THE STORY OF SAVING GRACE (in the words of Becky Shaffer, founder)

Where did the concept for Saving Grace come from?

"I grew up in a very dysfunctional family.  My father came home only long enough get my mother pregnant again.  Mama was emotionally disturbed and was either violently abusive or in bed asleep.  I learned at a very early age that God was my daddy, and we talked daily.  At the age of 12, per a judge’s order, I was removed from the home and placed in a children’s home.  I graduated from the local Christian school, and at the end of the summer, I was expected to leave.  I went to college – mostly because I needed a place to live.  I was in survival mode, and I quickly got into a relationship.  By Christmas I found myself married and expecting my first child."

"Kent and I have been married for 22 years now, and God has blessed our marriage and our family.  We had only been married less than two years when we ended up becoming house parents at a children’s home, taking in troubled teenage girls.  Through the years, we saw the same trend with the young women we were serving; they too were not ready to face life on their own as an adult.  It was about six years ago that God began to plant the dream of [what’s now called] Saving Grace in my heart.  I began researching and as I found something I liked that would work for a transitional living program I saved it on my computer under a file I called, “Rebekah’s Hope.”

How did the concept become a reality?

"Kent and I believed that we would start and independent living program at the children’s home we were working for in Northeastern Oklahoma.  We moved from there to Northwest Arkansas in June of 2008 for a much needed break from full time ministry.  In the Fall of 2008 we began to ask our small Bible study group and our pastor to pray for direction… that we would clearly see if this is what God wanted us to do.  In January of 2009 Kent and I prayed together before heading our separate ways to work, and we asked God to send us a sign if this was really what He wanted me to do.  I went to work and was visiting with a customer, and we began talking about our similarities in working with abused and neglected children over the years.  I shared with her my dream of doing a transitional living house.  A few hours later she came back to the store in our break room and had a large sign that said “Amazing Grace”.  She shared that she felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to bring this to me… not knowing what Kent and I had prayed earlier that morning.  I took the sign to Kent, and we cried and prayed together — having no idea what God was about to do!"

"A month later I called the Center for Nonprofits (an old hospital that has been turned into offices for nonprofits in Northwest Arkansas) and asked for office space – a very small office space as we had no money, no 501(c)3 and pretty much a dream in my heart and a file on my computer!  I shared with them what we wanted to do, and they asked if I had time to come and look at the old convent space where the nuns lived.  I had to ask for directions because we’d not lived here long.  It turned out they were [located] less than 2 miles from my house!"

"Kent met me there and the building couldn’t have been more perfect for what we were doing.  The building has 14 resident rooms with sinks in each room (so each guest can have great personal living space), and it feels like a small apartment with 4 full bathrooms on the resident side.  It has a large living room, utility room, pantry and rooms for office space.  We also have a large room, which had been the [nuns’] chapel, and is now a classroom with computer labs.  AMAZING AND PERFECT!!  Handpicked by God!!!"

"Needless to say, we took the spot and moved forward from there.  The nonprofit we were to lease from forgave a large amount of our lease for the first year… We had hundreds of volunteers and volunteer hours from churches and different organizations who came daily to help get the building ready for residents.  We applied for our 501(c)3 and received it “approved” in only 6 weeks!  God brought together people to be on our founding board and began to bless Saving Grace in miraculous ways!"

A TIMELINE OF DEVELOPMENT