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Father Changes

More Lives Than Just

His Own at The PathAt that day you will know that I am in My

Father, and you in Me, and I in you. John 14:20 (NIV) _____________________________

Our night staff member Jeff is in a unique position of being aformer client, Path graduate, and now serves by helping ourmen at the shelter. From Jeff to all of you who have helpedhim and his family a special message of hope:

Growing up in my house was anything but normal. If my fa-ther wasnt home drinking or fighting with my mom, he was outsome where doing the same with someone else. Our house was a

place of alcoholic chaos and abuse for my mother. My parentsdivorced when I was nine. This was the model I carried right intomy youth and adulthood. By the age of nine I used drugs and alcoholregularly. By age eleven, I was an addict and alcoholic by societysmeasure.

A s a result, my choice of friendships werent positive influences. Igraduated from using to selling drugs shortly after my twelfth birthday.Not unexpectedly, I got into trouble enough times to put the scare intomy mother. We relocated to South Florida.

I quickly reinvented my former lifestyle and got involved with or-ganized crime. By age fifteen I worked out of a strip club, and started

recruiting for prostitution, porn film industry and sold drugs and gunsto Columbians and Jamaicans. I was living la vita loco ! Truth though, was that my life was a daily flirtation with death

until a turning point came at age 18. I met a girl whose mother requiredwe go to church in order to date. This was the first time I ever heard any-thing about God. My motives were wrong but something happened justthe same. Not long after this my dad came to see me. He said he only came to say goodbye. I didnt understand it, but a few weeks later, ourfamily got word that he had passed away. The girlfriend didnt last.

I found myself lost, angry and alone . . .

T H E PAT H N E W S

M a y / J u n e 2 0 0 9

[ Continued on Page 2]

A Publication of The Path of Citrus County * www.pathofcitrus.org * Issue 3 - Volume 3

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE The Path Spotlight

Directors Corner

Salute to Path Stars

Farm Update and more

Jeffs first day atThe Path as a client

Daddys little girls

Jeff today: at The Path,giving men hope

in a new life

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I threw myself into working, while my attitude towards people changed. Inside,

I was a mess. Drugs and alcohol masked the misery, but it wasnt helping. Oneday, a friend asked for me to help him propose to his girlfriend at the beach. Sheturned him down. Enraged, he grabbed a fully loaded automatic assault rifle andcommitted suicide in front of our eyes.

In a flash, my life turned to darkness. I was the one who had sold him thisweapon. Guilt consumed me for years. Not to mention all the other guns I had

sold and the evil I had caused. Filled with sorrow and pain, I cried out to God.I just couldnt make sense of life anymore.I buried the feelings and drank them away. Or thought I did. Life seemed

normal for awhile until the birth of my first daughter. She meant so much to me... Seven days after she was born, she died in my arms of heart failure. Again, my life spiraled out of control.

F inding myself in jail soon after, I cried out to God once more. A voice within whispered, Its not all about you , Jeff.Moments later, I heard a man shouting for church call. I bolted back to the cell block gate and went. A couple weeks later, in a makeshift chapel, I gave my heart to Christ. Six months later, I was released from jail and had nowhere to go. My wife at that time livedwith her family, and I was not allowed there. She took me to the Path. Thats were I met DuWayne (Executive Director) andDanny (Mens Administrator). These guys did things with me I never did before. And I was watching them closely, looking for any excuse to leave.

But they were different. In fact, they prayed for me and withme. And they seemed happy. In a weird kind of way, I wantedthat. I left the Path and led a normal life for a little while. But, I see now that God still needed my attention. I landed in prison. Now, He was ableto sit me still long enough to turn His divine searchlight on my soul and

view with His wisdomand with what I had learned at The Path. I got outof prison and knew that my life could never return to my former lifestyle.

A year later, I attended a banquet for The Path. DuWayne asked me how I was doing. I replied, Im looking for work. He replied, Call me onMonday. I called, never thinking that he would offer me a job.

Well its been seven months now Im grateful to be able to give back to The Path, a place that changed my life... I am engagedto a remarkable lady and praying that God makes a way to buy the house we live in. I am a single dad of the most wonderful littleladies in the world, Morgan and Courtney. Some days I can only weep before a God who has done much with so little of a man likeme. I cant find words to express the blessings poured out to the men and women at The Path. God blesses us all through His min-istry everyday here.

