I Have a Dream
Hear the heart of Exposed Addictions
Dream
Love in the Spirit
Exposed Addictions Inside look: With Dream Artists And some great Dream Ministries
“Don’t be another victim and buy into the lies of addiction!”
June 2011
The heart of the Dream June 2011 Vol. 1, No. 2
Dream Editor in Chief Steven C. Semones II Publisher New Direction Media Associate Editors Allen Rogers Stephanie Jackson
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Art Director / Design Steven C. Semones II Assistant Graphic Designer Mitch Perritt Editorial Writers Becky Dewitt James Graham Nathan Phillips Sharon L Washington April Edwards Margaret Shelton Allison Brown
Features
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Cover Story:
Addictions Exposed
By: Steven Semones II Many addictions that really can tear our dreams apart if we allow ourselves to give in to the lies of addiction. Don’t be another statistic you are more than a tic mark but you where made for so much more. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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Addiction By: Becky Dewitt
One of the most important things that must always be remembered is that we were not born to be enslaved.�
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Addictions from Hurt
A true story by: James Graham How addictions can be traced back to the root of our pain but how thru the healing power of Jesus Christ you too can find healing and not live with a lie of addiction.
Columns
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Ankel Deep Hurricanes Nathan Phillips Broken Glass For real; For rape; for Gods sake Sharon L Washington
Battling Addictions April Edwards Dream for Her Community, writing contest winners
21 I Have A Dream
A word from the heart of the editor.
Addictions Exposed By: Steven Craig Semones II
have seen so many addictions take over my friends and families lives. It has killed, it has really brought division, these drugs what ever it may be whether alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, acid, oxy-cotton, crack, shopping, Hobbies, work, pornography, titles, control, food and the list goes on and on. We justify it by saying well I need it or you don‟t know how hard my life is, and the excuses for our addictions are endless. We have to stop lying to ourselves, and we have to stop making excuses for the things that are tearing the body of Christ, our family, our friendships, our America, and Our World apart.
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“We have to stop lying to ourselves, and we have to stop making excuses for the things that are tearing the body of Christ, our family, our friendships, our America, and Our World apart.” It‟s always made me wonder how everything is fun and games until someone dies of an overdose in an empty bathroom with a needle sticking out there arm, a teenager appearing in court for hitting and killing another motorist from drinking and driving, another abortion taken place after a intimate act was taken because it wasn‟t about love but about hooking up, another wonderful leader ruined by someone that was more worried about there title than there character, and marriage ruined because having things where
more important than sustaining a marriage and a family. I write this today with a burden on my heart for us all including me to wake up and realize the true damage we are doing and we are the corporate. We point our finger but when is it that we all start taking our piece of the blame. I am saying we have all had a drug of choice that we all could turn to, but have you gotten sick and tired of the same outcome not because it want release you but because you want release it. The true problem solver has nothing to do with trying to cover it up. It is about are you willing to expose the true issue that is keeping you bound and release it and give it all to God. It will be a process, it will be much healing, but I want you to know your family loves you, your friends love you, and I love you. We live in such a culture that is starving for relationship but are lacking in the dedication and the commitment it takes to make it work. If it isn‟t easy we don‟t want it, but I know that nothing worth having is easy and if it was easy than what did you really gain or why is it worth having. Too much of anything is a bad thing! Look at the greed of America and we actually as a government and as American people think we can solve an issue that has nothing to do with money. The issues of America go deeper than that it is in our morals, in our values, and in our selfishness. We always say if I had a million dollars
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or if I had this car or that house. Nothing is enough if you are trying to base your happiness and success on things. We first have to start being thankful for what we do have, the gifting, the talents, our dreams and purpose that was put in our life. I am tired of going through the routines, and I refuse to buy into the lies that we as a nation and people have succumbed to. I challenge you because I know you are better than this to take a stand, be a true world changer, and realize the principle it isn‟t what you get in life it is what you give. Everyday you may hold onto your addiction with the lie you aren‟t good enough for anything else, but let me share a truth with you. The only way that it can be true and will be true is if you believe it! I love you and I know that if you surrender self and let God take over your life that your world will totally be transformed. The things you once wanted will not matter, you will be a real man or women with real love, compassion, and an unrelentless passion to pursue and obtain the things God called you to do!
Addiction By: Becky Dewitt or every person that is born on this planet, God had and has a great plan for their lives. There is a plan whether you are an unbeliever or Believer in your present state of existence. His plan did not include addiction to anyone or anything. One of the most important things that must always be remembered is that we were not born to be enslaved. As we go through the many changes of life from childhood through early teens and into adulthood, the thought never enters the mind to be addicted to something. When you ask a child, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” The response is usually a doctor, lawyer, fireman, policeman, etc. It is never,
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“I want to be an addict.” Many may ask how does one become addicted? The enemy uses various methods to strategically devise an attack. The most common reason of addiction is because of a void or emptiness in one‟s life. This void or empty space creates a longing or a need. The problem arises because of what is being used to fill the emptiness. Another device is scars on the soul. These scars come from many areas of mental and physical abuse, neglect, and even words. If these experiences occur during our childhood years, these scars can be for a lifetime if not dealt with through the understanding of God‟s love. It is the love of God and the realization of how much He loves that will deliver one from addiction. Knowing that He took time to fearfully and wonderfully make you by knitting together every aspect of His grand design. You are His individual masterpieces formed for a great purpose and destiny. There is no one that can take your place because He has never duplicated anyone to be like you. The hole in your heart, the scar upon the soul, the void and emptiness, can only be filled and healed by knowing and understanding the power of the love of God. The love that He wants you so much, that He sent His Son, Jesus to be sacrificed so that you can be reconciled to Him. The day that I realized the love of God and the power of that love was the beginning of a new and adventurous life. I did not enter into rehab or any type of step counseling program. I took one step and it was to Jesus. He cleaned me up and took the taste and desire away. This year is my 20th anniversary of being free from bondage. I realize now that He was there all the time, watching, waiting, and protecting me. His eyes were always upon me. Even though I was broken in bondage and scarred, His grace and mercy covered me while He repaired the damage the enemy inflicted upon me. As He made me over, and continues to even today, it is easy to see that God + me= unlimited possibilities!
