How We Became
Acres of Diamonds

Acres of Diamonds began forming in the mind of Pearl Tadema from her experiences in 1973 where she was called upon to start a Women's Aglow Fellowship chapter. Women were encouraged to come forward for prayer after the meetings and often this "afterglow" was as long as the meeting; she saw many answers to prayer, some miraculous.

For those seeking more time in prayer, she invited them to come to her home and a prayer-counseling service began. She felt the need to become a certified counselor.

Pearl completed her master’s degree in counseling at Seattle Pacific University where she learned to use helpful testing materials, circular questioning, and family dynamics. Creative Christian Counseling was opened and prayer was a part of each session. She found that even non-Christians wanted God's help with their problems. Her intensive counseling approach was very effective by giving these women the tools they needed to cope with their lives.

The idea of a home-based program where women could receive counseling, renew their minds, and where good habits could be taught was further nurtured in her mind when she visited King County Jail with Teen Challenge leaders and observed girls paroled to the Teen Challenge Home for 18 months. The leaders there felt it took at least that long to make permanent changes in their lifestyles such as replacing drugs with Christ-centered living.

One of the leaders said, "Look, the very greatest need right now in King County is getting homeless women and their children into a place where they can stay other than in their cars, on the street, or in short-term shelters. They need help to change bad habit patterns, get jobs, learn to parent their children, form new friendships, and enjoy success. Just think, you could help two generations at once!"

In 1995 the Lord confirmed His will as He made a way for Pearl to rent, then purchase a home in Duvall. Acres of Diamonds was established with a 501(c)(3) non-profit designation, a board of directors of eight members, and a program centered on Christ that equipped the residents to begin rebuilding their lives.

What began as a five-bedroom home has grown to eight. Prayers were answered and a fourplex apartment building was purchased right next door to the main house. Phase I is in the main home and is for families when they first arrive. The Phase II apartments become available for the Phase I residents to apply for when they meet readiness measures in their program. Having their own low-cost apartment is an amazing incentive to do the hard work needed in Phase I. In February 2009 three more units were added to the apartment complex bringing the total to seven units.

Pearl Tadema still can’t help but wonder what the Lord may have in mind for the 2.46 acres that is for sale along the front of their current site. King County has a ten-year goal of ending homelessness. Perhaps they would see the prudence of helping the Acres of Diamonds program continue its expansion on that property. Pearl and staff at Acres is open, and welcome your prayers that “His will be done.”

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4