By SHELBA NIVENS / Community Columnist

Rhonda Gross had two beautiful children, a loving husband and a church that loved her. Yet she sank into depression so deep she had to be hospitalized.

Today, Rhonda is well and happy with her wonderful family, including husband Jeff, son Jacob and daughter Heather. She is active in her church, works as a paralegal at EBSCO Industries and helps when needed on Saturdays with Jeff’s ministry at Chelsea Coffee House.

She also recently published a book about how she made her way out of the darkness of depression.

Before taking over the coffee house, Jeff worked for EBSCO – 28 years in printing. The coffee house is a different kind of work, he said, but he gets to meet and interact with a lot of different people – and not only while serving them a cup of coffee.

Besides serving food and drink, Chelsea Coffee House is a meeting place for community, business and church groups. It’s a place for individuals who want to be alone in a quiet corner to read or use the free wi-fi; for people to find a listening ear and for musical groups to perform or rehearse.

On a recent evening when Ken and I visited, a group of young people were practicing their new band in the shop extension, which belongs to Grace Church and is used by the coffee house. Jeff is lining up local bands to play every-other Friday night.

Rhonda’s book, “Bent Beneath the Load,” sells at the Chelsea Coffee House, Amazon.com and Crestpublishing.com.

Rhonda said when people ask why she would share her mental breakdown – her feelings of being over-whelmed and suicidal – with others, she points to God and the Bible. In 2 Corinthians 1:4, believers are told to comfort other people in their troubles as God has comforted them, she said.

To have Rhonda share her story with your group, contact her at Chelsea Coffee House, 109 Foothills Parkway. She can also be reached at 678-4444 or on the coffee shop’s Facebook page. Contact Jeff for food deliveries or catering.