The Heart Matters: Discovering Purpose Through Pain
In 2015, Charity Bowie seemed to have it all. A married mom to 3 children and well-educated, she had recently attained a B.S. in organizational management.
However, she was facing a dilemma. Should she cancel a critical surgery to avoid helplessness during the 2-week recovery period, or proceed, and trust God to provide a care-giver?
The truth was, Bowie did not feel
safe in her own home.
Bowie opted for surgery.
Enter a friend practicing intentional faith.
“Thankfully, my friend, Susan, provided me shelter and care without thought of payment for as long as I needed. She opened her home to me and made me feel welcome,” she said.
“That was not the first time I was in need of a place to retreat in times of crisis, but that was the last time I was put in a position that left me needing to leave my home for shelter in someone else’s” she said.
Recovered from surgery and forever changed, Bowie experienced an epiphany.
“I remember sitting on my front porch thinking that I wanted to provide a safe-haven for other women who need a place to go in times of crisis, without having to worry about the cost,” she said.
From that front-porch reverie, Heart Talk Life Coaching Services LLC and 11th House on the left, a non-profit women’s respite home, was born.
Over the next four years, Bowie divorced her husband, returned to school, pursued a Master of Arts in Human Services/Life Coaching, and developed her vision for the respite home.
“My values of freedom and peace were not being honored in my marriage. My life changed for the better when I took the necessary steps to live in alignment with my values. I am now passionate about helping other women experience that same fulfillment through Christian life coaching,” she said.
Enter Intentional Faith, the faith-based holistic ministry in Huntsville, Alabama that exists to help people discover and live out their God-given purpose.
“It was a God thing,” Bowie said.
During my college internship, I was working with someone who participated in Intentional Faith’s “Convergence” (IF’s bi-monthly praise and worship event involving people from multiple cultures and socio-economic backgrounds).”
“I asked, ‘What the heck is “Convergence?” When she explained, I said, ‘Well, I need to find out more about this Intentional Faith!”
Bowie did and it led to even bigger and better blessings.
“The Holy Spirit prompted me to contact IF, and then – they supported me and helped me launch my business. They even played a major role in my anointing service upon graduation from Regent University, providing the space and participating in the program that day. It was all a tremendous blessing for me!” she said.
Today, Bowie is thriving. She gives credit to the one who, as the psalmist said in Psalm 139:24, “searches us and knows our hearts, tests us and knows our anxious thoughts.”
“God had a hand in every bit of it.”
Intentional Faith is honored to walk alongside individuals like Charity Bowie in personal, professional or spiritual development. We empower our community through intentional relationships that seek out the heart’s true purpose in Christ.
Intentional Faith is Discovering Purpose. Walk with us.
To learn more about Bowie’s services as a Christian life coach or to sponsor 11th House facilities or programs, go to Heart Talk Life Coaching Services, LLC on Facebook.