What is Barbara’s Place?

Barbara’s Place is a house that accommodates 8 women (18+). The home is named in honor of Barbara Bateman, the wife of our Board Chairman. Howard and Barbara have graciously served the ministry of America’s Keswick in numerous ways for more than 20 years.

The program is designed to specifically address and meet the needs of women desiring to be free from the bondage of addiction and firmly rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the saving work of the cross and a personal relationship with Jesus as the only means of salvation and victorious living.

Barbara’s Place is a trauma-informed program, designed to help women overcome the hurts & pains of trauma and abuse.

Although we are unable to accommodate children in the home, we desire to give women with or without children every opportunity to succeed at living not just clean and sober, but holy and godly lives.

The women will have opportunities to learn and grow through classes held within the home, as well as in the community at large. A portion of the program will include interaction with community volunteers, community organizations, and local churches.

How is Barbara's Place different?

  • Our focus is on the work of God in a person’s life and a personal relationship with Christ
  • Our goal is heart transformation over behavior modification.
  • We teach the Bible for personal application and healing vs. memorization and knowledge.
  • We are a small homelike environment rather than an institutional or hospital setting.
  • We create a loving community where each woman is loved and cared for as an individual, not a number or just the next student on the list.
  • We are a community in that we establish a long-term relationship – each student becomes family for life – whether they graduate or not.
  • We have no time limits; no one is being pushed out the door. It is about really being ready, rather than completing a certain number of days or classes.
  • We teach life skills: cooking, finances, computer, household maintenance, community participation, and the like.

Program Basics

  • Women 18 and up.
  • 6 to 12 month residential, with options to stay longer if necessary or offered.
  • Healing through individual and group counseling, 18 hours of classroom instruction, morning devotions, Sunday school and morning and evening worship services, work therapy, and group recreational activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Visits begin after one month.  Visits are Sunday from 2-5pm at Barbara’s Place.  During the students, 2nd-4th month in the program visits is limited to immediate family only.  Students are allowed 3 adult visitors each visit day.

Students go to Bayside Chapel in Barnegat, NJ on Sundays, and the house is also sometimes invited to Christian events held at other churches in the area.

There are no phones or smartphones allowed during a student’s stay at Barbara’s Place. There is a phone provided to make the weekly allowed calls. MP3 players are allowed with the use of headphones (only in one ear during free time. We do not allow students to put headphones in both ears as we do not want them to isolate.) An MP3 playlist is screened and limited to Christian content. There are no phones or smartphones allowed during a student’s stay at Barbara’s Place.

All linens and bedding are provided as well as hygiene products. Students only need to bring clothing for the season they will be at Barbara’s Place.  Students can bring their own soaps and hygiene products, but it is not necessary. Click Here to discover a detailed list.

If you have insurance accepted in NJ, we deal with a local Clinic for basic medical, dental and GYN needs.  Medical emergencies are handled through Community Hospital Emergency Room. Prescriptions are picked up from Walgreens or CVS in town. If your insurance is not accepted in NJ or you do not have insurance we have a local dr. willing to see students for a reduced cash rate.

1 morning a week, we do Housekeeping for the conference center. 1 morning a week, we serve in the dining room. The other mornings, early afternoons, and evenings are devoted to classroom learning.  There are 18 different classes students take weekly. Free time is set for homework and relaxation.  Three nights a week recreation, crafts, or group activities are planned by the staff. Students have access to staff for individual support and counseling weekly.