Chris Pearson, a board member of WOWS, discusses new plans to make changes in local
ministry, in the Hopkins County area.

 

 

WOWS....Women Offering Women Support
Announces Changes in Ministry Focus

 

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Two meetings, one at noon on Wednesday and another one at 6:30 p.m., at The ROC, outlined the change of major focus for the WOWS.....Women Offering Women Support organization. "We've been more focused on our plans to open Chrysalis House than we might should have been, and we've not promoted the focus of the entire organization," expressed Chris Pearson, a board member of WOWS, as he spoke to the groups. "Our main focus is to help women and children who need our services and we think that maybe we were more focused on opening Chrysalis House, which is just a building, and part of the ministry."

Pearson told the group that the Chrysalis House, located at 1333 Jefferson Street, after being prepared to provide a safe haven for single women with children and those that needed a place to stay, was "broken into" and trashed, before the services could be provided. "Many people have contributed to the ministry by sponsoring rooms, painting, doing roofing and carpentry work, and helping us to get the facility opened," reported Pearson. "And, then to have it destroyed by vandals, seeking the copper wiring in the facility, has caused us to take a look at the focus of our ministry."

 

 

Tammy Pearson displays a sign for the 5K Run to be sponsored, Saturday, September 15th,
benefitting WOWS.

 

"The facility that had been given to us on Jefferson Street, sits on nine acres of land that is near the Sulphur Springs Loop and just off I-30," reported Pearson. "And, with the repairs that need to be done to the building, caused by the vandals, we've decided to put the property on the market, and to focus on something much, smaller to service the women in the area."

 

 

 

"We want people to know that their contributions of furniture and fixtures in the facility will still be maintained in the ministry or they can take them back, if they desire, and direct them to some other ministry," related Pearson. "We just feel that the task of making the repairs on the building at Chrysalis House at the present time would take time and energy away from what our organization is all about, of helping women in need, in this community!"

Pearson gave an account of the women that the organization is helping and told of the many services that they were offering in the community from providing shelter, food, clothing, help with utilities, counseling services, and help with college books.

"We want your input in helping us continue to serve the community," expressed Pearson, as he introduced his wife, Tammy Pearson, who told about and upcoming 5K Run on Saturday, in support of WOWS.

Tammy Pearson then introduced a young lady who is now using the service of WOWS, that gave a strong testimony for how the organization had helped her to overcome the challenges of raising her daughter alone in this community!

 

 

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