Dedication ceremony held for new women’s ministry facility
BY: Bryant Kwilecki | Link to original K8 News coverage.
CHARLOTTE, Ark. (KAIT) – A new women’s facility was dedicated on Thursday, Oct. 10 at John 3:16 Ministries in Charlotte.
John 3:16 Ministries has been helping both men and women who have been struggling with addiction for years, and a couple of weeks ago they opened their new women’s facility. It has 40 beds.
Mark Hayes with the Arkansas Municipal League says it was awesome to see the building today.
“We became highly engaged in the litigation to get the funds in that could do this sort of facility, and to be here today and see that kind of thing come to life, it’s exactly why my family is so engaged in this fight,” Hayes said.
Bryan Tuggle with John 3:16 says this new facility will help bring families back together.
“Everything that’s going to come through here is going to offer life. Families put back together, working with DHS and Foster care so all that together means God’s will,” Tuggle said.
John 3:16 was able to acquire the funds for this facility through the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Program and now will be able to provide women who are struggling with addiction a place to stay.
“It does great work and it’s going to continue to do great work,” Hayes said. “We’re going to have top-notch graduates come here, and I could not be happier in seeing the place.”
Amanda Waugh is a health coach and instructor at the women’s ministry and she talks about what it’s like to serve the women who come to them for help.
“To be able to serve the women, see them come in with no hope, then give it a week or two later they say they are sleeping through the night and they get peace,” Waugh said. “You get to see them restored with their families and be who they were meant to be all along.”
Hayes’ son passed away from addiction, and Hayes was one of the main ones involved in getting the funds for this facility. At the ceremony, John 3:16 dedicated it to Hayes’ son.
“This about people getting sober and about them living their full life and getting their life back in their own control,” Hayes said.
This ministry already has 28 women. They are serving with 11 graduates and they are excited about the lives they will change moving forward.