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Newsletter ~ First Quarter 2008 Serving Inner-City Youth and Families
Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
Little Girl K Little “K” is an eight year old girl
who has been encouraged to
regurgitate so that she won’t be as
big as her mother. Small, frail K
came to Summerhill new this school
year when her mom stopped me at
the bus stop one morning. She
asked if we had room for her
daughter. K was excited to be here
although she struggled to make
friends. She constantly desired to
be the center of attention among
her classmates.
I met with mom and step uncle and
a relationship began to develop.
They shared family circumstances
and we helped with food and
transportation. Mom and K had to
move in November. Mom wanted K
to continue to come to our ASP
because she said K was doing
much better in school. She
committed to riding Marta to take
her to school in the morning and
pick her up at the ASP each day.
A few weeks ago, K missed a full
week of school. Mom told Justina
she had pneumonia. We began to
pray for her. When she returned, K
looked even smaller, literally skin
and bones. I sensed that something
more was wrong. The step uncle
pulled me to the side and asked me
to please talk with K about a
problem she has been dealing
with. He went on to say that K eats a
Please Pray
lot of food, especially candy and
junk food, and regurgitates. She
belongs to a girls club at school
and apparently someone has told
her how to stay small and not be
“fat” like her mom. He says mom
has been in denial and needs help
as well.
Since then I have spoken with mom
and she admits to K’s problem and
says this is what brought on the
recent pneumonia. Mom and I
discussed help for K. Please pray
for K.
Remember mom in your prayers as
she recently had to be rushed to
the hospital for shortness of breath
and heart pain.
Phillip Phillip who is 16 years of age fits the stereotypical inner-city hard
core kid, raised without a father
and seemingly angry at the world.
At the beginning of the season, his
mother came to me and said she
really needed help with Phillip. She
knew that my son Justin, had
developed a bond with Phillip over
the years and Phillip stated that he
only respected Justin and his
mother.
Phillip has been kicked out of two
different boys and girls clubs in the
community and has been
suspended from school more times
than they can remember - mostly
for fighting and disrespecting
adults. Mom seems to have no
control.
Although Phillip questions if there
really is a God, Justin and I agreed
that we would try to give him a
chance to be a part of a Christian
organized league, with hopes of
ministering to his soul.
One challenge among many others
was to get him through the season
without him losing his cool on the
basketball court. We spoke to
Phillip often about self-control
during an emotional time, respect
of all players and staff of the
league, and being a team player.
We prayed for Phillip more than he
knew. We watched him carefully
during games to make sure we took
him out at the onset of temper
flares. Sometimes we thought he
was going to loose it and Justin
would shout a couple of words,
“Phillip are you good?” and Phillip
would take a deep breath and
shake his head yes, or give a
thumb’s up. We knew that he was
trying. I commended him on his
effort to stay cool. He would nod
and smile, which is something that
this young man rarely does.
Phillip made it through the season
but still needs to get to know his
personal Savior in a very real way.
Please pray for him and us as we
seek to reach him where he is.
Justina Dix
“When she returned, K looked even smaller, literally skin and bones. I sensed that something more was wrong.”
“Phillip...fits the stereotypical inner-city hard core kid, raised without a father and seemingly angry at the world .”
Justina and her family send out a
huge thank you to all those who
prayed for her mother. After
undergoing two three-hour
surgeries in one week, she made it
through the complications and is
recovering well in the Manor Care
Rehabilitation Facility in Decatur,
Georgia. She is expecting to return
home in 4 weeks.
Justina’s Mother
Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc. First Quarter 2008 ~ Page 2
Baby Winter Summerhill kids await Anna & Justin
Winter’s baby boy. The kids
include baby Winter in their
prayers each day as we end our
devotions. Although much
excitement about the new baby is
in the air, there is also a bit of
sadness. We know we will have to
say good-bye to Anna as a summer
camp and after school teacher.
This multi-talented young lady will
be truly missed in this fashion.
Anna will keep close to Justina and
family as a dear friend as she and
Justin head the project on Justina’s
house.
Summerhill
Snaps
Summer Camp is around the
corner. Some of our camp kids are
already talking about camp. One
popular question is, “Are we going
back to God’s Farm?” They look
forward to the summer at S.C.M.
Please help us provide a fun, safe
summer for these kids.
