Tabitha House

Home Prison Ministry Tabitha House Tabitha's Closet Thrift Store Volunteers Testimonies

  What is Tabitha House? ~ Biblical Foundation ~ How Trust Works ~ Classes ~ House Rules 

What is Tabitha House?

A residential home to mentor and disciple women released from prison who want to change the course of their lives... to rest and to heal while learning new skills to succeed (budgeting, computer and job skills, etc). Each resident agrees to follow the House Rules while she lives at Tabitha, where she earns trust and receives training.

The house property was purchased in 2001 and completely renovated in 2002 by mostly volunteer labor and donations.


Click here for before & after pictures!

Who will live in Tabitha House?

Women who have been carefully and prayerfully screened (see House Rules).  There will always be a volunteer supervisor or chaplain on the premises.

Mentors

Each woman is assigned a mentor, who calls her at least once each week, and takes her to a movie or dinner or some other appropriate social engagement.  The purpose of mentoring is to develop healthy relationships within the Church body.

Biblical Foundation for Tabitha House

It is our belief that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to make a successful transition from your old pattern to the "new" you.  Therefore all teachings and programs at Tabitha are based on scripture.  "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"  (Psalm 133:1)  One of the greatest skills you will learn during your stay at Tabitha House is how to live together within the Body of Christ

How Trust Works

Trust has to be earned.  Yes, you have been forgiven. That is not the issue.  Trust is a matter of demonstrating that your walk is equal to your talk.  Your Christian character has to have time to develop and old patterns of sin must be broken.

God commands us to "walk worthy of our calling" (1 Thessalonians 2:12).  If we demonstrate obedience to Christ in this way, other Christians will know we can be trusted.  It is not wise to trust someone who has not demonstrated trustworthiness.

The Lord has begun a new work in you, having a humble and teachable spirit will enhance your Christian growth.  you will have to put away your old ways of thinking - especially the prison mentality.  As you focus on Jesus, new patterns of thinking and behaving will take over more and more as you are conformed to the image of Christ.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should not only look to your own interests, but also the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:3-5)

Classes at Tabitha House

Tabitha House requires you to take the following classes:

  • Budgeting
  • Christian Living
  • Christian 12 step
  • Job Skills
  • Home Economics
  • How to Look and Dress for Success

Other classes available:

  • Post-Abortion Counseling
  • Sexual Abuse Counseling
  • Battered Women (Boundary setting)
  • Parenting Skills
  • Marriage Classes
  • Anger Management

House Rules

In order to reside at Tabitha House, you must demonstrate a sincere desire to grow closer to the Lord and to live a productive life.  You must be drug and alcohol free for at least 12 months and have no pending judicial charges.  Every woman at Tabitha House agrees to the following rules of conduct: 

  • Participation in all programs at Tabitha is required.

  • Church attendance is mandatory.

  • No lending or borrowing of money.

  • Tabitha House reserves the right to randomly drug test residents.

  • Cell phones, pagers, and personal vehicles are not allowed.

  • Be on time for all appointments and commitments.  When someone is coming to pick you up or to conduct a meeting, please be ready and waiting.  Volunteers are giving their time - demonstrate your appreciation by being prompt.

  • Personal hygiene, clean clothes, and general household cleanliness are extremely important and expected from each resident.  Appropriate attire should be worn at all times.

  • God has provided a home for you to grow and heal.  It is your responsibility to keep care of it.  Each resident will be assigned chores.  At not time will food be allowed in the bedrooms.  Meals are to be taken in the kitchen.  Snacks are allowed in the sitting area, but you must clean up after yourself.

  • If you smoke, smoking is only allowed outside.

  • Tabitha will help you find employment, but bear in mind that the main goal is to establish your foundation as a Christian.  Therefore, Sunday work is not an option.

  • Once you are working, you will be expected to contribute $50 each week for housing expenses.

  • Budgeting is one of the skills taught at Tabitha.  So once you are working, you will have a financial counselor to oversee how you use money.

  • Family will be allowed to visit after 2 weeks. Visits are on Sunday from 1:00 until 5:00 pm.  No visitors are allowed in the bedrooms.

  • You have chosen Tabitha House so that you can grow into the person that the Lord intends.  With this in mind, we ask that you not date while at the House.  Let the Lord use this time to help and renew you. The Lord must be FIRST in your life.  Also, contact with those from your past will be discouraged.

Tabitha Ministry ● PO Box 514 ● Summerfield, NC  27358 ● 336.643.0223  ●  E-mail

Lord, the wounds of the world are too deep for us to heal.

We have to bring men and women to You and ask You to look after them . . .

     the sick in body and mind, the withered in spirit, the victims of greed and injustice, the prisoners of grief.

And yet, our Father, do not let our prayers excuse us from paying the price of compassion.

Make us generous with the resources you have entrusted to us.

Let Your work of rescue be done in us and through us all.