JACKSONVILLE — Joy still remembers the message Terri Allen sent her a few weeks ago about the Beauty Revealed Fashion Show.
Joy’s church, Jacksonville’s McArthur Church, was holding its annual fashion show, and members wanted to do something a little different. Four women from the church who had overcome a difficult time would get a makeover and a gift, while sharing their personal story of survival.
“‘We want to show that beauty comes from ashes,’ is I believe how she put it,” Joy said. “I was very nervous, and honored at the same time.”
Since November, Joy’s family’s life has been turned upside down following the revelation that her then husband had been abusing his stepchild, Joy’s child. He is currently incarcerated in a county jail.
“Our world was completely upside down,” Joy said. “My church opened their arms, and thousands of hands came out to me, giving us food and toiletries and things to fill our new home with.”
As Joy has adjusted to life as a single mother and her child has begun counseling, Joy has tried to share her family’s story and how the church helped them as a testimony to others who might be experiencing the same thing.
“A lot of women might hear from their child something about abuse and think, ‘Oh, that didn’t happen,’” Joy said.
Months before she learned of the abuse, she and her children began going to McArthur Church. Then Joy got a new job that allowed her to be home with the kids before and after school and on weekends.
“Everything that led to me finding out [about the abuse] was God helping us,” Joy said. “The grace of God is amazing. He has given me so much peace.”
Joy said she feels especially honored to be part of Beauty Revealed because the show is a fundraiser for A Woman’s Place Crisis Pregnancy Center in Cabot.
“I hope that people who hear my story that day know that even when everything seems hopeless, you just trust in God and give it to him and that he’ll see you through it,” Joy said. “You can come back through all this.”
McArthur’s women’s director, Terri Allen, said the event is open to all ages in the community and hopes that families, from kids to grandmothers, will attend.
“Our church this year is really focusing on our community and giving back,” Allen said. “I’m hoping that this brings hope and encourages women that are still on their journey to healing.”
The show will run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at McArthur Church in Jacksonville. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance by calling the church office at (501) 982-1136 or by emailing terri@mcarthurchurch.com. Tickets will be $15 at the door.
Speakers for the event include local authors Shea Wood and Susan Milligan. The duo’s book Moving Him In focuses on the healing they have found through God’s love. A silent auction will also be held.
The fashion show is set to include 50 models showing spring outfits.
Staff writer Emily Van Zandt can be reached at (501) 399-3688 or evanzandt@arkansasonline.com.