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Dear Gilgal Family and Friends,

As we enter this special time of year, we want to reflect on what this season truly means. What has been your favorite part of the Christmas season? Sharing a meal with family and friends? Spending quality time with loved ones? Celebrating the wonder of salvation and God’s love for us?

As you ponder these questions, I want to pause and thank you for your gracious support of Gilgal. Change is possible for Lauryl and Misty because of you.

WHY DOES CHANGE NEED TO HAPPEN?
In the Atlanta community alone, on any given day there are more than 1,000+ women experiencing homelessness and addiction. At Gilgal, Lauryl and Misty are examples of the many women who come to us in crisis.

100% of Gilgal residents meet the official definitions of “poverty” and “homeless”

75% of Gilgal women are victims of childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma

75% of Gilgal women have received at least one mental health diagnosis

60% of Gilgal women are victims of intimate partner violence

40% of Gilgal residents have had their children removed by protective services

WHAT IMPACT IS GILGAL MAKING?
Gilgal is a Christ-centered, long-term, recovery residence for women experiencing homelessness due to drugs and/or alcohol addiction. We are a cost-effective organization with an important mission to metro-Atlanta and greater Georgia. Gilgal provides housing and nutrition, as well as a full range of recovery services including spiritual enrichment, life skills training, workforce development, love, and ongoing support to women in need.

Gilgal programs are free of charge – eliminating barriers to receiving services
Gilgal serves single women over the age of 18
Gilgal has 3 residences and serves an average of 50 women yearly
Gilgal women come from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds

Crack, Alcohol and Meth are the top 3 drugs of choice for Gilgal women

The result is life-changing transformation that includes job growth, life skills, education attainment and most importantly reconnection to people who love them. Your support will help them experience warmth and care this winter, throughout the year and for the rest of their lives. Your support can help them dream again.

Merry Christmas and thank you for faithfully partnering with us. Change happens at Gilgal because of you. We wish you every blessing for a healthy and prosperous 2022!

With gratitude,

Val Cater
Executive Director

Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and THANKSGIVING….

My name is Abby L., and I am a 2021 Gilgal graduate. I first shared my testimony at the 6th Annual Blue Jean Gala in October 2020. At that time, I had been at Gilgal for only a few short months.

I learned about Gilgal while at the crisis stabilization unit. After years of homelessness, drug abuse and prostitution, I had finally reached rock bottom. I needed a long-term recovery program, however, every call was a dead-end. They either turned me down because of my suicide attempt, didn’t answer the phone, had no beds available, or cost too much. My caseworker said she couldn’t find a place for me, and I had to leave in three days. I knew I couldn’t go back to the streets and needed God’s help. I asked if she knew of a Christian-based program and she said, “Yes. Let me make a call.” That afternoon I was on the phone with Ms. Deborah and accepted at Gilgal.

Check out this video from Abby during our 2020 Blue Jean Gala

I’m happy to say I completed the program in September and feel like I am living for the first time. I’ve been reunited with my three children – ages 4, 14 and 19. I am also back in touch with my immediate and extended family.  After graduation I was able to attend my brother Ryan’s wedding and am enjoying precious time with my dad who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. I’m grateful to Gilgal for making these priceless moments possible.

Last Thanksgiving, I was a resident of Gilgal and away from family.  And while the COVID lockdown prevented me from going home on pass, I enjoyed one of the best Thanksgivings ever with my Gilgal sisters and staff.  It was a special day full of love and fellowship which I will never forget.

I can honestly say that Gilgal was one of the hardest and greatest things I’ve ever done. My experience there was transformational. I was a loner for so long and didn’t know how to interact with people. The life of an addict and prostitute brings with it a lot of shame and guilt. Yet throughout my time in the program, I have never known so much love and support from total strangers. Gilgal staff, volunteers and donors who didn’t even know me accepted me unconditionally.

I also learned how to set goals for my future, live with integrity and maintain structure and healthy boundaries. I got my ID back, secured a job at CKS Packaging and opened a checking/savings account. I am still employed at CKS and was recently promoted. My Gilgal training on interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being has been invaluable on my job and at home.

“I can honestly say that Gilgal was one of the hardest and greatest things I’ve ever done. My experience there was transformational.“

Abby L. pictured here with her younger brother Ryan L.

 

This Thanksgiving I am looking forward to being with family at my brother Jake’s house. My sixth-grade niece said she is so happy to have the family all back together. I can’t wait! I am even bringing a special Brussels sprout dish that Ms. Sara taught me to make last Thanksgiving.

