May/June 2009

THE PATH NEWS

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

Father Changes
More Lives Than Just
His Own at The Path Jeff’s first day at
The Path as a client

“At that day you will know that I am in My

Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”
John 14:20 (NIV)
Daddy’s little girls
_____________________________

Our night staff member Jeff is in a unique position of being a

former client, Path graduate, and now serves by helping our
men at the shelter. From Jeff to all of you who have helped
him and his family — a special message of hope:
Growing up in my house was anything but normal. If my fa-
ther wasn’t home drinking or fighting with my mom, he was out
some where doing the same with someone else. Our house was a
place of alcoholic chaos and abuse for my mother. My parents
divorced when I was nine. This was the model I carried right into
my youth and adulthood. By the age of nine I used drugs and alcohol
regularly. By age eleven, I was an addict and alcoholic by society’s
measure.
As a result, my choice of friendships weren’t positive influences. I
graduated from using to selling drugs shortly after my twelfth birthday.
Not unexpectedly, I got into trouble enough times to put the scare into
my 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 Jeff today: at The Path,
recruiting for prostitution, porn film industry and sold drugs and guns giving men hope
in a new life
to 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 required
we go to church in order to date. This was the first time I ever heard any-
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
thing about God. My motives were wrong but something happened just The Path Spotlight
the same. Not long after this my dad came to see me. He said he only
came to say goodbye. I didn’t understand it, but a few weeks later, our Director’s Corner
family got word that he had passed away. The girlfriend didn’t last.
Salute to Path Stars
I found myself lost, angry and alone . . .
[Continued on Page 2] Farm Update … and more
 Jeff’s Story . . . [Continued from Cover]

I threw myself into working, while my attitude towards people changed. Inside,
I was a mess. Drugs and alcohol masked the misery, but it wasn’t helping. One
day, a friend asked for me to help him propose to his girlfriend at the beach. She
turned him down. Enraged, he grabbed a fully loaded automatic assault rifle and
committed suicide in front of our eyes.
In a flash, my life turned to darkness. I was the one who had sold him this
weapon. 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 couldn’t make sense of life anymore. Jeff and one of our most recent grads, Mark.
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.
Finding myself in jail soon after, I cried out to God once more. A voice within whispered, “It’s 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 make
shift 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 lived
with her family, and I was not allowed there. She took me to the Path. That’s were I met DuWayne (Executive Director) and
Danny (Men’s 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 with
me. And they seemed happy. In a weird kind of way, I wanted
that. 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 able
to sit me still long enough to turn His divine searchlight on my soul and
view with His wisdom—and with what I had learned at The Path. I got out
of 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, “I’m looking for work.” He replied, “Call me on
Jeff counsels one of the men
Monday.” I called, never thinking that he would offer me a job.
Well it’s been seven months now— I’m grateful to be able to give back to The Path, a place that changed my life... I am engaged
to 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 little
ladies 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 like
me. I can’t 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

“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 to
serve others, faithfully administering
God’s grace in its various forms.”
— I Peter 4:8–10 NIV —
2 THE PATH NEWS
 Celebrating… New Life in Christ Director’s
Corner

Dear Friends of The Path,

What if everything you owned -- your most prized

Helping others keepsakes and cherished mementos, such as family
photos, your child's favorite toy or your military
medals -- 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
Fellowship
place to place, in a backpack or a bag?

Few of us can relate to the concept of life without

Achievement a place to house our belongings. Yet, those who
are homeless must often carry everything they
own, every place they go. Every day…

As you enjoy your summer,

please remember those at our
The Path Spotlight 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

Community prayers.

In His Service,

DuWayne Sipper, Executive Director

Involvement

We celebrate . . .
A hope-filled life
because you
continue to give.

THE PATH NEWS 3

 Mark D.- Path shelter graduate, accepted into Victory
School for Chefs Program
Malissa and Bill– Path clients completing CNA Program Board of Directors
JC– Path Client earning his G.E.D.
Gary Bryant
Women of Sugarmill Woods– gifts to support our farm, President
and women’s program (352) 344-3100
Catherine Wisehart– tithe gift in memory of her sister
Benefit Bowling League– gift to support our mission Brian Ludwick
Vice President
ALL OF OUR CLIENTS- as they grow in their faith (352) 563-6508
ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS– FOR THEIR CONTINUED GIFTS OF HOPE
Connie Lobel
Treasurer
Moving? Path for Hire (352) 726-3200
Need an estate
clean-out? Hire The Path to help you! Support Maria Converse
Secretary
our mission by calling 527-6500 for information on (352) 586-5087
hiring The Path to move your residence or business, or
clean out an estate. Quality service, reasonable rates! Stuart Green
Board Member &
Be a blessing to the men at our shelter. Don’t delay—Call today! Past President
(352) 637-3585
Path Farm Update
Mark Stone
Looking for a unique volunteer pro- Board Member
ject for yourself or group? Why not (352) 746-2626
help out at our farm? Dick Windle
With 10 acres of loaned farmland from Her- Board Member
nando Church of the Nazarene, The Path is (352) 489-4167
using environment-friendly methods to grow DuWayne Sipper
organic fruits and vegetables to feed our cli- Executive Director
ents (who are often malnourished when they (352) 527-6500
arrive at the shelter), and to support other Administrative Offices
food pantries in the community. 27 S. Melbourne
Fresh organic produce is Beverly Hills, FL 34465
available for purchase at The Path Shelter Bargain Store. Phone: (352) 527-6500
Help support The Path mission for the homeless ! Fax: (352) 746-6746
Mailing Address
Save the Date ! PO Box 3024
Inverness, FL 34451-3024
You are cordially invited to The Path’s Bargain Store
Harvest Hope Annual Fall Banquet 1729 W Gulf to Lake Hwy.
Lecanto, FL 34461
Friday October 23, 2009 Hours: Mon - Sat
6:00 pm– 8:30 pm 9 AM - 5 PM
1st Baptist Church of Crystal River For pick-up, call:
(352) 746-9084
700 Citrus Avenue
www.pathofcitrus.org
Sponsor a table...Invite your friends...Volunteer

ASSOCIATION OF GOSPEL RESCUE MISSIONS www.agrm.org