For many years, author and pastoral counsellor, Shelley Crozier, worked in Ohio, Midwestern United States, to build a community providing a voice for the marginalized and disenfranched. She was the youngest serving Executive Director of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, the nation’s oldest historically black political organization, working alongside legislators to formulate public policy promoting equality for all. Over two decades ago, she had a radical spiritual encounter which set her on a new course spearheading community outreaches to tackle human-trafficking, poverty, and sanctity of human life issues. Out of this came The Well Encounter, an initiative to reach hurting and broken people, particularly victims of sexual exploitation and GBV. The ministry operates in 16 countries including South Africa and that is how Shelley found herself living at Othandweni (Place of Love), The Domino Foundation’s safe house in Durban.
When she first arrived in Durban, Shelley was staying in the Windemere area and encountered ladies on the street and heard about the work Domino’s Red Light programme, which provides holistic restoration for survivors of sexual exploitation and GBV, and training and equipping for their subsequent release.
At the end of May, Shelley bade Othandweni farewell and spoke of her time interacting with the staff and beneficiaries there: “I filled various roles at Red Light.” she explained, “I was Spiritual Coordinator and also helped the ladies recognise their creativity and turn that skillset into small businesses. In addition, I used my organizational leadership consultant skills with the team in developing their identity (both as individuals and as an organisation) and organisational structures.”
Living in a house of women coming to terms with so many variations of trauma from their past lives, Shelly found navigating the emotional turmoil of many of the residents posed her with challenges as well: “I grew as I saw them grow and break free. I really loved sharing with them God’s heart for them. Most of them have never known that and I had an affinity for restoration and people that are restoration-minded.
Natalie Ogden, Domino’ Justice Co-ordinator, commented on Shelley’s commitment to offer her wealth of experience on so many fronts to Red Light’s programme of restoration: “She not only travelled almost 14 000 kilometres to be an agent of change in the lives of vulnerable people. She also chose to identify with them and live with the ladies in our safe house to serve in humble roles as well as in other which have shifted the spiritual dynamics of the house. She was an answer to prayer!”
The consensus of the safe house beneficiaries is that Shelley is an incredible woman who taught them how to pray and to forgive. If they were asked if they would like to have her back again, their answer would be a resounding ‘Yes!’. One of Othandweni’s house mothers commented that Shelley taught the Red Light team the importance of justice and impartiality.
Natalie said that Red Light calls on the skills and experience of professionals and non-professionals in many disciplines to bring healing to the lives of people with broken pasts. She encouraged people with specialised skills to contact the Domino offices on 031 110 7030 or at hello @ domino.org.za to discuss how they might become part of the freedom narratives leading to survivors’ restoration.
