Dear Family Member:
We wish you could have been a part of our 2018 Graduation Celebration! These graduates were saluted by the clients as they proudly marched down the “red carpet” at the social hall of Campus Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church. Over 100 friends, family, and guests gathered to join in the celebration of this grand occasion.
Former Graduates Lend their Support
There were over 12 former graduates from the classes of 1998 up to 2017 in attendance. These men stood tall as positive role models to encourage their brothers. Several of them are married owners of homes and have good jobs to support their families as priests of their homes. These jobs include teacher, drug and alcohol counselor, therapist, barber, landscape specialist, and DAP program director. They make us proud!
Our Mistress of Ceremonies, Cherise Gardner, welcomed the guests and made them feel cheerful and jovial by her comments throughout the evening. Cherise came to DAP 17 years ago as office manager and has been a part of this ministry ever since. Today her contribution is the designing of the newsletters. She is presently the Senior Pastor of the Long Beach Seventh-day Adventist Church in Long Beach, CA.
Our guest soloist was Peggy Conner. Inspiring. Encouraging. Anointed. These are the three words most often used to describe her vocal gift. She has blessed untold thousands with her amazing life testimony in song through her unique soul-stirring style. She ‘raised the roof-top’ as she sang our most-requested song from her, “God Bless America.” Her voice touched the core of our hearts and made us all proud to be an American!
The Power of One Christian’s Life
Our guest speaker was Gerhard Steudal, Director of Landscaping, at Loma Linda University. Over 20 years ago, he took a risk and hired Drug Alternative Program to service the lawns of the University and its clinics. In his speech, he let the staff and clients know how pleased the University administrators are for the extraordinary work they do in beautifying the University campuses. Through the story of Nebuchadnezzar, he encouraged the graduates not to have a big ego but to be humble in their relationship with God and other people. He advised them to set realistic goals, make wise use of their time, have some fun, and give back to those who come behind them.
The Graduation celebration serves as the Annual Fundraiser for the program. It gives family, friends and guests an opportunity to give a love gift for “My Brother’s Keeper” Scholarship Fund, to assist men who enter the program without funds. No one is kept out for lack of funds. Thanks to those who helped us raise a total of $10,000 to help men like Wayne, Hoyt, Jesse, Richard and Joseph, to change their lives. Your love gifts allow them a second chance to experience God’s healing as new creatures in Christ.
Ever since DAP began, one of our central beliefs is that Jesus cares for every life…and so does DAP. We don’t turn anyone away because they don’t have funds to pay for the many services they receive.
This is why our “My Brother’s Keeper” is so very important to the work we do. And it is why your gifts, whether given by month or year, are key to making a difference in the lives of the men who you may never meet on this earth, but who you will have fellowship with throughout eternity.
Your Gifts Make the Difference
Right now, we need to use the coming months to replenish the funds in “My Brother’s Keeper” and we hope you will be impressed by God to help us with this challenge. We need your financial support with gifts large or small. And we thank you for your faithfulness.
How grateful we are that when Jesus came to earth over 2,000 years ago, He didn’t turn away anyone who came to Him… or anyone who needed His help. His goal was to seek and to save all. May that continually be our goal each day of our lives as well.
Seeking and Saving the Lost,
