Tonier Cain

The women's division of Cleveland County Rescue Mission, Heart2Heart Place will host nationally recognized motivational speaker, former team leader of the National Center for Trauma-Informed Care, and author of "Healing Neen" (also in film form): Tonier Cain-Muldrow on November 1st at Bethel Baptist Church in Shelby (606 S. Dekalb St.) from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The evening will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with the opening of a silent auction as well as light refreshments. The worship portion of the program will be provided by a collaboration between the ladies of Heart2Heart Place and the Flint Hill Baptist Creative Arts Team! The evening will wrap up with Mrs. Cain-Muldrow's powerful testimony.
For nearly 20 years, Tonier Cain was homeless on the streets of Annapolis, Maryland, where she spent her days and nights prostituting and desperately feeding a crack and alcohol addiction. She endured rapes and beatings regularly, and had four children taken away by Social Services.
In 2004, with 83 arrests and 66 convictions to her name, Cain found herself back in prison and pregnant, yet again. This time was different though. This time her life changed in a way she never imagined possible.
"I had been to so many treatment programs that I lost count. Nothing seemed to help, so here I am pregnant again in prison again and terrified about how I'm going live through having another baby snatched from me. The thought of it made me suicidal," says Tonier.
When on the streets, drugs and alcohol were Cain's way of coping, but in prison, she had nothing to numb out the pain until she was given the opportunity to enroll in a community program to recognize and heal trauma victims. During the program, Cain received mental health, substance abuse, and trauma treatment.
"We are so excited to offer our community an insider's look into how trauma plays a role in the lives of all of the people we serve at Heart2Heart Place and CCRM. Our prayer is that Tonier's testimony touches hearts to act out of love in support of the services we provide to those facing homelessness, daily" adds Latarsha Gullatte, Director of Heart2Heart Place.
This past March, Tonier took to social media to share her celebration of 14 years free from prostitution, drug addiction, alcoholism, and the street life. This is what she had to say:
"Fourteen years ago [March, 2018], I laid on my prison cell floor pregnant with my daughter, and I cried out to God. My prayer was sincere and desperate. I cried out "God, I don't know if you listen to people like me but if you do, please help me!" After 83 arrests, 66 convictions, 19 years of drug addiction, prostitution, homelessness, diagnosed mentally ill; I felt hopeless, helpless, and dead inside. I tried everything else but God, so here I was trying God, sincerely seeking Him. He heard my cries. Since that desperate cry, I have not desired or used drugs, or even smoked a cigarette. What He has done for me and through me show the true healing, delivering power of our true, living God. Our Savior! Our Redeemer! Our Healer! Our Deliverer! Today [March 18, 2018] marks my 14th year of freedom. Who the Son sets free is free indeed! Father God, I celebrate You! I thank You! I honor and worship You for being the Creator! The First and Last; the Alpha and Omega! The "I AM!" Glory to You alone. Thank You for the blood of our Savior Jesus who as set me free!"
Mrs. Cain-Muldrow's testimony will send your heart jumping for joy and her personality will put a huge smile on your face. So, join Heart2Heart and hear how you, your family, or your church can be someone's connection to God who is dealing with trauma, substance abuse, homelessness, physical/sexual abuse, or mental illness.
For more information about the event, please call (704) 751-1255 or visit myccrm.org. Tickets are available for a $20 donation ($18 for groups of 10 or more) to Heart2Heart and are available at the Mission (301 N. Washington St.), CCRM (1100 Buffalo St.), Boiling Springs Florist (207 S. Main St.), or online at Eventbrite.com.
About CCRM
Cleveland County Rescue Mission is a non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to providing 24/7 food, shelter, and supportive services to men, women, and children who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. For additional information about the services provided at CCRM, donations needs, or volunteer opportunities, contact Jocelyn Christenbury at 704-751-1255 or jocelyn@myccrm.org. Tax deductible donations to the Cleveland County Rescue Mission can be made online at www.myccrm.org/donate or by texting "HopeCCRM" to 95577.
Submitted by Jocelyn Christenbury