the delivery process while Alice diligently and joyfully took care of Elizabeth. Around 7 AM our second daughter, Edeline Priscilla Yusuf, was born. It was a precious moment indeed. God’s love and providence abundantly flowed into our lives through Alice and Cheri. Our friendship continues today. We still keep in touch in various ways. We spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together. We really appreciated the help and the love that they gave to us. It is true that we are far from our family, but God has given us another family in Buffalo: The SonRays Family. We pray that God will always bless every person in SonRays and their ministry.”

“I come from Vietnam. I am here to tell the story of how I fell in love with Jesus Christ and became a Christian. Discovering that God is the Only One, and He paid the price for my life by His death on the cross, I desired to learn more about Him. The more time I spend with Scripture, the more I feel peaceful and full of grace in my heart. During the times I am reading, I find that many scriptures perfectly apply to my life situations. It is very natural for me to worry, but when I read 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all of your anxiety on Him because He cares for you,” and Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I will say Rejoice,” I am free from fear and joyful.

In our childbirth classes from SonRays Ministries, they told us that it was God who created our baby girl, and He would help and give strength when we call upon His Name. They prayed for our baby each time we met. In addition to the childbirth classes, we were also invited to SonRays International Christmas Party. Again I heard of why Jesus was born for us. Joyful songs were sung and each member of our family received gifts of love. I mentioned to SonRays that we had a need for a washer and dryer. It is difficult with three children and the Buffalo winters to go to a laundromat. SonRays found and gave us a washer and dryer set and fine clothing for our children!

The love I am sharing with and receiving from SonRays Ministries and my church is encouraging and inspiring me on this journey as a part of God’s family. I can visualize that God is present with me and His grace is upon me. I am receiving a new life with lots of changes: new peace in my heart, a desire to please God, a sense of God’s forgiveness, and a greater love for other people. In First Corinthians 12:13 it says this: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all given the One Spirit to drink.”

I was raised by non-religious parents in a communist country. I was taught to be an atheist and trained to be a scientist. I thought everything could be explained by science and achieved by working hard. There was no faith in my life. I was trying to survive, I was constantly struggling about the meaning of life. After coming to the USA, I had many opportunities to hear about Christ, but I let those opportunities slip by. My first experience with Jesus Christ was when I was invited to a Christmas celebration at a couple’s home in 2003. I also visited ISI on an occasional Friday night. I was still too ignorant to accept God calling me. In accordance to His promises (seek and you will find), God did reveal Himself to me. In October of 2007, I began meeting Mrs. Joyce from ISI who helped me to improve my English by reading the Bible. As I read more and more, I could not deny the truth in the scriptures. Then I started to go to the Amherst Baptist Church with my son to study the Bible. When I sat in those Sunday services, I felt at peace and I loved the atmosphere there. The people in the church made an impression on me. I could tell that they loved people and enjoyed life. I wanted to get to the source of this love and joy.

In January 2008, I decided to become a believer in God. One of my sons received Christ in the fall of 2007, and my wife Dao received Christ in November 2008. We were all baptized together in December 2008 and were so blessed to have Alice, Cheri, and others from SonRays attend.

I praise and thank Jesus continually for the gift of eternal life and the grace and mercy He has shown me. What did I do to be saved and change my eternal destiny? “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9. I received what God already did for me!”

“When my husband Kiyo and I visited the SonRays office for the first time, we were nervous. We weren’t sure what to expect, but Alice and Cheri were very friendly women with great senses of humor! I had given birth to my baby in the very early hours of the morning and Alice and Cheri had been our doulas and were with us for it all! I had found out afterwards that they had been helping other mothers the previous days of that week and must have been exhausted! They treated me as a whole person and were so respectful despite our different cultural backgrounds. Our daughter Eri was very difficult when she was young; she was gassy, cried frequently, and was always hungry. I was breastfeeding at the time and was a lot more naïve about it all then I am now looking back. When we felt like we couldn’t solve the problem, we reached out to Cheri and Alice and brought Eri to see them. They immediately determined that we were overfeeding her. Cheri advised me with a better feeding pattern and taught me some techniques to help with the gas. It took us about three months to get accustomed to the new pattern but it totally worked! We were SO thankful for their help and guidance. Whenever I think about SonRays, I praise the Lord for the benevolence the SonRays women have in their hearts.”

