Hi!  I’m writing to ask you to do four (4) things to help me with a mission:

(1) Visit www.telosinc.org; (You’ve already done step 1 – yay!)

(2) Give me your prayers & ideas about the work;

(3) Make a one-time contribution of $100.00; and

(4) Ask 10 other women to make a one-time contribution of $100.00.

// <![CDATA[
var d = new Date();
function f(n) { return n

Telos began (unofficially) in 2007 when I agreed to teach a 9-week Sunday School class for adult women. The original 8 of us had just two rules-no mindless “church talk” and confidentiality. There are now 25 of us (sometimes 30!) between the ages of 28 and 79 and we haven’t changed our rules.  We meet in the library, and because women often don’t have time to catch their breath, much less a bite to eat in the morning I supply fresh-baked goodies (sometimes fruit!), coffee and tea.

Next, we needed a book that spoke to our different challenges. Some of us are single, some are married, some are widowed, and some are divorced. Some of us have been incarcerated, some have children and some have buried children. Some of us are high school drop-outs and some of us have advanced degrees. We’re different, but we choose to support each other as Sisters, building community with Scriptures as our shared foundation. We couldn’t find the book we were looking for so I began writing The Power of a Virtuous Woman, making copies as we went along.

Our conversations quickly outgrew class time. First I held a Cooking Class for about 15 Sisters. The menu included Fresh Collard, Mustard & Turnip Greens; Baked Macaroni & Cheese (my Mom’s recipe); Garlic-Roasted Chicken; No-Knead Bread; and Pound Cake (my mother-in-law’s recipe) – along with recipe cards. Next I had a Dinner & Confidential Questions Party for the younger Sisters with Lobster Cheesecake & Spinach Salad (because they’re worth it!) But we still needed more time and more space, so in 2010 we had our first Day of Discussion at a local hotel and 40 women showed up! We brought in experts on nutrition, organic gardening and lactation.   Last August we held a Back-to-School, Book Bag/School Supplies Give-Away for 200 kids.  The single requirement?  Parents had to attend with their children to hear Dr. Vincent Adams, from the U.S. Dept. of Energy, speak about the critical importance of academic excellence! Our most recent event was in February when we hosted the Pulitzer Prize winning author, Isabel Wilkerson, to discuss her book, The Warmth of Other Suns, as part of The Holistic Excellence of Oneness Celebration, a fund-raiser for our Food Pantry, Tuition Assistance and Bread of Life Ministry. We invited 100 children to hear her (for free!) before the afternoon lecture.  Meanwhile, I finally finished The Power of a Virtuous Woman and the proofs are due within a month-which brings me to the issue of filthy lucre…

// <![CDATA[
var d = new Date();
function f(n) { return n

To date I have invested approximately $30,000.00 into this mission which is why CMadison, my incredibly supportive husband, gently suggested I incorporate as a non-profit. Telos Training, Inc. was officially established in December, 2011. We have big plans ahead, including a full-on, national marketing effort for The Power of a Virtuous Woman; making our Back-to-School Book Bag/School Supplies Give-Away, our Day of Discussion and our Holistic Excellence of Oneness Celebration (with a national speaker) annual events. We want to host monthly podcasts of our class for Sisters outside of Columbus who want to join in-and the first drafts of The Power of  a Virtuous Woman: The Cook Book and The Power of a Virtuous Woman: The Garden Book are already underway. So, I need your support right now! Our next community event, My Mother’s Daughter’s is coming up May 5th.  Just click here and make your $100.00 contribution right now. And then prayerfully think of 10 women you know who would understand this mission-and support it with their prayers and pocketbooks.

It’s just a token, but every $100.00 contributor will receive a signed copy of The Power of a Virtuous Woman.  Thank you in advance for your money, your prayers, your ideas, your support and your advocacy with your Sister-friends.

Peace & Blessings!

Paula

Paula Penn-Nabrit’s Great Grandmother Hattie Edwards [left, back row

// <![CDATA[
var d = new Date();
function f(n) { return n