Walking into a room of multiple, pint-sized couches in bright greens and blues, and whimsical, alphabet-oriented rugs, Pastor Tony Garris smiled as he envisioned the future.
“It’s exciting to get ready to be up and running,” he said.
Garris, pastor of Healing Waters Full Gospel Ministries in Columbus, referred to the church’s new Christian child care center to be named Healing Waters Daycare. The facility is about to open by mid-August at 2330 Midway St., next door to the church. The 7,200 square-foot space — part of that will be completed later as an expansion — previously had been Nancy’s Nook and Nursery for years locally.
Initially, about six trained staff using a pre-kindergarten curriculum will have an initial capacity to care for about 50 children, from 6 weeks old through age 5, according to organizers.
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“This looks so awesome,” Garris said, passing credit to Susie Kelley, center director, and a team of volunteers.
Those volunteers have done everything from replacing the facility’s flooring to securing child-oriented decor to even cleaning toys to be used.
“We have had so much help,” Garris said.
Kelley, who taught for 12 years at a Christian school, got the idea for the outreach about seven months ago as a practical way to serve the community. About two weeks after she and Garris initially discussed the idea, they noticed a story in The Republic in which residents and others discussed the serious need for affordable, quality child care.
“I told the pastor that I believed that was confirmation,” Kelley said. “When the Lord gives you an opportunity, you can lose it if you don’t use it.”
“It was a God thing,” Garris said.
Kelley mentioned that she aims for a nurturing atmosphere “in a safe environment where we can teach kids things like right from wrong, how to share and show them positive ways to relate to others.”
Healing Waters church member Sally Cowan already plans to bring her 3-year-old great-granddaughter to the day care. She is familiar with Kelley’s teaching skill and nurturing since Kelley taught Cowan’s granddaughter a few years ago, and praises the instructor’s way with children.
“Obviously, it’s important that she’ll be able to learn basics that relate to reading, writing and arithmetic, so to speak,” Cowan said, acknowledging that preparing for kindergarten is important. “But it’s also very important to me that she be somewhere to learn about Jesus.”
Garris mentioned that the new program will accept child care vouchers. Ideally, he wants to use the church’s 119-acre lake property in conjunction with the day care for outings for the children and parents.
The pastor also said he sees the day care as “another way to open doors” for people needing God’s love.
He does want families of enrollees to know that the church is available to serve them. He is passionate about allowing God to use him for the sake of others after he says Jesus dramatically delivered him from depression, drugs and alcohol in 1995.
“I’m still excited about that,” he said.
And about the future of caring for children.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About Healing Waters Daycare” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Where: 2330 Midway St. in Columbus (at the site of the former Nancy’s Nook and Nursery).
Opening: Probably by mid-August.
Operated by: Trained staff from Healing Waters Full Gospel Ministries next door.
Influence: Christian-based pre-kindergarten teaching and curriculum.
Cost: To be determined. Will accept vouchers.
Initial enrollment: Up to 50 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old.
Information: Susie Kelly at 812-603-6506 or [email protected]
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