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| Sharron Wilbanks (front) Sharon White Guthrie (back) |
I recently told my husband Adam that Sharon and
Sharron are two of the most courageous ladies that I have ever encountered.
Whenever I think about their ministry, my spirit leaps with excitement and then
salutes with honor as I behold Christ in their yielded vessels. They are
heroines of the Christian faith and I wanted to share their story. When I read
Hebrews 11, I picture their smiling faces framed in gold throughout eternity,
with Abraham on their right and Rahab on their left.
I don’t believe it is a
coincidence that they are both named “Sharon.” I have always enjoyed
researching the meanings of names. Their names and testimonies are spelled
slightly different—“Sharon White Guthrie” and “Sharron Wilbanks,” but the fragrance
of glory that lingers is undeniably the same.
It is notable that the Rose of Sharon grows and
thrives in dry, harsh, and unfavorable conditions. The flower is showcased in
Song of Solomon 2:1-2, “I am a rose of
Sharon, a lily of the valleys. As a lily among brambles, so is my love among
the young women.” As you read their testimonies, you will be amazed how the
crushed petals of their broken lives blossomed into a garden more fruitful and
beautiful than they could have imagined. Only through Jesus.
They have two ministries that they oversee…Fruits of
the Spirit Ministry and Fruits Safe Haven. Yes…Fruits…not Fruit…I
believe the “s” is placed there to represent “Sharon” and “Sharron.”
How it all starts with one life…then two…then multiplied fruit.
Genesis 50:20, “As
for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it
about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
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| Sharon White Guthrie |
Jesus delivered you both from very painful situations... Can you share some
details about your testimony?
~Sharon White Guthrie’s Story~
“Well?
Where do I begin…somewhere at the beginning…I remember painting my nails, I
remember police at the door…I remember an ambulance siren and thinking ‘Why has
it been on so long?’…I remember being stirred back to life vaguely as I was
pushed down the hall on a gurney at UAB hospital in Birmingham, Alabama…I
remember hearing someone say, “You have bleeding on the brain…
I woke up
sometime later…about 12 hours later...before I realized what was really happening
or at least trying to piece together what was really happening…the nurse
informed me I was in the trauma unit…as I looked at my body hooked with cords
to a machine, I figured I must have been hurt pretty badly. I had the worst
headache imaginable…I have had migraines, but this was worse than any migraine
I have ever experienced.
Why was I hurting everywhere? She told me I had
bleeding on the brain, a broken nose, a broken eye socket, a broken shoulder,
two very black eyes. She told me not to worry about the red blood in my eyes
because it would get better. They had my bed elevated into a partial upright
position because they didn’t want me lying flat. My body kept sliding down the
bed, when I tried to pull myself up, I discovered my entire right side of my
body was throbbing with pain.
I glanced down at my right side, and all the way
from my waist down was one continuous abrasion…my skin was raw, red, and
skinned…scratches on my legs, stomach and side…some so deep I have scars. The
nurse came in to pack a laceration under my breast…and that’s when I saw for
the first time the 2” x 6” laceration on my breast and all the scratches and
small cuts above and all over my breast.
I
was a complete mess. Depressed. Hurting. Disoriented.
The
nurse asked about my children so I could call them. I didn’t even remember what
their phone numbers were…for that matter I couldn’t even remember what city or
state either one of them lived in…the reality of what was happening flashed
through my mind and consumed me. I was scared and felt all alone. They informed
me I was brought in as a result of a domestic violence case. The nurse asked me
if I remember being in Princeton Hospital…No, I did not remember that at all. I found
out later, I had been to a local hospital of where I lived, transferred to
Princeton, transferred to UAB trauma unit. Really?!? Three different ambulance
rides…three different hospitals…a multitude of xrays, cat scans, tests, and I
didn't even remember...
