Bevelyn Beatty was born in Staten Island, New York, and soon after moved to North Carolina where she spent the majority of her childhood. In her formative years as a child, her parents separated, and she was raised in an environment of instability, turmoil, and both sexual and physical abuse.

 

A product of a broken culture, she acted out with rebellious behavior from a young age. She developed a negative image of men which was more deeply confirmed through repeated experiences. Men were after one thing, and one thing only, just like her father had told her as a teenager. Having had her first abortion at 15 and later dropping out of high school, she continued on a self-destructive path centered around dating, drugs, and drinking. She would go on to have two more abortions during that time.

 

Living a carefree lifestyle and needing a large sum of money to catch up on past due rent payments, she was caught and arrested for money laundering from her employer. While in jail awaiting bail for 7 days, she met a woman who had the God-given ability to see her internal struggle with depression that she had kept secret for quite some time. The woman told her that if she did not change her life, the next step for her would be the grave. Bevelyn knew in her heart this was true and upon her release moved forward with the determination to choose a new path.

 

Not long after, working for a non-profit women’s organization, she was raising awareness and fundraising from people on the street in front of the Trump Towers in New York City. She met a woman named Edmee who patiently listened to her explanation of all the things they were doing to help young girls. After completing her pitch, Edmee responded, “I could give you money, but if these girls don’t know Jesus, nothing will change.”

 

Bevelyn knew deep down that this was true, and with curiosity sparked by their conversation, proceeded to get to know Edmee more in the coming weeks. Shortly after Edmee began discipling Bevelyn and they began working alongside one another to pursue the ministry God had called them to feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In short, sharing the truth that until Jesus Matters, nothing else matters.