The Annual Freedom House Adult and Teen Challenge Banquet and Graduation Ceremony was held Saturday, October 7 and celebrated 15 years of freedom for the facility.
Once a home for orphans, and later a home for the elderly, now the historical building houses ladies who are being freed from addictions In 1901 the land, which was originally a 153-acre farm, was donated by Mr. William Gentry. Named the Odd Fellows Home, the building served as an orphanage for many years and then became a home for the elderly. The Independent Order of the Odd Fellows mission was “to strive to make the world a better place to live in, seeking to improve and elevate the character of mankind.”
Amazingly all these years later the building still serves its purpose by providing a place for young women to build better lives.
In 2012 the building was donated to the Oklahoma Adult and Teen Challenge by Peggy Christian and was named Freedom House. Along with grants and fundraising efforts, restoration of Freedom House launched in 2013 though there were some setbacks suffered from time to time, this weekend tenants celebrated another eight ladies graduating from the program.
These women have been set free from all kinds of addictive behaviors and they have learned to take responsibility for their own actions. Freedom House has been instrumental in teaching these ladies how to develop safe relationships within their community, their workplace and within their everyday lives.
David Bright served as Master of Ceremony for the evening and many dignitaries came to celebrate the facility’s success, including former Exec. Dir. Karen Coon and Oklahoma Adult and Teen Challenge CEO, Wayne Gray.
The evening consists of door prizes, a silent auction and a lovely catered dinner by Salt and Light BBQ from Spearman, TX. Each graduate also gave their short testimony of where God had brought them from to present victories.
Statistics boast that 78% of students who have completed the Adult & Teen Challenge Program have remained drug-free from life-controlling issues and addictions.
Exec. Dir. Kathy Love shared her dream that God has given her not once, one twice, but three different times over a course of seven years. Each time God adding to the picture of women laughing, playing games and being set free. Love stated she clearly heard the Lord say to her, “If you built it, they will come.”
So now staff are working to complete a Worship Center beside Freedom House. Ground work has already started and they are now praying for donations to finish the task at hand.
“Nothing is too difficult for God. Money is no object to Him. I know He is going to make a way and speak to many hearts to finish this place of worship for generations to come.”
