About City of Refuge

God’s Word – The Bible

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” – Psalm 119:105
“Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope”. – Psalm 119:49-64
“Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.” – Psalms 119:66

Jesus Christ and His commands revealed to us in the Word of God are the foundation of everything that we do at City of Refuge. ‘The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching and teaching of His word, an effectual means of enlightening, convincing, and humbling us as sinners; of removing sin out of ourselves, and drawing us to Christ; of conforming us to His image, and subduing us to His will; of strengthening us against temptations and corruptions; of building us up in grace, and establishing our hearts in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation’*. Our desire is that all come to faith in Christ but is not a requirement to be a part of our program or to receive services. As He reveals to you by His word who He is and His loving kindness towards us, you will better understand who He has created you to be!
*Westminster Larger Catechism Question 155

Community

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up …” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

At City of Refuge we live as a family. We spend time together and we share life together. We eat dinner together and we enjoy group activities such as crafts, cooking, games and outings. We work hard to maintain an atmosphere of joy and comradery and to grow healthy relationships within our home. This helps us to remember that we are not alone and within our home there is a culture of friendship, peace, love, and hope. We share our troubles, and we ‘encourage one another’ when we feel able to do so. We are called to “love our neighbors as ourselves and to honor one another above ourselves”. This is not always easy but worth the effort. This is a learning process and as we learn about Christ, we learn to honor and respect others.

Respect

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” – Matthew 7:12

As God has made man in His image, so we must respect and treat one another as ones whom God has created and to have an intrinsic value to Him. Understanding this will allow us to work out our relationship with God and others.

Safety

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8

Safety is a high priority for participants in our program. Many women and girls come to our home looking for peace, refuge and escape from difficult situations. While relying upon God’s wisdom, grace and protection we endeavor to create a safe and healthy environment for all peoples living here.

Responsibility

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” – Colossians 3:23

As responsible adults, it is our duty to look after our own well-being and that of our children to the best of our abilities. We work to make healthy habits. We show responsibility through dependability, honesty, fairness, respect for others, punctuality, and keeping promises. Achieving our goals and dreams during our time at City of Refuge and beyond requires developing a strong character.

Accountability

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Ephesians 5:20,21

“Follow your leaders and defer to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” – Hebrews 13:17

Being accountable means taking responsibility for our actions and not making excuses. It means admitting mistakes, asking for forgiveness, making changes and allowing God and others to help us. We need to actively pursue our goals through Christ in order to become the mature, caring and responsible mothers that our children need.