“When I first came to SonRays, I was an insecure, broken woman full of pain. I knew God said I was forgiven, but I could not believe I would ever feel forgiven. While attending a Post-Abortion Healing Workshop at SonRays Ministries, I was guided through the truth of God’s word, and I was encouraged to accept His truth in place of my own. I began to see that what satan meant for my destruction, God would use for His glory! Five years later, I agreed to be a co-coordinator for the same workshop that helped me heal, knowing God would give me the words and wisdom to encourage other broken woman if I stepped out with Him in faith. And we saw women released from overwhelming guilt, shame, unforgiveness, and the hardest of all ; unforgiveness of self. Over and over again, God has proved Himself to be the Healer and Restorer. SonRays has been the vehicle God has used in my life to take the pain of my past to bring glory to the Lord.”

“I came to SonRays Ministries over six years ago. I was terrified, had so many unanswered questions, and was in a very dark place. I was a shut-in, suicidal, and wasn’t sure if God even existed. When I found out my husband was having an affair, I sought revenge and had one of my own. The man that I chose loved guns. So much so that when I found out I was pregnant with his child, he forced me to have an abortion against my will by gunpoint. Devastated and lost, SonRays took me under their loving wings and guided me through the Post-Abortion Healing Workshop. That is where a true transformation took place in my life. The steps of healing took homework and accountability on my part and left me with deeper understanding of who Christ is and what having Him in my life really meant. I knew that I was forgiven of my sins and set free! But my journey with SonRays didn’t end after the Post-Abortion class. My marriage was ending and I was facing another new challenge of becoming a single mother of my two sons. SonRays invited me to their Single Mom’s Luncheons and it was such an encouragement to me. I left those meetings feeling invigorated and empowered, especially knowing how hard I was being prayed for!”

“I have had the privilege of working with SonRays Ministries in their Post-Abortion Healing Workshop for the last ten years. During my training, I wondered how significant change could occur in only a nine week Bible study. However, I realize now that I had been putting limitations on God, His word, and His workings through the Holy Spirit. We serve an awesome God! He has blessed us abundantly as we witnessed His works in the lives of the women who come to us with their pain, guilt, and shame. Here are some of the miracles that have abounded: many women accepting the Lord for the first time, seeing marriages healed and forgiveness shared, seeing the sparkle in women’s eyes as they experience the truth of Christ’s forgiveness and how they can truly forgive themselves, healing as women grieve the loss of their babies but are carried by the hope of getting to see their children in heaven, and seeing women who have been healed then go on to share and minister to other women who are experiencing the same pain. The promises of the scriptures in Isaiah 61:1-3 have been fulfilled over and over through SonRays’ Post-Abortion ministry. All the praise and glory goes to our Lord and Savior for these changed lives.”

“I have been blessed to attend the single mom’s fellowships each month for the last thirteen years. It has been wonderful to get to know so many brothers and sisters in Christ in various Christian churches. We enjoy visiting a different one each month, being taught by the word of God, having fellowship time during luncheon, singing or hearing beautiful music that honors the Lord, and enjoying a light-hearted craft/activity. It is precious to us to know our children are being ministered to with the love of Christ. The kids have enjoyed running around in church gyms, puppet shows, worship times, Bible stories, creating works of art, and so much more! The generosity of the churches overwhelms us every time. I have made so many friends – some have moved away, some have gotten married, some still enjoy the fellowships with me – all are a part of my heart. I shudder to think where my daughter and I would have ended up if it were not for the faithfulness of SonRays Ministries and their supporting churches. The consistent encouragement and challenges have been vital to my growth in the Lord, and I know I’m not the only one! I am so grateful for what God has done and continues to do through the ministry!”

“My experience with SonRays Ministries is one that began with a touch from the Lord so deep into my soul, for I was as desperate as they come, it turned me inside out, and I was never the same.
I was pregnant and single, and I had previously aborted other pregnancies out of sheer fear. But once Jesus came into my life, I was able to believe in the possibility of life for the first time ever. I met the SonRays ladies and they seemed to really care about me. I felt like I was given new hope. And while being a single parent was challenging, and understanding my own responsibility in areas I hadn’t before, I knew I could go forward and lean into God’s love and grace.”

