Powerful Testimonies:
Telling of the goodness of our God.......
Pastoral Referral
I have known Jodi Handran personally and in a ministry capacity for the past 10 years. Her heart and mission are for people to know true freedom, healing and restoration that is only found through Jesus Christ. I have also had the opportunity to work with her through Gates of Hope and the wisdom and experience that she carries is extensive. Everything that she does through this ministry is led by Holy Spirit. I honestly believe this is why Gates of Hope is so successful. I have personally witnessed people that have tried other means and methods to find freedom only to come up short until they go through her programs. Jodi is passionate and willing to do the hard work and walk people through their mess and ultimately to freedom. But she doesn’t just stop there. She equips each person with the tools to stay free. I would recommend every Pastor and Minister to partner with Gates of Hope. This world seems to grow darker and more twisted, but I believe God has sent a light that shines through this ministry and Gates of Hope is an answer to prayer. If any pastor or ministry would like to talk with me further, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Pastor Derek Talley
Engaging Heaven Church Missoula
(406)210-1742
I met JB at 65 years old. She told me of a childhood that left scars and wounds she had been struggling with her whole life. When I met her, she had become an expert at putting her pain in little rooms in her mind and “just not thinking about it.” She was full of anger, and rage. Life had become something that you endured and survived.
Her sexual abuse started at 4 years old. Her adopted grandfather was a master at getting her alone and abusing her. The sexual abuse continued until she was almost 12. Neglect and mental abuse were a constant torment she lived with from her dad. Her dad hated that she was a girl, so he would introduce her as “my son Gail”. She said that she was his favorite whipping post. She learned not to give him what he wanted- which was to bring her to tears. She learned to be tough, unaffected by any abuse. It was all about survival.
One summer when she was 9 or 10 years old, he locked her in her room for the summer. He would go on drunken binges and forget to feed her, so when he left the house, she would sneak downstairs and eat the cat food.
At 18, JB was being groomed to be a porn star. But God, in His goodness had been pursuing JB her whole life. JB met Jesus at the age of 42 and 23 years later she walked through the doors of Gates of Hope Ministries.
During our 9 weeks of FREE counseling for sexual abuse, she learned who she really was for the first time in her life. She made peace with the little girl inside of her who was still so lost and hurting. She became whole when she opened that wound to Jesus. Those “rooms” where she used to stuff all the hurt and pain? They were no longer needed!
"The Restored bible study was a powerful tool God used to put the finishing touches on my recovery and healing from sexual abuse. I have participated in several other recovery programs.
Having been sexually abused as a small child, I spent most of my life thinking I was bad and that it was all my fault. After completing Restored, I now walk free from guilt, shame, and condemnation. I know God uses all things together for good and will use my testimony to help others find freedom from the trauma of being sexually abused."
- Woman of God age 59
With immense reservations, feeling vulnerable and afraid, I committed to confidentially spend eight weeks with the most incredible 4 women who changed my life and relationship with the Lord. Through the sharing of experiences I had long buried and kept to myself, guided by Jodi and her teachings of scriptures from the Bible, I was beautifully and gently reminded that I am not alone in my pain and grief. I could feel God at work inside of me each week. I learned Jesus loves me. He truly loves all of me. And he truly loves you, too.
- Kim
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him; and He will make all your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6
"Through a series of circumstances one Sunday morning God led me to a meeting with Gates of Hope.
I was driving to church and every song on the radio was speaking to me about healing and letting go of my past. The thing is I had zero idea of how to actually do that. After being introduced to Jodi and sharing a brief account of my past she invited me to join a 9-week small group study she was starting. I was very intimidated about being a part of a small group. I didn’t want to tell my story in front of others! What would they think of me! How would I be able to face the shame, anger, and resentment I had held onto all these years?!
However, by the grace of God I did it! Looking back, that was the best decision I have made for myself in a very long time. I didn’t notice an immediate change in myself but I did the homework required each week and looked forward to our weekly sessions. The weeks flew and before I knew it the study was complete. And so was I… the shame, anger, resentment and a whole lot of other emotions and memories were exposed and reconciled. I was complete, whole, and healed.
No longer do I hold onto the abuse of my past and allow it to affect my future. I am a child of the Most High God and I am free. My past no longer has a hold on me and even though I will always have the memory of the abuse I endured it does not define me or control me.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Thank you, Gates of Hope Ministry, may God Bless you greatly as you continue to help others in need."
