We are a Women's Transitional house for women coming out of Jail/Prison. We are a Christian based transitional home, helping women learn how to live a Christian life and teaching them life skills.  Read more…

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New Beginnings Big Country

PO Box 4193

Abilene 79608

Phone: 325-665-5538

Email: newbeginningsabilene@hotmail.com

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New Beginnings Big Country is a 501c3, Non Profit ministry based organization. We are fully supported by free will offerings. We accept donations of any kind.

Call: 325-665-5538

501c3, non-profit ministry- based organization

Stonebridge Ministries

We are featured in the Abilene Living Magazine!

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New Beginnings - Big Country in the News

Please click on a link below to go to a news article.

New Beginnings in Abilene gives hope to former female inmates

Some say a smile is worth a thousand words. Almost a thousand new smiles were given out for free at the Abilene Civic Center, including one to a woman who received a new smile after six years. Volunteers with the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation offered free dental care for people who can't afford it. It's safe to say that Veronica Scott received a miracle. On Saturday, she smiled for the first time in six years..… read more

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/195MIbi

‘New Beginnings' Non-Profit Prepares New Home

ABILENE, Texas - More than fifty volunteers helped prepare the new home for New Beginnings, the non-profit organization that supports women transitioning out of prison and back into society.

"It's amazing to be a part of this," said Melissa Murphy, a volunteer from the Beltway Park Baptist Church women's ministry.”… read more

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/XYvuU6

'New Beginnings' Gives Hope To Women Leaving Prison

The non-profit named New Beginnings that aims to help women transition into society after leaving jail held and awareness lunch at the Center for Contemporary Arts.

"I just cried out to the Lord and said how could I help these women?" said Missy Denard, executive director of New Beginnings." And He gave me the vision of a house."… read more

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/14FfnBQ

Local Non-Profit Eases Transition Of Once Troubled Women Into Society

"And this is my room!" It's more than just a new home. It's a new shot at life. Susan Watkins, a member at New Beginnings says, "I had tried several times to stay clean and stay sober and be better and there was really nothing that was working. Nothing was changing inside of me."

Just a few months ago, Watkins was about to be released from jail, with nowhere to turn. Then, her life skills teacher told her she was coming to New Beginnings.… read more

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/YwvYUV

Local Organization Giving Women a New Beginning

Making the transition from incarceration to life in the real world can be tough and many struggle to make it in the real world after being released.

This problem inspired Missy Denard to create New Beginnings, a Christian-based transitional house for women coming out of jail or prison. Her mission is to help these women rebuild their lives outside of the confines of jail. So far, the organization has had a great success… read more

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/11PymDD

A new beginning: Taylor County ministry helps women transition from prison to society

Making the transition from incarceration to life in the real world can be tough and many struggle to make it in the real world after being released.

New Beginnings is experiencing its third “new beginning.” The nonprofit ministry, founded in 2010 by Taylor County Jail Chaplain Missy Denard, provides housing for women coming out of jail or prison or who are on parole or probation. This month, the ministry is opening a third location, a former apartment complex with eight units.… read more

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/195MIbi

Photo by Joy Lewis

WTU Volunteer Citizen of the Year: finalist Missy Denard helps women rebuild after serving time

Ktxs has teamed up with WTU for the first ever WTU Volunteer Citizen of the Year award. Over the past couple of months we’ve asked folks to submit nominations and tell us about individuals here in the Big Country who are changing lives through service. Mid-December, we’ll announce the winner who will receive a $5000 donation from WTU to the charity of their choice. 5 finalists have been named, and right now we want to introduce you to one of them whose name is Missy Denard, and she’s created a place called “New Beginnings”… see the video

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/1c79tbI

Missy Denard is Named WTU's Volunteer Citizen of the Year 2013

ABILENE, Texas - We're happy to announce Missy Denard has been named WTU's Volunteer Citizen of the Year for 2013! She is changing the lives of dozens of women through her transitional home, New Beginnings.

Watch as we surprised Missy live on KTXS This Morning, telling her she was chosen as this year's Volunteer Citizen and the recipient of a $5,000 donation from WTU… see the video

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/1bLBN6e

Dyess We Care Team Renovates Apartments For Women Getting A New Start After Jail

New Beginnings Big Country, an organization aimed to help women after prison, is having five apartments renovated for their residents. The Dyess We Care Team recognizes New Beginnings' mission and has volunteered to completely take over the apartments.… see the video

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/KV3TTx

Moving from behind bars to mainstream society can be difficult and overwhelming for former inmates, but one Abilene woman is making it her personal mission to help women make the transformation.

