A Witness To The Work of God Through Benevolence
The Benevolence Ministry is an expression of our church’s commitment to love our neighbors in tangible, compassionate ways. As a ministry of the Mission Board, Benevolence exists to help meet the real and often urgent needs of people in our wider community. Individuals may apply for assistance, and a dedicated committee of the Mission Board—led by John Stevenson—prayerfully discerns how best to respond, offering support grounded in care, dignity, and faith. What follows is a testimony from one of our Benevolence recipients, shared with our congregation on December 21, 2025, bearing witness to the quiet but powerful ways this ministry becomes a channel of grace.
My name is Altynay, and I want to share something from my heart.
This year has been the hardest season of my life. While pregnant, I left an abusive marriage. My husband is a U.S. citizen, our pregnancy was planned, but he has been struggling with serious mental health issues. During my pregnancy, he asked for a divorce, kicked me out of our home, changed the locks, and packed my belongings. I experienced physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and almost overnight I lost my home, my stability, and even my immigration status when he withdrew my green card petition.
I moved into a maternity shelter called The Lamb of God and began rebuilding my life—step by step—attending family court hearings, filing a VAWA immigration case, and preparing for the arrival of my baby. On December 19, 2025, I went through my restraining order hearing.
The legal process has been emotionally and financially exhausting. At the same time, my immigration case is still ongoing, and the attorney fees were far beyond what I could afford on my income as a nanny. I truly did not know how I would continue. And then the Mission Board of First Congregational Church of Ramona stepped in.
The benevolence support I received—$500—did not cover all of my legal fees, but it made it possible for me to keep going. That help went directly toward my immigration attorney costs and, more than anything, it gave me hope. It reminded me that I was not alone. It wasn’t just money. It was God saying, “You are not alone.”
Today, I am still rebuilding my life. I am continuing my immigration journey and actively seeking transitional housing. I am deeply grateful to be staying at The Lamb of God,' which has been a place of safety during my pregnancy. As I prepare to welcome my daughter, I am working toward a stable home so I can raise her myself with love and security.
I want to thank John Stevenson and everyone here who gives, prays, and cares. Your generosity truly changes lives. Thank you for being God’s hands in my life. Thank you for lifting me up when I could not stand on my own. I will never forget the love I found in this church.
-Altynay Askar
This is just one story of the impact that our benevolence ministry has on the lives of people in our community. We celebrate God’s work in and through this church and we are honored to ba a part of the reconciling ministry of God through the Spirit of Christ. If you would like to donate to our Benevolence fund, you may send a check to the church office with “benevolence” in the memo. Or you can donate online, putting “Benevolence” in the notes.
