JCMC – Haven of Rest gets back taxes forgiven

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Jordan Crossroads Ministry – Haven of Rest got great news last week. Executive Director and Founder Ann Driggers found out then that the group had been forgiven three years of back taxes that its board members believe should have never been levied. “I promised God that when he did this, I would praise him and put out the praises everywhere forever,” said Driggers, who founded the Haven of Rest, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, in the early 2000s in an undisclosed location in Clarendon County. Driggers said the group was assessed back taxes for 2013 and 2014 in September 2015, despite carrying 501-C(3) non-profit status. “They apparently removed our exemption in 2013, but I didn’t know anything about it until 2015,” Driggers said. “They then assessed back taxes for 2013 and 2014, and said I had to pay them immediately.” Driggers, however, got proactive instead, calling anyone she could to get the situation resolved. “Our shelter works from donations, so we couldn’t just pay something like that immediately,” she said. “I wanted to get to the bottom of what was happening.” After talking with Arbor One, Clarendon County Council Chairman Dwight Stewart, Assessor Bob Geddings and Treasurer Matt Evans, along with the Department of Revenue, Driggers received word last week that the taxes were forgiven. But this was not before Haven of Rest was assessed back taxes for 2015. “It was just a mess,” she said. “But praise God from whom all blessings flow: Jordan Crossroads Ministry Center – Haven of Rest has been released of all obligations to pay back taxes for 2013, 2014 and 2015.” Driggers said she had no doubt the situation would be resolved. “When God is fighting for you, you are sure to win,” she said. “If you have been obedient to God and the laws of the land, then you win. I said we would win. If God be for you, who can be against you?”