By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: Tammy and Ronnie Butts and Devon LeMaster stand near the donated food at House of Hope 12.
For those in Prattville and the surrounding area that are in need of food, prayer or just in many cases, hope for the future, a ministry exists locally called House of Hope 12 that is well-placed to help just those people.
“House of Hope 12 started in 2012,” said Tammy Butts, Vice President of the ministry. “I felt a calling on my life to ministry and disciple women and show them a relationship with Christ.”
Butts said the ministry was named House of Hope 12 because she knew God had placed a calling on her to teach women and give them hope.
“I named it ‘hope’ because we all need hope in our lives,” she said. “The number 12 comes from a calling that I wanted to give it two years to see if it was just me or if Christ would send us 12 faithful people to start this ministry and go out and serve people in lower income housing and women that have been incarcerated.”
Butts, whose husband Ronnie is the President of the ministry, said that now it has at least 35 to 40 people volunteering on a monthly basis.
As far as the impact on the community that HOH12 has, the VP said it ranges from cooking meals to ministering to women in and just out of prison.
“We would all cook meals in our home and go to housing in Prattville and deliver and pray for those needs,” she said. “HOH12 started over in an area that had the parole office two doors from it. So the women that had been locked up would have to pass the ministry and go to the parole office for their visits. These women would come inside get a meal, join us in prayer and several have received Christ as their personal Savior.”
The ministry, which is part of the Food Bank in Montgomery receives the majority of the food that is donated to the community from that organization. Currently, food is taken once a month to Prattwood Apartments and then offered to folks in-house as well.
“The Bible studies are Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and lunch is prepared and served,” Butts said. “Some stay in and eat and some take it out. The opening hours are Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. for prayer and the resource room is open.”
House of Hope 12 is also partnering with Evangel Church of Prattville and Campus Pastor Devon LeMaster said that because he has been so encouraged by what Tammy and Ronnie are doing, he wanted to help as much as possible. Currently members of the church volunteer at the ministry as well.
Butts said she has also visited women in the Metro County Jail, but because of Covid, that has become more difficult. Although she is still trying to get back into the Metro Jail, she has had the chance to minister elsewhere.
“About four years ago, I had a calling on my life to minister to women in Tutwiler Prison in Wetumpka,” she said. “Women that have been incarcerated seem to be the ladies with no hope in their lives. The majority of these women have no one to turn to. A lot of the times, family and friends have walked away from them. Inmates fall into a dark side that seem so dark that the light will not shine again. Jesus calls for us to go into prisons, and unknown places. Jesus sat with the poor and the unwanted. I want these ladies to know that they are loved and they are wanted because of what Jesus did for us all.”
Butts said she tries to take Bibles to the prisoners when she visits but still needs more through donations. She also said that HOH12 needs financial support to keep providing for the needs of the city.
“We could use help in the area of helping to go get the food, stock the food and take the food door-to-door to families that need it,” she commented. “If we could get help in finances, HOH12 could reach out to more people sharing the gospel, food and helping those who need hygiene products.”
House of Hope 12 continues to do just what it started to do 10 years ago, said Butts.
“Our mission is to serve people, love people and be the hands and feet of Jesus,” she said. “The most important thing is that they know Jesus.”
House of Hope 12 is located at 740 East Main Street, Suite #5 in the Food Outlet mall and can be reached by email at houseofhope12prattville@outlook.com or by texting 334-296-5600.
