Peniel

Corey Williams is currently the Director of music and arts at Mount Zion Baptist Church of Greensboro, NC. Recently, he was selected as one of the top 10 praise and worship leader in the nation by Gospel Music Roundup magazine. Please click on the articles below to view a larger image. A letter from Corey to Dr. Spellman can also be read by clicking here.

The full article that was printed in the "News & Record" of Greensboro, NC can be read by clicking here.

Desiree Williams

I graduated from Peniel on August 20, 1995, and immediately began working with the Peniel Alumni Connection (PAC). I was elected President and have been working in this capacity since August 1997. I take this position as an assignment from the Lord and I am humbled to be the President of the Peniel Alumni Connection.

The Peniel Alumni Connection (PAC) is just what its names denotes, the Alumni’s connection to Peniel. Our goals are to give back to the ministry that restored our lives, to support fellow alumni and to provide new graduates a group of people that they can comfortably and safely fellowship with. The Alumni meets every other month to fellowship, plan activities and to support the needs of fellow alumni.

Our latest project is a pledge to raise $10,000 toward the building expansion program. We are chipping away at this pledge through fundraisers and donations. We have planned and executed a number of successful activities; candy sales, pizza sales, bake sales and a car wash. We as alumni personally donate money, which also goes, toward our pledge.

Not only are we raising funds for Peniel, we also assist fellow alumni when there is a need. One example of this was an alumnus that had an urgent need to come and visit Peniel. The alumni were informed of her desire to come and visit. She didn’t have the means to travel, so we immediately went into action and collected donations from the alumni so that she would be able to make the trip. Little did we know that would be the last time she would have the opportunity to come to Peniel. When she returned home she had a massive heart attack and died.

Our culminating yearly activity is graduation. This is the most exciting time of the year and we have the privilege to serve in many capacities. We usher, sing in the choir, set up, clean up and provide a reception for the graduates. The reception is an electrifying time for the graduates as well as the alumni. We provide refreshments, gifts and words of encouragement to the graduates. The alumni reception is our way of saying congratulations and welcome to PAC

We as alumni are grateful to Peniel and to the faithful staff. We thank the Lord that we are able to continue our support through the Peniel Alumni Connection.

Testimony of Peniel's 2001 Founder's Award Recipient - Pastor Gregory Blythe

Addiction to drugs and alcohol rips the seams of a man’s life. The process of addiction is devastating, deteriorating and demoralizing. It destroys trust, steals talent, assassinates a person’s character, annihilates the self-esteem and strips away his human dignity.

Peniel’s 2001 honoree found himself literally smothered by the clutches of addiction. He realized that he needed a power great enough to deliver him not only from his craving for drugs, but also a power that was able to free his mind, his soul and his spirit. At Peniel, he met God face to face. Through this life-changing experience, he was able to extricate himself from the unforgiving tomb of addiction.

August 24, 2001 during Peniel’s Pre-Graduation Banquet we not only celebrated this honoree’s eighteen years of sobriety, but we applauding his unbelievable tenacity, his great determination and his unwavering faith in God.

He had absolutely overcome insurmountable obstacles. He had become a source of strength to his family and had taken his place in society by attaining the position of a viable and respected asset within the church and within his community. The body of Christ has absolutely been positively impacted and enriched by his commitment to Christ.

This young man was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When he came to Peniel he was estranged from his lovely wife and beautiful son who, at that time, was merely an infant. His name is Adam and at that time he was in college.

Even during the early stages of Peniel, God was as real as He is today. He was dramatically changing sincere hearts and mending hopeless and broken families. Our honoree opened his heart and allowed the Holy Spirit to do a definite work within him. His new purpose was to change his life and to regain his family.

God heard and answered his prayer. We were pleased to announce that his family was miraculously restored and that he had been married to his wife for 25 years. They have three wonderful sons who are committed to Christ. Their sons are: Adam, Matthew and Daniel.

Our recipient successfully completed the program and graduated from Peniel in 1983 as a changed man with a divine calling on his life far beyond his greatest imagination. Indeed, Peniel was the foundational step in the marvelous plan that God for him.

After graduating Peniel, he attended the Dayspring Bible Training Center. From 1988-1998 he served as Youth Pastor of the Dayspring Christian Center. During that time he founded the Vanguard Youth Ministry, which is an evangelistic outreach … to young people - by young people. They have literally traveled around the world. That same year they had visited Peniel Praise Community Church and tremendously blessed the congregation.

In 1996, he was appointed Senior Pastor of the well known Dayspring Christian Community Church, and our own Bishop Harold Spellman was thrilled to participate in his ordination service.

Our honoree had proven to be a tremendous leader. He and his lovely wife, Cathy were comfortable moving in the spirit and encouraging their congregation to receive a touch from God in their lives as well.

He and Cathy have not only ministered within the United States but also abroad, in countries such as Hong Kong, Scotland, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Together they are an awesome team.

We were thrilled to honor this former graduate with the prestigious Founder’s Award. This is the highest tribute that a graduate can achieve from Peniel. This award shatters society’s stereotypical and myopic opinion that there is no hope for the addict.

Still today, this man’s life forces this world to take note that Peniel is effective and that Peniel’s Christian based concept for conquering one of today’s greatest threats, really works.

As it was during that wonderful evening at our banquet, it still remains today our great privilege to honor the THE PENIEL FOUNDER’S AWARD recipient for 2001: Pastor Gregory Blythe.