“One of the most important things that must always be remembered is that we were not born to be enslaved.”
© May 2011 Blood Drop Inheritance Group P.O. Box 6986 Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
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Addictions from Hurt By: James Graham n the mid 1970's, I attended a small Methodist church in the suburbs of Houston, TX. At the age of 14, I gave my life to the Lord, and began to really develop a passion for Christ, and a desire to serve him. It was during the summer of my 16th year, that a young guy from Oral Roberts University came to serve as our intern for the summer. He was a really high energy guy that was tons of fun and always the life of the party. Everyone in our youth group wanted to hang out with him, and be part of his entourage. Just past the middle of the summer, he planned a big get-together with several of us guys in the 15 – 16 year old group. Four of us were supposed to go hang out with him, and then all of us sleep over at his apartment. The evening was great. All of us laughed until we hurt. We played games, threw food at each other and finally all wore out. About 11 PM there was a knock at the door. It was the father of two of the guys coming to pick them up. I was surprised, but thought “Hey – more fun for us!!” As we were standing there, another father arrived to pick up the other guy… that left me and the intern alone. I knew my parents were expecting me to spend the night, so I just settled in after they had all gone.
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ended up with him sitting next to me, touching my shoulder, or my arm…. Always wanting to sit close enough to rub against my side or leg. Sometimes he would sit down and even put his arm around me like we were some kind of best friends. He kept trying to find ways to get me alone, or away from the group. Out of frustration, I decided I needed to talk to someone. I grabbed my best friend and took him off on bikes so I could get him away from the group and talk to him. As I told him about what had happened to me, he just began to squirm and got this really disgusted look on his face. Down inside I was thinking “He believes me… he is going to help me… he is going to stand by me!” As I finished telling my story, he looked at me as if he were in pain, and said “I gotta go man…” He got up and rode off on his bike. Little did I know it would be the last time I would ever see him, talk to him or have any communication with him. I was devastated. I was alone.
Once again, fear struck a deep blow. Down inside I heard a voice saying, “Nobody will want to have anything to do with you… YOU are the problem!” Unfortunately, I believed it. With the loss of my best friend, I began to believe that if I told anyAs we were prepping for bed, I asked “Is it OK if I just one, or if anyone found out about what had happened, crash out here on the couch?” “Sure” he replied. So, I changed I would be cut off. That fear became a reality. Over into some shorts and a t-shirt and grabbed my pillow and blanket the months that followed, I lost all of my friends. and stretched out on the couch. He went to his room and closed Suddenly no one had time to hang out. No one had the door. About 3 AM, I woke up. My whole body was tremtime to talk on the phone. At school they would all bling. I was a bit confused at first. Then it hit me… someone stop talking when I came up to them in a group. I was touching me… someone was doing things to me. Fear found myself utterly alone. Even my church family gripped me…. I could not move. I lay there as tears began to had quarantined me so that I could be watched, but stream down my face, frozen in place, trembling and afraid to not involved. say or do anything. I was paralyzed. He must have realized I had awakened, because he spoke and said… “Hey man, don‟t be afraid…it‟s ok… we‟re friends, and friends do this kind of stuff…” It did not help… I was even more scared than before. At some point he stopped, got up and went to the bathroom. I took that as my cue to get up and get dressed. When he came back, he could tell I was upset, and he said “Let me take you home.” He took me and dropped me at my parent‟s home, where I ducked into the garage and hid out for the rest of the night until my dad got up and left for work. I snuck into the house and got into my bed wishing it were all just a bad dream… but it was not a dream, it was real. In the weeks that followed he kept trying to pursue me. Whenever we were in a public gathering, I somehow always
I finally graduated from high school, went away to college and moved on with my life. I never again opened up my life for others to know me as I had once done. While in college, I hung out with a great group of students who were studying for ministry (as was I), and enjoyed pretty normal days in college for the most part. After I graduated from college, I moved back to my home town of Houston, and went to work as a systems analyst for a large utility company. I lived alone… I ate alone… I drove to work alone… I went to movies alone… I was strong and did not need anyone. However, the more time I spent alone, the more I began to focus on what had happened to me.
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I began to think that I must have been the problem. There must have been something that made him do those things to me. I must be broken in some way. One day, I stumbled across a porn magazine and could not tear myself away from it. All the images I had battled inside, all the thoughts I had battled suddenly were right in front of me in glossy magazine print. It was like someone threw a match into a container of gasoline… the lusts and passions ignited inside of me with a fury. I began to look for porn… this was way before we had the internet, so I would buy it, steal it, borrow it, smuggle it… any way I could get it. The more I saw, the more I wanted. Eventually, looking was not enough and I had to have more…. In addition to sexually relieving myself three to four times a day, I had to have more. It became an addiction…
out of ministry by my peers and I would not bring shame to the Kingdom. That was ten years ago…. after keeping my secret for twenty years. The pain of fear and shame became so great that I began making plans and looking for a place to go… perhaps even my family would be better off without me, I thought. It was during this time that God brought a unique friend into my life that found a way to break through my walls, and see what was really going on in me. He did not have answers. He did not have a fix. In fact, all he really did was listen and be my friend.
