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BY MELISSA LAUBER
UMCONNECTION STAFF

'For everything there is a season,' Levolia Jones told the bishop, four district superintendents and more than 50 others at a recent gathering at the Susanna Wesley House in Baltimore. This is her season of healing.

MELISSA LAUBER/UMCONNECTION

Levolia Jones, shown here with her son, expresses gratitude for her home and the gift of healing time provided by the United Methodist Women at the Susanna Wesley House in Baltimore.

It was not long ago that Jones decided her life was over. Drugs and alcohol had destroyed all she held dear. She wasn't sure how she was going to continue to mother her toddler and teenage sons.

But the United Methodist Women, through the Susanna Wesley House, reached out to Jones ? offering her housing, hope, and a plan to create a new future. 'They gave me time,' she said. 'That was the greatest gift.'

On April 10, Bishop John R. Schol was invited to a reception to learn more about this 86-year ministry to women.

His visit began with a tour of the facility, which includes two houses at 607 and 609 Park Ave. The 607 property, which was abandoned after a fire, holds many architectural flourishes such as carved marble fireplaces and chandeliers.

The United Methodist Women are still refining their vision for this property, reported Romaine Towers, treasurer of the organization's board of directors.

The 609 property was transformed in December 2003, into a home for nine women in transition and their 15 children. The women live in suites while sharing kitchens and laundry facilities. The United Methodist Women maintain a playroom and learning center for the children.

MELISSA LAUBER/UMCONNECTION

Members of the Susanna Wesley House board welcome Beverly and Bishop John R. Schol, center, to the house.

The program is made possible by a unique partnership with the Women's Housing Coalition.

The coalition is an organization dedicated to 'breaking the cycle of homelessness by increasing the quantity and quality of affordable housing and by fostering the economic and social independence of homeless and low-income women and their families.'

Founded in 1979, the Women's Housing Coalition was instrumental in opening the first emergency shelter for women in Baltimore, the first single room occupancy (SRO), which has become a national model.

The Susanna Wesley House broadens the coalition's outreach to include women with children. Baltimore housing officials claim that providing housing for homeless and low-income women with children is one of the city's biggest challenges.

Schaefer

'The need,' said Elaine L. Schaefer, president of the Susanna Wesley House board of directors, 'is tremendous.'

While the Women's Housing Coalition, under the direction of Joann Levy, oversees the daily operations and women's programs at the Susanna Wesley House, the Baltimore-Washington Conference United Methodist Women, serve as landlords, ensuring the property meets the needs of the women and their children.

They also provide a number of extras that increase the quality of life for the residents, including clothes, kitchen supplies, gift certificates for Christmas and computers, books and toys for the playroom.

Currently, the United Methodist Women are seeking volunteers to lead evening programs, helping the women so that they can assist their children in school.

Bishop Schol commended the women for the ministry, which is named after the mother of Methodism's founder, John Wesley. He asked everyone present to keep the residents of the Susanna Wesley House in their prayers.

Jones was 'touched to the heart,' that the bishop and many other United Methodists would ask for prayers for her, and she promised to return the favor.

The Susanna Wesley House is an advance special of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Donations can be sent to 609 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201.

For more information about the Susanna Wesley House and the ministry of the United Methodist Women, call (410) 837-3787.