The Path of Citrus County

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LOOKING PAST THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE: SCOTT’S STORY MAY/JUNE 2015 THE PATH NEWS “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” ~ I Samuel 16:7 NKJ I guess you could say I’m different from some of the stories that you hear. I worked as a store manager. I went to college. I used to go to church and sing in the choir. I did lawn care and some handyman work for the church. But I walked away from God when my dad had cancer. That was a tough time. I had gone 22 years without touching anything, then went downhill fast from there. Basically I became homeless and lived that way a little over a year on and off. I was staying outside in a trailer of somebody I knew for a while, and when that didn’t work out I was staying in the woods. I was taking pills and drinking a lot. I knew I needed to change and started praying for the first time in over 4 years. I didn’t want to live the life I was living anymore. A friend of mine told me about The Path. When I first heard “homeless shelter,” I was a little nervous about being labeled. But since I’ve been here, so many good things have happened! I’ve learned to make furniture. I’ve learned how to do electrical work and a ton about farming from Mr. DuWayne (Sipper). I’ve learned to feel whole again and regained my self-worth. At first I was hesitant about the Parenting classes, but they helped me understand certain things about my life. The classes made me a better father. It’s tough for those of us who are fathers. I miss my kids. Even when I was homeless, I called my kids every night. I have three blessed children ages 18, 14, and 13. I thank God every day for the young adults that they’ve become because they’re so patient with me. They understand what I’m going through. ~continued on page 2 A Publication of The Path Rescue Mission Serving the Homeless & Hungry in Citrus & Marion Counties Issue 3 - Volume 9 “I walked away from God when my dad had cancer… I had gone 22 years without touching anything, then went downhill fast.” You gave me time to heal. Thank you for giving me my life back.

description

Monthly newsletter for The Path. A mission that serves the homeless & hungry in Citrus & Marion Counties

Transcript of The Path of Citrus County

Page 1: The Path of Citrus County

Dear Friends,

The first 50 trees for The Path’s Fruit Tree Grove have been planted! We have 1,000 more trees to go.

Our local Rotary Clubs, notably the Crystal River Rotary are on top of helping to organize the whole project-- which is up for an international award. This organization has donated $5,000 towards the project.

I look forward to hearing from any of you who want to be a part of this endeavor to sustain it for the future--

God bless you for helping to feed our community!

In His Service,

DuWayne Sipper Executive Director

DIRECTIONS

LOOKING PAST THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE: SCOTT’S STORY

MAY/JUNE 2015

THE PATH NEWS

Cars, appliances & furniture donations

change lives.

Call 352-746-9084

“For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the

outward appearance, but the LORD looks

at the heart.”~ I Samuel 16:7 NKJ

I guess you could say I’m different from some of the stories that you hear. I worked as a store manager. I went to college. I used to go to church and sing in the choir. I did lawn care and some handyman work for the church. But I walked away from God when my dad had cancer. That was a tough time. I had gone 22 years without touching anything, then went downhill fast from there. Basically I became homeless and lived that way a little over a year on and off. I was staying outside in a trailer of somebody I knew for a while, and when that didn’t work out I was staying in the woods. I was taking pills and drinking a lot. IknewIneededtochangeandstartedprayingforthefirsttimeinover 4 years. I didn’t want to live the life I was living anymore. AfriendofminetoldmeaboutThePath.WhenIfirstheard“homeless shelter,” I was a little nervous about being labeled. But since I’ve been here, so many good things have happened! I’ve learned to make furniture. I’ve learned how to do electrical work and a ton about farming from Mr. DuWayne (Sipper). I’ve learned to feel whole again and regained my self-worth. AtfirstIwashesitantabouttheParentingclasses,buttheyhelpedme understand certain things about my life. The classes made me a better father. It’s tough for those of us who are fathers. I miss my kids. Even when I was homeless, I called my kids every night. I have three blessed children ages 18, 14, and 13. I thank God every day for the young adults that they’ve become because they’re so patient with me. They understand what I’m going through. ~continued on page 2

352-527-6500 • www.PathOfCitrus.org • www.PathOfMarion.org

Path of Citrus County PO Box 3024, Inverness, FL 34451

Lecanto Bargain Store1729 W. Gulf to Lake Highway

Lecanto, FL 34461Mon - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM

Sat 9 AM- 4 PM

Path of Marion CountyPO Box 77-1739, Ocala, FL 34477

Dunnellon Bargain Store20565 W. Pennsylvania Ave.