Because of that, I began to turn around and the fear began to lift. The shame began to fade. It took time and patience for both of us. Eventually the fear of exposure lead to the desire to expose the fear. In March 2011, I was I finally got to the place that I could not live the dou- finally able to stand up in public and tell my story… and ble life anymore. I was leading worship in our church, the world did not fall apart. praying for people at the altar and seemingly had it all together. But secretly I was battling a raging storm inside of lust, images and desires. It was like a raging wildfire fire that I could not put out. I needed help. I decided to take a week off from work, leave town and go camping with no food, just water and start a fast in order to get some answers. On the third day of my fasting camping trip, I began to hear the Lord speak about my situation. I cried out to him and said, “What do I do?” He simply responded with, “You need help… you can’t do this alone.” He led me to a school in Dallas, TX – Christ for the Nations Institute, where I was put in a place to get some real help. With the help I received at CFNI and the community of believers I had around me, I was able to break the addictions and put those things behind me. The driving behaviors stopped and the addictions began to dry up. The one thing that I did not expect to carry away from this time of healing was the residual feelings of fear and shame that lingered on.
””In March 2011, I was finally able to stand up in public and tell my story… and the world did not fall apart.”
After leaving CFNI, I got married and my wife and I entered into full time ministry. The addictions were gone, What I learned. but in their place was a lingering fear that someone would one day find out about my past. At first it was not so bad. I More than anything else, I learned the value of could manage the fear. But I still never let anyone know me having a trusted community of believers around deep inside. Over the years, the secret became buried me. People that I can trust, who know me and I deeper and deeper and the fears of exposure became know them. People who care about what happens stronger and stronger. Eventually I came to the place that I to me and in me. I found that and it was crucial to felt I had to leave ministry and just go find a job that would my recovery. take care of my family. That way if the secret ever came _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Having this kind of friend taught me that I needed to be this kind of friend to those that God entrusts to me or places around me. Not only did I need to receive from a friend, I needed to be one. Modeling the same kind of grace, transparency and safety that had been done for me.
· I discovered that even those things that I thought were a total waste in my life, a complete loss, come back to pay me back in areas of growth and maturity as I allow God to speak through them. Nothing is wasted… God uses everything.
The bottom line…. We really do need each other… more · I learned that to shine God‟s light into the darkness of than we know. my situation allows me to expose it for what it really is. Once I see the darkness for what it is, I can replace it with what I know is true. I no longer have to believe the lie. I believed I was the problem for over twenty years – that was a lie…. The truth was I was a victim, and God saw me as clean. · I found that God designed us to need each other. The scripture talks over and over about how we are knit together, how we need to confess our faults to one another so that we might be healed. The problem is that we have a hard time finding that place of safety to which we can confess.
Ankle Deep Hurricanes By: Nathan Phillips
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For Real; for rape; for God’s sake...
Broken Glass
By: Sharon L. Washington
By: Anonymous Have you ever broken a mirror? You look down and see sharp, cracked, destroyed pieces of glass? Your brain fills with thoughts. How do I clean this up? What should I use? Is this really going to give me 7 years of bad luck? Will I cut myself? All these questions flood through your brain, even if you don‟t recognize them. Do you know the worst part, though? The minute you reach down to look at that mirror, every piece – every shattered, broken, destroyed piece of that mirror still reflects. It still shows you. With every piece of shattered glass you pick up you see yourself – a reminder that you broke it. You let it get broken. A reminder. Sometimes, I bet our lives are a lot like those pieces of shattered glass. We are broken. We are shattered. We have scratches. We have no purpose. We hurt people. The amazing thing is that God is there to pick up the pieces. We already brought blood to Him. His body was already pierced by our sharp edges. So picking up the sharp, jagged edges of our lives is no threat to Him. And yet, when He looks down at us – when He goes to pick up the puzzle pieces, do you know what He sees? He doesn‟t see a failure – an insecurity – a mess. He doesn‟t see a problem to fix. He looks at you and you know what He sees? A reflection of Him. In every shattered piece He looks and sees Himself. Funny thing. Even when we are nothing but broken, shattered, and cracked, we still reflect God, and He‟s still there to be reflected. Now, that is amazing.
Being a survivor of the violence of rape and the cunning craft of being a victim of molestation, I can only paint a picture from the horrors that I have seen and witnessed. In this article I will also share with you the anecdote of a very close friend: Deanna, who wishes to share her story in hopes that it will help others to heal and to remember how to dream. When evaluating the thoughts of should I write this article on rape so many memories implode my mind. I was in such disarray until I needed to speak with someone close to me and someone who I learned to trust implicitly. In sharing my apprehensions with her she began to tell me of her story. Deanna was five years old when she was molested/fondled by then the boyfriend of her mother. After going to her mother about the abuse their relationship was strained. Thereafter, her mother started suffering with mental issues. Approximately one year later Deanna went to live with her father in his mother’s home. Needless to say she’s lived an untrusting life that had more lessons in the horrors of life to be learnt. In her first semester at college she thought that she was like “one of the boys” when it came to her male friends. How quickly an assumption can be altered when one drunken person ignites the fires and invite in sin. Lying in her classmate’s room with her infant child Deanna is awakened by a drunken friend of her friend. Inciting rape he takes the initiative to start his pursuit when he is interrupted by a female friend. Unknown of the events that
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were about to take place, she interrupted what would have certainly become a violent attack. Realizing what she had just been saved from she wiped the sweat from her brow and grabbed her 3 month old daughter and rushed out of the room never to look back at that day again until today while we together do some internal self healing.
*Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other physical, written, or oral intimidation of an offensive sexual nature. *In Indiana this term meets the legal definition of both Criminal Deviate Conduct (35-42-4-2) and Sexual Battery (35-42-4-8). University of Notre Dame
Together she and I start to have these feelings of despair. Sometimes they can reach higher than earth’s atmosphere and delve deeper than hells entrance. I could not fathom the realities of life after the attacks. The only question that remained in my young mind was; “Where is this GOD that my mother loved so much?” I can share with you all of the statistics of rape like 60% of convicted sex offenders are out on parole or probation. 2/3 rd of sex offenders that are in prison have victimized a child. ½ of the women that are raped were younger than 18; source Bureau of Justice Statistics on Child Sexual Abuse; 1992. 3/4th of the violent victimizations of children took place in either the victim’s home or the offenders home. Source; BJS Survey of State prison inmates, 1991. Rape - Forced sexual intercourse including both psychological coercion as well as physical force. Forced sexual intercourse means penetration by the offender(s). This includes attempted rapes, male as well as female victims, and both heterosexual and homosexual rape. Attempted rape includes verbal threats of rape. (Webster; Wikipedia) Definition of Rape; The following definitions are those outlined in the FBI's National Incident - Based Reporting System which colleges use to report sex crime statistics. Forcible Sex Offense: Any sexual act directed against another person, forcibly or against that person's will. Includes forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling. Non-Forcible Sex Offense: Unlawful, non-forcible sexual intercourse. Includes incest and statutory rape. Non-legal Terminology (The language used by lay persons; social scientists) Acquaintance Rape: Rape (as defined by state statutes) upon someone by a person he or she knows. Date Rape: An interaction that begins between two persons in the context of a social event or gathering, and ends with one person forcing the other to participate in oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse against his or her will. Gang Rape: Rape (as defined by state statutes) upon someone by two or more persons, in tandem or one after the other. *Sexual Assault: Any unwanted sexual activity forced by one person on another. *Sexual Battery: Forced oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by any object, except when these acts are performed for bona fide medical purposes.
Note: Includes both attempted and completed rapes. The National Crime Victimization Survey redesign was implemented in 1993; the area with the lighter shading is before the redesign and the darker area after the redesign. The data before 1993 are adjusted to make them comparable with data collected since the redesign. The adjustment methods are described in Criminal Victimization 1973-95. Estimates for 1996 and beyond are based on collection year while earlier estimates are based on data year. Changes to the NCVS and their impact upon the survey's estimates in 2006 are discussed in the Criminal Victimization, 2006 Technical Notes. For additional information about the methods used, see Criminal Victimization 2009. Source: The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) Ongoing since 1972 with a redesign in 1993, this survey of households interviews up to 134,000 persons age 12 and older in as many as 77,200 households twice each year about their victimizations from crime. Definition of molestation: to disturb, interfere with or annoy by malevolent interference to subject. To unwanted or improper sexual activity. To accost or attack, especially with the intention of assaulting sexually. Like rape, molestation is one of the most underreported crimes: only 1-10% are ever disclosed; source FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin According to Dream catchers for abuse children, 1 in every 3 girls will be sexually molested before age 18 1 in 6 boys before age 18 Every 10 seconds a child is abused, raped or killed in the USA 80% of perpetrators are known by victim 60 million survivors are former victims of child sexual abuse (other source; Forward, 1993)
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38% girls and 20% males have been sexually abuse during adolescent years The most common method used by child molesters is the affection lure; victims are groomed over a period of time (days, weeks, months, even years). It is used to seduce unsuspecting youngsters in need of love and attention. Finkelhor and Browne, 1986; has a clinical assumption that children who feel obligated to keep sexual abuse a secret suffer greater psychic distress than those who disclose the secret, receive assistance and support. As long as disclosure continues to be a problem for young victims, then fear, suffering, and psychological distress will, like the secret, remain with the victim. Bagley, 1992, 1991; Finkelhor et al. 1990; Whitlock and gillman, 1989.> Characteristics of sexual abuse/assault: Is fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, inappropriate sexual behavior, poor self esteem, tendency toward substance abuse and difficulty with close relationships. Source: Browne and Finkelhor, 1986. Adult victims have problems with interpersonal relationships associated with an underlying mistrust. Incest victims have severely strained relationships with parents that is marked by feelings of mistrust, fear, ambivalence, hatred, and betrayal. Source: Tsai and Wagner, 1978. 89% of sexual assault cases involve persons known to the child. Source: Diana Russell Survey, 1978 According to the Rape Abuse Incest National Network: 1 out of every 6 American women have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime 1 in 33 men have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. 44% of rape victims are under age 18. 73% of sexual assaults were perpetrated by a non-stranger. Now that I have given you the stats of rape and molestation from a social view, now I am going to share with you the stats of my life. With the permission of several of my closest and dearest friends; total of Nine, I conducted my own study. Out of the nine, nine are from single parent homes, upper lower class income, nine have been in domestic violent relationships; eight have seen parent or close relatives battered. Nine know of at least two others who have been raped or molested. Nine have been sexually harassed. Eight sexually assaulted and three violently raped, one out of the eight by a stranger . Three of the nine have been sexually assaulted more than twice. Each victim knew the attacker or the attacker was a family acquaintance. Out of the group of nine there is one married. Seven divorced two never married and two married more than once. Eight of the victims have abused drugs and alcohol. One suffers an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Two ladies have physically tried to commit suicide. Two have graduated from college, eight from high school. Eight were teenage mothers.
