"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."    Luke 4:18-19

House of Esther Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit maternity home for teenage girls facing crisis pregnancy - fulfilling the call of Jesus in Luke 4:18-19.

House of Esther Ministries, Inc.

The Problem
of Teen Pregnancy

Our Vision

Objectives

The Impact
of Teen Pregnancy

Meet Our Staff

Criteria for Admission

• America has the highest rates for teen pregnancy and births in the Western industrialized world.

• Nearly 4 out of 10 U.S. women will become pregnant at least once before age 20.

• There are about one million teen pregnancies in the U.S. per year.

• 43 out of every 1,000 births in Virginia involve teen mothers.

• Teen mothers are less likely to finish high school.

• Nearly 80 percent of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare.

• Children of teen mothers have lower birth weights and are at greater risk of neglect and abuse.

• Sons of teen mothers are 13 percent more likely to end up in the prison system.

• Daughters of teen mothers are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers.

Repairing the social structure of Hampton Roads one life at a time.

• Preaching the gospel to the poor

• Proclaiming release to the captives

• Proclaiming recovery of sight to the blind

• Setting free those who are oppressed

• Proclaiming the favorable year of the Lord

• To offer excellent prenatal care by providing consistent medical monitoring; access to emergency medical treatment; adequate nutrition and fitness

• To minister emotional healing and wholeness by creating a safe, loving environment and providing individual, group, and family therapy

• To encourage educational advancement by offering necessary support to finish high school, prepare for college or seek technical training

• To encourage spiritual growth and maturity by providing Christian education classes, discipleship classes, Bible-centered counseling; and by coordinating efforts with girls' pastors

• To prepare and empower girls for capable parenting by providing prenatal and parenting classes as well as links to adoption agencies

• To help lay a foundation for social and economic success by providing career counseling; job skills and life skills training; abstinence classes; and assistance with making appropriate living arrangements

• Prospective client must be 14 - 18 years old

• We accept referrals from all Hampton Roads Communities, (ie: other local churches, Bethany Christian Services, Crisis Pregnancy center, and Social Services).

• Medically cleared by a licensed physician as pregnant and low-risk

• Carrying first baby to term (not necessarily first pregnancy)

• In first trimester of pregnancy

• Serious about her life and the life of her child

• Willing to continue with education or find work after the baby is born

Dr. B. Courtney and Rev. Janeen L. McBath
Founders

Rev. Janeen L. McBath
President

Carolyn T. Long, MSSW, MAC, LCSW
Consulting Program Director

Catherine Sweeting, M.Ed.
Home Manager/Counselor/Chief Administrative Officer

Valeria King, MD
Medical Consultant

Astrid Zuppinger, RD, CNM
Nutritional Consultant

Return to top

House of Esther Ministries, Inc.
P. O. Box 15007
Chesapeake, VA  23328-5007