I
looked over to the side of my bed and noticed my personal items…the nurse told
me they had to cut my clothes and that is all I had with me…in addition to my
cut-up clothes, there was the cell phone that belonged to my boyfriend…my
abuser. How and why did I have HIS cell phone? I couldn’t remember anything at
all…WHAT happened and WHY? I was searching for answers but I was in too much
pain to try to figure it out.
I
had about ten neurosurgeons that came in every day along with orthopedic surgeons,
plastic surgeons, and even a neuropsychiatrist. As I started healing, the
question I had about the cell phone was answered.
God
saved my life that night from certain death.
You
have to understand this to see the details of the miracle that occurred that
providential night. We (meaning my abuser and I) were in his FEMA unit, an
approximate 8’x35’ mobile home…emergency quarters…the door was locked. I never
could get the door unlocked to get out before he could get to me, when he
flipped his lid. I was told that two calls were made to the Police Department
that night…one they believed was from me and one from the neighbor. I have no
memory of the call, but knowing how I never had room to get away from my
abuser, couldn't unlock the door and get out before he grabbed me.
How did I
possibly make a phone call without him getting to me in that small of a place? I
know God protected me with His angels to enable me make that phone call. This
was a MIRACLE. Praise the LORD!
I
spent that entire week just talking to God. I told God the decisions I had made
in my life up to this point were not very good…they landed me in a hospital in
the trauma unit. My family didn't have a clue where I was and I didn't know how
to get in touch with them. I should have been scared, lonely, and terrified, I should
have been worried about where I would live, instead I had the most peaceful
feeling, free of any worrying…thank you GOD for being with me.
We talked all
week and I STILL don't make any of my decisions…I pray and God shows me the
way. My sweet caring doctors dismissed me from the hospital to a safe place
that has helped me to re-start my life, accomplish goals, get all the documents
such as IDs etc... to begin again. I found out after I had lived there a while,
that I was outside of their service area…how I was admitted there remains a
mystery (I know how…THANK YOU LORD).
The
recovery I experienced is nothing short miraculous…a testimony of God’s healing
power. If you research traumatic brain injuries, you will find that the longer
a brain trauma patient is unconscious, the lower the probability is of living
and those that do live typically experience severe brain damage and severe
disability. I had three life-threatening injuries and was unconscious for
approximately four days…it is amazing that I comprehend as well as I do. The only
residual problems I experience include seizures, extremity tremors in my hands,
short-term memory loss, loss of balance, and headaches. It is truly a miracle
that I am alive and not in a vegetative state. I can walk, talk, comprehend…GLORY
TO GOD!
Ladies,
Gentlemen, ANYBODY in a situation like this, I'm here if you need to talk, I've
been there and bought the t-shirt, maybe...just maybe…with God’s help, we can
help you.
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| Sharon Wilbanks |
~Sharon Wilbanks’ Story~
I
was in a marriage relationship for 28 years…he never hit me, but was mentally abusive.
I always wanted to stay married and never thought about leaving.
One Sunday
right after church, I was shocked when he announced that our marriage was over.
He moved out of the bedroom and slept in another room for two months. During
that time, I begged him to talk to me and tell me what was going on. I wanted
to fix our marriage, but he refused to talk to me.
One morning, I woke up to
find out he was gone with a couple of our neighbors. He returned a couple of
hours later and announced he was getting ready to go hunting behind our house
with the neighbor.
Again, I pleaded with him to talk, but he said he had more
important things to do. I asked him what was more important than our marriage?
He would not answer me.
Finally,
around 10pm he returned from hunting. I found some papers out of the desk in
the office and was looking over them. When he saw me reading the papers, he
went into a rage and tore up the yard with his truck. He mowed over our plants,
and then aimed his truck at the front door. I thought he was going to hit me
because I was standing by the front door watching him. That is when I called
911.
He got out of the truck and pointed a gun at my face and said he was going
to blow my head off. He handled his guns & knives well…he collected them
and was a skilled hunter and fisherman...I just knew my life was over that
night…I was sobbing and asked him to please put the gun down. I still had 911
on the phone as I was slowly backing up…I could not say anything because I did
not know what his next move would be, but they could hear everything he was
saying to me.
