With a voice of passion, Faith House Director Kathy Schey declared, “Today, we celebrate the fulfillment of a vision known as Faith House, and we now set course on the mission that fuels our souls: changing lives now and for eternity!” as she spoke at the much-anticipated Faith House Grand Opening on Dec. 3, 2016.
The historic day marked five years of planning and building with the promise of what is yet to come. The Grand Opening displayed widespread levels of community support commemorated by the presence of Governor Larry Hogan and local elected officials including Frederick Mayor Randy McClement; Charlie Smith, State’s Attorney for Frederick County; Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner and many other government officials.
“We want to do everything in our power to restore hope and put those in need on a path toward healing and recovery,” Governor Larry Hogan said. “The Frederick Rescue Mission shares that goal and has been restoring hope in this community for more than 50 years. Now, through Faith House, Frederick will have another refuge, and this mission can continue making a difference in this community. Today’s grand opening is yet another example that with faith, hard work, and all of us working together, we truly can change Maryland for the better.”
A longstanding need in Maryland surfaced in 2011 at the grand opening of the Mission’s new cafeteria when a woman approached a Mission board member saying, “When are you going to have a place for people like me?” Since that moment, the Mission has prayed and worked tirelessly to build a program where women and children could experience healing and hope while pursuing a new life for their family.
The Mission finalized the purchase of 731 N. Market St. from the Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) in July 2015. IHA partnered with the Mission by agreeing to manage the apartments in the rear of the building, while the Mission moved forward with the historic building now known as Faith House. Renovations by Morgan-Keller Specialty Contracts began shortly thereafter to transform the building into a living space for 20 individuals.
Now, complete with a beautiful kitchen, an accommodating living room, new bathrooms and more, Faith House begins the journey to fulfill the work it was created to do: opening the door to hurting women and children in the Frederick area.
“When we open this door, we’re opening this door to God, we’re opening this door to anybody who wants to come in, regardless of their faith background, to get a second chance, a redirection, a new life,” Mission Executive Director Arnold Farlow said. “This is what Faith House is all about.”
As Faith House expands to meet growing needs, please continue to partner with the Mission prayerfully and financially as we reach out and provide hope to our community.
