Living Waters opens House of Hope at-risk youth ministry, ‘A lighthouse of hope’
By Brieanna Smith/Managing Editor ● Local News ● October 8, 2024
WARNER ROBINS — In North Warner Robins, an inconspicuous house blends seamlessly into the neighborhood. Within those walls, the stage is set for helping children through their darkest times, both physically and spiritually.
On Saturday, Living Waters Ministry celebrated the opening of The House of Hope, which they described in a press release as “a sanctuary designed to provide shelter, support, and spiritual healing for at-risk youth in Warner Robins.”
Living Waters Co-founder and Director Julie Balducci described several prophetic acts at the celebration, which symbolized House of Hope’s mission.
Balducci explained that the first symbol, a fire pit, symbolized Co-founder Liz Miller’s divine designation as a “fire starter.”
“Fire starter, for us, in spiritual terms, is to be set on fire for the Lord, with passion, with love, with like a burning one. It’s just one who’s just very intensely in love with the Lord and just shares him,” Balducci said.
Fire contributed to another prophetic act, where a previously burned back fence was mended. “After we had moved in, it got mended. So, mending fences [symbolizes] mending relationships because God is in the restoration business,” Balducci said.
The final act denoted restoration by piecing together a broken glass picked up in the neighborhood.
“We put it together as one to unify, wholeness and unity. With our ministry, our mission statement is women and children who have experienced brokenness. And so we bring them to the feet of living waters, which is Jesus, so that he can make them whole,” Balducci said.
House of Hope was born recently, but the partnership that brought it about was 32 years in the making. Balducci and Miller have been friends since 1992 but have lived in different states, Texas and Tennesee, respectively, for 20 years. Balducci said four years ago, they were both called back to Warner Robins to start Living Waters Ministry.
Two years ago, Balducci was called to start the sanctuary during worship at Evergreen Family Fellowship. After confiding in her pastor and Miller, House of Hope was born. She said the house has naturally come together from relationships formed in the community.
“Youth started showing up to our tent event, and there was just the interest from the neighborhood kiddos to have a youth ministry developed. From there and those relationships that’s been fostered over these last two years, seeing the needs and everything, having the prophetic word of a House of Hope, to give birth to that, has led into this. It’s just been a beautiful progression,” Balducci said.
Balducci is hopeful the shelter can be a “hybrid orphanage,” if children need a place to stay or foster, they can. If they need spiritual help, they can come by for fellowship and Bible study.
Within the house’s setting, House of Hope strives to provide an environment where children can feel God’s love and grow in their walk with Him.
Balducci said the House’s director, Savannah Raborn, was commissioned through their church Sunday to manage the house and minister to the neighborhood.
“We’re all as believers, to go and to share the good news of Jesus and that the kingdom of God is at hand. That’s what her mission is, is to represent King Jesus into a very dark place and be a lighthouse of hope for these children,” Balducci said.
Being among the community they serve has shown Balducci brokeness from children whose parents are addicted to drugs and alcohol, those who have been abandoned or neglected, or children who live among crime, saying the trauma they’ve faced in their lives have become the norm.
“We want to give them a safe place to come, to know that they’re loved, to know that they’re enough, to know that they’re valued, to know that they’re cherished, to know that there’s a better way at life than the one that this world’s showing them right now. They have a purpose and a calling in their life that’s higher,” Balducci said.
Balducci mentioned the ministry would like to open a women’s and children’s shelter in Kathleen in the future. In the meantime, she said the organization is seeking donations to upgrade House of Hope.
To donate or find out more information about Living Waters, visit livingwatersministryga.com.
About the Writer:
Brieanna Smith is the Managing Editor of The Houston Home Journal. Born in Denver, she spent most of her childhood in Grand Junction, Colorado. She graduated from Colorado Mesa University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and a minor in Graphic Design. She worked as a technical director and associate producer for KREX 5 News in Grand Junction, Colorado, before moving to Georgia and starting her tenure at the Journal in 2022. She and her husband, Devon, currently reside in Warner Robins. When she is not working, Brie finds joy in painting, playing her ukulele, playing cozy video games and exploring new music.
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