To share my life I was angry at the world and it showed because I in a effort to ease the pain. Addiction I didn’t cater to but I abused and I misused and I over indulged with marijuana, alcohol and cocaine. I can recall a night so much worse than any other. I got dressed up nice and pretty, I drank a half pint of Crown (without a mix), I smoked a quarter of marijuana and I sniffed two grams of cocaine. I stumbled to my car and drove down highway 707. I turned out the lights and stopped in the middle of the highway on the curve just before Big Block road. I took the car out of park and drove forward a few hundred yards and then I went in reverse a few hundred yards. I did this repeatedly. I can’t remember how many times because it was a bad night. After sitting still for about five minutes give or take ten to twenty minutes, I found no action so I put my car into gear and drove less than fifty yards when headlights behind me began to approach me fast. I slowed down; I went off the road onto the shoulder and jerked the wheel back on the highway. Whisking past was a county sheriff. Seconds later another one sped past. My life was spared that night. This was not the first time that I had contemplated suicide. It was the third attempt. The first time I was about fourteen or fifteen; I tried to take pills then. The second time was when I went speeding down the highway in my t-top 71’ Camaro weaving in and out of traffic on I-95. I turned off running from a state trooper. My passenger tire cap flew off and the engine died immediately after I had made that sharp turn. The State Trooper walked up to the car, I was high as a kite but managed to give one great lie. I got a warning to slow down and he drove off. About ten minutes after this, the car started up and no matter how hard I pressed the gas to accelerate the car would not go above fifty-four. It was in 2004 when I started to experience an on-set of a mental breakdown. I was tired of being angry all of the time and for no apparent reason. My family was in turmoil (me and my sons). I had no relationship with my family (Mother, Father and Siblings). I had gotten into two physical fights with co-workers. I had been in one failed relationship after another. Finally, I was still trying to heal from surgery. The writing was no longer working for me because I had started remembering my past and it began to show in my creations. It was because It is because of my writing that I had finally of faith that I made it through. I learned to deal with the horrors of my past. I had to accept the fact that I am not and was not to blame for being violated or becoming the victim of molestation or rape. I had to learn to love myself and to respect myself too. I needed to realize that what I felt is no failure against me. I had to understand that I control what happens to me and no one can or have the right to tell me how I should feel. My internal peace came when I turned my writings into a testimony of lessons that helps to explain the “What If’s.” It is the dream that my Mother has reminded me of since I was in
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elementary school. It is the peace that I find in it when I seek answers. It is my assurance that I am blessed and that dreams do come true every time I wake from sleep and in the seconds that it takes foe a play to be written or an unbelievable poem is created. I am no longer where I used to be; lost and confused. I know that every day is not promised but faith in it gives way to hope so that I can believe and continue to dream. Some may never know their purpose in life. Others may never understand their purpose because in the turmoil of pain, it is easy to forget to dream. Then there are others who realize that their dreams give way to purpose so that one can step out on faith. “Others may never understand their purpose because in the turmoil of pain, it is easy to forget to dream. “
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DREAM / June 2011
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Battling Addiction By: April Edwards Addiction is defined as the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice that can be emotionally, physically, and mentally habit forming. My name is April and I am a believer in Jesus Christ and his power to cure ALL addictions. I am going to share with you two addictions that God has delivered me from completely and one that I struggle with everyday. I started smoking cigarettes at the age of fifteen. They were given to me by an older friend that I used to hang out with. I was addicted to them for over 10 years when God gave me the strength to under come my inner demons. See when I started smoking I thought I looked "cool" and it made me seem older to people so that was the initial draw to them. As I got older and had been smoking for several years, was when I was at about two packs a day and using them to relieve stress or to make me relax. That is when you know you have a problem, when you cannot go without something and you bite off everyone's head that gets between you and your fix. I had bad skin and hair and I always was trying to hide it from certain people. That is another key to addictions; when you have to hide them from the people you love. I am proud to say that today I have not smoked one single cigarette in over Four years and I have no plans on returning to them.
