Glory House Saving Lives

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Depression, abuse and neglect can destroy people's lives.  But, a little known faith based program in Tulsa is helping make positive changes in the lives of the women who have found it.  An area couple owes the reconstruction of their relationship to the help she found at Glory House.

Jessica and Kevin were engaged and planning to get married.

"The depression made it difficult to move forward," said Jessica.

They were ready to scrap the relationship, and then they found Glory House. It's in a two story building just east of downtown Tulsa.  It is a little known faith based program that is 14 years old.  Susie Barnes is the director.

For women in the program this is home for six months.  Each one has a bedroom and there is a community living room and dining area and a big kitchen.

"All the residents cook.  Everybody has a schedule," said director Susie Barnes.

The program is designed for women age 18 and older, currently they can house six residents, and they hope to expand.

"We've actually had people come here from New York and Chicago.  St Louis.  All over the globe," said Susie Barnes.

The majority were suffering from depression, and like Jessica, had pretty much run out of options.

"Before coming to Glory House, it was full blown depression.  No will to live," said Jessica.

She had suffered abuse as a child, and the psychological damage from those incidents affected every relationship, and she hoped Glory House could help her save this one.

"I was that desperate," said Jessica.

But, she finished the program and salvaged the relationship with Kevin.  They got married in August, found a little house and are at the very beginning of happily ever after.

Glory House has a fundraiser coming up on Friday evening at the Renaissance Hotel.