An encouragement for men considering meeting with Gates of Hope for healing from past sexual abuse:
"I was where you are right now, not very long ago. It was a confusing place- I didn't really feel like I had answers to the questions I was being asked. What I discovered as I continued to wrestle with discerning what was truth, what was a lie, whose fault was it, and the need to process anger and so on--is that my struggle was rooted in me having left part of myself in that place so many years ago. In childhood. Hidden and forgotten along with the things done to me. My method of coping saved me, but it required me to go back- now that I am able to find the ME that was left there. There was a cost in ways I didn't understand then- but I do now. Stay the course my brother, there is a reward of discovery that has been safeguarded until now inside of you. It may feel like you are walking through thick mud up to your waist; exhausted by the process that is before you. Step by step, each week, you will feel yourself rising out of that mud. You will feel the life you didn't know you were missing come into you. The knots will untie and your sight will be refreshed to see as you are supposed to."
- Man of God, age 57
"Highly Recommend. When I started this book, I was having depression, anxiety and felt so alone. I was the victim of multiple cases of abuse and rape situations and had carried the pain of that for decades. This world had become a dark and scary place that I woke up every day to endure. Through doing the activities and study in Restored: The Journey from Sexual Abuse to Healing in Jesus- I have found light and joy. I now have tools to help with triggers but more importantly, I have found myself in Jesus. Jodi Handran did a phenomenal job of bringing light to the truth. Helping you walk through and dissect the truth. But most importantly how to learn just how much God loves us and understanding what the Word says about how He sees those who have hurt others and how He sees those who have been hurt. Absolutely LIFE changing."
Before Restored, I was dealing with the shame, guilt, and embarrassment that came from being in a sexually abusive relationship two years prior, and I was dealing with it all by myself. Even when I didn't consciously know it, what had happened to me affected a lot of my life, and it started to affect my relationships too; especially with God. I had met Him a couple of months before I started counseling with Gates of Hope and I had put so many walls up between us. I thought He would only love me if I did everything right. It was never a thought in my mind that He would still love me if I made a mistake or if I messed up. I thought He wouldn't forgive me for what had happened to me because I couldn't forgive myself. I didn't know what unconditional love was until I started to learn about his character through Restored, I learned that what happened to me was not my fault at all, that I didn't have to carry that shame anymore. I learned that I wasn't alone. I learned that I could be angry about what had happened to me. Restored helped me find the true perspective of God's character. Daughter of God, age 18
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Though the counseling was intense and I was a little scared at first, I can honestly say that it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. My counselor helped me to realize that the sexual abuse was not my fault and that I don't have to carry it around anymore. She taught me that I can be free from the thoughts, the hurt and the pain. Healing, restoration and total transformation took place for me and I could literally feel and see myself becoming a new person. I was finally free from all the sexual abuse that had happened to me. Diane, 64 years old
My name is Brian and I am 46 years old. At the age of 4, my sexual trauma started and continued for years, but by the blood of Christ, I have been set free from past sins. The Lord has given me freedom from drugs, same-sex attraction and so many strongholds. God has allowed me to forgive all who engaged in my abuse. Through Gates of Hope I have been able to process and start the healing process and learn the steps to keep on processing throughout my new journey. Thank you Gates of Hope for being a partner in this new journey and thank you to the glorious King for putting them in my path.
Looking back at my vision board from 2024 in a new light because of Restored and the work done with my counselor, Jen. I am a wonderful child of God's who has weathered the storms of molestation, rape, abortion and narcissistic abuse at the hands of my ex-husband, a Pastor, or as I refer to him now- a false prophet.
It has been through Restored that all the healing work done for decades came to a head. Not discounting the counsel and continued healing over the years but Restored gave every element a place to exist- outside of my "give away box". (The place I put my thoughts, feelings, and emotions regarding the past- yes, even those I thought I totally released before.....)
Going through, truly allowing myself to truly feel and process anger was very difficult but deeply, deeply freeing. I even got past the "religious thoughts" that a good woman would keep quiet about this, would continue to not bother others wit her problems, should look at it and at a certain way.....I was allowed to be angry and to give that anger completely over to God.
The steps through soul tie breaking was deeply meaningful. Truly a reminder the importance of breaking away from spiritual ties that only linger to distract you and become stumbling stones in your journey. Thank you for prayerfully walking through this healing.
SL, Daughter of God Age 58
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