And none of it would have been possible without the people like you who helped Him through The Path. If this place were not here when I needed it, I would have taken another direction and gone back to my old life.

I love you Jesus... Thank you, Lord, for Your abundant grace and love. And I thank you all who support us.

In Christ, Jeff

[Continued from Cover]

2 THE PA TH NEW S

Jeff s St ory . . .

And above all, love each other deeply,because love covers over a multitude of

sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received toserve others, faithfully administering

Gods grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:810 NIV

Jeff and one of our most recent grads, Mark.

Jeff counsels one of the men

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Dear Friends of The Path ,

What if everything you owned -- your most prized keepsakes and cherished mementos, such as family

photos, your child's favorite toy or your militarymedals -- had to fit into a single bag? What if all

your personal items -- your underwear,toothbrush, razor, soap, towel, blanket, medica-tions -- had to be carried with you every day, from

place to place, in a backpack or a bag?

Few of us can relate to the concept of life without

a place to house our belongings. Yet, those whoare homeless must often carry everything theyown, every place they go. Every day

As you enjoy your summer, please remember those at our mission they need your sup-

port more than ever during these troubled times.

For them, there is no vacation.

Have a safe summer, and remember us in your prayers.

In His Service,

Director sCorner

THE P ATH NE WS

Celebrating New Life in Christ

Helping others

Fellowship

Achievement

We celebrate . . .A hope-filled life

because youcontinue to give.

DuWayne Sipper, Executive Director

The Path Spotlight

Involvement

Community

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Moving?Need an estate

clean-out? Hire The Path to help you! Supportour mission by calling 527-6500 for information on

hiring The Path to move your residence or business, or clean out an estate. Quality service, reasonable rates!

Be a blessing to the men at our shelter. Dont delayCall t oday!

Board of DirectorsGary Bryant

President(352) 344-3100

Brian Ludwick

Vice President(352) 563-6508

Connie LobelTreasurer

(352) 726-3200

Maria ConverseSecretary

(352) 586-5087

Stuart GreenBoard Member &

Past President(352) 637-3585

Mark StoneBoard Member (352) 746-2626

Dick WindleBoard Member (352) 489-4167

DuWayne Sipper Executive Director

(352) 527-6500Administrative Offices

27 S. MelbourneBeverly Hills, FL 34465

Phone: (352) 527-6500Fax: (352) 746-6746

Mailing AddressPO Box 3024

Inverness, FL 34451-3024

Bargain Store1729 W Gulf to Lake Hwy.Lecanto, FL 34461Hours: Mon - Sat

9 AM - 5 PMFor pick-up, call:(352) 746-9084

www.pathofcitrus.org

Mark D. - Path shelter graduate, accepted into VictorySchool for Chefs Program

Malissa and Bill Path clients completing CNA ProgramJC Path Client earning his G.E.D.

Women of Sugarmill Woods gifts to support our farm,and womens program

Catherine Wisehart tithe gift in memory of her sister Benefit Bowling League gift to support our mission

ALL OF OUR CLIENTS - as they grow in their faith

ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED GIFTS OF HOPE

Looking for a unique volunteer pro-ject for yourself or group? Why nothelp out at our farm? With 10 acres of loaned farmland from Her-nando Church of the Nazarene, The Path isusing environment-friendly methods to groworganic fruits and vegetables to feed our cli-

ents (who are often malnourished when theyarrive at the shelter), and to support other food pantries in the community.

Fresh organic produce isavailable for purchase at The Path Shelter Bargain Store.

Help support The Path mission for the homeless !

Path for Hire

Path Farm Update

You are cordially invited to The Paths

Harvest Hope Annual Fall Banquet

Friday October 23, 20096:00 pm 8:30 pm

1st Baptist Church of Crystal River 700 Citrus Avenue

Sponsor a table...Invite your friends...Volunteer

S a v e t h e D a t e !

A S S O C I AT I O N O F G O S P E L R E S C U E M I S S I O N S w w w. a g r m . o r g