Letter from Patricia Havens, Board Chair

Years ago, I was at a place in my life where I wanted to get involved with things that mattered. I began to ponder the different issues that adversely affected the world, our nation, and my community: poverty, world hunger, homelessness, wars, racial strife, natural disasters, abortion, etc. As the list grew, I became more overwhelmed. I wanted to make a difference, but was unsure how to get started. I prayed for an opportunity to use my time and talents effectively. Then, one Sunday morning, a young woman spoke to our church about a women’s shelter ministry in San Francisco called Pacific Lifeline. It had been in operation a long time, and their record of returning women to independence was excellent. Rather than just handing out food, clothing, and temporary shelter, Pacific Lifeline worked to break the cycles of poverty, violence, low education, and low self-esteem of women and their children. To my delight, this woman also announced that another branch of Pacific Lifeline was opening in my community! God had listened to my heart and shown me an opportunity to serve with others in a meaningful way. Even though my schedule was limited by a full-time job and family, I decided to give time and resources to this cause.

Now, ten years later, amazingly, I am the chair of the Pacific Lifeline board of trustees. My time is spent on various projects such as figuring out how to maintain a ministry, providing support for staff, keeping individuals involved….it never ends. Through this journey, I have been shown that I am not supposed to “fix” everything. God’s purpose and God’s timing are perfect, and we all are tools for His glory.

One of my favorite quotes is from Helen Keller: “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” While we cannot all be Helen Keller, maybe it is time for each of us to look within ourselves and discover what we can do to make a difference in the lives of people around us. Each one of us has something to give: time, talent, or treasure. What is yours?

Board of Directors roster