About The
Samaritan Women (TSW)
The Samaritan Women (TSW) is a local Baltimore ministry whose
objective is to transform broken lives into disciples for Christ and
thriving members of society. The ministry caters to women (ages 17
and up) who are committed to moving forward from hurtful choices and
unfortunate circumstances to realize the full life that God has
planned for them.
Many of the women TSW is seeking to serve are caught in a world of
prostitution and drug abuse.
The first step in leaving this world behind is to develop a
relationship of trust with someone who can guide and help them.
TSW has purchased a row home on Wilkens Avenue in Baltimore
to provide a safe location where these women can take that first
step.
The goal is to provide a "respite house" where women can come to
rest, take a shower, do some laundry and escape the streets for a
little while. While they
are there, they will be ministered to and relationships will be
built. They will be
given support and options that will include leaving their old life
behind and beginning a new and sober life in Jesus Christ.
Since they were formed in 2007, they have been led and supported exclusively
through volunteer efforts. Most of their volunteers may start
from faith-based groups organizing service days, but after their
first visit, they become captivated by the work God is doing in this
place and become regular volunteers. Then they, in turn, start
inviting others.
They are committed to being a ministry where all persons are welcome
and all labor is appreciated. It’s especially exciting to see
people of different cultures, backgrounds and denominations working
side-by-side for a greater purpose. And it’s also fun to
give someone a job that he or she would never imagine doing, like
the pharmacists who demolished the furnace, or the youth who learned
how to do drywall.
How can Severna Park United Methodist Church help?
The house on Wilkens Avenue is not a home yet.
It is a "shell" and plans are underway to completely renovate
the building. It will need a
new roof, a new furnace, a new air conditioner, new electrical
throughout, a new kitchen (there is none), new bathrooms, washers
and dryers, and the "trimmings" that turn a house into a home.
SPUMC has committed to coordinating this renovation.
And SPUMC members will have the opportunity to do some of the
construction-type work ourselves!
But, this is a big job, and will require the help of the
faith community to be successful.
So SPUMC will be contacting other local churches to secure
their commitment and assistance in completing other parts of the
work.
Status as of
October 31, 2011
A lot of progress has been made on the
Wilkens Ave. Ministry home! Both the work permit and the historical
notice to proceed permit have been secured, and many important
relationships with neighbors have been formed! Demolition on
the bathrooms has been done, and a very dedicated small group
removed most of the wall board and molding last weekend, getting us
about where we need to be to support the plumber, electrician and
HVAC folks. Another weekend of work and we should be ready
to begin to install CPVC, wire, ducts etc etc.
Our
priority at the moment is security. We can not progress beyond
demolition until we can get solid doors and a security system
installed. Three high grade steel doors have been ordered and
will be installed in a few weeks. Then it is a matter of
sitting back and waiting for the following, in this order:
* steel door installation
* roof
replacement
* electrical upgrade
* security system installation and activation
* plumbing upgrade
Once these major areas have been
completed then we can begin to lay down a project plan for all the
volunteers that have been gracious enough to step forward. Ron
Shippee says, "The more time I spend in the apartment the more I can
visualize how nice we are going to make it look. No doubt
about it, this a Herculean project. But with the grace of God
and the small army of volunteers that we have so far, I am very
confident this will be a successfully and rewarding outreach
ministry for the SPUMC."
Once the home is completed and safe, the volunteers from TSW will
open the door and staff the home on a daily basis, and perhaps they
can begin building the trust that can transform the lives of the
women who need Christ in their lives.
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Are you interested in helping with
the Wilkens Avenue project?
Contact Patti Coman at
pgcoman@aol.com or keep an eye out for
opportunities that will be shared in the future
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SPUMC Family Ministries also help TSW in one day
projects where the entire family can participate in providing needed
help at the other TSW locations.
There’s no shortage of need. See the Volunteer Opportunities on
their website and consider how you could jump in and help us realize
the TSW vision.
Visit Samaritan Women's Website
http://www.thesamaritanwomen.org
SEVERNA
PARK