From Darkness to Light: Lina’s Story of Freedom
There was a time when Lina Tembo believed her life was beyond saving.
At 35 years old, she attempted to end her life—not out of a desire to escape pain, but because she believed she no longer had the right to live. The weight of depression pressed in so tightly it seemed to suffocate every flicker of hope. When a RiverCross trainer first met her in the hospital, Lina couldn’t even explain what was wrong. Her pain was too deep for words. It became clear she wasn’t only battling depression—she was carrying decades of emotional wounds that had left her disconnected from both people and God.
Yet in that sterile hospital room, something holy began. Not flashy. Not dramatic. Just the quiet beginning of healing. The trainer began walking with her—listening, praying, and gently offering counsel. After Lina was discharged, their journey continued with a simple but powerful tool: Bridge to Freedom, an audio drama that shares truth, dignity, and hope through stories rooted in God’s love.
With each episode, Lina began to see herself through a different lens. She started to recognize her worth, to name the lies she had believed for so long, and to reclaim her story. Slowly, the darkness began to lift. Jesus—our only true hope—was meeting her in her brokenness, not with condemnation, but with compassion and purpose.
Today, Lina is not only alive—she is thriving. She now serves as a facilitator for Freedom Clubs, walking alongside others who are struggling as she once was. Her life is a living testimony that no one is too far gone for God to reach. Healing is possible. Transformation is real. And Jesus is still in the business of setting people free.
This is why RiverCross exists.
There are still more women and children like Lina—waiting for someone to show up, to speak life, and to introduce them to the only One who can truly heal the heart.
Join Us in a Summer of Support
This summer, you can help become part of someone else’s turning point.
Through our Summer of Support, we invite you to walk alongside women like Lina—those still in the dark, still waiting for hope, still needing someone to show up. Your support helps provide tools like the Bridge to Freedom audio drama, trains local facilitators, and launches Freedom Clubs in communities where isolation, trauma, and despair often go unseen.
When you give, you’re not just donating—you’re helping restore dignity, spark healing, and introduce people to the lasting hope of Jesus.
Will you join us?
Together, we can train caregivers, treasure children, and transform communities.
*Name changed for privacy.