Dunnellon, FL 34431Wed - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM

Sat 9 AM- 3 PM

Client Services Office21 S Melbourne St.

Beverly Hills, FL 34465352-527-6500

Member ASSOCIATION OF GOSPEL

RESCUE MISSIONSwww.agrm.org

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RESERVE THE DATE!

The Path’s Annual HARVEST HOPE

BANQUETFriday Nov 6, 2015

at 1st Baptist Church-Crystal River.

You won’t want to miss this special evening celebrating

life-transformation!

Call Kathryn Sipper at 352-527-6500 x5 to find out how you can become

a banquet sponsor.

We know you understand that there are hurting, hungry, homeless people in our community every single day.

And our doors arealways open.

Our tables alwayshave food on them.

A Publication of The Path Rescue Mission • Serving the Homeless & Hungry in Citrus & Marion Counties • Issue 3 - Volume 9

“I walked away from God when my dad had cancer…

I had gone 22 years without touching anything, then

went downhill fast.”

You gave me time to heal. Thank

you for giving me my life back.

Even during the summer when so many leave the area for several months. No matter what amount-- if given monthly over a period of time-- makes a huge impact on the lives of men, women and children who seek our help.

Monthly Partners rescue the lost & hurting all year long.Visit www.PathOfCitrus.org or call 352-527-6500 ext.5

Page 2: The Path of Citrus County

Scott’S Story continued....

Visit The Path Online at www.PathOfCitrus.org

Path Stars- Visit our online photo gallery for highlights from The Path’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Check out our Path Stars, too!

Make this aSummer of Hope

2 – The Path News 3 – The Path News

I feel closer to God and read more scripture here than any time in my entire life! The Recovery 12 Steps here helped mediscoverwhoIamforthefirsttimeinalongtime.Andmostofall,IlearnedtotrustinGod.

When you think of The Path, think of your brother, your mother, your son, your daughter or even a grandchild. They might end up traveling a similar road I did. Helping The Path is helping someone with education, getting licenses back, getting their life back. Bringing people closer to God-- people who didn’t believe in God-- is the main thing. Instead of looking at them as “they have a drug habit or this or that,” think about what’s behind it all, the real story. They could be a pastor, a banker—hard times can happen to anyone. My life has really changed here at The Path. I saved my disability money and got a yellow 2001 Nissan XTerra everybodycalls“TheBumblebee.”AndIqualifiedforaHabitathouse,soI’llbeworkingonmyvolunteerhourssoon. I wouldn’t be the man I am today had it not been for your help. I want to encourage you. Thanks to God we can rise again. I believe that with all my heart!

A BIG thank you to all of you who change lives through volunteering!

Without you, The Path would not be where it is today.

Make a difference as a volunteerCall 352-527-6500 x9

ThePathcelebratedwith80volunteersandtheirguestsatourfirstannual Volunteer Appreciation “Potluck” Dinner on April 10th at the Hernando Church of the Nazarene.

Our 2015 Volunteer of the Year Award went to Sharon Treur. Sharon was recognized for consistently making a difference at The Path for many years. She has served The Path as a tutor, hoping to help men and women at The Path improve their education.

Sharon has a great heart and personal connection with the men and women at The Path, often weeping with compassion over the tiniest of successes. She has great concern when a client leaves the program and hasnotfinishedlearningwhatsheknowstobevaluableknowledge.Sharon was instrumental with GED preparation and launching a household budgeting class.

