Pubdate: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 Source: News Banner, The (LA) Copyright: 2002 Covington News Banner. Contact: http://www.newsbanner.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1848 Author: Leslie Ackel PROGRAM USES FAITH TO KICK DRUG ADDICTIONS COVINGTON - "I can do all things through Christ which has strengthened me, and I've been clean for 50 days," said Russell as the participants in the Upward Community Services 4:13 Alcohol and Drug Recovery program sat together in a circle to profess their dedication of overcoming addiction. Their confessions are structured upon the scripture, Philippians 4:13. As classes convene every evening inside the sanctuary of Faith Bible Church in Covington, volunteer instructors like Emily Diamond, Billy Ray Callahan, Yvonne Baham and Lou Gavin work to help others overcome their addictions by teaching support skills like vocational guidance and self esteem. They combine their "Helping Hand" teachings with a faith based curriculum which helps addicts realize their desire to return to being a productive, participating member of the community. All this work is dependant on donations from individual community members, foundations and businesses. No state or federal funding is received. "I have received such blessings from you all, and I thank God every day for each and every one of you," Emily Diamond tells her students. "Sister Diamond," as she is affectionately referred to, has been teaching members of 4:13 for five years and is dedicated to bridging the program into the local community. Diamond, dedicates every evening to the recovering 4:13 members teaching literature and involving them in interactive activities. Last summer, she directed members to produce the play "Romeo and Juliet," which was performed for the children of the Upward Bound summer camp. Each year Diamond gives 4:13 members a Christmas party, shows them videos and bakes cookies for the class. Lou Gavin teaches life skills education, anger and stress management, provides vocational guidance as well as serving as an advocate for the program. "We help people who want a new life and will commit themselves to this goal for 365 days," said Callahan, director of the Upward Community Services 4:13 project. "Their reason for coming to us for help has to be sincere." Callahan explained that the men who are allowed to enter the program are not given anything. "Everything they get, they must earn," he said. "We get out the old push lawn mowers for the men to cut grass; no riding mowers are used in the program," he said. "The men must earn phone privileges and passes. Every moment of their days are monitored," he said. "No one is allowed to leave the property except in two's," said Gavin. To the program's seven year accomplishment, 60 members have graduated from the program and only one person is known to have fallen back into addiction, Gavin said. Callahan understands the dynamics of what he teaches on a truly personal level as the first graduate of the program in 1993. Now, as the men's director of the 365-day in house program, he oversees the group of men living at "Bart's House," located on the corner of Columbia and Tyler Streets. The home and administration buildings were built and donated by Upward Services boardmember Eddie Cretin of Cretin Homes. The women of 4:13 are monitored by boardmember Yvonne Baham of Lacombe. "I am a voice for the women and an advocate," she said. "We were in need of medication for a woman with a chronic illness," Baham said, "and we hadn't the funds to provide them." She continued, "Through networking and prayer, I found a drug representative that donated a three month supply of the drug." Baham won't loose faith in what the community can offer. The women Baham oversees prepare and cook the meals served daily inside the gymnasium kitchen at Faith Bible Church as well as follow a daily routine of attending classes, working church administration and sweat equity within the community. "Women have much different issues than the men and I am here to see that they are understood," she said. Both the men's house and the women's trailer are assigned "House Captains," individuals who are liaisons to Callahan, E.J. Mitchell and Baham. The current captains at Bart's House are Reginal Taylor, Therron Bickman and Israel Hammond. Women's house captains are Andreletta Rumley and Wanda Wilson. The board of Upward Community Services comprises people from within the staff and from diversified avenues of life. They include an inventor, a restauranteur, retired businessmen, a graduate of 4:13, a minister, a catering business owner, a bank vice president, community activists and a teacher. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens