By: Amanda Douglas

According to James, faith without works is dead.

In James 2:18 it says, “Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” We are not saved by good works, nor are we doing good works as a sign that we are great in the eyes of God. No, good works naturally flow from the gratitude in one’s heart toward God and the work of Jesus Christ on the cross for us.

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

This is not a manipulative statement like that of a child, “If you love me, you will do what I want.” It is a statement of fact. When you truly love someone, you can’t help but want to please them. (Yes, we are sinners, and it may not be the case all the time), but if we say we love someone and they ask us to do a task, we usually do it. So when Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commands,” he is saying it will flow from us naturally. We rejoice in his law, as the psalmist says.

Our faith in action flows from our faith perfected in Christ through his perfect life, death, and resurrection.

Our thankfulness draws us to good works.

I have been asked, “Why did you want to start Eve’s Restoration Ministries?”

Have I had my children in foster care? NO. Did I grow up in foster care? NO. Am I a recovering addict? NO. Then why put so much time and effort into something that has not touched me on a major personal level?

In a way, I do not know the answer to that question. I have no “reason” to pursue this journey, but I am.

I could say that my genuine love for people, that can only come from God, is my reason.

When I see or hear a story of someone struggling, I feel it on a deep level. The depravity of sin is very real to me. Anyone can be one perfect temptation away from going down a multitude of sinful roads. When confronted with the fact that sin is so deeply rooted in us as human beings, it makes it all too clear that any one of us can fall into the pit. The human condition is not all that different for me as it is for an addict, neglectful parent, thief, or compulsive liar. Their life circumstances are just different from mine.

When faced with sin, God’s grace is all the more prominent.

Sometimes I do ask myself, “Why am I even doing this?” In those moments, I come to realize it is not me, but Christ’s love in me that keeps me going.

Although I do not have any “hands-on experience” that motivated me to start Eve’s Restoration, I know the importance of having my heart open to those who have walked that life. I can’t open a home for mothers seeking to reunify with their children in foster care if I do not surround myself with a team that has seats open for those who have. It takes a whole lot more than one person to take on a task this size. A passionate team with expertise and lived experience in all areas will help make “Eve’s Restoration Home” the best it can be.

If you would like to put your “faith in action” in 2026, do not hesitate to reach out. There are many ways to serve, and the more, the merrier. You can start by filling out this form.

Hearts for Restoration

The heart of this restoration process is our love for Christ and acts of service to these mothers and children impacted by foster care. Although we are not set to open our doors until mid-2027, we are launching a “Hearts for Restoration” initiative. Do you have a talent for crocheting? Painting? Sewing? “Hearts for Restoration” offers handcrafted items for purchase, giving buyers the option to keep them or donate them to children impacted by foster care. Through this initiative, we can raise much-needed funds to open our doors, while also having the opportunity to give children in care a handcrafted gift, made with love.

If you are interested in donating some handcrafted items to our Hearts for Restoration program, contact us here.