I was twenty years old when I found out I was pregnant again with my third child. I was new to faith and called myself a Christian, but my actions would have said otherwise. I was so angry with myself and I wanted to cover sin with sin and end my pregnancy immediately. But God had other plans. The day of the abortion, I walked into the clinic with my head lowered with shame. I remember sitting in the waiting room and purposely ignoring a phone call from Alice at SonRays Ministries. As soon as I had noticed she left a voicemail, I opened my phone to listen. To this day, I remember the scripture verse (John 10:27) she left on my phone: “My sheep know My voice, I know them and they follow Me.” Still angry and embarrassed, I shut my phone off and continued with my appointment. The doctor performed a sonogram to see how far along I was and asked if I’d like to see for myself but I couldn’t. Then the doctor informed me that it was too early to perform an abortion. I can now say that I see God’s sovereign hand of protection that had been on my child that day. And on July 25th, 2008, I gave birth to my baby girl. She was placed on my tummy and I immediately knew this was God’s little girl. The middle name I gave her at her birth was “Love” after 1 Corinthians 13: “And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” God knew that I was going to place my beautiful baby daughter lovingly in Christian adoption. SonRays, Alice, and Cheri were always there for me from day one through the birth. They would pray with me and teach me parenting skills for my other children. But most importantly, they showed me the love of Christ! And even though I had strayed, I look back now and can see how the Lord was constantly pursuing me through it all. For the past five years, I have been happily married to the love of my life and we just bought a house, praise God! My story makes me think of when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and he later told them: “What you meant for evil, God intended for good,” (Genesis 50:20)!

My childhood was very painful, my home life wasn’t stable, even with my grandmother trying to take care of me. As I grew up, I began looking for love and stability in ways that were unhealthy and destructive.
I came to SonRays Ministries for help in May of 2013. I was living at Cornerstone Manor at the time. When I first arrived there, I believed in God. I always knew who He was, but I wanted to get closer to Him on a deeper level. SonRays Ministries was my backbone during this time. I am so thankful for how they pointed me towards Jesus. They have been supportive with their summer Bible studies, their personal meetings with me at Cornerstone, and their single mother luncheons. Cheri, Alice, Donna, and all of the other people at SonRays have been angels to me and my children. Anytime we ever needed them, they have always been there for us. I am so grateful. Life hasn’t always been easy for me, but I’ve made it through many battles because of God and my wonderful SonRays support system.
A highlight of my spiritual journey was being baptized. When I came up from the water, I felt clean on the inside and empowered to walk closely with the Lord. I let Him know that I was willing to follow Him. Today, I am growing in my parenting skills and love for my children. They are truly a gift from God and I desire to be a good example for them in mu daily walk. If you have given to this ministry, I am only one of the many who would say that you investment has eternal value and I am forever grateful.”

“Nine years ago, I had my first son, and my grandmother was very sick at the time. I prayed that she would be able to meet my son just one time, and God gave me that gift. She saw him and was able to hold him and we stayed to visit for a couple of hours. I didn’t know that when we left her that day, it would be the last time we saw her. She passed away shortly after our visit.
I was angry with God for taking her away. I thought that if there was a God, why would He do this to me? WHY?
Now years later, I think about what has happened and how my life had taken a downward turn. I blamed everyone else for everything that went wrong in my life. My mother started doing drugs and getting mixed up with the wrong people and I blamed her for my problems. But I never took a moment to look in the mirror at myself and ask, “what are you doing?”
After nine years of lying, drinking, being with various men, and living for only myself, God threw me a curve ball. I lost everything; my home, my car, my children, and any respect I had left for myself.
On January 11, 2002, I went to Cornerstone Manor after a bad fight with the father of my children. I couldn’t go back to him. He made me feel like I couldn’t take care of my own children. Then on January 15th, I found out I was pregnant and I didn’t know what to do. I went back to my children’s father for help and he told me he would pay for an abortion because he saw another child as an inconvenience. I agreed, but my heart knew that there had to be another way. I talked to a counselor at Cornerstone about my situation and my concern. She gave me pamphlets to read and said she would connect me with people that could help me further.
A week went by and my appointment for my abortion was set. I had been attending the chapel at Cornerstone and allowed God into my life again. I also knew that if I did go through with the abortion, God would forgive me. That evening, I met Alice and Cheri at SonRays. They showed me things on abortions and encouraged me to let the Lord guide me steps. They also offered to walk with me through my pregnancy. They helped me set up an appointment with a Christian doctor at the Children’s hospital the next day.
The abortion was still set for 9am. The plan was that the birthfather would pick me up. The ladies from SonRays came at 8am, even though our appointment was not until 11am. I chose to go with them instead of the birthfather, and the doctor was willing to do a sonogram right away, even though I was early. I saw my baby’s feet move. They loved and prayed for me afterwards and I decided to choose life for my child.”

