Women Connect: All In — Vanessa Brakey

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Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. >Ephesians 5:1–2 (English Standard Version)

Don't you love it when you meet someone who truly 'imitates God as a beloved child'? I have been beyond blessed to know, love and cherish many who meet that description.

Some have walked with Jesus for most of their lives. Others met and accepted Him as an adult. And some just when they were new to adulting.

Like Vanessa.

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Vanessa grew up in South Sacramento. She came from a broken home wrought with mental health issues. There was no solid teaching of God's love, although she was aware there was a God. She was a latch-key kid who learned early in life to fend for herself. Early on, she knew she needed to stay clear of people who succumbed to gangs. Two things drove Vanessa in her teen years: play sports and get good grades. And that she did!

Her mother, two siblings and Vanessa eventually moved to Elk Grove, California. She said she even felt more out of place in a mostly white community but kept her focus on playing ball and getting good grades. It paid off when she was offered a scholarship to Sonoma State.

Upon entering Sonoma she realized the residential life would tear her down with all the partying, drugs and alcohol. She called her sister, Tiffany, who had been offered a scholarship at Bethany College, a small Christian college in Scotts Valley, California. (Bethany existed for over ninety years and produced students who are still impacting the world and Kingdom today.)

Tiffany asked her coach to please go and watch her sister play a scrimmage. She even said she would give her scholarship to her sister if he liked what he saw. Coach Mooney went - was so impressed…and both sisters received scholarships and played together at Bethany.

Vanessa, while grateful to be in a smaller community, still noticed it was easy to hang out with others who drank and partied. And, she figured, they were Christians so it must be okay. Following a sophomore-year back injury, Vanessa found herself alone in her dorm room. With her books and assignments, she delved into her New Testament course. Suddenly the words jumped off the pages.

What? If this was real, she had to know more! She began a search for what it meant to be a Christian. She started picking the brains and hearts of peers she knew walked closely with Jesus. The campus pastor, Rusty StCyr, gave her permission to ask any questions regarding faith. She felt no judgment, just acceptance.

Vanessa became a Christian and an 'imitator of God'. She was - and is - a shining light for Jesus.

After graduating from Bethany, she knew she wanted to spend her life reaching and teaching children in the inner city. She knew firsthand what some of them were facing.

For the past eighteen years, Vanessa has invested her heart in the Tenderloin and inner city of San Francisco. While teaching at City Impact (actually while playing b-ball), she met and eventually married Sean Brakey. He serves as pastor of their home church in SF and as an elder with WE ARE CHURCH. They are blessed with a family of six kids!

With all the challenges facing the inner city, Vanessa sees HOPELESSNESS as the root of the difficult issues and PRAYER as the main solution. She believes if a child can find and accept Jesus - the source of HOPE - between ages 4 to 14, they have a 68% chance to remain in their faith.

A couple years ago she helped launch NEOS INITIATIVE ACADEMY (K through 5th grade) in San Francisco. Their mission is to see children KNOW and SHOW God's love.

Recently a six-year-old student at NEOS, Makoa, shouted out, "I just love God so much!" His mother was not a believer when she enrolled Makoa in Neos. Since then, she too has invited Jesus into her heart. Makoa personally KNOWS and SHOWS God's love.

When I recently zoomed with Vanessa, I asked her how our sweet women connect community could pray for her. She dropped this bombshell…after much prayer she and Sean plan to move to Cleveland's inner city this summer!!

After building relationships with their new community, their God-driven desire is to plant another NEOS ACADEMY…and more home churches. Look out, Cleveland…a godly family that trusts in a BIG GOD is coming your way.

And to the young "Makoas" in Cleveland…hang in there…HOPE is around the corner.

Please let's pray for Vanessa + Sean and their beautiful family!

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for Sean + Vanessa and many others like them who are imitators of God, as beloved children in our broken world.

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Maybe you know someone at work, school, your neighborhood or the marketplace who needs Jesus - or a Bible - please let us know if we can send a copy to you for them.

If you've never asked Jesus into your heart… or have walked away from His love, please continue here.

judy popineau wick