I am writing to you this day, first to ask you to hold us up in prayer and second to take my hand and walk with Mark and I as a community and take hold of the mission God has set before us.
I am so excited to share with you that God is opening the doors to my home for women.
What I mean by that is that people are catching the vision, wanting to volunteer their gifts and time and a house has come into my presence that can be Women of Grace.
The next step is a bold move, however; I am believing and stepping out on faith that God can and will do for me that which I cannot do by myself.
I would like you to take the next step of the journey with me and I am asking for donations to start the process of buying the home.
This is the first step and God has provided volunteers, programming and what I hope an umbrella opportunity with another community organization to go from vision thinking to action steps to reality!
I am available, free of charge to come speak with your organizations, churches, women's groups to share my vision. I ask you to share it with every and anyone you know.
We will be having a fundraiser event soon however; as you know timing is crucial when it comes to purchasing a house on the market and I am thanking God for the opportunity to gather these 6 women and mentor them on their way to a productive and healthy life.
I am looking at the home this morning and I have been given enough confirmation from God and others that this is the house, I am so excited! Please take the next step in the journey with me by donating to:
Please write checks to:Women of Grace
Ref#9439099289
3135 Fillmore Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
Be Blessed & Encouraged, Kelly Schmidt
Hello to My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Let me introduce myself, my name is Kelly Jo Schmidt.
I am a woman with a passion for women with-in the correctional facilities and a pillar for them to look to when they get out.
I also believe I am called to work with all women who are wounded &, broken,
I am called to be a light in the dark places of their lives.
I can only do this as the Lord has instructed me, guided me and has matured me in my relationship with Him.
I was given a vision 9 years ago and actually it is a shared vision with a girlfriend, which is what bonded us as Sisters in the Lord. I was given a vision that I would in some way be working in a facility for women in need.
I have been praying and walking in faith that this will come to fruit. Never knowing as we usually do not when God will move, I have stood on my faith that the time will come.
Well my friends after 10 years and never having a plan the Lord decided to reveal HIS plan to me.
I have been volunteering in correctional facilities, for the last 9 years bringing a Bible Study group weekly, recovery meetings monthly and serving those on the road to recovery for the last 20 years. My heart breaks as I see the many systems failing these women who long for a relationship with God and to be sober however ending up going back to the same environment. Which usually means drugs/alcohol and prostitution and crime.
I have seen over and over my gals coming back to jail and trying it again. Yes there is a responsibility and accountability factor that these women are lacking yet the Body of Christ and the Spirit of the Lord can change these attitudes and has a responsibility as well. As I would leave the facility, week after week , tears have fallen as I drive and I have just fervently prayed, Lord please there has to be SOMETHING for these women!
Well Tues. Jan.6th will be always remembered as a life - changing day. As I listened to a tape, I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and the Lord gave me His plan for what will be a small house, called Women of Grace! He gave me some names of who to talk to, what the daily schedule would be, who to call to walk beside me and assist me, what classes we would teach, Bible study,classes on self-esteem, recovery meetings, finances and more.
Making sure that it be known this will be a place for the broken, wounded and lost.A place for transformation, a place to meet the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of women coming from correctional facilities and unhealthy life’s circumstances.
These women need the structure and a time and a way, to feel safe and to be loved unconditionally. It is also going to be a place in the city, as I am in full belief that you have to show them how God can and will change them even in the midst of their circumstances.
These women will be taught how to be accountable and to be responsible, with God’s help, your help & mine.
My hope is to give them resources that will assist them in getting jobs, housing, food and clothing. They will also learn how to manage the money they do have, so they can be financially independent and believe in themselves that they can make it without the negative influences that have drawn them back to dysfunction.
There will be a strong emphasis on being of maximum service to others, And learning life skills to carry them through out their lives. I want the women to know that they are so precious to the Lord, that they are forgiven and that they too can receive the loving grace that was extended to me some 20 years ago!
I ask for prayer to develop a budget, to develop a board of directors and people who will partner with this ministry. Pray for funding, as this will be a volunteer/donation-based ministry.I want the Lord to draw people to this vision, to capture their hearts for these women. I know the Lord entrusted me with this vision and the ability to carry it out. We are His people and called to help the lost, the lonely and anyone who crosses our path. We are to love as He did! Please contact me if you would like to help in any way:
- Prayer Partner,
- Mentor,
- Class Facilitator
- Financial Mentor
- Career Counselor
- Reading/ Writing Tutor
We are in our early stages of planning, yet I believe in this vision the Lord gave me and I also believe He will supply all I need to bring this to fruition!
Remember, we can do together, what we could not do apart! I thank you for standing in faith with me.
If you would like to donate financially to Women of Grace in these early stages, I believe and encourage you to believe and catch the vision that we will receive the funding to purchase the home, where we than can start actively running the home with adequate resources of finances and people.
We will be meeting at the address below the first Thursday of every month to pray and watch God move us forward.
Please write checks to:
Women of Grace
Ref#9439099289
3135 Fillmore Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
Any questions, feel free to contact Kelly at 612-781-2174 or 612-703-5082 Feel free to go to any TCF Bank as well and use reference number.In His Grace,Kelly Jo Schmidtkellyjoschmidt@yahoo.com