PROGRAM USES FAITH TO KICK DRUG ADDICTIONS

COVINGTON - "I can do all things through Christ which has strengthened me,
and I've been clean for 50 days," said Russell as the participants in the
Upward Community Services 4:13 Alcohol and Drug Recovery program sat
together in a circle to profess their dedication of overcoming addiction.

Their confessions are structured upon the scripture, Philippians 4:13.

As classes convene every evening inside the sanctuary of Faith Bible Church
in Covington, volunteer instructors like Emily Diamond, Billy Ray Callahan,
Yvonne Baham and Lou Gavin work to help others overcome their addictions by
teaching support skills like vocational guidance and self esteem.

They combine their "Helping Hand" teachings with a faith based curriculum
which helps addicts realize their desire to return to being a productive,
participating member of the community.

All this work is dependant on donations from individual community members,
foundations and businesses. No state or federal funding is received.

"I have received such blessings from you all, and I thank God every day for
each and every one of you," Emily Diamond tells her students. "Sister
Diamond," as she is affectionately referred to, has been teaching members
of 4:13 for five years and is dedicated to bridging the program into the
local community.

Diamond, dedicates every evening to the recovering 4:13 members teaching
literature and involving them in interactive activities.

Last summer, she directed members to produce the play "Romeo and Juliet,"
which was performed for the children of the Upward Bound summer camp.

Each year Diamond gives 4:13 members a Christmas party, shows them videos
and bakes cookies for the class.

Lou Gavin teaches life skills education, anger and stress management,
provides vocational guidance as well as serving as an advocate for the program.

"We help people who want a new life and will commit themselves to this goal
for 365 days," said Callahan, director of the Upward Community Services
4:13 project. "Their reason for coming to us for help has to be sincere."
Callahan explained that the men who are allowed to enter the program are
not given anything. "Everything they get, they must earn," he said.

"We get out the old push lawn mowers for the men to cut grass; no riding
mowers are used in the program," he said. "The men must earn phone
privileges and passes. Every moment of their days are monitored," he said.

"No one is allowed to leave the property except in two's," said Gavin.

To the program's seven year accomplishment, 60 members have graduated from
the program and only one person is known to have fallen back into
addiction, Gavin said.

Callahan understands the dynamics of what he teaches on a truly personal
level as the first graduate of the program in 1993.

Now, as the men's director of the 365-day in house program, he oversees the
group of men living at "Bart's House," located on the corner of Columbia
and Tyler Streets.

The home and administration buildings were built and donated by Upward
Services boardmember Eddie Cretin of Cretin Homes.

The women of 4:13 are monitored by boardmember Yvonne Baham of Lacombe. "I
am a voice for the women and an advocate," she said. "We were in need of
medication for a woman with a chronic illness," Baham said, "and we hadn't
the funds to provide them." She continued, "Through networking and prayer,
I found a drug representative that donated a three month supply of the drug."

Baham won't loose faith in what the community can offer.

The women Baham oversees prepare and cook the meals served daily inside the
gymnasium kitchen at Faith Bible Church as well as follow a daily routine
of attending classes, working church administration and sweat equity within
the community. "Women have much different issues than the men and I am here
to see that they are understood," she said.

Both the men's house and the women's trailer are assigned "House Captains,"
individuals who are liaisons to Callahan, E.J. Mitchell and Baham. The
current captains at Bart's House are Reginal Taylor, Therron Bickman and
Israel Hammond. Women's house captains are Andreletta Rumley and Wanda Wilson.

The board of Upward Community Services comprises people from within the
staff and from diversified avenues of life.

They include an inventor, a restauranteur, retired businessmen, a graduate
of 4:13, a minister, a catering business owner, a bank vice president,
community activists and a teacher.