Summerhill Community Ministries Newsletter Sep Oct06
1. Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
Newsletter ~ September/October 2006 Serving Inner-City Youth and Families
A Break Through the rules. Two weeks later, Pastor
Mike Higgins from Redemption
the front. Justina said, ”It’s time to
be your own man and make your
This past summer we served 65 Fellowship, came to speak to this own decision.” Three more slowly
campers and sponsored 7 teen group of young men. After the walked to the front. Justina gave the
workers. Almost half of the session was over, they were asked 3 remaining instructions as to what
campers were new to our program. how the class went. They they could do while the others are
It was a challenge bringing the old responded by saying how Pastor practicing. The next day, 2 more
and new campers together, Mike was “cool” and how he talked decided to participate. The “ring
especially since we had a small to them about stuff they were really leader” was by himself. He even
neighborhood gang to join us. This interested in and made them think. stayed home for a few days. By the
crew of 13, put up a hard, stubborn 5th week of camp, he realized that
The following week, the class had
exterior, but with the team work of he didn’t have to keep his angry,
to make a decision about whether
our loving, caring staff and hard exterior up when he was with
or not they would participate in a
volunteers, along with the good us. We made it known to him that
major camp activity which would
news of the Gospel, this hard we were not there to judge or
cause them to work together and
exterior could not stay. This group discourage him, but to encourage
present themselves before the
that stood together in rebellion and challenge him in a positive,
whole camp. Justina asked for all
started to break into individual loving way.
who wanted to participate to “take
people. For example, our 12-14 courage” and walk to the front. A Please pray for these young men.
class of 15 boys was mostly led by little over half of the class walked to
this one 13 year old young man. If
he did not participate, no one
participated.
Praise God!!
We began to teach lessons on
“Courage”. Have the courage to
3 kids prayed to receive Christ this summer!!
stand alone for what is right and 7 recommitted their walk with Christ!!
good. Have the courage to choose
what will be beneficial to you, Heaven rejoices when 1 sinner receives Christ and so do we!
when others are pressing you to
choose what may harm you. Have
the courage to be a “Man of Honor
and Integrity.” Some of the young
An “On Time” God
men started pulling away and When the phone rings at 6:30 am she would. I told him that she did
began making choices to Sunday morning it must be stop by and we talked, but she did
participate in activities and follow important. I stumbled to the living not know where she would be
room and answered. An angry staying that night. He began to vent
voice of a young man was on the about the events that have been
other end. He asked me where his taking place between them and the
baby’s mother was. The mother baby. As he talked, he became
was recently evicted from her angrier. He went on cursing and
apartment and had been over to my swearing about how he has lost his
house the day before looking for job because he could not find a
help. Before leaving my house, she sitter for the baby. He couldn’t go
had called the baby’s dad. She had anywhere or do anything because
left the baby with him for over 2 of the baby. He feels the mother
weeks and he was furious with her only cares about being with other
because she did not pick the child men. He shouted about what he was
Justina serves the kids at summer camp. up the evening before, as she said (Continued on page 2)
2. September/October 2006 ~ Page 2 Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
(Continued from page 1)
going to do to her when he sees her
again. I took deep breath as I
How You Can Help After School Program
prayed inwardly for God to give me
what to say to this violently, angry It’s time to Learn, Learn, Learn!
• Cleaning supplies: big garbage bags,
young man. I needed “right mopping & cleaning solutions Yes, class is in and it’s time for SCM
guidance!” I began to try to talk him • We welcome snacks and drink boxes, to continue our work with teachers
down. I knew that he would not be year round.
and parents to help these inner city
able to hear anything through the • Gatorade students strive for academic
rage he was feeling. • Events that you can plan to be a part of: success. All hands are on deck. Our
Finally, he was silent and listening. ⇒ Transportation to the October 2006/2007 ASP fulltime staff are as
After I talked a little, he responded Fest at Redemption Fellowship follows: Justina Dix, Anna Winter,
calmly, but eventually worked Rebecca Neighfinger, Khamirah
⇒ Thanksgiving Dinner at the ASP Miller, and Nancy Lindsey. We are
himself up into another bout of rage.
His last words before hanging up ⇒ Sponsor a child for Christmas so excited about our roster of
the phone were of how he was weekly volunteers for this school
going to hurt her. I didn’t know his ⇒ Christmas Wrapping Party year. Last year we broke our own
location, but I had his sister’s ⇒ Valentine’s day Party record of having more new
number. She was aware of her volunteers than years past. All of
brother’s anger problem. She was ⇒ Easter Celebration them are returning along with our
willing to get the baby and meet the beloved faithful Sally Doster, Anne
mother for the exchange. But how Burlas, and Katie Weber.
could I get in touch with the mother?
