Canaan Baptist Church hosted the Christian Life Program (CLP) Graduation on May 16th.  The Church provided the facilities, food, and servers. It was an opportunity to see men mark a stage of completion as well a new beginning.  Each of the graduates experienced changes in their lives and outlook over the past year.

Don King
Don, (age 48), was a drug dealer. A friend of Johnny Evans, 2004 CLP Graduate, Johnny told Don he needed to get into the CLP. God has changed Don's life dramatically over the past fourteen months. He has reconciled with the mother of his children and they will be getting married shortly.

He is becoming a good father.  Don is now teaching youth at church, leading an adult Bible study, and will begin attending Carver Bible College this summer.  He is the recipient of the Taylor-Minor Scholarship for the next two years.

Jeremy Carroll
Jeremy, (age 25), was an alcoholic who had destroyed relationships with all of his family members and was on a fast track toward an early grave. His father brought him to the CLP. Through the program, Jeremy came to understand God's purpose and presence in his life and stopped drinking.

He has now become involved in ministry and enjoys teaching youth and working closely with his pastor. He will be attending KU in the fall. He was previously employed in retail security, and intends to pursue an education in this field.

However, he feels the Lord may be calling him into ministry, and may pursue seminary after receiving his BA. When his financial situation improves, he plans to volunteer as a Summer Intern at City Union Mission in 2007.

Sam Cooks
Sam, (age 47), is a grandfather of a divided family. One side is heavily into drugs and the other side is into church. He was addicted to crack cocaine. He had separated from his wife and alienated her, the children and grandchildren.

Sam's brother, Jimmie Dotson, graduated from the CLP in 2004 and is now on staff with the Mission. Jimmie kept telling Sam he needed to come here from Mississippi to get his life on track, and he finally did.

While at the Mission, he found and accepted Christ as his Savior. The church he has been attending volunteered to host the Graduation last night because they saw how dramatically God had changed his life.

Sam will be returning soon to Mississippi. He has reconciled with his wife, children, and family. He will be joining a family business installing ceramic tile. He will likely become the next CEO for the company within a year.

The graduation was attended by more than 100 staff, CLP members, family and friends. The meal was wonderful; the hospitality of the church notable.  Lisandro Gonzalez led worship and the CLP men's choir. The graduates requested Ted Taylor preach "God is in the Restoration Business" as the graduation sermon.

About the Christian Life Program
This long-term program is available to men who have responded to the gospel and want to grow as Christians and as responsible members of the community. Daily Bible classes, individual and group counseling, drug and alcohol recovery, job assignments and life-skills courses are required. Attendance at area churches and opportunities for further education make up this comprehensive one-year program. The Christian Life Program is also available at Opportunity Farm, an extension of City Union Mission, which is located in the Ozarks near Warsaw, Missouri.

Are you or someone you know in a similar situation like Don, Jeremy, and Sam were? Click here to learn how they found new lives in Christ.