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Mission statement

The Samaritan Women’s mission is to promote Health, Healing, and Hope in some of the most desperate and dark situations.

Our heart is broken for issues such as:

  • disrespect for Creation
  • the destruction caused by addictions and despair
  • division and disunity in the Church
  • exploitation of women and children

2011 Goals

While there are many simultaneous projects underway, the follow are our primary, mission-centered goals for this year:

RESIDENCE

  1. Complete sufficient renovation of the Residence to allow for an initial occupancy of 6 clients.  Continue with renovations as resources allow
  2. Define and launch the Residents’ Therapeutic program

VOCATIONAL PROGRAM

  1. Secure funds and complete the build-out of the Culinary Kitchen
  2. Pilot an initial set of vocational training courses.  Assess the pilot and plan for 2012 expansion

FARM

  1. Complete construction of hoop house and launch In-house Gardening program
  2. Establish composting operation and production
  3. Refine farm production practices to increase revenue stability.  Meet or exceed revenue targets
  4. Pilot FaithSTANDS initiative with six sites.  Assess and make recommendations for program expansion in 2012

SAMARITAN CHURCH

  1. Facilitate admittance of 12 women into detox/recovery program
  2. Host at least 4 neighborhood block parties/holiday events
  3. Execute Health and Wellness Fair
  4. Launch weekly worship service and prayer meetings
  5. (Working with church partners)  Renovate 2697 to serve as the Spa House.  Target to open in Summer 2011.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

  1. Build Maryland Rescue & Restore Coalition
  2. Plan and execute several public awareness seminars.  Endeavor to reach 30 congregations with HT awareness program
  3. Host up to four care-giver skills trainings

OPERATIONS

  1. Expand Board composition by at least four appointments
  2. Implement systems and protocols for contacts management, accounting, farm production management, and client management
  3. Hire Office Manager
  4. Relaunch website (done!)
  5. Continue to build volunteer base; define Congregational Partnerships
  6. Pilot at least 3 internship positions.  Assess and plan for expansion in 2012.

DEVELOPMENT

  1. Secure 40% of operating costs through development efforts
  2. Host 2 major and 2 minor fund-raising events. Assess ROI and plan for 2012.
  3. Pursue Federal and Local grant-maker support for TSW initiatives

Origin of the Name

While the Good Samaritan story (Luke 10) is worthy one, we take our name from the story in John 4, where Jesus encounters the Samaritan Woman at the Well.  This exchange between the Lord Jesus and this ostracized, isolated woman (with a past) offers instruction to us on how we are to relate to one another.  In this story, Jesus defies all social norms and engages in both personal and theological conversation with a woman whom others have clearly rejected.  And even though He knew “all that [she] ever did,” He still received her with nonjudgment and compassion.   As a result of this conversation, the woman is transformed.  She returns to her community–the same one that rejected her–and ends up becoming the very first disciple.  Because of her testimony, many came to believe.

That is how we aspire to model our ministry:  to take the stance that regardless of who you are or what you may have done, you should be recieved with nonjudgment and compassion.  And to believe that through a transformational relationship with Christ, your past is no longer who you are and you can be used for AMAZING things in Him.