As my family and I were getting
ready to leave for church, the phone
rang. It was the mother! She was
taking the bus to pick up her baby
Dix Family Update
and decided to call me to ask for After watching the police bust in took 4 days for us to recover
more info. I thanked the Lord! I the door of his home and putting DreLeon. The young lady that had
shared with her what had happened his mom in hand cuffs, 4 year him had 6 children of her own.
and warned her to make the DreLeon was whisked away by a DreLeon was filthy and hungry. He
arrangements to meet the sister. neighbor into hiding. It looks as if was so glad to see us and his
She was grateful, because she said my niece will stay in jail for a while, brother. In his sweet little voice, he
he would carry out exactly what he this time. 6 year old MyLeondre told us stories of what he had been
said he would do to her. would have seen the same thing, through and seen in the last few
but my niece called the night days. The young lady assured me
She and I will talk more about her before to inform me she would not that she was trying to help by not
poor choices and how they affect be able to pick him up for the letting “DFACS get him.” I later
her child. weekend. MyLeondre lives with me learned that this family was
Justina Dix during the week to attend school involved in drug activity.
and spends the weekend with mom
I have enrolled DreLeon in the
and 2 younger brothers. The
same elementary school Pre-K
Flag Football youngest was with another family
member on the dad’s side. I knew
program that his brother goes to in
Summerhill. They no longer have a
Football season has begun!. The DreLeon would be confused and
home to go back to, because they
Summerhill Soldiers are off to a shaken up by what he had seen and
were evicted a week after the bust.
winning start with Phillip was now with strangers. The next
Acting in the best interest of these 2
Yarberough coaching our 18- day I questioned neighbors to try to
fellows, they will be living with me
under team and Emanuel Dix find DreLeon. Everyone was helpful
for some time while my niece
coaching our first time 15-under except the uncle of the young lady
decides whether or not she is ready
team. Our 18-under team is 3-1 who had DreLeon. I could tell he
to get help and gets it.
and our 15-under (mostly rookies) was suspicious of me. He may have
are 1-3 so far this season. thought I was a Social Worker. Pray for us all as our family goes
After going on a few wild goose through this transition and for the
All games are played at South chases, I demanded for this uncle healing of these boys.
Bend Park in South Atlanta. to tell me where my nephew was. It
3. Page 3 Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
Summer in Summerhill
The sounds of summer are a joy to day she was right by my side
hear! One of my favorites is kids looking to be steadied and safe.
splashing, laughing and playing in
Was she ever really in danger? No,
the pool. It was wonderful to enjoy
there was a lifeguard just a few feet
the summer sun with our incredible
away. But she called out to me
summer camp kids, especially in
because she knew she could trust
the pool. I realize I’ve taken for
me to come to her. What struck me
granted the ability to swim and
the most is the picture this small
play, since I grew up on a river in
incident paints of all of our lives. I
the country. Many of the girls in
know there was a point when I was
my class rarely have the
drowning in my own sinful life and I
opportunity to enjoy a cool dip in
had to call out to God to rescue me.
the pool, except for with summer
He came to lift me up and bring me
camp. It’s a joy and privilege to
to the safety of His arms. I’m
join in the fun at the pool with them
encouraged that when things in
on a hot summer day!
these kids’ lives can be so
One moment that sticks out in my overwhelming and difficult that
mind from our days at the pool was they have the same awesome God
when a little girl in my class (about watching out to rescue them when
5 yrs old) called out to me “Ms. they call. I’m thankful that I have
Rebecca Help Me!” She appeared the opportunity to be used as his
to be bouncing and splashing in the hands and feet sometimes to be
water for fun, and then I saw the there for them when they are in
look on her face and realized she need. It is an honor to be a small
really needed me to help her part of the lives of the children and
because she couldn’t touch. I I thank God that He can save them
walked over and picked her up, from the depths of the pool.
she clung onto me spitting out
By Rebecca Neighfinger
water as I walked to the side. She
and I sat for awhile on the edge as
she caught her breath and
regained her nerves to enter Summer Pictures
the water. For the rest of the
4. September/October 2006 ~ Page 4 Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
Servant Hearts
P. O. Box 160294 • Atlanta, Georgia 30316 • 404-964-4604 • justinascm@juno.com • http:www.summerhillcm.com