If I could give advice to anyone coming behind me it would be to trust God and the process. Gilgal offers all of us a chance to live life for the first time. We’ve been running and trying to escape what haunts us. Unfortunately, we chose drugs to cope. But Gilgal exists for us to be still and find peace with God. We don’t have to run anymore or make up any excuses to accept the person we used to be. This is our chance to learn and grow. It’s like a college education mixed with a vacation. You get to literally remake yourself. So, when you graduate and walk out that door, you’re better equipped with God and lasting friendships.

Sometimes it is overwhelming to think about the amazing people who love me and invest so much in Gilgal. I am so grateful for the volunteers and partners that poured into me on a weekly basis.  Even during the pandemic, they still faithfully served. They never gave up on me and it motivated me not to give up on myself. Today I know that my dreams are possible. Please pray for me as I take each new step to live them out.

Change Happens at Gilgal. Thank you for being a part of it!

 

Thanks to God and Gilgal, I can Dream Again!

Hi! My name is Veronica D.  You may remember my video with Chesley McNeil last year as we were preparing for Gilgal’s 6th Annual Blue Jean Gala.  

Check out this video from Veronica and Chesley promoting our 2020 Blue Jean Gala

At the time, we were both excited about the ministry’s first ever virtual event. I was also looking forward to my upcoming graduation. I’m thrilled to say I did graduate from Gilgal in September of 2020 and my life has never been better!

 I can’t wait to see what God has in store this year for Gilgal’s 7th Annual Blue Jean Gala. I hope that people will be inspired by the stories from other women like me and see what their giving really means.  Without Gilgal, I don’t know where I’d be today.

I struggled with crack cocaine for about 10 years until God delivered me more than 20 years ago. I stayed on the straight and narrow for a while, but eventually began drinking. I abused alcohol for about 10 years and found myself court ordered to rehab for a year. God was faithful and restored so much that my addiction took away. However, I slowly left Him and returned to heavy drinking. Soon after that, my life spiraled out of control, and after 5 DUIs, I lost everything – including my driving privileges and registered nursing license. That’s why I came to Gilgal. It was there that I learned to make God the center of my life and found real transformation through a personal love relationship with Him.

After graduating from Gilgal, I moved to my hometown of Philadelphia and was reunited with family. I started attending church regularly and continued the process of piecing my life back together.  Over the past year, God has restored my nursing license and given me a job at the hospital of my choice.  I also had my driver’s license reinstated and had my final court date, which by God’s grace went favorably due to my completion of the Gilgal program. I am now taking classes to earn my master’s degree in nursing and currently on the dean’s list.

I am blessed to say that the Gilgal staff remain a huge part of my network and spiritual family. I currently teach a weekly relapse prevention class (virtually) for the residents of Gilgal. I am also passionate about growing the alumni program. I want to give back to the ministry that gave so much to me.

Many of the teachings and spiritual disciplines I learned at Gilgal I still continue to practice daily. In the near future, I will be starting a ministry to serve the homeless population here in the Philly area. I plan to share the unfailing love of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you for being a part of my transformation. I am eternally grateful to the Gilgal staff, volunteers and faithful partners who make this ministry possible. Because of your support, women like me can find a safe place to heal and dream again.

Change Happens at Gilgal because God’s love never fails.

 

 

Join us October 21st for our 7th Annual Blue Jean Gala. Visit www.gilgalbluejeangala.org for details.

Mark Your Calendars and Make Plans to Attend

On Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 6:30 pm Gilgal will host its 7th Annual Blue Jean Gala.  This is a virtual event hosted by Kia, our presenting sponsor for the 7th year in a row!  The theme for the evening is “Love Never Fails” and you’ll hear first-hand from clients, staff, volunteers and partners about the change that is happening at Gilgal because of God’s unfailing love.

So mark your calendars and make plans to host your own watch party.  Details are coming soon! Visit www.gilgalbluejeangala.org for updates and to access a recording of last year’s livestream. 

Change Happens at Gilgal Because God’s Love Never Fails.

STAY CONNECTED:

Be sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our online newsletter to keep current on all that is happening at Gilgal.  You can also visit:  www.womenofgilgal.org to sign up for our email newsletter or to contact one of our team members.

Please join us in congratulating Tara M. for becoming Gilgal’s first 2021 graduate. It has been beautiful to watch God work in and through her life this past year, and we give Him all of the honor and glory for doing what only He could have done. Tara is living proof that Change Happens at Gilgal because God’s love never fails.

Thank you to everyone who supported her this past year through your generous donations of love, time and resources. You are all a part of her journey and helped get her to this special milestone.

 

Please continue to pray for Tara as she enters the next chapter of her life. This is only the beginning and we can’t wait to see where God takes her next.

If you missed reading Tara’s story of how Love Never Fails, you can read it HERE.

Change Happens at Gilgal. Thank you all for being a part of it!