By Caroline Shadforth
Faith and football are two of my favorite subjects. This year my family and I noticed the amount of players praising Christ after their games seemed to explode. How inspiring, especially for our children, to hear these incredible athletes give glory to the King of Kings in their most celebrated moments!
Often though, our heroes do not have million-dollar contracts or Super Bowl rings. Many times they are seemingly ordinary people living their faith through action. Dr. Brenda Lovelady Spahn was among these people and one of my heroes.
How I First “Met” Brenda
In the summer of 2017, while visiting family in Alabama, my sister gave me a copy of “Miss Brenda’s” book, Miss Brenda and the Loveladies. Little did I know, the Loveladies would ignite a deep passion to serve God within my heart.
Like many faithful servants, Brenda had experienced the peaks and valleys of life when she realized God was calling her to something higher. What began as weekly prayer at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women (one of the most notorious prisons in America) became seven former inmates moving into her home!
Brenda and her seven “Loveladies” share their stories in this achingly, beautiful book I cherish. These women had no idea how to lead productive lives off the streets or out of prison. Meanwhile, Brenda had no idea how to relate to these women. As she wrote in the book, they were terrified of each other.
Because of her refusal to give up on these women and her courageous efforts to get them meaningful help, God enabled the initial ministry to grow into what it is today, The Lovelady Center, or TLC. In turn, the Loveladies allowed the Holy Spirit to move in their hearts and slowly they began the process of rebuilding their lives.
What started with seven women has grown into the most successful women’s transitional facility in the country, serving 450 women and children daily providing substance abuse counseling, drug rehabilitation, meals, childcare, career counseling, job training, job placement, and continued education courses.
However, this battle was and is much bigger than even those enormous issues. The women and families at TLC needed to experience THE answer to THE problem if they were to experience real, lasting changes.
I always loved Jesus for as long as I could remember, but I was navigating my own challenges that summer. As God was revealing the sanctification of these women to me through the pages of their stories, he was also refining me on my own faith journey. The day my sister gave me the book, I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. Afterwards, I told my husband, Scott, to gear up for an adventure. I had to meet this woman and see The Lovelady Center for myself.
How I Really Met Brenda
My husband knew the look in my eyes and heard the excitement in my voice. When inspiration appeared, very little could stop me. Off we drove into downtown Birmingham in hopes to experience The Lovelady Center and maybe catch a glimpse of this amazing lady.
Immediately, we were greeted with such warmth from what seemed like hundreds of women coming from all areas of the converted hospital building. Jeanne Sparks, a former Lovelady herself and now marketing director of TLC, showed us around with her beautiful smile and friendly disposition. She shared with us her personal story while pointing out all the amazing resources the center offered. It was clear Christ had changed Jeanne’s life through her time at TLC, and her passion for helping other women in similar circumstances was evident.
Later I recalled the look in some of the women’s eyes and felt almost envious. I was supposed to be the one who had it all figured out. I wondered to myself, were these women actually filled with joy? Surely not, especially after hearing how some had lost everything. Was contentment possible in unspeakable tragedy and devastating heartbreak? On further reflection, I recognized these women had totally surrendered themselves to God’s will and freedom, and had been released because of it.
Later, I watched an interview with Miss Brenda where she spoke on this beautiful mystery from God. She talked about how she was no different than you and me. She saw the same things we saw in some of the women, admitting her doubts whether or not some entering TLC could change.
One of the most important lessons Brenda taught me was to heed the words from scripture, where Jesus invites us to, “Come and see.” (John 1:39). Brenda not only gave us an invitation, she dared us on the outside to come and witness for ourselves how God works at TLC. It still blew her away!
As if meeting incredible women and children full of hope wasn’t enough, Jeanne told us that Brenda was actually at the Center that day and was able to meet us. With my book in hand, Scott and I walked into her spacious office. Miss Brenda’s presence filled the entire room. She was so kind, especially because I was too emotional to speak much. She signed my book with the message, “Stay focused on Him – Matthew 25:40”.
Brenda’s Homecoming And Legacy
A few months ago, my sister texted me the news that Miss Brenda had gone to be with Jesus. I cried on and off all day. Mingled with my anguish though I shed happy tears too, thinking of all the women who no longer suffered because of Brenda’s work.
I thought of Shay Curry’s Celebration of Life video (I watch it on repeat, Loveladies!) and how at that precise moment, Shay was with Miss Brenda and Jesus himself. If you read the book, you will fall in love with Shay too. She suffered a great deal from years of physical abuse. Eventually she became the intake coordinator at TLC because she wanted to be the first person the women encountered on arrival. She believed she could give them hope, and she delivered and then some. (Sadly, we weren’t able to meet Shay in person when we visited the Center.)
It will be 8 years this July since Scott and I set foot in The Lovelady Center. I often think of Miss Brenda and the words she wrote to us in her book. My hero was pointing to the REAL hero, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her words of wisdom have meant more to me with each passing day.
When I sit at my cozy, little table where I pray and journal almost daily, I thank God often how one woman’s faith and obedience brought the saving message of his son, Jesus Christ, to so many. Hundreds and hundreds of women and families have experienced healing and restoration because Miss Brenda was obedient to God’s call.
How Miss Brenda Touched My Life
Today I serve as the Missions Coordinator of my sweet, little church in southern Maryland. There are no bells and whistles at BridgeWay. No elaborate cafes or coffee bars align our halls. In fact, we meet in a beautiful but rented building. When you come on Sunday mornings, you will often hear children in the background instead of every word spoken from the pulpit.
You might notice some people dressed in “Sunday best” and others in “Saturday morning.” Many of these folks never would’ve been on my friendship radar any more than me on theirs. Sometimes we get frustrated when our expectations don’t seem to align with God’s plan for us individually and as a church. Other times I am moved to tears at the amount of love I have for our imperfect, little flock. I have witnessed firsthand the love of God through our members. Together we have served our community side by side. Jesus is transforming them. Jesus is transforming me.
I often get it wrong and fall short of God’s best in very painful ways. I grow discouraged at what seems like slow progression on this faith journey. However, I now follow Miss Brenda’s wise counsel. I fall on my knees, fix my eyes on Jesus, and begin again. I remember the glorious truth from Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.”
Brenda was always ready to answer a cry for help with love, truth, and tenderness just like she learned from our Lord. This is the God we serve, friends. John 1:17 says, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
His ways are higher. God bless Miss Brenda and the Loveladies for choosing to go higher in this life with Jesus so we too can experience real freedom and His saving grace. To Him be the glory forever!