SAFE REFUGE FOR ABUSED GIRLS IN BETHLEHEM
FROM FEAR TO FREEDOM RESTORING HOPE
The House of the Good Shepherd in Bethlehem provides safe shelter, trauma-informed care, discipleship, education, and hope for vulnerable and abused girls across the Middle East.
Program Overview
Across the Middle East, abused girls who manage to escape are placed in Islamic shelters where they cannot open a Bible, speak the name of Jesus, or access the hope of the Gospel. When released, many are forced back into the very homes that harmed them — some even killed under the banner of “family honor.” Others are left without safety, family, or any protection. Some become so desperate they attempt suicide. Others secretly read the Bible by tearing out single pages and flushing them afterward to avoid discovery.
Their stories reveal a deep hunger for truth, healing, and hope. Arise International, in partnership with Caleb Global, is working to provide these girls with a safe and stable living environment where they can receive trauma-informed counseling, healthcare, discipleship, and identity formation in Christ.
Why The House of the Good Shepherd exists
The House of the Good Shepherd exists to create a safe, faith-filled refuge for young women (ages 14–25) from the Middle East who have suffered severe physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. This is both a strategic and prophetic setting — in a place where many have been silenced, shamed, or abandoned, God is reclaiming the ground for healing, redemption, and restoration.
Restoring What Was Taken
Across the Middle East, countless young girls endure abuse behind closed doors in environments marked by fear, violence, and silence. For those who escape, safety is often still out of reach. Many are placed in Islamic-run shelters where they are not permitted to open a Bible, speak the name of Jesus, or access the hope of the Gospel.
When released, many are forced back into the very homes where the abuse began. Some remain under the threat of so-called “family honor” violence, while others are abandoned entirely left without protection, family support, or a safe place to go. The emotional and psychological impact is devastating, with some becoming so hopeless they attempt suicide, seeing no future ahead.
Yet even in this darkness, there is a deep hunger for truth and hope. Some secretly seek Scripture at great personal risk, tearing out single pages of the Bible to read in hiding and disposing of them afterward to avoid discovery. These stories reveal profound suffering alongside a deep longing for healing, dignity, love, and the freedom found in Christ.
Restoring what was taken means more than providing shelter—it means rebuilding lives through safety, discipleship, education, trauma-informed care, and the love of Jesus, giving vulnerable girls the chance to heal, rediscover their worth, and step into a future filled with hope rather than fear.
Support an Abused Girl Seeking Refuge in the House of the Good Shepherd – Restore Safety, Healing, and Hope
Your donation helps provide vulnerable girls with safe shelter, trauma-informed care, education, and ongoing support at the House of the Good Shepherd. In a secure and loving environment, they can heal from abuse, rebuild confidence, rediscover hope, and begin creating a brighter future.
Program design and care model
Safety & Stabilization
Offering immediate protection and emotional grounding.
Trauma Care & Healing Community
Delivering holistic support within a nurturing, family-like environment.
Discipleship, Worship & Identity Formation
Helping each girl discover who she is in Christ and rebuild her dignity
Education, Vocational Training & Reintegration
Equipping participants to step confidently into a secure and independent future.
The Change We Hope to See
We long to see vulnerable girls move from fear and trauma into safety, healing, and restored dignity. Through a secure and nurturing home, each girl receives trauma-informed care, emotional support, healthcare, discipleship, and education — helping her rebuild physically, emotionally, spiritually, and practically.
At the heart of the program is identity and restoration in Christ, helping each girl discover her worth, purpose, and hope for the future. Alongside vocational development and life skills training, the program equips girls for long-term stability and independence.
Our goal is lasting transformation — seeing girls experience healing, spiritual growth, educational progress, and successful reintegration into safe and healthy communities.
A Sustainable and Scalable Model
The House of the Good Shepherd is a secure residential home led by indigenous believers with over 20 years of experience caring for vulnerable and abused girls. Rooted in local leadership and cultural understanding, it provides both immediate protection and long-term restoration.
Girls receive trauma-informed care, healthcare, discipleship, identity formation in Christ, education, and vocational training within a safe and nurturing environment. The program includes a one-year residential journey, optional extended support, and reintegration assistance to help girls move toward long-term stability, independence, and hope for the future.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the House of the Good Shepherd for?
The House of the Good Shepherd provides safe refuge for vulnerable and abused girls who are escaping violence, exploitation, or unsafe home environments. It offers immediate protection and long-term care for those in crisis.
What kind of care do the girls receive?
Each girl receives holistic, trauma-informed care including counselling, healthcare, education support, vocational training, and discipleship. The focus is on healing, restoration of identity, and building a stable future.
How long can a girl stay in the home?
The program is structured as a one-year residential program, with an optional second year for girls who need additional time for healing, education, and preparation for reintegration into the community.
hat happens after a girl leaves the home?
Each girl receives reintegration support to help her transition safely into the community. This may include continued education pathways, vocational opportunities, and ongoing mentoring to support long-term stability and independence.