A Peniel Success Story
Richard L. Brewer, Jr. Testimony

I would like to begin by first giving all honor to whom honor is due, my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, without whom I would not be able to stand.

After graduating from Peniel in August of 2000 and on the day that my family came to pick me up, I would have to say that I was somewhat nervous, anxious and unsure of what the future held for me. I’d never known true freedom until my Peniel experience. Nevertheless, I had the security of knowing that I left Peniel with a good aftercare plan. I made a commitment that in my new life I would use the tools that I had learned in the program and that I would not go back to my old way of living.

I carefully followed my aftercare plan, which was devised together with my counselor, Bill Henry, who knew where I had been and from where I had come. It stated that I should meet with my Pastor, Rev. Jeff Wilson, who was also my aftercare agent - so I did. My aftercare plan said that I should seek employment - so I did. I learned at Peniel that my future depended on my choices and my determination to be open to receive counsel. I met with my Pastor as often as he felt necessary, and became very involved in any way possible within the church.

My first job was a part-time position cleaning the church, which I continued to do even after I obtained employment full-time. I am presently employed with NVR Products in Thurmont, Maryland. It is work that I enjoy and thanks to Peniel, I am able to maintain this position. As I met with various challenges and circumstances, I began to apply to my everyday life those things that were taught at Peniel. I would almost have to say that prayer was one of the most powerful tools I practiced. Also, I learned the importance of turning things over to God, rather than holding on to things that could take me back to the mind set I once had before coming to Peniel, such as that of a victim’s mentality.

Since graduating Peniel, I was offered the position of Royal Ranger Leader for boys ages 5 - 8 years. This is a very rewarding ministry for me. I was asked by Pastor Jeff if I would like to begin sharing at Sheppard’s Choice Nursing Home for the elderly. This is another ministry, which I have gladly accepted. I have also received my Minister’s License through the Pennsylvania Ministers Association. This will help me with my future goal which is prison ministry.

To summarize everything I would have to say that my Peniel experience has changed my life dramatically. I have good positive relationships with my church family, people within the community and those at my workplace. I have moved into ministry under very good and godly counsel. Recently, I married Donna, a beautiful woman of God who has three wonderful children who I am now privileged to call my own.

If I were asked to give advice to one preparing to graduate the program, or to a fellow Peniel alumni, I would have to say; be obedient to your aftercare plan, seek as much godly counsel as possible, and stay away from those things and people that can draw you back into your old way of life. Be responsible for yourself and take responsibility for your own actions. Be honest and transparent, and above all, I encourage you to stay true to the faith, place your trust in the Lord and seek Him while He is able to be found.

Peniel Even Prepares Soldiers To Defend Our Nation
By Sharon Narcisse

We are grateful to God that He has allowed Peniel to have a part in preparing men to defend our country. We would like to share with you the account of a young man who graduated from our program and who is today proudly serving in our armed forces.

Ron Luciano a native of New York City, living two blocks from the World Trade Center, first came to Peniel in 1998 addicted and defeated by substance abuse. Many wasted years consumed by his drug addiction resulted in the painful separation from his precious wife and little girl.

Finally enrolled in Peniel’s treatment program Ron was determined to allow God to restore his life and develop him into the Godly husband and father that he had longed to become.

Tearfully this broken young man later testified in one of our services. He praised God for giving him another chance. He was learning how to live free from the bondage of addictions and believing God to restore his marriage and reunite his family.

At last, Ron’s dream had been realized. He had successfully completed his treatment and had become a man of integrity, courage and leadership. His beautiful wife Wanda willingly gave up her career in New York and with their tiny daughter Rachel moved to Johnstown to join her husband. This beautiful family had been given a fresh new beginning! The miracle of restoration was clearly evident when you saw the love in the eyes of his wife and the security of their daughter who adored her daddy. Yes, God is an awesome God!

In order to provide for his family, and in addition to his employment, Ron joined the military reserves. No longer was he afraid to say, “I stand for something.” Often away on training missions Ron would request prayer for a hedge of protection for himself but mostly for his family in his absence.

On September 11, 2001 the foundation of this nation was shaken by a hideous terrorist act, the bombing of the World Trade Center and the U.S. Pentagon, killing many innocent people.

Today, Ron serves as one of our brave soldiers who had been called to arms to help protect this great nation. Through Peniel Ron has been equipped to stand in the face of war and has learned that God will keep and protect he and his family.

Ron Luciano is a soldier for the United States of America, but even more importantly, he is a soldier in God’s great army.

The following poem sums up our mission at Peniel: to bring life out of death, hope out of despair, peace out of confusion, love out of hatred, trust out of deception, and generosity and abundance out of greed and want, all through the power of God, a warm and loving environment, and an experienced and dedicated staff.

"I Almost Wasn't Born"
Jasmine Narcisse, Age 10

I once had a mom that was mostly gone. My grandmother took care of my sister and brother. They prayed every day for my mother.

"But, I almost wasn't born." My mom's heart did not belong to my sister and brother. Drugs stole the heart of our mother.

"And, I almost wasn't born." My mom was sad inside and torn. She kneeled down one day to pray and the light of God came on.

God was proud of my mom, she was now drug free. My sister, and brother was happy as could be. As a special gift from God
The three was given, me.

And, I - was - born.

Setting the Captives Free - Peniel Graduates Give Testimony to the Delivering Power of God (PDF)
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Transformed Lives - Testimonies of Deliverance From Those Changed By Peniel (PDF)
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The Mask Has Been Removed by Dedra (PDF)
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Small-Town Girl Makes Good by Shawn (PDF)
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