Gloria Schultz, Women’s Bible Study Volunteer and Bonnie Rybak, volunteer tutor and lead for putting together our

Literacy Education Program shared how rewarding volunteering is for

them and how they have grown from the experiences as well.

Not only are they changing lives, but their lives have been changed, too!

~ Karen Timm, Development Coordinator

enjoy the FruitS oF your Labor During April, Rotary club members, led by Crystal River Rotary, plantedthefirst50fruittreesat“TheGrove”—thesiteofa10acrefruitorchard dedicated to helping feed the hungry of Citrus County. The Path will be contributing our expertise and manpower to run it. The goal is to plant many varieties of fruit trees so there will be a steady harvest of different fruit throughout the year, enough to feed people but not an overabundance of any one crop that would spoil. As the fruit is harvested, it will go to our Community Food Bank to be distributed by the local agencies that distribute food to county residents. Our farm— and now the fruit grove project— make an impact towards improving the quality of life for men and women at The Path. With yourhelp,wewillbeabletoextendthehealthbenefitstotherestofthecommunity, especially to the hungry and in need of fresh, healthy food.

For about the cost of a cup of coffee, you could change

someone’s life this summer by

sponsoring a meal.Path Needs

3 Toilet paper3 Canned goods3 Bleach3 Lysol spray 3 PineSol3 Zip lock storage bags- sandwich & gallon sz3 Outdoor garbage bags3 Deodorant- men’s or women’s

Please pray for the men and women at The Path and

their families!

“I wouldn’t be the man I am today had it not been for

your help… Thanks to God we can rise again.”

You Can Get Involved ! Here’s how:• Purchase a fruit tree for The Grove. Go to www.pathofcitrus.org

and donate online $50 per tree as a personal gift or in memory ofa loved one. Note “fruit tree” in the Comments section.

Serving handS - Servant’S heart

l-r: Sharon Treur- Vol. of the Year, DuWayne Sipper-ED, Kathryn

Sipper-Dev. Dir, Karen-Timm-Dev. Coordinator & Event Chairperson

2015 Volunteer Award Recipients

Bright Smile Award ~ Lawana Bynes Busy Bee Awards ~ Ellie Kennedy, Wilma France & Annie Beckwith

“Can Do” Award ~ Tammi Merriman The Golden Hammer Award ~

Bonnie Rybak “Big Heart” Award ~ Jim & Judy Stevens

“Servant Hands” Award ~ Ed & Sue Messer

Discipleship Award ~ Pastor John Leaf Faithful Servant Award ~

Joann Lockhart for over 10 years of volunteering

• Enjoy healthy, pesticides-freevegetables & support our recoverywork program for men & women atThe Path’s rescue mission. Join ThePath Farm Co-op! 352-527-6500 x8

Call for a tour or summer mission project at The Path’s Farm

352-527-6500 x9

Page 3: The Path of Citrus County

Scott’S Story continued....

Visit The Path Online at www.PathOfCitrus.org

Path Stars- Visit our online photo gallery for highlights from The Path’s Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. Check out our Path Stars, too!

Make this aSummer of Hope

2 – The Path News 3 – The Path News

I feel closer to God and read more scripture here than any time in my entire life! The Recovery 12 Steps here helped mediscoverwhoIamforthefirsttimeinalongtime.Andmostofall,IlearnedtotrustinGod. When you think of The Path, think of your brother, your mother, your son, your daughter or even a grandchild. They might end up traveling a similar road I did. Helping The Path is helping someone with education, getting licenses back, getting their life back. Bringing people closer to God-- people who didn’t believe in God-- is the main thing. Instead of looking at them as “they have a drug habit or this or that,” think about what’s behind it all, the real story. They could be a pastor, a banker—hard times can happen to anyone. My life has really changed here at The Path. I saved my disability money and got a yellow 2001 Nissan XTerra everybodycalls“TheBumblebee.”AndIqualifiedforaHabitathouse,soI’llbeworkingonmyvolunteerhourssoon. I wouldn’t be the man I am today had it not been for your help. I want to encourage you. Thanks to God we can rise again. I believe that with all my heart!

