By Jessica Isaacs
Hundreds of friends, supporters and community leaders convened at Bible Alliance Fellowship in Boone on Nov. 5 to celebrate the work of a local nonprofit, Kari’s Home for Women, and raise funds and awareness for its ongoing programs.
The annual fundraising banquet and silent auction featured a hearty dinner served by Green Street Catering, live music from Bobby and Nancy McGee and special, poignant messages from several volunteers and leaders within the organization.
Tucked away in the countryside of western Watauga County, Kari’s Home is a Christ-centered ministry that aims to provide an atmosphere for spiritual, physical and emotional healing for women in recovery from addictions to drug and alcohol.
Although it’s been in the works for years, the ministry was first opened in May of this year and is situated on a quiet 20 acres that offer peace and respite for the women it serves.
The home provides a safe place for women over the age of 18 to combat the personal struggles that have fueled addictive behaviors. Its six-month discipleship program is designed for women who are ready turn their challenges, their experiences and their lives over to Christ.
Their own life experiences and relationships with the Lord placed the ministry on the hearts of husband-and-wife duo John and Michelle Lundgren, who founded the program after learning that minimal options for Christian recovery were available to women in the High Country.
The Lundgrens were among a variety of faith-based community leaders who took to the podium during the banquet to share their testimonies with supporters in the audience. Other speakers like Alliance women’s ministry leader Marci Parker and the Rev. Keith Larned, as well as representatives from Kari’s Home including Director of Operations Jim Quigley, Program Manager Sharee Brown, House Manager Deidre Wood and volunteer mentors Debbie Isaacs and Penny Muller.
Banquet attendants made financial contributions to the program through table sponsorships, silent auction purchases and love offerings throughout the evening, which was designed to increase community awareness and develop support for the ministry.
“Community support is vital in order for Kari’s Home for Women to fulfill its mission. Local churches have welcomed and encouraged the students and the staff as they have learned how to build healthy relationships,” Michelle said. “Local agencies help to provide food and other necessities for the women. Other women who desire to give back have generously given of themselves, volunteering their help in projects such as landscaping, gardening, learning to sew, making crafts and singing.
“Even local men’s groups and college students from ASU have been involved in projects like the recent installation of skirting around the home, in the initial renovation of the home earlier this year and in writing a successfully funded grant request.”
In a call to action from the founders, the Lundgrens closed the program in prayer and encouraged the guests in the room to get involved in the work at Kari’s Home through monetary gifts, volunteer hours and using whatever gifts God has given them to serve local women.
“Everyone that you have heard share this evening from the stage has been called by God as his servant,” Michelle said from the podium. “They’ve allowed themselves to be used by God to deliver hope to the captives, to bind up the brokenhearted, and we give God all the glory for what He has brought to fruition.
“So tonight, I would like to ask you to say yes to letting God use you, too. I’d like to ask you to join us — the ones you see on the stage, the ones ministering every day, the board of directors and all of our volunteers. Would you join us as God’s instruments to help bring healing to women so that he can be glorified?”
If you feel led to learn more about, support, or volunteer to serve at Kari’s Home for Women, visit the ministry online at KarisHome.org or call a program leader at 828-297-3030.
All photos from the Nov. 5 banquet for Kari’s Home by Jessica Isaacs:
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