Rhonda Smith sits in the office at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church,

leaning her head on her hand with her elbow on the desk.

The computer screen casts a soft blue light in the quiet room,

shining in her eyes as she scrolls through yet another dating profile.

She exhales a little louder than she means to.

She thinks about her last relationship.

He lived about an hour away.

At first, the drive didn't seem too bad, but over time it felt longer.

Their conversations faded.

In the end, they both agreed the distance wouldn't work.

The breakup was mutual and clean, but still disappointing.

She clicks to the next profile.

There was a time when rejection like that would have overwhelmed her.

Even small setbacks felt like proof that something was wrong with her. Those were the years when depression

crept in and stayed too long. Hospitals felt more familiar than home. She didn't trust herself

to be alone with her thoughts. But that was before she found the church. Rhonda leans back and

lets herself smile. She joined the church

a couple of years ago, not to find faith, but because she needed structure. She needed a place

to go, something steady. Over time, the congregation got to know her and accepted her. With

Pastor Shreve's support, she started to rebuild her life slowly and carefully.

Now she has a routine.

She has friends, people who count on her, and who let her count on them.

...