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Our Founder
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Board of Directors
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Volunteers
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Requirements for Volunteers
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  Growing
up, I never knew a father's love. I only knew that men could hurt little
girls. My childhood rejection and abandonment issues set in motion a
pattern of destructive behavior in my life. At 15, I was an unwed
mother; at 16 I was a high school drop out; at 22 I was the mother of
three; and at 25 my marriage of nine years was over. By the age 27, I
had been married and divorced twice. I abused alcohol, drugs and myself.
When people would tell me about the Heavenly Father’s love I could
not relate to the concept of a “father’s” love. It wasn’t until I gave
up my life and surrendered to Christ that I finally understood God’s
marvelous unconditional love! I now proclaim to all “I am a new creature
–old things have passed away!” No longer am I that child seeking love
and acceptance from any source. My life is finally filled with joy and
happiness that only God provides. It is now my desire to help those who
have experienced the same humiliation, hurt, and rejection that I
endured. To provide Help-Hope and Home for women.
Since 1995 Cindi has worked with women from all walks of life. In the
hospitals, homeless shelters, and prisons. In 1995 Cindi received her
chaplain’s training at Moses Come Hospital. She worked has a chaplain
for five year. In 1997 at the
women’s prison in Lexington North Carolina
Cindi trained as a community volunteer taking inmates out on passes. She
also began a weekly Bible Study each Monday Night. In 1999 Cindi left
her paid employment to start Tabitha Ministry. The same year she trained
with the Department of Corrections
to teach Ethics and Choices to inmates. That same year she put together an eight-week
class for women of sexual abuse and incest. "Wounded Heart" has been one
of the more successful classes in the prison (Inspired by
Dr. Dan Allender’s book). In 2001, Cindi received her Bachelors Degree in Christian Counseling from
Jacksonville Theological Seminary and began working with women in the
community free of charge. In 2002, she opened Tabitha House for women. In
the years that Tabitha House has been open, eight women per year (52 as
of 2010) have
completed the intensive discipleship program and 80% have remained
successful (i.e., not returning to their former lifestyles). In 2005, she began
to work with Nick Rabah in the
Celebrate Recovery class at
Calvary
Church to reach women who might not be homeless or on drugs but are in
their own private prisons. To God Be the Glory!!!!!
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Board Members are committed to overseeing the operations and strategy
for Tabitha Ministry. They meet monthly to discuss current
happenings and to plan future events. Please pray for these men and
women, who volunteer their time for this important function.
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Tabitha House Volunteers and Residents
Prayer Retreat at Holden Beach, May 2006 |
Cindi Wagner, Founder and Chair
Kathy Green
Marie Harrington
Lee Harrison
Jann Jones
Linda Angermeier
Keith Wagner |
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 Volunteers perform various functions of the ministry, including
administrative and educational. Tabitha is proud to have provided a Bible
study in the prison every week (we never had to cancel) for five years,
between 2002 and 2007. Our
volunteer teams are the hands that get the work done: ministry to the ladies,
communication with the community, and the administrative functions required to keep the
ministry working smoothly. If you'd like to join your talents with this
team, please contact Cindi Wagner.
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Tabitha volunteers meet to train & fellowship! |
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- Don't make promises you can't keep. Your actions speak louder than
your words.
- Don't hand out any books, literature, movies etc. without prior approval
from the Director.
- Don't criticize staff, the ministry, other races or other denominations.
- Don't enter into gossip about others, especially other girls in the
program.
- Be aware of manipulations or con games that the ladies may try to use on
you.
- Be trustworthy - when someone shares confidential information, do not
repeat it.
- In order to take a girl out of the house, you must give the Director 48
hours notice. Please remember that schedules are created a week in
advance, and the girls have class every night.
- Do not take girls around alcohol or put them in a position of temptation.
- One of the hurdles we face is materialism - taking a girl to an expensive
restaurant or buying her an expensive gift works against the principles we are
teaching
- Please do not choose "favorites" - what you do for one, you must do for
all! (Mentors are the exception here, since each lady has an individual
mentor.)
- Do not give money
- Do not become emotionally entangled - these ladies often run a
rollercoaster of emotions, and you must be able to rise above that in order to
help them.
- Do not take it upon yourself to correct these ladies in any way, unless it
pertains to a class you are teaching. They already have enough trouble
with self-esteem, and the Lord and their Mentors will deal with behavior and
attitudes in good time.
- Do not let them use your phone to contact men.
- Remember that these ladies are Babes in Christ - do not try to give them
spiritual "meat" when they need "milk." The spiritual gifts and the hard
questions of theology must come AFTER they have established the basics of
relationship with God.
- Remember that Tabitha House is home to these ladies - please
respect their privacy and their need to "let down" while they are at home.
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