GRADUATION 2009 NEWSLETTER

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST MISSION
5440 HIGHWAY 202
ANNISTON, ALABAMA 36201
MARCH, 2009

Dear Friends,
March 19th Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre graduated 147 persons. I thought that deserved its own news letter, so here goes.

The centerpiece of our Centre was the Educare Program which has been funded by the good old USA. The program took students from 14 to 17 where were dropped out of school and trained them in either electrical skills for the boys or garment making for the girls. We started with 56 and finished with 50 which I think is great considering these were all at one time dropouts. All of these students went through my classes on Bible in the counseling segment of our training. At graduation I had one set of parents with twin boys in the program thank me that the boys had "reformed". A group of these boys paid especially good attention in my class and said that they wanted to follow Christ. Time will tell the reality of their commitment.

We also graduated classes in computer literacy, advanced computering, computer repair, cooking, and cake decorating. The graduation was attended by several high level education department officials and was covered by the television news media. The young woman from the TV station told me she was very impressed by the Church's commitment to the community.
The program consisted of: Mr. Wilfred Gomes as Master of Ceremonies, who did a great job of handling the proceedings; an opening address by Ms. Patricia David, Adult Education Association; a brief address by Mr. Claude Johnson, Education Officer II; featured address by Ms. Sandra Hooper, Community Development Specialist for Educare; distribution of certificates by Terry Rohit and Lucy from the AEA; Varsha and Mr. Claude Johnson, and Stephen Bactawar and Mr. Simon (N.A.T.I.) for the various programs. Shaminee Rohit read the names of the students receiving trophies and Hani from Educare presented them to the following students: Overall Best - Satesh Kumar Singh, Most Disciplined - Kumar Bissoon, and Most Improved - Dhanmattie Ragnauth. The students presented 2 songs as well.

During the ceremony they surprised my wife, Kathy, and I with a tribute for our service and we were indeed surprised.

As I write some of our students as well as teenagers from the neighborhood and from the #68 Church and #57 Mission are having a pizza get-to-gather hosted by Ellen and Katie, our volunteers from Rhinelander, Wisconsin. These two Christian young ladies have helped us a great deal with their fine testimonies and personal work abilities.

Keep praying for the Centre. This was the last year for the Educare program. The Centre will miss that funding and avenue into the lives of these teenagers. We also want to be more focused on presenting the Gospel.

In Christ, John Hunter

Please visit: ellenandkatieinguyana.blogspot.com for more pictures and information.