P. O. Box 160294 • Atlanta, Georgia 30316 • 404-964-4604 • [email protected] • http:\\www.summerhillcm.com
First Quarter 2008 ~ Page 3
Teen Job Training
Program The teens are calling and showing
up at the house, hoping for and
anticipating a summer job with
Summerhill Community Ministries.
We will hold interviews during the
last week of April.
We are glad to see how many of
our past Teen Workers that started
out at Summerhill have been able
to get and keep a job with a good
work ethic. To name a few:
Joel Dix- Full time College student
and Manager at J.R. Crickets in
Union City.
Khamirah Miller - Full time college
student and holds job with Hands
on Atlanta.
Justin Dix - LPS Security Company
Antwain Royster - Chick Fil A
Mwalimu Clark - Full time college
student
Latoya Wade - UPS
Tieon Miles - Full time college
student and part time at Atlanta
Housing Authority
Darryl Hickson - Full time college
student and part time at Hardens
Construction Company
As always - we need your prayers!
Sponsor a Child/Job Trainer/Camp Teacher for Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc. - Camp 2008
With summer quickly approaching,
children in Summerhill, Peoplestown,
Mechanicsville, and Grant Park will be
in need of constructive activities. With
your help these children can
participate in SCM’s Inc. Summer
Camp.
Our camp is a quality, God centered
camp where the young people can
learn the Bible, receive love and
encouragement from staff and caring
volunteers, and participate in
enrichment activities and trips. In the
past years, many children have prayed
to receive Christ into their lives.
Please consider giving a special gift to
one of our urban youth this summer by
sponsoring them for camp.
While we ask the parents to contribute
$25.00 to send their child to camp, the
actual cost is $390.00 per child for the
seven weeks. You can sponsor a child
for one week for $65.00, for the whole
summer for $390.00, or with any
amount you wish to give.
Volunteers are also needed to provide
meals, snacks, chaperone trips, and
teach enrichment activities.
Camp dates are tentatively set for June 10th – July 18th.
We may add another week if funds are sufficient.
____ YES, I want to volunteer this summer ____________________________________
(area of interest)
Name ___________________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State: __________ Zip: _________________
Phone: ____________________________ _____ YES, please mail me the newsletter
_____ YES, save postage and EMAIL the newsletter to me at:
Email: ____________________________________________________________
_____ Yes, I want to sponsor a Child/Job Trainer/Camp Teacher for Camp!
____ $ 65.00 One Week ____ $1,850.00 Job Trainer
____ $ 390.00 All Summer ____ $2,250.00 Camp Teacher
____ $ ___________________ Other
Checks should be made out to “Summerhill Community Ministries” with
“Summer Camp” specified in the memo line. All donations are tax deductible
Summer Camp 2008
First Quarter 2008 ~ Page 4 Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
P. O. Box 160294 • Atlanta, Georgia 30316 • 404-964-4604 • [email protected] • http:\\www.summerhillcm.com
Basketball - Our teams fight to the end!
SCM’s 15 and under team coached by Emmanuel Jr., better known as
Coach D.D. to the boys, had a great season! These boys are learning about
what it means to be dedicated and committed. They came to practice, cold
rain or shine, even though they knew they would practice outside. They
came early to practice and games. They played each game with heart and
made it to the play offs. They placed 4th in the league.
The 18 and under was coached by Justin Dix. This energized team also
made it to the playoffs and then to the championship game. They won the
2nd place trophy. This team also holds dedicated players, but there was
one player that needed extra focus and attention. (See special prayer
requests)
Our ASP kids have been working hard to prepare for the
CRCT testing. Please pray as they
take this test beginning April 14th.
CRCT Tests
• Snacks for 30 ASP kids (4 days a
week)
• Paper Goods (paper towels,
napkins, toilet paper, plates,
silverware, cups)
• Various grade/skill level
worksheet books
• Cleaning supplies (big garbage
bags, table, bathroom, & floor
cleaning “stuff”)
• Copier paper (white and colored)
• Stamps, envelopes
• Kroger/Publix gift cards (lately
many families have food needs)
• Gift cards to Office Depot/Staples
or Wal-Mart for office supplies
• Boxed cards for birthdays,
encouragement, illness,
condolences
• Basketballs, footballs, and soccer
balls
• Gatorade, bottle water
• BP gas cards for vans
• Van maintenance (clean, change
oil, rotate tires …)
• Ongoing monthly contributions
and one-time gifts.
Ongoing SCM Needs