A BIG thank you to all of you who change lives through volunteering!

Without you, The Path would not be where it is today.

Make a difference as a volunteerCall 352-527-6500 x9

ThePathcelebratedwith80volunteersandtheirguestsatourfirstannual Volunteer Appreciation “Potluck” Dinner on April 10th at the Hernando Church of the Nazarene.

Our 2015 Volunteer of the Year Award went to Sharon Treur. Sharon was recognized for consistently making a difference at The Path for many years. She has served The Path as a tutor, hoping to help men and women at The Path improve their education.

Sharon has a great heart and personal connection with the men and women at The Path, often weeping with compassion over the tiniest of successes. She has great concern when a client leaves the program and hasnotfinishedlearningwhatsheknowstobevaluableknowledge.Sharon was instrumental with GED preparation and launching a household budgeting class.

Gloria Schultz, Women’s Bible Study Volunteer and Bonnie Rybak, volunteer tutor and lead for putting together our

Literacy Education Program shared how rewarding volunteering is for

them and how they have grown from the experiences as well.

Not only are they changing lives, but their lives have been changed, too!

~ Karen Timm, Development Coordinator

enjoy the FruitS oF your Labor During April, Rotary club members, led by Crystal River Rotary, plantedthefirst50fruittreesat“TheGrove”—thesiteofa10acrefruitorchard dedicated to helping feed the hungry of Citrus County. The Path will be contributing our expertise and manpower to run it. The goal is to plant many varieties of fruit trees so there will be a steady harvest of different fruit throughout the year, enough to feed people but not an overabundance of any one crop that would spoil. As the fruit is harvested, it will go to our Community Food Bank to be distributed by the local agencies that distribute food to county residents. Our farm— and now the fruit grove project— make an impact towards improving the quality of life for men and women at The Path. With yourhelp,wewillbeabletoextendthehealthbenefitstotherestofthecommunity, especially to the hungry and in need of fresh, healthy food.

For about the cost of a cup of coffee, you could change

someone’s life this summer by

sponsoring a meal.Path Needs

3 Toilet paper3 Canned goods3 Bleach3 Lysol spray 3 PineSol3 Zip lock storage bags- sandwich & gallon sz3 Outdoor garbage bags3 Deodorant- men’s or women’s

Please pray for the men and women at The Path and

their families!

“I wouldn’t be the man I am today had it not been for

your help… Thanks to God we can rise again.”

You Can Get Involved ! Here’s how:• Purchase a fruit tree for The Grove. Go to www.pathofcitrus.org

and donate online $50 per tree as a personal gift or in memory of a loved one. Note “fruit tree” in the Comments section.

Serving handS - Servant’S heart

l-r: Sharon Treur- Vol. of the Year, DuWayne Sipper-ED, Kathryn

Sipper-Dev. Dir, Karen-Timm-Dev. Coordinator & Event Chairperson

2015 Volunteer Award Recipients

Bright Smile Award ~ Lawana Bynes Busy Bee Awards ~ Ellie Kennedy, Wilma France & Annie Beckwith

“Can Do” Award ~ Tammi Merriman The Golden Hammer Award ~

Bonnie Rybak “Big Heart” Award ~ Jim & Judy Stevens

“Servant Hands” Award ~ Ed & Sue Messer

Discipleship Award ~ Pastor John Leaf Faithful Servant Award ~

Joann Lockhart for over 10 years of volunteering

• Enjoy healthy, pesticides-free vegetables & support our recovery work program for men & women at The Path’s rescue mission. Join The Path Farm Co-op! 352-527-6500 x8

Call for a tour or summer mission project at The Path’s Farm

352-527-6500 x9

Page 4: The Path of Citrus County

Dear Friends,

The first 50 trees for The Path’s Fruit Tree Grove have been planted! We have 1,000 more trees to go.

Our local Rotary Clubs, notably the Crystal River Rotary are on top of helping to organize the whole project-- which is up for an international award. This organization has donated $5,000 towards the project.

I look forward to hearing from any of you who want to be a part of this endeavor to sustain it for the future--

God bless you for helping to feed our community!

In His Service,

DuWayne Sipper Executive Director

DIRECTIONS

LOOKING PAST THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE: SCOTT’S STORY

MAY/JUNE 2015

THE PATH NEWS

Cars, appliances & furniture donations

change lives.

Call 352-746-9084

“For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the

outward appearance, but the LORD looks

at the heart.”~ I Samuel 16:7 NKJ

I guess you could say I’m different from some of the stories that you hear. I worked as a store manager. I went to college. I used to go to church and sing in the choir. I did lawn care and some handyman work for the church. But I walked away from God when my dad had cancer. That was a tough time. I had gone 22 years without touching anything, then went downhill fast from there. Basically I became homeless and lived that way a little over a year on and off. I was staying outside in a trailer of somebody I knew for a while, and when that didn’t work out I was staying in the woods. I was taking pills and drinking a lot. IknewIneededtochangeandstartedprayingforthefirsttimeinover 4 years. I didn’t want to live the life I was living anymore. AfriendofminetoldmeaboutThePath.WhenIfirstheard“homeless shelter,” I was a little nervous about being labeled. But since I’ve been here, so many good things have happened! I’ve learned to make furniture. I’ve learned how to do electrical work and a ton about farming from Mr. DuWayne (Sipper). I’ve learned to feel whole again and regained my self-worth. AtfirstIwashesitantabouttheParentingclasses,buttheyhelpedme understand certain things about my life. The classes made me a better father. It’s tough for those of us who are fathers. I miss my kids. Even when I was homeless, I called my kids every night. I have three blessed children ages 18, 14, and 13. I thank God every day for the young adults that they’ve become because they’re so patient with me. They understand what I’m going through. ~continued on page 2

352-527-6500 • www.PathOfCitrus.org • www.PathOfMarion.org

Path of Citrus County PO Box 3024, Inverness, FL 34451

Lecanto Bargain Store1729 W. Gulf to Lake Highway

Lecanto, FL 34461Mon - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM

Sat 9 AM- 4 PM

Path of Marion CountyPO Box 77-1739, Ocala, FL 34477

Dunnellon Bargain Store20565 W. Pennsylvania Ave.

Dunnellon, FL 34431Wed - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM

Sat 9 AM- 3 PM

Client Services Office21 S Melbourne St.

Beverly Hills, FL 34465352-527-6500

Member ASSOCIATION OF GOSPEL

RESCUE MISSIONSwww.agrm.org

NL d

esig

n: N

ew Ed

en G

raph

ics 3

52.8

60.2

146

RESERVE THE DATE!

The Path’s Annual HARVEST HOPE

BANQUETFriday Nov 6, 2015

at 1st Baptist Church-Crystal River.

You won’t want to miss this special evening celebrating

life-transformation!

Call Kathryn Sipper at 352-527-6500 x5 to find out how you can become

a banquet sponsor.

We know you understand that there are hurting, hungry, homeless people in our community every single day.

And our doors arealways open.

Our tables alwayshave food on them.

A Publication of The Path Rescue Mission • Serving the Homeless & Hungry in Citrus & Marion Counties • Issue 3 - Volume 9

“I walked away from God when my dad had cancer…

I had gone 22 years without touching anything, then

went downhill fast.”

You gave me time to heal. Thank

you for giving me my life back.

Even during the summer when so many leave the area for several months. No matter what amount-- if given monthly over a period of time-- makes a huge impact on the lives of men, women and children who seek our help.

Monthly Partners rescue the lost & hurting all year long.Visit www.PathOfCitrus.org or call 352-527-6500 ext.5