Mar 14, 2025 By Paul Paterra 4 min read

Beyond Survival Ministries continues its growth in Washington County with a new center coming to the city of Washington.

The nonprofit organization has had its headquarters in McMurray since 2006 and has another center in Lawrence. Beginning April 1, there will be a facility at 382 West Chestnut St., Suite 107.

An open house and ribbon cutting is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. March 30 to welcome the ministry to the city.

“We’re really excited to be breaking into Washington,” said Sarah Kapis, director of Beyond Survival Ministries. “We know the need is great there with people suffering from many different things.”

Kapis, a North Strabane resident who was raised in Canonsburg, said the ministry worked in the city in conjunction with the Lemoyne Center on a couple of occasions and realized the need for a center in Washington.

“We heard so many stories from women who told us they were hurting or broken and needed someone to walk with them on the journey of healing,” she said. “They wanted a solid, faith-based opportunity to do that, and that’s what we provide. We saw the need when we did these outreach events. We prayed about it and there was an opportunity to rent some space. It’s a perfect location for us because it’s kind of tucked away. Most of what we do are confidential services. We like the privacy that it offers.”

The director of the Washington location will be Peters Township resident Dedi Kramer, who has been instrumental in the ministry’s prayer teams and a leader in the teen ministry. She also is a certified mental health and teen mental health coach.

“She is just wonderful,” Kapis said of Kramer. “She has been a staple of Beyond Survival Ministries for decades. She has grown through the ranks, grown in her leadership positions throughout the many years she has been with us.”

The ministry’s belief is that God’s word, combined with the love of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, can render a transformative change that people cannot achieve on their own.

“We help men and women who have gone through different types of trauma in their life, things that have caused them to be stuck in their process of healing,” Kapis said. “We offer different services, ministries and counseling to help them get past the pain of the past so they can walk in freedom and wholeness.”

Evangelist Sue Willis founded the ministry to work with sexual abuse victims. Beyond Survival Ministries is best known for A Time to Heal Beyond Survival, a faith-based curriculum that has been around for about two decades and is targeted for those who have gone through sexual abuse, rape or are victims of human trafficking.

“We have a specific curriculum for them to walk them through the healing process,” Kapis said. “When those kinds of things happen in your life it can really hold you captive in life in general. We just want to come alongside these women and men and help them get back on their feet.”

Throughout its years of service, there came a realization that there are victims of other traumatic episodes who needed help and Beyond Survival Ministries’ outreach expanded.

Kapis, who has served as director for about two-and-a-half years, said Beyond Survival Ministries also will be offering a 12-week program called Trauma Reboot to help those who have suffered a trauma outside of rape or sexual abuse.

“That’s what we’re all about,” she said. “Our mission is restoring hope and transforming lives. That’s what we want to do as we come into Washington County. We’re just looking to get the word out and help people to walk in wholeness.”

Kapis said the hope is to eventually offer a grief share program for those who are in mourning over the loss of a loved one.

“A lot of people are mourning different things in their lives they haven’t been able to get over,” she said. “That’s a service we’re looking to incorporate as well.”

Initially, the center will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Walk-ins are welcome, but Kapis said the ministry prefers if people connect with them in advance. That can be done by calling 888-868-3603, ext. 7, for the Washington location.

“We have the space and we’re just looking forward to opening our door and seeing who comes forth,” Kapis said. “It’s a great privilege to be able to see someone’s need and be able to meet that need with something that will be everlasting. Every day I am just blown away by the kinds of things that we see from those who have gone through the ministries and the services that we offer.”

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