“When God brings you from the dark, you bring others to the light. My ex-husband was abusive and beat my head and body with a hammer. I left him, and God healed me and repaired my body. I had a vision of helping women and started Women with Clear Vision in Pensacola to provide emergency and short-term housing for homeless or at-risk women in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and the panhandle area. I found some homes in Pensacola to house women and children who were in situations like mine. We helped them get their GED and provided financial literacy classes so they could become self-sufficient. We taught women that you don’t have to be out in the street trying to sell drugs or your body.

I had a store in Lillian called Cheap Tools and Freight that helped support our ministry and employed the women in our program. We purchased truckloads of unsold goods from major department stores. 2020 was a tough year because COVID put everything on pause for months, then Hurricane Sally damaged the roof.

I caught COVID in August and we closed the store. I live near Fish River in Fairhope, and we started selling on Fridays and Saturdays from a shed at my house. Two months ago, God told me to get in my car and drive. I didn’t know where I was going. I delivered an order from Facebook Marketplace to a guy named Jim. The Lord told Jim someone is coming, you need to help them. That someone was me. God was rearranging the furniture again. Something was happening.

Jim had just opened his shed lot at the corner of 181 and 32 in Fairhope. He asked about my business and told me to sell there. I set up tables and brought ceiling fans, tools, and air compressors. We did so well that we became an outdoor store at this lot on the hill, and we put the women I help back to work. We have $10 fill-a-bag deals with anything from the plastic bins and pools we have scattered around. People arrive before we open, and some folks stop by to help us set up or break down. Jim noticed people asking me for prayer and we realized this outdoor store is a church without walls. He suggested that we have church service here. Our first service will be Sunday, Dec. 12 at 1:30. We will put out some chairs and serve the Lord.

A lady came here to shop with her five children. They were homeless and it hurt my heart. I tried to get her to relocate to Pensacola so we could help her. We need more shelters for women in Baldwin County so they don’t have to go to Pensacola. I own land in Foley and I want to put tiny homes there for women and children, or women of all ages.

Two months ago, I was recovering from COVID and uncertain about what would happen next. Then God opened these doors to help the people in my own community.

The word of God says that he loves us all. That means everyone—red, yellow, black, and white, all are precious in his sight. We have to live His word, not just talk it. God said the poor will always be amongst us. He said he left an order for us to take care of the widows, the orphans and the strangers. We can do something to help these women and children in our backyard.”

Pastor Ingar
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The Our Southern Souls book is now available for presale and makes a great Christmas gift. Shipping is free for presales through December 11. Order here: https://bookstore.dmclients.com/our-southern-souls/
I will be signing the book on Friday, December 10 at LODA Artwalk at the Mobile Arts Council Gallery on Joachim Street and on Saturday, December 11 at Page and Palette in Fairhope.