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Casey and Anita Baird Jones, center, will facilitate a new
series, "Life's Healing Choice," for the public, starting in
September at the Hope Center in Wellsville, one of three new services the
facility is adding for individuals and families. Other Hope Center Planning Group members
include Denise Regan, left, and Robert Stern.
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WELLSVILLE -- New services are being established at the Hope
Center here for Allegany County individuals and families including additional
hours for reading assistance for children and adults, an educational series to
aid those who are struggling with any number of life issues, and personal
prayer.
The facility, located at 4194 Bolivar Road - #5, is an
outreach ministry of Mission Genesee Valley, a coalition of churches, other
Christian organizations and individuals seeking community transformation and
revival throughout the area. It includes
drop-in, information and referral, and reading services, awareness education
related to community needs for both individuals and churches that want to help
address these issues, and a developing Christian lending library with free book
giveaways.
The prayer component for individual, family and other
concerns will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, starting
immediately.
Casey Jones, Hope Center Planning Group chair, said Saturday
prayer actually has been ongoing since the facility opened late last year, but
the new effort is designed to incorporate more outreach to the public for this
component.
Additional hours for reading assistance, by appointment,
will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, starting September 10, along with the
Saturday hours. Center volunteers
currently are assisting both children and adults in learning and enhancing
reading skills.
The third addition will be an eight-week study of
"Life's Healing Choices," a series that teaches fundamental steps in
recognizing and releasing personal hurts which keep individuals from finding
real answers and hope for the future.
This weekly DVD/discussion opportunity will be held from
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, starting September 16. It will be facilitated by Jones and his wife,
Anita, who also lead Celebrate Recovery | Celebrate Victory at Knights Creek
Church at Scio and are part of a Celebrate Recovery Inside team for Allegany
County Jail inmates.
The facilitator said there potentially are thousands of people
who are struggling with life issues, both personally and within their families,
with this series being designed to aid in overcoming negative situations that
otherwise can extend for much of a lifetime.
Sessions include "Admitting Need - The Reality
Choice," "Getting Help - the Hope Choice," "Letting Go -
the Commitment Choice, "Coming Clean - The Housekeeping Choice,"
"Making Changes - The Transformation Choice," "Repairing
Relationships - the Relationship Choice," "Maintaining Momentum - The
Growth Choice," and "Recycling Pain - The Sharing Choice."
The series is narrated by Rick Warren, senior pastor of
Saddleback Church in California and author of the leading best-selling
book," The Purpose Driven Life."
Although this is the first time a study series has been
offered at the Hope Center, the Joneses have facilitated the lessons at other locations
and say the series has resulted in "significant understanding and healing
for many participants." There is a
$9 cost for the accompanying study guide, with scholarships being
available. All other Hope Center
services are free. Series pre-registration is requested at bps461@msn.com or
(484) 435-0503.
Further information about the Hope Center is available at
www.facebook.com/HopeCenterAlleganyCounty.
