Female philanthropy Women’s ministry to provide support, help

Jenny Walling/ Lincoln Times-News
Susan Harold and Shellie Voncannon put up flyers to advertise the Women’s Ministry at Westport Baptist Church. Harold is hoping to reach out to women who are in need, especially those who are abused.
Shellie Voncannon is speechless as she sits and remembers how her life used to be.
She said the scars on her face have healed but the emotional scars are the hardest ones to get over.
She says she still hears the little voice in her head. She struggles with it even today.
Voncannon said if she hadn’t wised up, things would be a lot different right now.
She would probably be dead.
Leaving he husband was the hardest thing for her to do after five years of marriage.
“Fear kept me in,” she said.
Leaving the beach to start a new life in Charlotte where her sister lives was a big step for her.
But now she has a new life and is happily married.
“It is the difference between night and day,” she said.
Voncannon is sure that she is not the only woman who has suffered from abuse.
Susan Harold has started a ministry for women through Westport Baptist Church, in order to reach out to women such as Voncannon.
Harold has also experienced mental and physical abuse.
Both Harold and Voncannon are members of the church.
The first meeting for the ministry was held last year for church members.
Now Harold is wanting to reach out to other women in the community.
She has sent out numerous letters and posted flyers at several of the local churches.
Harold is not going to counsel women who come to the meetings, but is wanting to encourage, help, listen and pray with them.
“Of course we will provide professional counselors as needed for worst cases,” Harold said.
She also hopes that other women will come to the meeting as well. It is not only open to women who are abused.
There is also a 24-hour prayer line that is open to anyone in the community, 704-483-5841.
For Harold, the ministry is her life and her purpose.
“I am not involved with anything else in the church because I like to give this my full attention,” she said.
Starting Thursday, March 18, the ministry will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the church and will do so every Thursday for three months. Following that, there will be a once a month support group.
For more information call 704-483-5851. by Amy Wadsworth