Missy Denard is the executive director of New Beginnings, a transitional home for former female inmates. Denard has participated in jail ministry in Taylor County for 10 years, and saw a need to help women being released… read more

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/13SkUFT

Photo by Joy Lewis

New Beginnings in Abilene gives hope to former female inmates

Auction to benefit transitional program for former female inmates

Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News Vivianna Knight (left) displays a chair that she painted, which is among several pieces that will be up for auction Thursday during a benefit for New Beginnings-Big Country, a transitional home for newly released female inmates. Missy Denard (right) is the founder of New Beginnings, and Charleen Garrett is a volunteer in the nonprofit’s furniture refurbishing program… read more

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/1dkxWPQ

2013 Abilene VCOY Winner

Under one of Direct Energy’s brands, WTU Energy, the first ever Abilene Volunteer Citizen of the Year was launched in the summer of 2013. The program’s first winner was Missy Denard, the founder of New Beginnings-Big Country. New Beginnings Big-Country is a transitional home for women and through Missy’s volunteer work there, she has helped and inspired dozens of women get their lives back on track.… read more

Or follow this link: http://bit.ly/1qCPJrO

New Beginnings apartment fire damage totals $30,000

ABILENE, Texas - Missy Denard, the executive director for New Beginnings in Abilene, said she believes a fire Sunday morning at the nonprofit’s apartment complex has caused irreparable damage. “I don’t think they’re salvageable,” she said. The two-story, three-apartment building near South 14th and Amarillo streets was used as transitional housing for women who had been released from prison…  read more

From chains to change: former inmate turns life around

Once you have been incarcerated it can seem like that is all you will ever be defined by. But for the women in the faith based transitional program, New Beginnings, in Abilene, they have found a way to make a new life for themselves after serving in prison or jail.

New Beginnings started in Abilene five years ago, and program founder and director, Missy Denard, says it was a spiritual calling to help women make a better life for themselves after serving time behind bars.…  read more

New store offers new beginnings for women on parole

A large wooden cross on the outside of the front door and the words, "Have a Blessed Day" on the inside leave no doubt that the chic new store on South 14th Street is more about ministry than sales.

But sales are needed to maintain the ministry, and owner Missy Denard is hoping to see lots of shoppers coming through that door..…  read more

Abilene Woman on a Mission

An Abilene woman is on a mission to help rehabilitate female felons after they finish serving time for breaking the law. "I was a drug addict for a long time. I had been in and out of jail for years and I went to prison." states Emily Whitten.

Prison turned out to be the wake up call Whitten needed. While behind bars she learned about New Beginnings, a place for women to go after being incarcerated. A place to call home in a Christian-based setting…  read more

Boutique opens in Abilene to help female ex-convicts adapt

ABILENE, Texas - Incarceration numbers for women have gone up, but one transitional house in Abilene is giving women who just left prison a chance to succeed.

New Beginnings Ministry Director Missy Denard said more than 450 women have requested to enter their transition program. "This summer, women have been in and out," Denard said. “When they get out of prison, most of them have never even had a job before."   read more

Thanksgiving Day: No beef with free feed at Abilene burger place

ABILENE, Texas - Lest you think Lucy's Big Burgers is an unlikely location for a turkey feast, you were not in line Thursday at the south Abilene eatery. For the sixth year, Lucy's opened its doors for three hours to "anyone who does not have a place to go or who can not afford to cook a meal," according to a social media posting. No burgers, fries and sweet (or unsweet) tea for this crowd. Rather, it was seated service of turkey, dressing, mashed or sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, roll, dessert ... and sweet (or unsweet) tea.  read more

Thanksgiving at Lucy’s

Happy Thanksgiving! Jesus loves you! Long lines of hungry diners were greeted with well wishes and a blessing Thursday at the sixth annual Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Robert and Amy Graven in their restaurant on South 27th Street, Lucy’s Big Burgers.

Instead of big burgers, hundreds of guests feasted on the traditional Thanksgiving fare, including pies cooked up by women who are part of Missy Denard’s ministry, New Beginnings.  read more

The Latest News Articles:

https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/features/the-start-of-new-beginnings-big-country/504-d77a17c8-f5bd-4187-94c5-a3076143639d

http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/ktab-news/ktab-news-at-10pm-abilene-mother-turns-life-around-after-losing-kids-to-drug-addiction/970456745

http://ktxs.com/archive/transitional-housing-program-for-women-expanding-in-abilene

http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/new-beginnings-brings-hope-to-once-incarcerated-women/435917650

https://womensenews.org/2013/12/faith-based-housing-helps-women-leave-prison/

http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/main-news/celebrating-one-year-of-service/784375609

http://www.fox15abilene.com/article/mobile/news/lasering-away-permanent-self-expression/406868791

http://ktxs.com/archive/abilene-restaurant-hosts-free-thanksgiving-meal

http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/main-news/fryin-up-turkeys-for-a-local-non-profit/611633967

http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/main-news/apd-stepping-up-drug-patrol/611515540

http://ktxs.com/archive/emotional-testimony-shared-at-new-beginnings-luncheon

https://www.myfoxzone.com/amp/article?section=news&headline=from-chains-to-change-former-inmate-turns-life-around-for-good&contentId=504-370748716

http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/entertainment/ktab-4u/local-organization-giving-women-a-new-beginning/86120240

https://www.reporternews.com/story/life/faith/2018/03/02/simulation-shows-struggles-poor-face-abilene/373509002/

Common lessons abound in three women's stories of success - and failures

What impact do women entrepreneurs have in Abilene? It stopped raining Thursday for their luncheon.That was no small feat during a week when it started raining Sunday afternoon and hardly paused until Thursday morning, when the inaugural Women's Entrepreneurship Luncheon began at McMurry University. Those who attended Wednesday's Celebrate the Arts luncheon across town at Abilene Christian were not singing in the rain as they dashed and splashed their way to the Hunter Welcome Center.  read more