Mitchell County, NC
Never2Scarred Ministries recently welcomed supporters, volunteers, and community members to an uplifting afternoon focused on healing, identity, restoration, and the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
Founded by Jessica Peterson, Never2Scarred Ministries (N2S) is a residential Christian restoration and transformation program designed to disciple and empower women through an intensive 12-month journey of healing, heart restoration, and work therapy.
“We do this because two scarred hands and two scarred feet paid the price for you and me,” Peterson told attendees as she opened the gathering.
One of the afternoon’s early speakers, Janice Branch, shared a powerful illustration about carrying a small Jesus figurine in her pocket. She compared it to how many Christians keep their faith hidden rather than openly living it through their actions and daily lives.
Branch encouraged everyone present to “take Jesus out of our pockets” and allow others to see Christ reflected in the way they live.
She also led prayers for Never2Scarred Ministries and for one-year-old Amelia English, the daughter of Isaac and Kendra English. Amelia was diagnosed in November with an inoperable cancerous brain stem tumor. Despite doctors initially giving little hope for survival, Amelia continues to grow and thrive. Branch praised what the family believes is the healing power of Jesus working in her life.
The afternoon’s praise and worship was led by Wendy Ellis and the women of the N2S Hope House, creating an atmosphere of gratitude, worship, and encouragement.
Among the most moving moments of the event were the testimonies shared by two women from the Hope House. They spoke candidly about their journeys through pain, anger, betrayal, dependency, and addiction, and how they ultimately found freedom and restoration through Christ.
Both women credited Hope House as a vital part of their transformation.
“God had never given up on me, even though I had given up on myself,” one woman shared.
Following a luncheon, Tricia from 106.9 The Light FM delivered the keynote message, focusing on identity and the labels many people carry throughout their lives.
“Who are you?” she asked the audience.
She explained how people often allow others—or even themselves—to define their identity through labels such as failure, anxiety, inadequacy, past mistakes, struggles, or painful experiences.
“But if God didn’t say it, we don’t have to wear that label,” she said.
Drawing from Genesis 3:1-5, Tricia described how the enemy seeks to create confusion and doubt, offering false identities that draw people away from God’s truth.
She challenged several common lies many people believe:
- You are what you’ve done.
- You are what has been done to you.
- You are what you achieve.
- You are what other people think of you.
“These things may be part of your story,” she explained, “but they are not how God identifies you.”
Using passages including 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:4-5, Romans 8:1, and Romans 8:15-16, she reminded attendees that believers are new creations in Christ, chosen and loved by God, free from condemnation, and adopted as children of a perfect Heavenly Father whose love is not based on performance.
She encouraged attendees to identify the lies they have believed, reject those false labels, and replace them with God’s truth.
“When the enemy gets in your head,” she said, “repeat over and over, ‘That’s not what my Father says!’”
Tricia emphasized that spiritual transformation is a lifelong process of renewing the mind according to God’s Word.
In one of the afternoon’s most powerful visual moments, the women of Hope House performed a song while holding signs that displayed photographs from their past struggles with addiction on one side and declarations of truth, freedom, and identity in Christ on the other.
The event concluded with remarks and prayer from Steve Williams, pastor of Pine Branch Baptist Church and Peterson’s father, who expressed gratitude to everyone who helped make the ministry’s work possible.
Those interested in learning more about Never2Scarred Ministries or supporting its mission can visit Never2Scarred Ministries for additional information.
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Mandi Polly is a lifelong resident of Mitchell County. She is a wife, mom to two daughters and a “Grandi ” to two of the sweetest grandkids. She and her family are members of Grassy Creek Baptist Church in Spruce Pine. She loves music and being creative. You can read more by Mandi here.
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