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The community recently came together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sojourney Truth Ministries and received a surprise announcement: Sojourner has purchased another property on Center Street with the intention of using it for the House of Hope program. Pastor Angélique Labadie-Cihanowyz poses in front of the new house. PAT CROSSLEY / Sun-Gazette
he crowd of community members gathered to celebrate the first 20 years of Sojourner Truth Ministries, Pastor Angelique Labadie-Cihanowyz, Executive Director, shared the latest news as the next phase of the ministry begins with the purchase of another property along Center Street.
“Here is a story of God,” Labadie-Cihanowyz told the group. “For more than two years, I have been touring this neighborhood and I pray and pray for what God has planned for this neighborhood, for his people, so that we may grow in him and build his kingdom” she said. Labadie-Cihanowyz explained that there was a house next to the House of Hope that Sojourner opened earlier this year for homeless women.
The house had been vacant for over two years and was to be sold in a sheriff’s sale. At first, the sale was postponed and just before the postponed date arrived, a group approached the Ministry of Housing with a gift. “There was a group that had been watching us for a year – we didn’t even know it – and they picked us and gave us a gift. Again, we didn’t know. We had it 10 days before the auction, so we were able to buy a duplicate in order to expand our ministries ”, she said.
“The goal of the House of Hope is not only to be a refuge, but it is a life of transition”, said Pamela Temons, supervisor of House of Hope.
“We want to help women get out of homelessness. So we have programming to help them do that. They work with a budget coach and they save money and we help them with all kinds of life skills. But, when it’s time to leave home, when they’re ready to graduate, they’re still not ready to fly on their own ”, Temons continued.
“So with this additional house, we’re going to be able to have housing that we can kind of expand for these women. They can share with one or two other women, share the expenses and continue to receive support and supervision to help them succeed ”, she added.
Labadie-Cihanowyz explained that the funds came from a church that had closed and the building was subsequently sold.
“I told the person who brought the checks, for me it was a direct answer to prayer”, she said, adding that the amount that was given was exactly the limit that the ministry’s board had set for spending for the purchase of the double house.
Plans call for half of the double to be used for a discount program for women graduating from the House of Hope and the other half of the house will be rented out. Women will pay below average rent under the supervision of the program.
“We will continue to contribute to the neighborhood in a positive way and this will help this program to be sustainable”, she said.
“So it’s winning, winning, winning; the Lord, the Lord, the Lord ”, she added
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