My Journey

Patricia Mackenzie-Buck, Director
 
In 1989, I was living in Bloomington, Indiana, where my children and I had moved to be near family after a painful separation from their father. In my new role as a single parent, I experienced a crisis with one of my teen-age children. There had been an article in the local newspaper about a new, free counseling service available for hurting women, at the Center for Women's Ministries, Inc. A former teacher, named Reova Meredith, was the Director. I spoke with a receptionist there, explaining my crisis and immediate need for counseling. A counseling session was scheduled and I shared my fears and concerns about my child, and my inadequacies as a single parent. My counselor was empathetic and supportive; she was also a single parent. I knew she understood my situation as no one else could. The crisis was eventually resolved.
 
Several years later, I had earned a degree in social work, remarried, and moved to Clarksville, TN. I was employed in the field of medical social work, with a challenging and fulfilling career. Early in 2002, my job situation changed. I began praying for direction in my career, and kept hearing the name "Reova Meredith" ringing in my spirit. She had been the director of the first Center for Women's Ministries, Inc. I contacted her, found that the Centers had been multiplying throughout the state of Indiana and were even established in other states. I shared with her that I believed God was calling me to establish a Center for Women's Ministries, Inc., in Clarksville. She confirmed my calling. After taking training to become certified to teach others to become volunteer paraprofessional counselors, and lay the groundwork to create our own CWM here, the Lord gave me this scripture:

        "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit..." Zechariah 4:6
 
We now have sixteen trained counselors, and will soon have four more.  A building, furnishings, and funding have been provided. It has been an exciting adventure, following the Lord on the path that He is leading me!

Written November, 2004