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It is with this realization that Well of GRACE Ministries was formed. Well of GRACE Ministries is a nonprofit Christ centered residential treatment ministry that provides a safe home environment for physically, emotionally and spiritually wounded young women.
The vision of the ministry started about 2 years ago in the heart of Flori Mejeur a counselor at Southwestern Medical Clinic’s Christian Counseling office in Stevensville, MI. Mejeur was involved with a young girl whose adoptive mother had died. She had no other family to rely on for housing or loving care. This teenage girl needed a safe home environment to stay during her time of healing and recovery. She was not abusing drugs, or in any trouble with the law, but in her mind, life was hopeless. She was dealing with abandonment issues, depression and complicated medical problems. Suicide was a part of her everyday contemplative thoughts.
The problem Mejeur faced was—where could a teenager live in a time of crisis? This struggling teenager needed a nurturing environment. Since she was not in the judicial court system, she did not qualify for many of the governmental assisted services. There was no place in the Michiana area for her to receive help without tremendous financial burden.
Another Southwestern Medical Clinic counselor, Leslie Kroeze, agreed to take this young girl into her home until an appropriate alternative could be found. After diligently seeking a place for this troubled teenage girl , Mejeur was led to Mercy Ministries in Nashville, Tenn. Mejeur was delighted that she had found what seemed to be the ideal place for this troubled teen. The distance however would take her away from her own high school, and the only community she knew as “home”. The distance was too far away to be a practical solution.
With the vision to fulfill the need of providing Christ centered, loving care to troubled teens, Mejeur rallied together several individuals who shared her same passion. Of those, was Kroeze, who was caring for this teen in her home. “We see these same girls everyday, it’s just that they have different faces and different names. There are a lot of great places for adolescent girls to go for help, but there are none in Michigan and none are free,” says Kroeze.
Kroeze, Mejeur and two other board members traveled to Mercy Ministries in Nashville to learn their model. Well of GRACE Ministries plans to use their model for a home here in Southwestern Michigan. A similar ministry called A Friends House in Bluffton, IN is just a couple of years ahead of Well of GRACE and has also been a training partner. “We didn’t just come up with our own program, we visited Mercy Ministries and learned their model. Mercy Ministries does not franchise but they do train others to share the work in the ministry,” said Kroeze.
According to the Well of GRACE newsletter, “Reflections from the Well”, last year in Southwest Michigan, there were over 400 abused youth interviewed by The Children’s Assessment Center and 400 were placed in the foster care system. The Link, a shelter that provides short-term care, served about 150 teenage girls last year. One in ten girls hurt themselves by self mutilating or cutting on their skin. One in ten girls are being sexually abused. One in ten girls attempt suicide.
Currently Well of GRACE is seeking property to house the ministry. Their goal is to have the facility by the end of 2006 and open the center shortly thereafter. They are also continuing the fund raising process. Mary Beth Good, who serves on the Well of GRACE Board, estimates a yearly operating budget of $300,000 for the ministry. Since last summer, they have raised over $50,000 of which she believes will be enough at least for the down payment on the potential property.
Up to now, funding has been by private donors. They are seeking additional funding through various ways. One particular is a Fund Raiser featuring Ginny Owens on Thursday March 2nd at 7:00 p.m. Individuals can host a table and invite 8 guests to come for a private concert. Light Hors d’oeuvres and desert will be served. The location will be at the Priscilla U. Byrnes Heritage Center in St. Joseph, MI. Individuals can call Well of GRACE at 269-429-7727 for more information and to reserve a table. Ginny Owens will also host a public concert at the First Church of God in St. Joe, MI on Friday March 3rd at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 and available at Banner Bookstore in St. Joe. For more information about the concert call 269-473-2511.
The ministry still has much work to do, but God has shown his leading throughout the process. “I feel God confirming everything,” says Kroeze. The Well of GRACE Board has just about finished writing the bylaws, is in the process of writing grants, completed a promotional video, has hired an administrative assistant and is in the processing of getting licensing from the State.
The needs that those in the community can help with are prayer for God’s continued presence in the planning and details of the ministry, and financial support. When the ministry opens its doors, volunteers will be needed for different activities. For more information, to donate or to be involved in Well of GRACE Ministries, you can call 269-429-7727 or you can go their website at www.wellofgraceministries.com