Susan gave her life
to the Lord in 1978, serving in a local church in various areas of need,
most notably as the pastors wifes assistant.
In 1989 the Lord spoke
to Susan to start Rachels Joy
through Isaiah 54:1-10:
Sing, O barren
woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you
who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate
woman than of her who has a husband, says the Lord. Enlarge
the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold
back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread
out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities. Do not be afraid; you will
not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach
of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband The Lord Almighty
is his name the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called
the God of all the earth. The Lord will call you back as if you were
a wife deserted and distressed in spirit a wife who married young,
only to be rejected, says your God. For a brief moment I
abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a
serge of anger I hid my facefrom you for a moment, but with everlasting
kindness I will have compassion on you, says the Lord your Redeemer.
To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters
of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to
be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be
shaken and the hill be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not
be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord,
who has compassion on you.
Since then, Rachels
Joy has assisted hundreds of women in crisis through housing, counseling
and preparation for the job placement. In addition approximately 100 babies
are alive today, most of which would have been aborted if not for Rachels
Joy Maternity Home. Susan is well recognized in the Christian Community
both among the Catholic & Protestant Churches. Currently there are
over 30 Churches and ministries that support Rachels Joy, some support
monthly or bi-monthly. Susans vision is for five maternity homes
in each borough, preaching the gospel and ministering to women in crisis
pregnancy. In addition to the work at Rachels Joy she also co-pastors
a church in Gravesend Brooklyn along with her husband Apostle Vincent
Fusco.
In 2000 Susan graduated Kingsborough Community College with an Associate
Degree in Mental Health she is currently pursuing her M S W at Brooklyn
College so she can better serve the women who come to Rachels Joy.
Susan is the founder
and director of Rachels Joy Maternity Home. Before starting this
ministry in 1989, she visited and studied other maternity homes, not only
locally, but out of state as well. Susan volunteered for over a year at
Star of the Sea, a homeless womens shelter in Hollis Queens. There
she worked closely with Winny McCarthy, the shelters director, and
received extensive training in working with women. She also has volunteered
at Good Council Maternity Home in Staten Island.
With an Associate
Degree in Mental Health and a continued concern and compassion for women
in crisis situations, Susan is deeply committed to seeing that the unmet
needs of young unwed mothers are met through practical as well as spiritual
ways. There have been many others who have worked with Susan, some since
the beginning of this Ministry, and as a ministry of New Jerusalem City
Church many members of the church have also helped this ministry to be
where it is today.
Support Rachels Joy Maternity Home with a donation
Donation under the covering of Acts Community Developement Corperation
Rachelsjoy@aol.com
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