Mike Lopez used to have a rough life on the outer walls of the Dream Center. For six years he had to always be on guard and only worried about himself. He always had to make sure that he would survive. Lopez began his journey at the Dream Center in the summer of 2009 at the Celebration of Hope, the centers largest inner-city outreach of the summer. He had gone there with some of his friends that were in need, but really was not into the whole “hope scene.” At this time, Lopez had begun to have problems with his kidney transplant, problems which he had never experienced before. At the Celebration, Lopez saw a tent that held several ministers, and something about the tent led him to it. Inside, the ministers listened to Lopez’s

kidney problems and began to pray for him. Soon after the Celebration event, and to discover it was hosted by the Dream Center, Lopez went to the Dream Center for a Bible Study after he had received an invitation by a fellow volunteer. Lopez had a rough 2009 year, but after the Bible Study in August, he has never looked back. After Lopez began to attend Bible Studies at the Dream Center, he soon became a regular volunteer. He comes here because of what the Dream Center has to offer to the community; it has blessing and spreads the word of the Lord. “The Dream Center has good people who volunteer here. There is no other comparison to them,” says Lopez. “I hope that the Center helps to stop the crime in the

community by the continuation of what they have done already; to be an eye/mind opener to the Lord and to make the community a better place to live in.” Not only is Lopez happy to be a volunteer at the Dream Center, he also no longer has the burdens he had before. “God directed me in the right direction to come to the Dream Center,” says Lopez. “I do not worry anymore. I know the Lord is always with me. I am blessed to be alive.”

A Lifechanging Experience...

The Dream CenterNewsletter June 2010

Rik Stone, Director of The Kalamazoo Dream Center

Center Hours:Tues. Wed. Fri.9AM - 4PM

The Dream Centers Push-Up event was a huge success! Rik Stone, Director of The Dream Center, challenged himself to complete 3,000 push-ups in only 4 hours in order to raise money for the needy within the downtown Kalamazoo area. He completed 3,000 push-ups and raised a grand total of 4,000 dollars!! Thank you to all of the people who came out and supported this great event.

Push-Up the Dream Center, Push-Up the Needy...

Keyeva Richardson lived in the “ghetto” with no family or friend support in her life. She lived her life with the feeling that nobody

really cared about her. Her family and friends were always negative and quick to put her down. Richardson, with low self-esteem, continued her use of marijuana and had no real way to support her three children. One Saturday, the Dream Center came to her house for Adopt-A-Block. Richardson was not quite sure why they chose her house, but she knew that it had impacted her a lot. “Every Saturday after the first time they stopped by, they would

always stop at my house. I do not know who else they visited, but I knew that they would always come to me and my family,” says Richardson. “I knew after that, that I needed to come to the Dream Center and be involved.” Richardson soon talked to Rik Stone, Director of the Dream Center, about her life and what she felt was difficult and wrong in it. They began to talk regularly, and soon Richardson felt as though there was a big change in her life. She allowed the Lord to come into her life, and felt herself begin to grow, physically, mentally, and spiritually. “The Dream Center gave me hope and relief when there was none,” says Richardson. “They began to believe in me, and soon I began to believe in myself.” Since the knock on Richardson’s door on Saturday morning, her life had changed incredibly. Not only is she a dedicated volunteer to the Dream Center, Richardson also

is currently an enrolled student prepared to receive her nursing degree in the future. She hopes that with determination and the faith of the Lord, that she can set a good example for her three children. Richardson wants them to know that even through the roughest of times, with the Lord on your side, you are capable to do remarkable things in life. “The Dream Center impacted my life a lot,” says Richardson. “Everyone who volunteers at the Dream Center all came from somewhere. It was the Dream Center that accepted them when no one else did.” As shown, the Dream Center has touched many lives throughout the years in the Edison neighborhood. Some of the lives have been touched more than others, but everyone has been touched in some way. At the Dream Center, we hope to continue reaching out to the lives of others throughout the many years to come.

The Story of Keyeva Richardson...

The Kalamazoo Dream Center1122 Portage Rd. Kalamazoo, MI 49001(269) 382-4760 www.kaldream.org

Our Mission:To grow a healthy

community by meeting essential needs, offering life-skills training and demonstrating Christ’s love with authentic care of the poor in the inner city of Kalamazoo

Expanding of emergency food services... The Kalamazoo Dream Center provides a number of services each day to the needy in the inner-city of Kalamazoo. We are proud to announce that the intake of food donations has increased, allowing us the privilege to serve more people in need. Beginning on April 1, 2010, we are now serving both the Edison and Vine neighborhoods. The Dream center has been serving the Edison neighborhood for the last 12 years, an inner-city neighborhood of approximately 8,500 residents. Adding the Vine neighborhood will include another 3,600 residents! We are grateful to be able to expand our services and make a difference to so many more.

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The Kalamazoo Dream Center1122 Portage Rd. Kalamazoo, MI 49001(269) 382-4760 www.kaldream.org