spring 2008 transforming lives newsletter, gospel rescue ministries

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  • 8/8/2019 Spring 2008 Transforming Lives Newsletter, Gospel Rescue Ministries

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    '"The Magnificent T"The Fulton Houseof Hope takes inapproximatelyseven women tnree(3) times a year, inJanuary, Muy andSeptember. In theyear 2005, MaryGordon, AddictionCounselor, sharedwith the Director,Ms. Judy Ashburn, "thotsomedayseven women would come intotreotment ond oll seven would com-plete treotment." At that time theFulton House program was stillstabilizing and would normallygraduate an average of 24women each session. Ms.Ashburn, immediately told Mary,"thot there wos no woy that FultonHouse could hove o perfect comple-tion." But. Mary. did not waiver inher belief and to this day de-clares the favor of God in theirmidst, believing for things thatonly God can do.

    Mary continues to inspireJudy in her faith for each andevery woman who walksthrough the doors of the FultonHouse. Along with KneewynaHenson, Case Manager, andthree night and weekend staff,Mandy Carter, Rosia Favors,and Jessie Manuel, the FultonHouse staff is challenged on adaily basis to rely on God'swisdom and strength to sustainstructure and love so that thewomen have a safe environmentin which to heal and grow.

    Thank you alsogoes to ChrystalJones, Director ofthe School of To-morrow for Aca-demic Enrichmentand ComputerClasses; and EllisHodges, Job Devel-oper for WorknetTraining. Thanksto all of the staff for their dedica-tion and faith!

    On Aoril I l- l3 the FultonHouse attended the NA Conven-tion in Ocean City, Maryland. TheMagnificent Seven are picturedhere on that outing. They are:Cheryl Puryear, Monica Smith,Diana Brown, Kim Proctor, lvanaWashington, Kimberly Perry, andJoy Wright. All the women areemployed and have either movedinto transitional housing or their

    .^^ri^..^a ^^ ^^-^ 2

    GRMWORKNET Student Graduates from DC CentralKitchen 70th Culinary Arts Training ProgramGRM's Worknet program,under the leadershio of EllisHodges, provided an opportu-nity for one of it's 4th phaseclients, Mr. James Pendleton, toparticipate in a l2 week culinary

    arts training program. The train-ing course follows a curriculumdesigned by DC CentralKitchen's own training staff andincludes all facets of entry-levelwork that would be exoeriencedin a orofessional kitchen. Theprogram includes "hands-on"

    training instructed by staff chefs,while visiting chefs volunteer toprovide ongoing craining semi-nars that teach specific skills inche culinary arts. The crainingand employment staff teach theimportance of job-readinessskills such as punctuality, follow-ing directions, positive workattitude, and teamwork. lndivid-ual and group sessions providelife skills training to further stu-dents' personal growth. Allgraduates of the Kicchen's rrain-

    ing program complete theServSafe course, a nationally rec-ognized food handlers certificationcourse from the EducationalFoundation of the National Res-taurant Association.

    This great privilege afforded toMr. Pendleton allowed him theopportunity to enhance the giftsand ability he has to cook, some-thing that he enjoys immensely.

    continued on page 2

    lomes Pendleton

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    PAGE 2

    "The Magnificent 7 continued..."Continued from page I

    own apartment. CongratulationsMagnificent 7! Give God gloryrlrr:i:i,:: r^- :L^ .Li--^ u^ L^^ dong! tvt Lt tt Lt ilt t5J I tc I taJ

    ,.! hove on opportunity to live sober forthe flrst time in over twenty yeors.Here I wos shown whot honestyreolly meons. For me it meont osk-ing Cod for willingness to occeptwhom I om."

    "But thonks be to God, who olwoysleods us in trrumphol procession in

    Christ ond through us spreods everT-where the fragronce ofthe knowledgeof him. For we ore to God the oromoof Christ omong those who ore being

    saved ond those who oreperishing. To the one we are the smellof deoth; to the other, the frogranceof life. And who is equol to such otosk? Unlike so mony, we do not ped-dle the word of God for profit. On thecontrary, in Christ we speok beforeGod with sincerity, like men sent fromGod." ll Cor.2:14-17.

    GRM \MORKNET Student Graduates from DC Central Kitchen continued...

    i. l ioyed working with other.,,.'colleagues with the same in-terest. He learned key lifeskills as it regards this areaof work; discipline, attitudeand most importantly team-work are key componencs inthis field of work. He alsoContinued from page Iln his words, this was anawesome learning experienceto captivate his hearts desirelin a professional workingenvironment which he en-

    mentioned that the opportunityto work with orofessional chefswas very rewarding and offereda great learning environment forhis craft.During his training period,Mrs. Hodges and a guest wereinvited to experience one of thefine cuisines that Mr. Pendletonprepared, prior to his gradua-tion from the program. One ofhis creative dishes was lrishLamb Stew. He is presently em-ployed as a Food services

    employee at a retirement hoin DC. GRM celebrates whim and we are very proudhis success and opportunitybe a graduate of this prograHe will graduate from the pgram on June 7th.

    Greetings from the Executlve DirectorDear Friends of GRM,We continue to seek God's guid-ance and direction as we olan for thesummer months. On Saturday, June7, we will have an-"her graduationservice for our Transforming LivesMinistry and Fulton House of Hopeone-year residential drug recoveryproSrams. lt is exciting to know thateight men and seven women are mov-ing to the next phase of their recov-ery. All of them are working and are!n the process of establishing outsideliving arrangements. We will keep inclose touch with them through ouraftercare and alumni programs.

