This year, Janalisa Sherrell is celebrating eight years of sobriety.

After losing everything — including hope for a future — Sherrell said of her struggles, “I had two choices. Either I could kill myself and be done with it or I could surrender my life to Jesus and see what He could do with a life as broken as mine.

“This was when I met the love of Christ, and my torment was gone,” Sherrell continued. “Not a day goes by that I do not thank the Lord for my second chance in life, knowing that I don’t deserve it, but He would give it to me over and over again.”

Now a wife and mother to two children and five stepchildren, Sherrell and her husband devised a plan in 2022 to make their family a priority. They bought a home and agreed she would work for two years, then quit work and enroll in college.

“I did not know how I was going to achieve my dreams of financial security with time and energy to spare for my family, but I was trusting that God would meet me when I stepped out and tried. That is when I attended Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) of Carlsbad, New Mexico,” she said.

“There I found an environment that was Christ-centered where I could not just receive instruction in computer skills, grammar, and finance but also come to know a deeper understanding of God’s love and will.”

Margaret Bemis, site coordinator of CWJC Carlsbad, described Sherrell as a model student who always encouraged the other participants.

“Janalisa shows great responsibility in balancing the demands of marriage, motherhood, school, and work,” Bemis said. “Most of all, she gives praise to God through everything. Since her graduation in spring of 2024, she has served as a mentor, volunteer, and supporter of CWJC and has continued her relationship with her mentor.”

Sherrell is this year’s recipient of the Sybil Bentley Dove Award, which is presented annually to a current or former CWJC participant who has demonstrated a desire to improve themselves by enhancing their skills through academic development, Bible study, and Christian mentoring. It includes a scholarship to help with tuition, fees, and books.

“Janalisa embodies the spirit of this prestigious award through her commitment to personal growth and her devotion to nurturing her children’s development,” said Sarah Jones, her mentor. “She is a woman of exceptional character, determined to acquire new skills and knowledge that will empower her to become more self-reliant and to enrich her family’s life. Her ability to balance her own growth with her responsibilities as a mother is truly inspiring.”

In addition, Jones said Sherrell also serves women with mental health and substance use challenges at LifeHouse where she is a house manager for their women’s sober living home.

“She pours her time, devotion, and love into women who are recovering addicts by working with LifeHouse and uses her testimony to change the lives of other mothers and impact our community,” Jones said.

And Sherrell is well on her way to achieving her academic goals. She is taking classes at Southeast New Mexico College with plans to continue her education and become an occupational therapy assistant.

“The goal is to not just show myself that my dreams are achievable but to show my children as well, giving all glory to God because without His grace and sacrifice none of it would be possible,” Sherrell said.  

Sybil Bentley Dove Endowment

Faye Dove Wright established the Sybil Bentley Dove Endowment in 1998 in honor of her mother with the intention of benefitting women who are rebuilding their lives. This endowment supports Christian Women’s Job Corps by providing scholarships to participants, program development grants for sites, and a grant for Dove award recipients. Visit wmufoundation.com to learn more or to support this endowment.

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by Julie Walters, WMU Corporate Communications