The second addiction that the Lord has delivered me from in the addiction to alcohol. This was my biggest battle. And to this day still is the biggest addiction to my life. My husband is an alcoholic and I struggle with his addiction just as much as I ever did my own. But God gives you obstacles for a reason. I started drinking at the age of Fourteen and by the time I was Twenty I was in every sense of the word an alcoholic. I hid my addiction to alcohol from family, friends and the man that is now my husband. People didn't know how bad it really was for me to even go a day without drinking. One glass of wine for me would easily turn into an entire bottle. I would drink until I felt nothing because I hurt so bad from depression and stress. As a teen I found myself in some bad situations that I think about til this day. And being in a relationship and living with a man that was also an alcoholic meant there was no one to tell me not to do it. My father was also and alcoholic and others in my family too. But I don't blame my issue with alcohol on them. I take full responsibility for my actions. That is what God taught me to do. Acceptance is a hard thing to do but there is an undeniable freedom that comes from it. I am happy to say that today in my personal life I am alcohol free. I don't drink alcohol at all and while I still live with someone who does God has given me enough strength that it doesn't even tempt me anymore. Lastly, I will tell you about an addiction that I still struggle with
in my current life. I deal with this issue every single day of my life and I am going to beat it! God has promised me better things than the bondage of addiction. I am addicted to shopping and or buying material items. I have thousands of dollars on debt that remind me everyday that I have a problem. I like stuff! I like to have stuff and buy stuff and give stuff. It is horrible. My home and storage unit are full of useless junk that I have purchased over the years to fill the void that was in my life. When I would get depressed or sad or happy or mad I would shop! Holidays are an absolute nightmare for me. I love to make others happy at any cost. I have in the past few years cut up 90% of my cards and paid a good portion of the debt off, but what makes me mad at myself is when I think of all the good that money could have done and instead I wasted it. But that was my path to walk. I know a lot of people don't feel this is a real addiction but I am here to tell you that they are wrong. Shopping and buying stuff was my escape from the reality that was closing in around me. When I hurt I shop and that was dangerous. I am happy so say that God is working on me day and night with this issue and I know he is going to one day just take away that need I feel to do this but until then I try not to put myself in certain situations.
I could sit here all day and talk about addictions, because believe me, I have plenty more. But those were the ones that have made the biggest impact on my life. Bottom line, addiction comes in many forms. Sometimes it doesn't even seem like something bad until you examine it and realize that it is causing negative habit forming behaviors in your life. We are all going to struggle in this life with something or several things; the key is to remember that there is a higher power named Jesus that can remove all the hurt and pain and turn you back around in the right direction. Also remember to never be afraid to step out and ask for help if you feel you need it.
I take full responsibility for my actions. That is what God taught me to do. Acceptance is a hard thing to do but there is an undeniable freedom that comes from it.
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DREAM / June 2011
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A Dream for Her Community By: Steven Semones II
Steven Semones II standing with Rana Willard
I will never forget when I received a call from a friend of mine Kevin that told me about this ladies dream to have a event called Praise in the Park for her community. It is a small community in rural South Carolina called Gresham, SC. There isn‟t a Wal-mart, many gas stations, jobs, etc…. A place many just pass through while traveling other places. As I woke up and started to drive that Saturday morning in the silence of my truck other than the music coming from the radio. I thought about this wonderful lady Rana Willard and how special she is. She didn‟t have a lot of money, she didn‟t know exactly how it would happen but she had a Dream. She was willing to take a step many never attempt and she had to take a leap of faith. I pulled up into the parking lot and so many youth and adults already pouring in for Praise in the Park. So many loving people, so many happy faces, and so many dreams.
I made my way through the crowd to find Rana, and while making my way I got to talk to many wonderful people. That shared with me, and was so excited about the day ahead. I could see children playing, old friends fellowshipping on the park bench, a father sitting in the grass with his daughter by his side, children getting there face painted, Praise pulsing through the air, and there she was Rana Willard. I went up to her and thanked her for what she was doing for her community and being a willing vessel to Dream and to let God use her. She thought I was there to share some praises in song, but I told Rana I am here for you. I want to let the world know about your Dream, and I hope it sparks a wild fire that causes other Dreams to be ignited and more things happen in communities all over the United States and beyond. Thru faithful hearts just like Rana‟s. Rana Is already planning a Fall Fest in October and would love for you to come join them. As well as many other events for youth, elderly, and families in her community. She is truly a blessing, and I would love for you to join me in your prayers to lift up Rana and her community as God directs them. To give them favor, and wisdom to truly transform there community for Jesus Christ. To me that is what ministry is all about moving from just talk to action. It is amazing to see the great things that only God can accomplish and all we have to do is be faithful and willing to be obedient.
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DREAM / June 2011
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Community Authors Contest winner Thomas By: Margaret Shelton St. James High school Student The King is dethroned; the song is sung. The golden chimes are brightly rung. Give way to day – the night is gone. Give way to gleaming shades of dawn. Away the clouds and storms of night, Which fill all things with gloom and blight. Night is gone; now rules the day Where cherubs laugh and angels play. The notes that sing above the crowd Burst forth melodious – sweet and loud. His fingers skate across the strings. Joyous celebration the playing brings. The sharps, the flats, the leads, the tonics, The clear ringing of hollow harmonics. A dance breaks out across the land. Pride in their hearts; violin in his hands. He sets down the bow and takes up the pen Crafting a document known to all men “this day”, he proclaims, “all we are freed,” So each state signs and recites the creed. „We the people have been mistreated, abused, Wrongly admonished, falsely accused…‟ With their situation now rectified, He plans his house; he takes his bride. And up all around him the columns rise, overlooking the mountains that reach toward the skies. The bricks go up, a house of red for the Virginia-born, Virginia-bred President, who had a yearning for a place of knowledge, teaching, learning. At last, a new and stately school – his standing achievement, an academic tool. More than a tool, more than a degree, a chance to walk through history. The more I learn, the more I know, the more I feel I need to go. I thank the man. I thank the one: the architect, writer, scholar, Jefferson. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
17 DREAM / June 2011
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Community Authors Contest Runner-up Winner
Charity By: Allison Brown Lake City High School Student
Things we do for charity should not have bragging rights. If they did that would be a very pitiful sight. We tell others all the time what great deeds we do. But if it were in the name of charity should it really matter for whom? The poor didnâ€&#x;t choose to be poor and the sick didnâ€&#x;t choose to be sick. So for the sake of charity we should do it without thinking and do it quick! There should be no sense of pride when giving to charity. Acts like this breath out cruelty & inhumanity.