    Please consider joining with us forthe graduation service at theChinese Church adjacent to the GRMfacility on 5th Street NW. lt will startat l0:00 a.m. and you will be thrilled

    to hear the testimonies of changedlives. There will be music and a lotof hugs and tears of joy. Manyfamily members of those graduatingwill be there. After the service,everyone will be invited to theGRM chapel for lunch and a chanceto interact with our GRM family. Iurge you to join with us. Yourheart will be stirred and blessed.For those who joined with usfor our Open House at GRM onMay 7, we thank you from the bot-tom of our hearts. We thank youfor continuing to strengthen andencourage us through your prayers,financial support and volunteerassistance. We are evaluating all ofour existing programs to make surethat we are providing the best ser-vices oossible for the men and

    women who enter our doors. Wewant to help men and womenreturn to the mainstream of life wa better education, a good job,restored relationships and renewehope.We have significant financial neat this time and have embarked onmajor fund-raising initiative over thnext six months. We ask you to csider helping us in a special way duing 2008. As we celebrate our l02year of service to disadvantaged mand women in Washington, D.C.,thank you for your encouragemenand support.

    May God continue to bless youand keep you and may His face alwshine upon you and may He give yoDeace,

    In closing, here is a quotefrom one of the seven. "Throughthe commitment of stoff here I now

    L"

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    PAGE 3

    Recently, as part of theTransforming Lives Minis-try (TLM) program, a bibte-based, spiritual recoverysupport group, similar toattending an AA or NAmeeting, was inaugurated. Theweekly group is called Notion ofChompions (NOC). The sessionsbegan in late February and are heldevery Friday evening from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Five of our church part-ners conduct the sessions weekly.The tooics for discussion are or-ganized by Dr. Marjorie J. Brown,Outreach Director, who collabo-rates with the volunteer Dartnerseach month.

    The tooic for the month ofMarch was: '?enewed Mindsel thetopic for the month of April was:"ReDentance": and the month ofMay topic is: 'forgrveness." Theweekly partners consist of Beyond

    the Veil, Ron Ellison;Global Recovery, Inter-vention, & PreventionPartners (GRIPP), Inc.,Soul Saving Minis-tries/Destiny, Power &Purpose, Evang. Deborah Corley,Radical Reformers Advocating &Activating Christ In Recovery(RRAACIR) United of RAP Inter-national Ministries, Pastor Anto-nio D. Briggs & Min. Kenneth

    James and every 5th Friday thegroup will loin the Aftercaregroup session facilitated by Al-mustaphael Al-Kahill-Bey.

    The theme for the meetingsare centered around Romansl2:l-2 "l beseech you therefore,brethren, by the mercies of God,thot you present your bodies o livingsocrifice, holy, acceptoble to God,which is vour reosonoble seryrce.And do not be conformed to this

    world, but be tonsformed by therenewing of your mind, thot youmoy prove what is thot good andocceptoble ond perfect will of God."NOC's adage is centeredaround "renewol, heoling ond refor-motion." A TLM client is assignedto open the meetings withprayer, the decree and the part-ner facilitator conducts tne meet-ing for the hour. All are wel-come! You're invited to join uson Fridays from 6:00-7:00 p.m.,in the Chaoel. For more infor-mation. olease call 202-842-1731x 238.

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    "[ decree, God has apttryasefar my ltfe; Ihazte a destiny that Imr$t undfistdnd snd

    aptrtrehend; that metutsta seize, that tnenns totnkc oaer,.," the hnntlof the l,ord is uponmyIife, He has giaen tne

    NEW lifewithin.Totlall is nny netu dayto dearltS sec tlte rpillaf Godfauny liftt"@'Re$aww,

    "Building On Our Legacy" CampaignMay is the month of celebrationfor Gospel Rescue Ministries. The

    l02nd Anniversary was celebratedwith a kick off "Open House," heldon Wednesday, May 7,2008.The Ooen House was well at-tended by many of our friends,family, church and community parr-ners, local providers and many

    more. The program agenda in-cluded: Dr. David Allen, co-founder of TLM, who gave a spe-cial presentation, several successstories from our clients ano ourAdult Literacy Night in theSchool of Tomorrow.

    The open house kicked offthe "Euilding on Our Legaq Com-

    porgn," where our goal is to raise$ | Million for the restorarion ofour buildings & the growth of ourprograms. For more informationabout the campaign, please visitus on the web at www.grm.org.Please continue to pray for GRMas we embark upon taking ourprograms to new heights.

    "Looking From The Inside Out!"One of the highlights of the May

    7th, Ooen House was an Adult Lit-eracy evening held in the School ofTomorrow. Chrystal Jones, Direc-tor of GRM's School of Tomorrowshares that for the past couple ofyears the Transforming Lives Minis-try (TLM) men and the FultonHouse women have been participat-ing in "the Claude Brown Writers &Readers Series," a popular programof the former State EducationAgency Education & Family Literacy

    and now the Office of the StateSuperintendent of Education.

    Adult Learners have the op-portunity to meet journalists,poets, novelists, and songwritersin settings such as the LangstonRoom of Busboys & Poets. Theauthors have an opportunity todiscuss their work and then facili-tate a reading and writing session.GRM has had an overwhelmingamount of participation from theTLM men and Fulton House

    women. There are usually twiceas many entries from GRM partici-pants in the published booklet atthe end of the season as any otherAdult Education Program.

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