| | | | Newsletter | September 2025 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | We are an organization of women volunteers passionate about reaching out to the broken women affected by domestic violence, sexual abuse or any other type of brokenness in need of mental and emotional healing. | | | | | | | | | |
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| | As summer fades and autumn approaches, September invites us into a season of reflection and renewal. It's a time to prioritize healing, self-care, and the strength found in community. At Mending The Scarred, we stand with women survivors of violence and trauma, offering hope, support, and a reminder that healing is a journey—one we don’t have to walk alone. Stay with us as we share stories, events, and ways to uplift one another—because healing happens together. | | |
| Carmen Alonso, Founder and Executive Director |
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Evergreens & Autumn Leaves—The Stories We Carry Autumn reminds us that renewal often begins with release. Just as trees shed their leaves to grow stronger and flowers retreat underground to bloom again, healing sometimes requires letting go—of pain, fear, or even the versions of ourselves shaped by past wounds. In some places, the seasons shift more quickly, yet never overnight. But in Central Florida, autumn arrives slowly, almost imperceptibly. Change is not a single moment—it’s a process. And healing is the same. For survivors, this season is a powerful reminder that growth isn’t always visible at first, but it’s happening beneath the surface. Yet, some trees remain evergreen, holding onto their foliage through every season. But even they are not untouched by time—winds bend their branches, storms shape their form. In the same way, silence doesn’t mean unbroken. Carrying pain alone does not make it disappear. Strength is not just enduring; it is also reaching out, speaking up, allowing others to stand beside you. |
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Your story is part of this renewal. When you share your journey, you plant seeds of hope for others still finding their way. At Mending The Scarred, we believe healing happens in community, where every voice matters. So as the seasons shift, let’s step into this time of change together—letting go, growing, and preparing for the beauty ahead. | | |
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From Scars to Strength: A Place for Healing At Mending The Scarred, our group meetings are simply a place to come as you are. We gather to listen, share, and walk alongside one another in the journey toward restoration, encouragement, and steady growth. Rooted in our mission to bring hope through the Gospel and to raise awareness about the violence and brokenness many women face, each meeting is a time to share openly, listen with compassion, and walk with one another through real-life struggles. These gatherings are not only for women who have experienced abuse themselves, but also for those walking alongside a loved one, or anyone who feels drawn to stand with us in this cause. |
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| | We begin each meeting with music—singing songs of praise and worship that encourage our hearts and lift our spirits. These moments set the tone for what follows, creating an atmosphere of openness, unity, and awareness of God’s presence. As we sing together, our hearts are prepared to receive the teaching, to listen to one another, and to be reminded that God is near and active among us. |
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| | Every gathering includes a teaching from Scripture, carefully prepared to build one another up in God’s Word. The teaching invites participation, where anyone can ask questions, add a thought, or engage with what is being presented. At different points in the meeting, we often break into smaller groups—sometimes after the main teaching, other times in the middle of the discussion as the |
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leader invites us to interact more closely. In these settings, we can go deeper into the topic, share from the heart, and encourage one another with openness and sincerity, seeing how God’s truth speaks into our everyday lives. |
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| | No two meetings are ever the same. The topic of the teaching changes, new people often join in, and the group dynamics and conversations unfold in fresh ways. Even the food and fellowship bring their own variety. While the time and place are consistent across each of our four campuses, every gathering carries its own personality, shaped by the people in the room and the work God is doing among us. |
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We always close in prayer, lifting one another’s needs with care and trust. In this way, each meeting becomes not only a place of learning but also a step forward in faith and healing. Growth doesn’t always show up right away. Often it’s in the small, quiet steps that we begin to see change. Over time, faith deepens, wounds begin to mend, and hope takes root. We walk this road together, trusting that healing is happening—even when we can’t yet see the full picture. |
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| We reach out to women who are hurting through prayer, by offering a listening ear, or by sharing a verse of Scripture that speaks to their situation. Many carry unseen pain—even within the church—and need to encounter the love of Jesus in ways that bring peace to anxious hearts, comfort in sorrow, encouragement in weakness, and strength to keep moving forward. |
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When our time of sharing and prayer comes to a close, we continue in fellowship over light refreshments—whether it’s coffee, tea, water, or a simple meal together. These moments around the table give us space to connect more personally and to care for one another in everyday ways. |