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DREAM / June 2011
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Featured Dream Music Artists Well Ced
is just a common guy from a little town called Georgetown, SC. His birth name is Cedric Lorenzo White and he was born on March 24, 1986. His family became a part of the church when he was approximately 8 years old. Through the process of time, he developed the most important thing a person could develop, a relationship with Jesus Christ. At a young age, he was baptized in Jesus name and received the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38), and continues the process of dying out to himself, daily. His journey through life brought him many doubts. Especially during his years at a liberal arts university that ended up shaking his faith. This new disbelief led him on a study of the essence of God which in turn brought him undeniable and unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. He developed a burden for the youth and began to work with youth ministries more closely. During this time, he discovered that the MAJORITY of young people (even in the church) listen to Hip Hop music. He has been on a quest, ever since, to change this youth killing detriment. This is the birth of Well CED music.
http:/www.facebook.comwellcedmusic
Vizion
-(Dell Gaillard) is a young man who has a passion for ministry. Whether through hip hop music, preaching or teaching the word of God. His heart is to convey the truth of God on a level that everyone can understand. Was raised in the church and because of that, he got started in ministry early. Began rapping for the Lord at age 16 and was very zealous for God but lacking a lot of knowledge. Basing his salvation on works instead of faith in Christ, and struggled a lot in his faith. This led to struggling with identity crisis. Wanting to be cool and holy at the same time sometimes caused him to compromise his faith in Jesus. At the age of 18 he learned about true faith in Christ Jesus. Went to bible college in 2006 and matched up his knowledge of God with his zeal for God. Now in his mid 20's he is the youth minister at his local church (CAYABF). He is a father and a husband who is dedicated to serving his family, church, and community. His continuous message to the youth at his church is "you can be immature physically but be mature spiritually." Now that God has reinvigorated his passion for hip hop ministry, he is focused on one task in these last days; to be a trailblazer for Jesus Christ! Vizion started rapping for Christ with the South Carolina holy hip hop group, the Cruzaiders. With the Cruzaiders he performed on the same stage with other holy hip hop artists such as: The Crossmovement, Da Truth, and Irocc. As well as contemporary Christian artists like: Big Daddy Weave, NewSong, Overflow, and Aaron Shust. With the Cruzaiders, Vizion contributed to two released group projects: "No Better Life" (2004) and "Free" (2006). Vizion has just released his long anticipated solo album “Love and Marriage� which is currently available on I tunes, CD Baby and is coming soon to Amazon. and Rhapsody. http://www.reverbnation.com/vizionakathetrailblaza
Nicole White
- is a 26 year old minister of music from the Charleston, SC area. She now lives in Myrtle Beach, SC with her husband, Cedric White (W.e.l.l. CED) and two children, Micah and Abrielle. Nicole is currently the Music Director at the Pentecostals of Georgetown under the pastorialship of Pastor Donel White. Her Influences are the Winans, CeCe Winans, Joann Rosario, Virtue, Natalie Grant, Neal Mellix, Nathan Mellix and above all JESUS CHRIST. The New album is scheduled to be released in the Winter of 2011. This album will include a mixture of gospel/Christian music styles such as jazz, gospel, contemporary Christian and praise and worship, just to name a few. The songs on the upcoming album were all influenced by Nicole's personal testimonies and battles, the testimonies of others and, of course, the goodness of JESUS CHRIST!
http://www.nicmusic.com/ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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DREAM / June 2011
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Featured Dream Ministries Go Ministries
is a non-profit organization, based out of Conway, SC, whose purpose is to produce an interactive worship experience for communities in which families know that they must seek God first. These worship experiences, called Kid‟s Crusades, include dramatic performances, story-telling, puppets, a live band, and other high-energy fun! These productions have been produced in many forms and areas, including the Dominican Republic and England. They can be as elaborate or as conservative as desired. These events, beneficial to communities and churches alike, can be used as a special church event, children‟s ministry during special church events, community outreaches, and Vacation Bible schools.