I am from Taiwan. I came here with my husband, Julian, who is a student at UB. We learned English at UB with Interface Ministries. When I found out that I was pregnant, I was surprised and excited. Our representative at Interface recommended us to SonRays Ministries for free childbirth classes and doula support. When we first came to SonRays’ Faith Home, I thought to myself, “This is God’s place.” I felt special – so warm and welcome – and especially loved. Through the classes, I learned a lot about breathing during labor and delivery and about taking care of my child after the birth. Every time I think about my labor and delivery I feel so blessed to think about how we have a God we can depend on who stays beside us always.
I was very scared in the beginning of my labor. Because I’m a nurse, I already knew what to expect from watching and helping other woman in labor, but now that it was my turn to labor, my mind went completely blank. But thankfully my husband reminded me we could call Alice and Cheri at SonRays! We called them and their voices sounded like angels! We prayed, and it immediately calmed me. I was able to rest again knowing God was watching over me and my baby. And when I felt the pain from the contractions again, I followed along to worship music and relaxed my muscles and sang along. For me, the music felt like God’s voice and brought me peace through each contraction. I knew I was not having this baby alone. I had my husband, Alice, Cheri, and most importantly, God!
Every time I tell the story of my labor and delivery, I’m told how lucky I was. But I know it was because of the Lord’s love for me, not luck. We named our daughter “Christina” because she is our gift from God and she was born very close to Christmas.
You might think you don’t know God at all, but God knows you very well. And He is always wanting to be in relationship with us. He loves to reveal Himself to us in ways we could never imagine and He always shows up for us! Our family thanks SonRays for all of their help and guidance.”

“It is by God’s grace and redemption that I have been able to move humbly into freedom from my abortion. I want to thank SonRays Ministries and their Post-Abortion leader, Dotty, for their love and grace. Dotty offered her time to me weekly and it was so encouraging to be with her. Her and her team surrounded me with love and helped me through my inner healing journey. I was stuck in a broken and isolated state; unable to leave my house for fear I might be triggered or overwhelmed with emotions and shame. I had to overcome hurdles even to just drive. I was able to face all of these daily challenges because of SonRays.
I grew up as a pastor’s daughter but I wasn’t free from difficulties because of it. My decision to have an abortion at the age of 21 was a choice motivated by so much pain that I did not fully understand at the time. Years later, I found a flyer in my church bathroom for SonRays’ Post-Abortion Healing Workshop, and I spent about a year and a half picking it up and putting it back down. It pulled at my heart each time I saw it but I didn’t fully understand that I needed further healing yet. I had repented of the abortion so I had thought all the pain would have disappeared by now, but God knew I needed to face more healing at a level I could not see. I had not faced all the truth and the lies surrounding the deep pain from my abortion nor had I processed any of the other deep hurts over the course of my lifetime.
God showed me that it’s His truth that sets me free. It can be hard to face buried truths within ourselves, but it is the only way to work through deep pain. I know God will continue to walk me through other areas in my life that still need transformation. He is so very faithful to see the good work He has begun in me to completion.
For me to claim my destiny, I had to become obedient to truth. And there’s only one truth – God’s truth. It was humbling and embarrassing to uncover my mess; but how could I ever help others heal until I did my own healing? God provided just the right people at SonRays Ministries to take the healing journey with me. They met me with love, no judgement, condemnation, or religious control. They guided me through the steps to move out of guilt and shame and face the pain that was deeply suppressed within my heart.
When I shared with SonRays, I expected a different response regarding my past. They said to me: “what a beautiful testimony of a pastor’s daughter.” I was thinking it was an awful one, lol! But it made me take all of my brokenness and bring it to God and say, “Okay God, I will step into this even though I don’t understand.” And it was His grace that I know that my son, Michael Elijah, is in heaven with Jesus and we will meet face to face someday. I am a forgiven daughter of God and I have His love for me and my son in my heart. I am so thankful I took those first steps and called SonRays!”

