Inspire, Summer 2010

Dr. Joy Fagan opened the Safe Harbor House to provide intentional change and meaningful living for marginalized women in Springfield, Ohio. facul ty voi ce When I look back at my college years, I wonder if my view of being in the “Cedarville bubble” was based on a critical misperception. Perhaps my sheltered experience was an individual choice. Cedarville provided many opportunities to reach out beyond my comfort zone, and sometimes I made that effort. However, a few weeks on an overseas mission trip didn’t exactly burst the bubble. Five years after graduation, when I returned as a full-time faculty member in the Bible department, I still hadn’t learned my lesson. Stepping Outside the Bubble I am an equipper, to the core. I love to see people succeed, and the opportunity to facilitate or encourage that process is what gets me out of bed every morning. Over time, I developed a growing unrest with preparing my students to engage at the front lines of Kingdom work, while seldom doing so myself. I made some futile attempts to rationalize my lack of engagement, but fortunately it was a losing battle. Through a variety of experiences, ministries, and friendships, God’s patient and faithful prodding came to a climax. As I worked with Women at Risk International — an organization that rescues and empowers wounded women around the world — I realized I had failed to see the women at risk in a city just 10 miles from the university where I teach courses on women’s ministry. The irony was a wake-up call. And yet, God knew I needed even more motivation before I would jump into a major ministry endeavor. He led me to become a volunteer chaplain at the Clark County Jail, where I enjoyed connecting students with women interested in their friendship. These women told us stories of challenges they faced inside and outside the walls of the jail. As I soaked up life outside the bubble, I realized I had come to the place where I could no longer sit on the sideline. Creating a Safe Harbor It was time to step outside my comfort zone to allow the Holy Spirit, through me, to be a sanctifying influence in a local neighborhood. And so was birthed SiFi Ministry of Springfield, Ohio — Sanctifying Influence and Future Investment. By September 2009, our ministry board was in place. We stepped out in faith to invest in women in our community by purchasing Safe Harbor House. Upon final zoning approval, the 5,000 square-foot house will become home to 10 women, three of whom are live-in mentors. Throughout the renovation, volunteers donated furniture and materials as well as hundreds of hours of labor. Last fall, we placed a “women at the well” fountain in the hallway outside the chapel and invited students to donate their “intentional change for intentional change.” In about three days, the coin drive raised enough money to install an alarm system and pay for the first month of service. There are so many more stories like this that demonstrate God’s hand in this endeavor. Safe Harbor House is the first in a three-step process to help women coming out of the Clark County Jail or off the streets. The goal is to equip them to flourish as we live life together under the same roof. We will help them receive job training, pursue educational opportunities, and learn everyday life skills. We will also partner Living on the Front Lines by Dr. Joy Fagan ’89 n both the classroom and on Center Street , this professor is ... 42 SUMMER 2010