Those who would like to share and pray with others are invited to take part in a "Prayer in the Neighborhood" program being offered by a new local nonprofit organization, Middletown Ministries.

The virtual program began on May 19 and will continue every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. via Zoom. Those who would like to join may contact Theresa Whitcraft, director and co-founder of Middletown Ministries, at http://www.facebook.com/MiddletownMinistries. Those who send a message to Theresa on Facebook will be provided with the Zoom link.

Theresa is also open to having neighbors attend the program in person at the couple's home. The prayer program will take place on an outdoor back porch. Interested individuals may contact Theresa on Facebook for more details.

"People can pray for whatever they want to or request prayer for whatever they need," Theresa said, explaining the program. "If you are interested in prayer and being part of our prayer ministry and need or want to pray with someone, that's what I'm (here) for."

"The whole idea is to get people together with each other and God at the same time," she said, adding that the ministry would also like to offer a Bible study program.

Theresa, along with her husband, Bill, president and founder, formed the Christian outreach ministry less than a year ago. Bill is an ordained certified chaplain with Corporate Chaplains of America. "We have been in ministry for years, but God put it into our hearts to start our own ministry and step out and do things," Theresa said.

Middletown Ministries' first major effort was to provide Blessing Bags for 150 senior residents of the Middletown Home. The bags were filled with items such as blankets, socks, personal care products and even a stuffed teddy bear, which were collected from the community. The bags were delivered to the home in December 2020.

Bill and Theresa are also group leaders for Celebrate Recovery. "It's a 12-step recovery program for (people with) hurts, habits and hang-ups," Theresa explained. "We have groups that focus on anxiety, overeating, addiction and abuse. It's a multifaceted organization. We bring help and support to every area of people's lives."

One of the Celebrate Recovery groups that they lead is at their home church, Grace Chapel, 2535 Colebrook Road, Elizabethtown. Meetings are held on Wednesdays beginning at 6:30 p.m. They also lead a group at the Millionaire Club, 333 18th St., Harrisburg, on Thursdays beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Future plans call for the ministry to have its own facility or office and to offer additional programming. "We would like to have our own building and expand our ministry," said Theresa. "Going to a Celebrate Recovery meeting is really good, but having the security in knowing someone is there when you need them is what we focus on. Our focus is to be there for people."

For more details about Middletown Ministries and its programs, visit the previously mentioned Facebook page or http://www.middletownministries.org.