“I had just graduated from UB and was working as a postdoctoral researcher at UB. I learned about SonRays Ministries through my friends, who highly praised the ministry for their professional prenatal guidance from God’s word. My pregnant wife contacted Alice at SonRays, and it was from there that our SonRays journey began. I’ll never forget the first impression both Alice and Cheri left on me. You could feel God through their words: “We are loving because God loved us first.” We were so encouraged by them ever time we met together – not only from their words or behaviors, but also from God through them. Before our baby’s birth, we had many childbirth classes and meetings at SonRays. They told us the benefits of having a natural childbirth and prepared us with techniques, affirmations, and scriptures to pray over ourselves and the baby. They trained us from knowing nothing, to becoming brave and strong through God. It was a miracle how fast the birth went, lasting only 4 hours before we met our child! During those four hours, God’s words truly encouraged us a lot. There was one time where we almost gave up because my wife was in too severe of pain. But we believed in God and His blessings and guidance. After we prayed, it was time to deliver the baby. My wife pushed with relief and our baby arrived and the pain was over. God always knows what we face and He prepared us to bear it! I feel so blessed to have met Alice, Cheri, and the rest of the SonRays team. God is truly amazing. Our baby is the most precious gift that God has given us. We get to witness the greatness of God with every little change our baby makes each day. The most important lesson we learned is that our child will grow up well under the guidance of God.”

“I was introduced to SonRays Ministries when I visited my mother in-law, Jane, who was living at the Faith Home. She passed away last April. At her funeral, the pastor spoke about Jane being born-again through the workings of the people at SonRays. He also spoke about how he let God into his heart many years ago and it changed his life. He no longer worries about things that he can’t control because he knows God has plans for everyone and everything that happens. This made a lot of sense to me, and that day I let God into my heart. I was reborn into the love of God through Jesus. I thought this was good timing on my part but later came to realize, it was the Lord’s doing!

“Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.”

Last March, my 97 year old mother was in a physical rehab that was truly awful. Alice and Cheri came to the rehab to interview my mother and I wanted nothing more for my mom to live at the Faith Home. My mother-in-law and mother had been good friends for years, and Jane was still alive at the time. Mom was accepted and moved in at the beginning of April. Through SonRays staff, volunteers, and their Bible studies, she became born-again! We pray to the Lord at night that her physical pain be taken away, and guess what? She now just needs Tylenol instead of narcotics! Through SonRays Ministries, my eyes were open to the Word of God and Jesus. I began to live in the light of our Lord instead of the darkness in our world.

1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from Him(Jesus) and declare to You: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.

“There are scriptures that are helpful to me. One scripture is Psalm 27:13-14; “I remain confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
SonRays has been a huge blessing in my life. It was very difficult to move to New York and not have any real support system, outside of my mother. I was searching for a place where I could meet with other moms and make connections with women whose values aligned with mine and my faith. I heard about SonRays Ministries through my church and noticed they had a Single Mom’s luncheon group on Saturdays. I was interested because it was a mom’s group I have never seen before and they would meet on the weekend, which was perfect for my work schedule. When I finally made the call and spoke to Alice, I felt like a huge weight was lifted off me and I knew the Lord had led me here! Alice was so kind and reassuring and I signed up for the next luncheon. I am a pretty shy person, so when I went, I was a little nervous. But all the women were so welcoming and made me feel at ease. It has been wonderful meeting with moms who have similar stories, whom I could share my faith, without feeling like an outsider. It has also been a comfort to me knowing that I have a group of women praying for me, which has in turn encouraged me to do the same for others. The parent information has been extremely helpful, too. Learning about tips and parenting skills has given me guidance that I can use on a daily basis. Throughout this experience, I have learned to lean more on the Lord for all my needs, that prayers do get answered, and that my job as a mother is not only to teach my son about Jesus but to also show Jesus’ love, grace, and mercy through my own life and interactions with my son. I will continue to show my support for this wonderful ministry and would like to thank all the ladies that work tirelessly to make it all happen. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery,” Galatians 5:1. Knowing that I am free and waiting on the Lord has given me strength, confidence and peace that only He can provide!”

