Women looking for help through prayer now have a new place to turn. Kingdom Center for Women's Ministries is opening its doors from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. every Wednesday to any woman who would like to ask for prayer requests or just wanting someone to pray with them.
Jewel Holt, director of the center, said the staff is "very excited" about this new opportunity the center is offering.
"We get a lot of calls from people who want to have prayer, and so we're certainly hoping that will be something that will expand," she said.
Kingdom Center, located at 820 Jefferson St. in Fulton, has been open for two and half years and provides free services such as support groups, seminars, conferences, classes and one-on-one counseling to any woman 13 and older. It also offers marriage counseling from married couples that are on staff and training for those who wish to become counselors or volunteers at the center.
"We want to create an environment of non-judgmental listening, sharing, prayer support and encouragement to our clients through free paraprofessional counseling, educational opportunities, support groups, Bible studies and prayer groups," Holt said.
She said the center is also bringing back a Boundaries Class due to its prior success and popularity. These classes, which focus on setting limits without guilt, start Thursday, Jan. 20, and run every Thursday for six weeks. Making Peace with Your Past is a support group that also will be kicking off soon. For young women, there is a teen group meeting being offered at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays.
Karen Sebacher, assistant director at the center, said she decided to volunteer with Women's Ministries after going through a time in her life where she needed "some wisdom and godly counseling" and didn't have anywhere to turn. She said the center offers a safe place where women can receive needed support free of charge.
"I would like to use my experiences and my relationship with the Lord to directly have Him help them like He's helped me," Sebacher explains. "I've always believed that the only way to healing is through Christ and that is what we provide."
Some women have no one to talk to or that they want to talk to, she said, so the center provides a place for them to go.
"We provide a completely confidential service," Holt said.
Issues the center has seen include marital problems, work-related issues, depression, abuse, disability, eating disorders, anger, death, suicide and more.
Holt said the 24 staff members at Kingdom Center are trained, but don't profess to be professionals. She said if there's an issue that needs professional attention, the staff will refer a client to an area professional.
"There's some excellent ones in the area."
Sebacher said the entire non-profit operation of the center is run by volunteers from donations, so all donations are "prayerfully" appreciated.
The center's hours are: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and counseling sessions can be scheduled by appointment. For more information about the center, call (573) 642-6198.