Celebrating the healing of broken hearts

Each year, as Christmas holiday nears, Abba House in Houston County hosts a benefit dinner to celebrate the strides made by the women and children it services. Over the years, the ministry has been instrumental in not only helping women deal with addictions and depression, but also in helping them heal from abuse, addictions and depression. And they do it all without the use of prescribed drugs and medications. Instead, they use the power of prayer and the Word of God.

Cindy Crawford is the Public Relations Coordinator and also heads the ministry team at Abba House in Perry, and she said that the program that the women who come to them for help must complete is not an easy one. As they make progress and champion through their physical, emotional and spiritual challenges, they need encouragement and to know that they are supported and loved. The annual benefit dinner is one way of doing just that.

“We have this every December,” said Crawford, “but this year, it was named ‘Miracle of Broken Hearts Made Whole’ because the whole program we have here is based on a book called ‘Being Made Whole.’”

The book she referenced was authored by Abba House co-founders, Jim and Christine Sharp, and was also the inspiration behind the program that was developed by the husband-and-wife team to offer wholeness and healing to the women who need their four-phase recovery ministry the most.

“This year, Mr. Jim chose to celebrate the miracle of being made whole because that’s what we get to witness happen with the women that we help here,” Crawford stated.

This year’s benefit dinner will happen on Thursday December 9 at 6:00 p.m., and it will take place at The Assembly of Warner Robins (6040 Watson Blvd.) in Byron. A graduate of Abba House’s recovery program will be the keynote speaker for the evening.

“Her name is Stephanie Long Wright, and she will be sharing her testimony with everyone that night,” Crawford revealed. “Not only has she graduated, but she has gone on to work with the iHOPE organization.”

According to its website, iHOPE is an acronym for International Holistic Opportunities to Promote Empowerment, and it is a nonprofit Recovery Community Organization (RCO) that promotes addition recover to middle Georgia. iHOPE, Inc. provides peer recovery support and training to people seeking addiction recovery, family members to those in recovery and dedicated community allies.

“They help with the transition process whether people are in transition from jail, drugs or whatever,” Crawford further explained. “Stephanie is a graduate of our program and now, she’s giving back, in a way, by working with them. We always like to highlight at least one graduate from our program at our dinners. We think she will really be an inspiration.”

In addition, the night’s agenda will include live entertainment from Kay Dodd, a Christian comedian who has shared the stage with notables like Jeff Foxworthy, the late Shirley Hemphill (from the 70s hit comedy series, “What’s Happening”) and the comedian often billed as the “Queen of Clean,” Chonda Pierce.

“Kay is wonderful. I’ve seen her at a couple of women’s conferences,” said Crawford. “She a hoot.”

Dodd often uses her own issues with addiction as a part of her stand-up routines. She has been in recovery since 1995.

“That’s why she’s so wonderful to have at this event,” Crawford pointed out. “Not only is she a Christian comedian, but she can relate. It will be fun for the women because they can relate to a lot of what she jokes about.”

Also performing at the benefit dinner will be His Way, a five-member band whose vision is to create unique music that promotes the message of Jesus Christ. The group will be providing the melody and harmony for the evening.

As far as the meal goes, it will be a particularly special treat for the women of Abba House this year. The ministry has a catering business as a part of its recovery program; so, in the past, the women in the program were the ones to prepare and serve the dinners. However, at next month’s affair, a professional chef will be on had to do it all.

“Melissa Hayes is retired Air Force, and right now, she is the chef out at Helms College in Macon,” Crawford explained. “She is going to be cooking for that night, and all of her students from the college that come and help are going to be receiving extra credit for their participation in preparing our meals.”

According to Crawford, they will also be serving the meals, which, for the first time, will allow the women of Abba House to sit down and just be honored. Not only will Hayes be serving that evening, but in the very near future, she will be becoming a mainstay in the Abba House ministry.

Earlier this year, Jim Sharp announced his plan to retire, and he made it known that he was in the market to find a ministry-minded married couple to take on the primary role of leadership with Abba House. It was Melissa Hayes and her husband, Brandon, that stepped up to the plate to complete the required internship. The Hayeses will soon take on many of the duties that the Sharps now carry out.

“They won’t necessarily be considered replacements because Mr. Sharp will still be a part of Abba House. He just wants to transfer a lot of the duties,” Crawford clarified. “He’s ready to just come and minister to the women here at specific times, but the administrative side of stuff will be transferring to Mr. Brandon and Mrs. Melissa. I’m excited to know Mrs. Melissa is planning to come on full time with us as early as January.”

The chef’s full-time attention will benefit the ministry on multiple levels. She is spearheading the mission to launch what will become the Abba Java Café, a coffee shop and bakery that will be housed inside of the Abba House Thrift Store. It will begin serving coffee and bakery items only, but with her cooking expertise, the menu will expand as popularity grows.

“We’re really looking forward to that,” Crawford said. “I’m excited about how good the meal will be for those who come and support what we’re doing too.”

The Miracle of Broken Hearts Made Whole benefit dinner will be a four-course meal consisting of a delicious salad, Italian Wedding Soup, Chicken Parmesan with sauteed vegetables and squash medley, and for dessert, cheesecake with strawberry compote.

Though the dinner sounds quite fancy, Crawford said that “business casual” was chosen for the dress code because she realizes that several of the attendees may be coming to the dinner immediately after getting off from work, and she did not want anyone to feel as though they had to be dressed in formal wear.

“We just want everyone to come, enjoy the meal, enjoy the entertainment, and help us to celebrate the women who are finding healing and wholeness through the ministry.”

Tickets are still available for purchase, and 100% of all proceeds are going toward helping the women and children serviced by Abba House and toward scholarships for women who need the help of the ministry. Midstate RV, located in Byron, has pledged to match any donation that is made up to $10,000.

Prices are $50 per plate and $300 per table of eight. For more information, or to purchase a ticket or make a donation toward the cause, please email Cindy Crawford at publicrelations@abbahouse.com or give her a call at 678-451-5852.

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