Single moms find strength and courage to build strong families
(May 13, 2001)
Kristy Watt, 44, was desperate. Her husband had just left the family
and her addiction to drugs was killing her. In search of hope, Watt
and her three children started walking on a Sunday morning five years
ago and came upon Radiant Church (Assemblies of God).
Women of Courage
exists to serve, strengthen and encourage single moms. Darlene Harris
(front row, left) is the founder.
"We had just been homeless so I wasn’t dressed very well,
but I knew I needed the Lord," she says. "People accepted
us just as we were."
Radiant Church in Colorado Springs (Robert Cowles, pastor) has been
a refuge for single moms since 1993 when the church started Women of
Courage. "Helping single moms is mandated in the Bible," says
Darlene Harris, WOC founder and director. "We hurt with them because
of their circumstances and do everything we can to help them."
The women meet monthly. Today is the last WOC gathering in 2000. Radiant’s
fellowship hall is decorated — a tall Christmas tree, tables with
candles, plates of homemade cookies and handcrafted gifts. "Everything
is beautiful," says one woman when she enters the room. Near the
entrance, women comb through racks of quality used clothing and tables
stacked with Christian books.
For the next two hours the women laugh, cry, share, worship and pray.
"This is a safe place," says Patti Davis, 44. "All of
us speak a common language."
Several moms give praise reports, ask for prayer or share their testimonies.
"I want to thank Women of Courage for getting me these glasses,"
says one woman. "I haven’t been able to see this good for
years."
An elderly woman, who says she is raising her grandchildren, tells
how the Lord provided a mechanic to fix her car for half of what the
dealership wanted.
The program speeds from church service to motivational speech to support
group. "It’s easy to lose hope as a single parent," says
Gail Patrick, 42. "When I come here, I think I have it bad until
I hear some of these other women’s problems."
But this isn’t a pity party, insist Patrick and others. Instead,
it’s a time to be empowered and equipped. "We help these women
to establish healthy families," says Harris.
WOC encourages single moms to get off welfare, pursue their education
and dreams, and seek the Lord. It also helps provide housing, clothing,
food, furniture, transportation and emergency finances for bills as
well as college expenses. "But," says Harris, "for these
women it is more important to them to know that someone cares for and
is praying for them."
Single moms can become members of WOC only if they attend two consecutive
monthly meetings and remain committed to making progress spiritually
and to becoming independent.
Cynthia Patterson, 34, a mother of three who works two jobs, saw firsthand
how WOC takes care of its own. When the school her 9-year-old daughter
Iesha was attending threatened to hold Iesha back, Patterson turned
to WOC.
Harris contacted an educator who determined that Iesha had a slight
learning disability. Through tutoring Iesha has earned straight A’s.
Watt, the woman who walked to Radiant Church five years ago, celebrated
her fifth year being sober. "Women of Courage has changed my life,"
she says. "Darlene and the volunteers gave me hope. They saw something
in me that I couldn’t see in myself."
"Single moms need more than a welfare check to enable them to
survive," says Harris. "They need love and care from the body
of Christ."
–Kirk Noonan
Editor’s note: Those interested in receiving more information
about Women of Courage may contact Darlene Harris at 719-591-5343 or
e-mail at smfamilies@earthlink.com