I somehow managed to run into the bedroom but I had my nightgown
on. I hid in the closet…I was standing behind
the closet door, and tried to put on clothes (I did not want to leave in my
night gown!)...911 kept telling me to get out of the house....at this point I was
trapped and could not get away. When he finally walked out of the room, I grabbed whatever I
could reach in the closet, changed clothes very quickly and darted out of the house to head to the police
department. As I pulled out of the driveway, there were several police cars
surrounding our house. One of the police officers followed me to a motel to
make sure I was okay.
I stayed in a motel for about a month until I could
obtain a restraining order against him and relocate back into my home. I was so
scared for a very long time…I did not feel safe…I installed a security camera in
the house. My case was held up in the court process for five long years but we
are finally divorced. It was not easy…I even had a nervous breakdown from all
the stress, but the Lord picked me back up and now I walk in the power of His strength.
I
thank God for saving me that night…that’s when it all started. My goal is to
help others going through abuse…ladies, men, and children who are trapped in a
corner. Domestic abuse is real, folks. I want to reach as many people as I can
for the Lord through His strength.
What
is the mission of Fruits of the Spirit Ministry and Fruits Safe Haven?
Fruits
of The Spirit Ministry is a Facebook Group created to spread the Word of God as
He commissions us in Mark 16:15, "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation..."
We want to SHOUT the
Gospel from the rooftops...Fruits is an exhortation ministry…its purpose is to
uplift individuals in all sorts of situations and to get members to post and interact...to
lift the fallen and spread an encouraging word...We want to band together prayer warriors to meditate…
We pray for needs and give members an immediate
source of counseling and encouragement on a one-on-one basis through Facebook Messenger.
We host Facebook events to teach others wisdom in the Word of God...the group
belongs to God…He ordered and directed it into existence...of course, our number
one mission is to bring in the lost sheep in to come to know God...
We
thank God for Fruits of the Spirit ministry and to lift up others that are
struggling in their walk with the Lord. God uses the ministry to encourage
others and to be encouraged. We love helping others…our role is to walk with
the captives and point them to the Light at the end of the dark tunnel. We want
our testimonies to be an inspiration to others that are downtrodden or
struggling with abuse or addiction. We love to help the homeless…to provide
clothes to those that are in need or just out of jail and desire to start a new
life down the right path.
We
thank God for each and every individual that He leads us to, and want to help
others that have reached the bottom…the end of themselves…that need pulling
back up out of a pit…
The
mission of Fruits Safe Haven is to provide a safe place for the abused and the
addicted...so close to my heart…I (Sharon White Guthrie) was both. We care for
the homeless and “After Jail” ministry. We provide these individuals a safe
place as we introduce them to the Lord. We establish them into
a routine suitable for a life of working...assign daily chores of cleaning...a spiritual
discipline of prioritizing God first by setting aside time for a daily devotional
and prayer. We show them how to put on the whole armor of God and pray Psalm 91
before starting each day. Safe Haven is an interim program. After Safe Haven,
we find a long-term program tailored to each one’s specific needs.
What are some of the ministry's needs and how can someone contact or donate to Fruits Safe Haven?
If you are ready to
change and don’t know how…or would like to donate, please contact "The
Sharons!"
We currently pay two sets of bills on a meager income, but God faithfully meets our needs each month. We gratefully welcome donations to help pay with the expenses. We currently use our personal funds to buy identification cards, gasoline, food, etc...If you would like to donate money or even time and labor to improve the Safe House...we need fencing, a stronger front door, a camera system, painting, paneling, and a new bathtub.
Thank you for your support and prayers!
For more details on how
to give, please email:
Sharon White Guthrie: sharongee6@gmail.com
Sharon Wilbanks: slroses58@gmail.com