Book Go at your church today! Website: http://gothewebsite.blogspot.com/
Uncommon
is Uncommon Life is a nonprofit organization providing mentoring programs and events for middle and high school youth in the greater Myrtle Beach area. The program will form partnerships with local churches, schools and outreach organizations. Uncommon Life's goal is to encourage a commitment to young people that will promote Christ driven prosocial friendships, strong interpersonal skills, and reassert a sense of hope in their future. Only through personal relationships with the Holy Spirit can a sense of individual responsibility be reestablished that will give youth the commitment to follow through on a path to adulthood with a sense of pride and accomplishment for God. This summer we will be gathering middle school + high school students every Thursday 6:30-8:30pm Valor Park @ Market Common (in front of Tommy Bahamas) in Myrtle Beach, SC For an uncommon evening.. Where Vibrant Relationships Happen
http://www.facebook.com/UnCommonLife
Common Ground
is people from all walks of life coming together to enjoy worshipping Jesus Christ through music, the arts, and fellowship. We value genuine Christian community and understand the need for “comprehensive Christianity” Which offers an example of how it looks to walk in a relationship with Christ outside the 4 walls of the sanctuary. Thus, we hope to provide a place to engage and invite younger believers to enjoy Christ in a new way! Location: 7951 Hwy 544, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 Affiliation: Come As You Are Bible Fellowship Email: commonground@cayabf.org Phone: 843-503-1711 or 843-267-5103 Website: http://Cayabf.org _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
20 DREAM / June 2011
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The Mordecai Project is a Christian ministry founded by J. Lee Grady, a journalist, ordained minister and author of the groundbreaking book 10 Lies the
Church Tells Women. The purpose of this ministry is to (1) confront the global oppression of women; (2) empower women to discover their God-given spiritual gifts and ministries; and (3) equip Christian men, including church leaders, to recognize, value, protect and train the women in their lives. This mission is accomplished through books, preaching, mentoring, leadership conferences, ministerial retreats and television programs in various languages. Lee is confronting all forms of abuse including domestic violence, female infanticide, denial of education to girls, forced prostitution and sex trafficking, female genital mutilation, mistreatment of widows and honor killings. He also calls for the full participation of trained women in church leadership, and he challenges the global church to reject unbiblical religious traditions that encourage gender discrimination. _____________________________________________________________
Our mission statement is summarized in this way: EMPOWERING WOMEN * CONFRONTING ABUSE * TRANSFORMING NATIONS
www.themordecaiproject.org “Both books are a must read they speak to your soul, into your life and right from the humble heart of Lee Grady!� -Steven C Semones II _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
21 DREAM / June 2011
www.Launchageneration.com
Featured Dream Businesses www.maximizedliving.com
NTM Music and Production Neal Melix Engineer/Producer http://www.ntmprod.com/ From our home in the Charleston, SC area, NTM music and productions is a project studio based environment dedicated to the production of Christian music projects in all stages of development. Unlike a typical recording studio environment (where you come in with complete song arrangements, well rehearsed and ready to track), here you can develop your project from concept to polished music production. In addition we also offer services such as: song writing, arranging, demo recording, remixing, and wave editing. NTM music & productions collaborates with a network of qualified and talented Christian musicians, singers and engineers to provide the resources needed to compliment your project. To the independent client we offer services from simple editing to complete music productions. Should an artist be signed to the NTM label, the production can then be independently marketed and distributed. As a gospel singer and electronics technician trained in the communications field, gospel music has been my passion and hobby for many years. Now retired, I devote more of my time and energy to audio and the gospel music I love. We seek anointed, talented, inspired and dedicated Christian artists to be affiliated with our record label that we may fulfill our vision for the glory of God. "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5.20 Our project studio provides forty-eight tracks of pristine world-class audio in a Pro Tools format. We also provide midi recording, with state of the art virtual instruments and great audio plug-ins for processing and editing digital audio and midi. Some of the names include Digidesign, Sony, IK Multimedia, E-MU, Autria, Propellorhead, Celemony, Bomb Factory, and fxpansion to name a few. At the heart of our studio is a Sweetwater Creation station with two bootable drives and removable data storage drives. Drive #1 runs Pro Tools and Digidesign hardware, drive #2 controls the thirty-two in thirty-two out Tascam interface card of the Tascam DM-3200 digital mixing console, (which also provides automation and remote control for Pro Tools and a host of other music software). Our Lucid master clock syncs all digital audio thru the ART voice channel, digital console and computer audio interfaces. We also have a Sony DAT and monitor system by Adam, KRK, AKG and PreSonus. We have condenser microphones by audio-technica, CAD and more. The professional power center is by Monster Power. We have synth action and piano action keyboard controllers and our computers are packed with the tools you need to get the job done. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
22 DREAM / June 2011
www.Launchageneration.com
I hope you where inspired and challenged in the first issue of Dream Magazine. I am twenty-five years old and I have grown up in Myrtle Beach, SC all of my life. I have a Dream to see people that have lost hope to find hope, that have lost there desire to dream to dream, and for broken hearts to be mended. Life is about choices and outcomes to our choices. I don‟t care what someone has told you, what they have said you can‟t achieve, but I believe that you can do whatever is deep down in your heart. It will take hard work, some sweat, and tears. Nothing worth achieving is easy, but if you are willing to put the time into achieving it I believe you will do it. I have thought many times even if you never achieve the dream that was put inside of your heart, you die knowing that you never gave up on what was put inside of you. Nothing or no one can ever stop you from reaching your dreams, but only you. We all have things in our lives, we all have felt heartbreak, dealt with loss, had some highs and some lows, but we still must persevere as long as air is in our lungs. Life is short and that is reason enough to ask yourself the question what are you waiting for? As you look around this world you see nothing but negativity and people that are tired of just going through a robot kind of life. We have no choice than to dream because what else do we have without that in our hearts and minds. We not only must dream but we have to
I HAVE A DREAM... believe that it will and can be done! In Dream magazine you find powerful stories of people that have dreams whether it is in there personal life, there ministries, and there businesses. I love to hear the heart of a person and there dreams because you find there passion that seems to flow out of their innermost being. I am a minister that wants to cause people to dream, to find there purpose in life, to lead with encouragement, and to share the freedom I have found in Christ which is the one that will not allow me to drop this dream to be a catalyst of change that is inspired in dreams and is followed by action . I know we live in a world that is tired of hearing words so I want to lead, dream, encourage, and live it with my life. I once read a young boys quote he wrote before he died that simply said , “you don‟t know what you would live for unless you know what you would die for. I would die for you.” I live my life and give it so that you can also find the peace and freedom that I know because I know you are worth it! I have a dream that my words will not go void but be something that impacts this world my lifetime and beyond! Acts 2:17; Proverbs 29:18; 2 Chronicles 7:14 Ecclesiastes 5:3
- Dream Magazine Editor in Chief
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dream-Magazine/147770741950297