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Fall 2006
Fall 2006 Fall 2006 
| The Miracle of Change |
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“I don’t care about this stupid program. I’m never going to change!” How sad to hear these words from an intelligent teen with so much potential. Anthony’s* attitude wasn’t always so negative. As a child, he was respectful and obedient, but increasing conflicts in his family made him depressed and angry. He got involved with the wrong crowd at school and started fighting and experimenting with smoking. At home, he locked himself in his room and surfed the internet for hours, playing computer games and visiting pornography sites. Full of defiance and making poor grades, he had no interest in his future when he came to Advent Home. In fact, Anthony tried every tactic to get out! He attempted to intimidate his mother in letters and phone calls, saying how much he hated her, and how she was wasting her money trying to change him. He ran away a couple of times, hoping it would convince her to take him out. When that didn’t work, he even tried to fake real changes, but couldn’t keep up the act. Through it all, his determined Christian mother prayed for her son and scraped together the money to put him through Advent Home’s program. In spite of his best intentions, the seed planted by his Christian mother germinated and blossomed within Advent Home’s spiritual environment. Through daily worship and singing, Bible class, Week of Prayer, Bible studies, and weekly church attendance, Anthony experienced the gentle call of God’s Spirit. In addition, our caring staff nurtured, counseled and prayed with him as he struggled with pride and bad habits. It was his mother’s love, prayers and sacrifice that finally broke his heart. He began making efforts to turn himself around, but found it impossible. Only when he asked God to help him was he able to follow the program he hated. He had to fight against peer pressure, but his newfound relationship with God gave him power to resist. Eventually, he actually liked being obedient, trustworthy, helpful and cheerful. What a transformation! Anthony is now attending a boarding academy. He is a successful, responsible young man, a spiritual leader among his peers, who has aspirations of becoming a lawyer. The sparkle in his eyes and smile on his face testify to his faith in God’s promise: “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11, Message) Advent Home’s Maturation Therapy®, a treatment model which creates structure and sets measurable goals for complete wellness, is grounded upon the importance of spiritual growth. Students may make positive changes through their own strength, but inevitably crumble when temptations and pressures crowd in on them. When they recognize their need of divine help, changes become internalized and character is truly transformed. It’s not just students who find their lives changed. At our baptism in July, one parent said, “My whole family has been healed here at Advent Home. We will never be the same again.” No wonder the favorite verse of many of our students, and their families, is “I can do everything through Christ,who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13, NLT) *Not his real name
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