“It was not a coincidence but rather a divine appointment that we attended a special Saturday event for ladies at the Wesleyan Church of Hamburg when SonRays Ministries was sharing their faith story and ministry highlights.
During that time, we became aware that SonRays also has senior living care, but didn’t currently have space for my mother. In the ensuing months, we toured many other senior living homes, but ultimately were most excited to tour SonRays’ facility, the Faith Home, if it became available.
In December 2001, a friend had mentioned to us that there was an opening at SonRays for another resident. Within a few days, the founder and director at the time, Alice, invited us to visit. We knew the Lord was unveiling His plan. Everything that SonRays offered was exactly what my mother needed; nutritional meals, someone living on site in case of an emergency, nursing services to monitor medications, housekeeping and laundry services, beauticians, etc. – all provided in a Christian environment with a Bible study and devotional readings to top it all!
The Lord provided everything that we had been hoping for my mother’s care. Apart from meeting her physical needs, the loneliness and isolation that were so much a part of my mother’s life were replaced by the warm, loving companionship of the residents and staff of the Faith Home. We are increasingly aware of how blessed by the Lord we are!”

“I am a 34 year old Christian, wife and mother of three beautiful children. I currently enjoy a sense of peace in my life that has not always been there. 17 years ago, when I was a senior in high school, I found myself pregnant. To say I was devastated would be a huge understatement. I was frightened and had no idea what to do. I felt I couldn’t tell my parents and I knew I was in no position to have a baby. My boyfriend and I decided that our only option was for me to have an abortion. Although I thought abortion was wrong, I convinced myself that it would be over quickly, no one would find out and that I could just go on with my life as planned. This actually worked for a few years. I simply chose to “forget” about it. If I didn’t talk about it, then it was like it didn’t really happen. In the fall of 1988, I became a Christian. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I knew that He died for my sins. It was now that I had to acknowledge that my abortion was not just wrong, but that it was a sin. I asked God to forgive me of my sins, and just as He promised, He did. Unfortunately I was unwilling to accept His forgiveness. It just seemed too easy. I felt that I needed to be punished in some way. It seemed only fair. I did something terribly wrong and I should suffer some consequences for it. Little did I know that my unwillingness to accept God’s total forgiveness would affect my life for the next 14 years. My boyfriend and I never talked about the abortion or about the guilt I carried around with me. We later married and within the year I gave birth to our first child. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, there were such mixed emotions. One moment I would be overcome with joy for the baby I was carrying and the next I would be plagued with feelings of anguished and guilt over my unwanted pregnancy eleven years earlier. These mixed emotions would continue throughout my pregnancy and after I gave birth. I thought that they would pass, but they didn’t. I became depressed. I had another child 18 months later. I became more depressed and angry. It wasn’t until 2 years later, when I was pregnant with my third child, that I reached my breaking point. My marriage was under tremendous stress and I was either angry or feeling guilty all of the time. This was the first time that I was able to talk with my husband and he convinced me to attend the post-abortion workshop through SonRays Ministries. At first I was reluctant and extremely nervous. I hadn’t mentioned my abortion in nearly 16 years and now I was supposed to go and talk to strangers about it. Wouldn’t they judge me? After months of praying, I got up the nerve to call SonRays to inquire about the workshop. I spoke with Alice and immediately my fears were put to rest. She didn’t want to judge me – she wanted to help me! Before we hung up, she prayed for me and I knew I had made the right decision by calling. The workshop turned out to be a life changing experience. It was over the next 9 weeks that I would learn how to accept God’s forgiveness and move away from the bonds of guilt. I was finally able to forgive myself and no longer felt the need to be punished. Since I attended the workshop, I am happy to say I am a different person. I am a much better wife and mother. I am free to love and be loved unconditionally now that my days are not consumed by feelings of guilt and anger. I thank Jesus daily for restoring peace and joy in my life. I cannot fully express my gratitude to SonRays for helping me through such a difficult time and for showing me the healing power in God’s word!”