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Taking the step to meet with others can be hard, but it’s often where healing begins. Gathering with others who understand can be a quiet but powerful step forward. |
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What Makes Our Approach Distinct—and Why It Matters | | | | | | | At Mending The Scarred, our approach to healing isn’t just compassionate—it’s deeply rooted in faith and shared experience. Here's what sets us apart: 🍁 Survivors serving survivors: Many of our volunteers have walked a similar path and bring lived experience and empathy to every gathering. Their presence offers real hope—that recovery is possible, no matter how deeply someone is wounded. 🍁 Scripture-centred teachings: Each session includes carefully prepared teachings from God’s Word that aren’t just comforting—they invite active participation and hope through Jesus. 🍁 Interactive, faith-led community: From asking questions during teaching to small-group reflections and prayer, we create space where faith becomes a lived, healing experience—not just an idea. 🍁 Spiritual care alongside professional help: We believe in the value of counseling, medicine, and professional mental health care, and often encourage survivors to seek it. At the same time, research shows that tending to the spirit makes a significant difference in recovery. A comprehensive review of 76 studies found that when spiritual care is integrated into standard care, individuals experience improved psychological and social well‑being, enhanced resilience, greater peace of mind, and faster recovery compared to those receiving only conventional treatment¹. 🍁 Faith strengthens recovery: Studies show that turning to faith through gratitude, forgiveness, and deeply held beliefs helps protect survivors from the long-term weight of trauma. A 32-year review of dozens of studies found that Christian faith—rooted in trust, hope, and love—consistently fosters healing, strength, and overall well-being². 🍁 Convictions rooted in Christ bring resilience and meaning: Research consistently shows that faith-based convictions support mental well-being, increase life satisfaction, build self-worth, and foster resilience³. For us, this isn’t about religion as a label—it’s about trusting in Jesus as a real and living Savior who meets us in our brokenness and walks with us toward healing. | | | | | |
| | | Bringing It All Together Our healing model is a blend of spirituality and solidarity—faith in God that restores us, and walking together in support of one another. We gather in community, hear teachings grounded in Judeo-Christian faith, interact with one another and with God, and invite biblical truths to bring comfort, healing, and renewed purpose. With volunteers who know both suffering and redemption, Mending The Scarred is more than support—it's a place where faith meets real life to make restoration possible. “He heals the wounds of every shattered heart.” Psalm 147:3 | | |
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Healing Together: Finding Strength in Community | At Mending The Scarred, we create spaces where hearts connect, stories are shared, and healing begins. |
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We’d love for you to join our in-person gatherings, where we share encouraging conversations, good food, and time together in fellowship. | | |
| If you can’t be with us in person, our online prayer group is a welcoming place to share, pray, and stay connected—wherever life finds you. | | |
| Visit our website to explore our gatherings and upcoming events. | | |
| We’d love to walk this journey with you! | | |
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Exciting Ways to Make a Difference Be the Change: Join Our Mission to Empower Women Mending the Scarred thrives because of dedicated volunteers like you—individuals with a passion for transforming the lives of women impacted by domestic violence, sexual abuse, and emotional trauma. Together, we can create a brighter future. |
| Here’s how you can make a difference: 🍁 Community Outreach: Share hope by helping us connect with local schools, churches, and community events, introducing women to the life-changing support of Mending The Scarred. 🍁 Prayer & Intercession Team: Lend your heart and faith by praying for the women we serve and supporting our leadership team through intercession and special events. |
| Your time, energy, and compassion can change lives. Take the first step today! Click the link below to explore volunteer opportunities and email us at info@mendingthescarred.org to get started. Let’s make an impact together! | | |
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Sponsor a Survivor Imagine the profound impact you can have on a woman who has endured the unthinkable—abuse, trauma, and heartache. Your sponsorship isn't just a donation—it's an investment in the restoration of a life. It’s a chance to show a woman who has suffered that she is seen, valued, and worthy of the care and healing she so desperately needs. Every session provides a safe space for her to process her pain, rebuild her self-worth, and reclaim the strength that trauma tried to take from her. | | |
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Spread the Healing: Invite Others to Join Our Journey Every journey toward healing becomes more powerful when shared. If our newsletter has inspired, uplifted, or encouraged you, we invite you to share it with others who might benefit as well! Encourage your friends, family, or colleagues to subscribe. Together, we can extend the reach of hope, understanding, and connection to even more hearts. Let’s grow this community of healing—one invitation at a time. | | |
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Got Questions? See our most popular FAQs! | | |
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