New Gastonia prayer center seeks to reach the hurting of all denominations

Bill Poteat, The Gaston Gazette
·3 min read
Shown, from left, are the Rev. Houston Matthews, Julia Jahn, Lavonne Beach, John Still, Eileen Klimkowski, Kathleen Taylor, and the Rev. Kenneth Falls.
Shown, from left, are the Rev. Houston Matthews, Julia Jahn, Lavonne Beach, John Still, Eileen Klimkowski, Kathleen Taylor, and the Rev. Kenneth Falls.

You can't throw a rock very far in Gaston County without hitting a Christian church of one denomination or another.

So why does the community need a multi-denominational prayer center where folks can go for prayer, healing, and support?

"Some people may have been hurt by the church," responds the Rev. Houston Matthews, president of the board of directors for the Christian Prayer and Healing Center.

"Some people may have been let down by the church," he continued. "Some people have no faith experience or feel uncomfortable going to a church. But all of those people need prayer and healing."

Matthews and the center's executive director, the Rev. Lavonne Beach came by The Gazette newsroom last week to talk about the mission of the center and its goals in advance of its grand opening on Tuesday, May 17 at 7 p.m.

Logo for the Healing Center.
Logo for the Healing Center.

The center is located at 2923 Rousseau Court in south Gastonia.

Matthews and Beach explained that the center grew out of a vision which Eileen Klimkowski had of a safe place where the hurting could come for prayer and healing.

Klimkowski retired from the Navy as a nurse and then set up a private home health agency in Gastonia called Emerall Care. The former location of that agency is where the Christian Prayer and Healing Center is located.

"What we are trying to do is be an arm of the church," Beach explained, "and not to be in competition with any church. We truly want to shine God's light into the darkness of the world."

The center is currently open for prayer from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Wednesday.

So what can a person who goes to the center expect?

"We begin with corporate prayer," Beach answered. "And then have one-on-one sessions with our staff or a volunteer."

"We will sit down with the person," Matthews said. "We will talk. We will listen. We will pray. We will talk and try to discern if there is a tangible problem we can help with. We can put them in touch with resources and, if they are looking for a church, we can give them a list of options."

Serving with Matthews on the board of directors are Kathy Taylor, Dr. John Still, the Rev. Kenneth Falls, and Bruce Yelton. Klimkowski, Julie Jahn, and Brenda Gilbert serve as advisers to the board as needed.

"Again," said Beach, "some people are not comfortable going to a church, and we offer a safe, friendly, confidential environment where individuals can come for prayer and encouragement for their mind, body, and spirit."

Beach said the center is likely to expand its hours as its mission grows and said prayer appointments may be set up by calling 980-320-1901 or emailing healingcentergastonia@gmail.com.

"You don't have to look far in Gaston County to see that light is indeed needed in the darkness," said Matthews. "The suicide rate is up. Domestic violence is rising. Drug usage is up. People are hurting and need healing."

Bill Poteat may be reached at 828-448-0195 or bpoteat@gastongazette.com.

Bill Poteat
Bill Poteat

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: New prayer center seeks to reach the hurting of all denominations