This weekend, A Better Way Ministries, Inc. invites you to attend their 2005 Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes. This inaugural event will take you on a tour of seven beautiful and unique homes in the Fayetteville Whitewater Creek area and is sure to put you in the holiday spirit. From a cobblestone courtyard that resembles the south of France to an English country cottage, each house on the tour will have anticipating the next. Your hosts will be on hand at each location to assist you.

The tour isn’t just about seeing the unique homes Fayetteville has to offer, however, the proceeds from the tour will be used to help support the Teen Challenge Center in Sharpsburg.

There are many programs in Fayette and surrounding counties that help women and children struggling with life controlling issues, but not many that offer help to teenage boys and men. That’s why Teen Challenge was created. It is “a place for refuge where they can come and learn how to be Christian men.” Teen Challenge is the ministry of Reverend David Wilkerson, best known for his early days of ministry to young drug addicts and gang members in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn, as told in his book “The Cross and the Switchblade.” There are now more than 200 centers worldwide that are autonomous and self-supporting.

Local businessman John Barrow has made a commitment to establishing a center for the youth in the community with “A Better Way Ministries, Inc.,” a division of “Teen Challenge Georgia.” Barrow is a business owner, an elder at his church, a certified volunteer chaplain for the Department of Corrections for the last 14 years, and a product of Teen Challenge himself. Barrow has purchased a 52 acre farm in Sharpsburg which became operational Oct. 31 of this year. With a pond, a creek pasture, barns and a small chapel on the land, he has remodeled the farmhouse that will house approximately 7 guys and 1 staff member. As funds are raised, they will build a 6,000 to 7,000 sq. ft. home for the next phase. His vision is to have 2 more homes of about the same size, one for boys 13-18 years, the other for guys 18 years and older. They will grow vegetables and fruits and there will be horses and other farm animals for the guys to work with. Those in the program will be involved in local churches and community service work.

Teen Challenge is a Christian based program for the recovery of alcohol and drug abuse. It has been recognized as the most effective of its kind with an 86% success rate with its numerous centers financed on donations. The Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes marks the first fundraising venture for the new center.

The tour takes place today through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening. Those organizing the tour ask that there be no cameras, cell phones or children under 12 at the event. Tickets can be purchased at the Whitewater Creek subdivision main gate for a donation of $19 to A Better Way Ministry. Tickets can also be purchased at all of the following locations before the event: Atlanta City Church, 770-964-2138; Pam’s Hallmark-Fayetteville, 770-461-3041; Pam’s Hallmark-Peachtree City, 770-487-2776; Southern Traditions Florist-Fayetteville, 770-460-5895; Beard & Company located at The Avenue-PTC, 770-631-4147; and at By Invitation Only-Court House Square, 770-719-9758.

For more information about the “Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes,” call Robin Hethcox at 404-786-3206. For more information about Teen Challenge call John Barrow at 770-631-8929. If you would like to support Teen Challenge but cannot attend this weekend’s event, contributions can be mailed to A Better Way Ministries, Inc., C/O Teen Challenge, P.O. Box 4048, Peachtree City, Ga. 30269.

A Better Way Ministries would like to express their sincere appreciation and thanks to the homeowners who have so graciously opened up their homes to the public to support this worthwhile cause in our community.

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