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Sunday Evening Gospel Singing, Love Offering to Support Kari’s Home June 12 in Bethel

By Jessica Isaacs | jessica@highcountrypress.com

Head out to western Watauga County and the beautiful countryside of the Bethel community for an old-fashioned gospel singing this weekend! Kick back and enjoy music from great local performers over dessert on Sunday afternoon at this event, a fundraiser for Kari’s Home for Women.

Join your friends and neighbors at Bethel Baptist Church, 123 Mountain Dale Road in Vilas, for singing that begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 12.

Kari's Home students and staff perform an American Sign Language version of "Amazing Grace" at the program's recent graduation ceremony. Photo by Jessica Isaacs.
Kari’s Home students and staff perform an American Sign Language version of “Amazing Grace” at the program’s recent graduation ceremony. Photo by Jessica Isaacs.

Becca Eggers-Gryder of local bluegrass group Amantha Mill will kick off the show with a 30-minute concert. Her performance will be followed by popular local Christian groups like Mercy’s Sake and Bethel Road, as well as individual singers showcasing their favorite hymns.

Enjoy dessert and fellowship as these local artists come together to collect a love offering for Kari’s Home, a residential Christ-centered addiction recovery program for women located right here in the High Country.

Although its founders, John and Michelle Lundgren, have been working to bring the program to fruition for years, it celebrated its first three graduations back in April. Now, with several new students in the house, this growing nonprofit needs help from the community like never before.

“Fundraising is critical to any small nonprofit, especially those that are funded by gifts from donors. Kari’s Home for Women has been blessed from the beginning with generous gifts of property, homes, vehicles and furnishings,” said Michelle. “Now that the ministry is open and has been taking students since May of 2015, it is critically important to keep raising funds in order to sustain the ministry.”

Whether you’ve heard of it before or you’re just learning about Kari’s Home, which is Watauga’s only residential recovery ministry for women, there’s no time like the present to get involved and make a difference.

“The benefit singing slated for June 12 at Bethel Baptist Church is a great way to gather new supporters at the grassroots level,” Michelle said. “For those who already know of Kari’s Home, it is an opportunity to gather and show support for this life-changing ministry. It is also an opportunity for others to come learn more about its mission.”

Click over to Facebook for more details on the June 12 singing.

For more information on the ministry, visit KarisHome.org or call a program leader at 828-297-3030.

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Kari's Home founder Michelle Lundgren is pictured at the ministry's annual fundraising banquet last fall. Photo by Jessica Isaacs.
Kari’s Home founder Michelle Lundgren is pictured at the ministry’s annual fundraising banquet last fall. Photo by Jessica Isaacs.