“To all who mourn in Israel he will give: beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.” (TLB) – Isaiah 61:3
When I was a student, our university did the improbable: PLNU launched the first scholarship in the nation for survivors of human trafficking to achieve a bachelor’s degree.
In 2014, when the scholarship was still a seed of a dream yet to be planted, sociology professor Jamie Gates, Ph.D., coordinated a faith-based conference in Kansas City. In one of the sessions, Jessa Dillow Crisp shared her story of being trafficked and how she faced numerous barriers to rebuilding a life after exploitation. She concluded with an exhortation: “Make it possible for those of us who are survivors to get our college education.”
Driven by her call, Gates returned home to San Diego and shared her story with Kim Berry Jones (90) and Michelle Shoemaker (88). Together, with a unanimous determination to bring Jessa to PLNU, they brought the seed of a dream to President Brower and the cabinet in the form of a question: “Could we try and raise the money for one survivor of human trafficking to study at PLNU?”
“Could we try and raise the money for one survivor of human trafficking to study at PLNU?”
With belief in the vision, Dr. Brower said a bold “yes!”
With Dr. Brower’s blessing, the seed for the scholarship was firmly planted, and a small group of PLNU professors, students, staff, and alumni got to work. They hosted a spoken word event, Just Saying, to kick off a 45-day crowdfunding campaign that posed another question: “Would anyone like to invest in a scholarship for a survivor of human trafficking to study at PLNU?”
The response was overwhelming. More than 300 individuals rallied around the vision, and $65,000 was raised by December 2014. Before year’s end, the dream grew roots, and the Beauty for Ashes Scholarship Fund was born.
Jessa Dillow Crisp, the initial inspiration for the scholarship, decided not to apply, but word of the opportunity quickly spread. A handful of survivors applied to PLNU, and the first scholar arrived in August 2016. When Sophia* walked into her first class on campus, the bud of a dream finally broke through the soil. She was soon joined by Carmen* and Mariana*, and as the three became immersed in life at PLNU, the Beauty for Ashes Scholarship began to bloom and flourish. In December 2018, Carmen and Mariana celebrated their college graduation. After years of overcoming a plethora of obstacles, they proudly crossed the stage in the Greek Amphitheatre and received their diplomas.
Since that momentous day, five more Beauty for Ashes scholars have graduated from PLNU. The most recent grad, who received her bachelor’s degree in both Christian and international studies this May, shared a reflection on her college experience: “When I came to PLNU, I was filled with so much hope, expectation, and gratitude. I was so excited to get an education and help make a difference with things that I care about in the world. Within my first year, I realized that university life was a lot harder than I expected, but each challenge I encountered allowed me to grow personally and academically. I learned what it means to be resilient and overcame many obstacles during my time at PLNU. The Beauty for Ashes Scholarship gave me the opportunity for this growth to happen. Not only was I supported financially while at PLNU, I was supported emotionally and spiritually by the staff at the CJR. After graduation, I’ll be working with other women [who] are recovering from addiction and helping them grow to their best potential!”
“I learned what it means to be resilient and overcame many obstacles during my time at PLNU. The Beauty for Ashes Scholarship gave me the opportunity for this growth to happen.”
The 10-year anniversary of the Beauty for Ashes Scholarship points to how President Brower’s initial “yes” and subsequent support revealed what is possible through the power of community, the faithfulness of Jesus, and the tenacity of survivors. Throughout the whole journey, it has been survivors who have shown us that God is committed to transforming our ashes into beauty. It has been survivors who have manifested a gritty faith that His healing and restoration is meant for everyone. It has been survivors who have demonstrated that our pain can propel us into vocations that defy injustice and, with a little creativity, pave a new way toward human flourishing.
*Pseudonym for anonymity