“On a Sunday in early 2004, I received a phone call from my ex-girlfriend. She shared that she was seven months pregnant. I didn’t know what to do or say. I had just decided to drop my major in college, having only completed one semester, I had a seasonal job, and I didn’t have a car. All that I could think was, “I’m not ready for this.”
With no hope and no resources, I ended up in despair. I had not known about SonRays Ministries or how they could have been a huge help to me during this time.
After days of trying to figure things out on my own, I knew I had to tell my mother. I explained everything to her and how I felt guilty and like I messed up everything. Then something unexpected happened. She took a deep breath, looked me in the eyes and said, “Dan, I am here for you. If you need to take the car or borrow anything else, we are going to get you through this together.” Never in my life have I seen the love and compassion of Jesus Christ so clearly displayed. Although some time later, it was discovered that the child was not biologically mine.
After that challenging season, God began to draw me back unto Himself. I figured I would try this “God thing” instead of making my own agenda. If it did not work out, I would scrap it. What did I have to lose? I came to Him weary and heavy-laden, and He gave me rest for my soul. Though it has not been easy following Christ, it has been worth it!
In the months following this chapter in my life, I was introduced to SonRays Ministries. A Bible study I had been attending at the time decided to visit their facility, the Faith Home. I learned about what SonRays has to offer young men and women who experience an unplanned pregnancy. Because this ministry offers hope and resources to those in desperate need – just like I had been – I was compelled to get involved in any way I could. So I joined the Men of the Call; an arm of SonRays that comes alongside to assist and support the ongoing operations of the ministry. It is an opportunity for men with willing hearts to contribute their gifts and talents to support the ministry’s outreach to those in need.”

I have a deep love and gratitude for the women at SonRays Ministries. If it was not for the unconditional love and compassion I received, I am not sure what my life would be. Before my time spent with the ministry, I did not believe God loved me because I had made so many poor choices. On the outside, I would smile and laugh to get through the day, but inside I was not expecting anything good to happen to me because I did not feel I deserved it. I would go through the motions and show up to church, but I was empty on the inside.

I had heard about SonRays and seen their flyers all over church many times, but I did not think anything could help me, so I did not pay much attention. Proverbs teaches that God determines our steps. No matter how far I ran, my past ultimately caught up to me, and the spiritual weight became overwhelming. I remember lying in bed, crying and begging God to please still love me, even though I did unspeakable things to myself and others. I had done many things that I was not proud of, and the shame and guilt were getting to be more than I could bear on my own. God sent me to SonRays so that I did not have to.

The ministry helped me see the negative emotions and the self-degradation was not from God. I had encountered the physical challenges from my past decisions and not punishments from God, which I had believed in for so many years. I was shown that God still loved me, and nothing I could do would change that. The lessons I have learned have helped me grow spiritually and emotionally. I had many opportunities to witness what a godly woman was in real life, and it’s because of this ministry. The women I met at SonRays have blessed me more than I can ever communicate. Because of my gratitude, I use what I learned to encourage others.

“My Bible studies at SonRays are helping me grow in my faith.”

“My life has changed a lot since starting your group. Each year we grow stronger and closer to God. Thankful for you guys for always being available to talk to me on the phone and pray with me also. Thanks for being you. Love you guys.”

“By God’ design, I was placed in my mother’s womb. By God’s plan, and through much love and prayer, my birth mother chose to place me securely in Christian adoption. This gave me a potential future with caring, Godly parents.”

“..through a series of “no one but God could have orchestrated this” events, my mother became a resident at the Faith Home for Seniors.”