SITE GETS NEW LIFE, ADDICTS GAIN HOPE

GASTONIA -- Cornerstone Christian Center, closed more than a year ago
because of staff resignations, waning community support, and money problems,
is expected to reopen next year.

An executive director who is a certified substance-abuse counselor should be
hired by mid-November and report to work in early February, said Bill Kaser,
chairman of the board of directors of the 12-year-old center. That would
mean the residential treatment center for drug and alcohol abusers could
begin taking clients by March 15.

I think that's great news, because Cornerstone serves men who can't afford
private care and might wind up in jail or living on the streets if they
don't get treatment. And the telephone answering machine the center kept
active demonstrates a big need. Even though the center has been closed, more
than 170 callers left messages requesting help.

The Gaston-Lincoln County mental health program has a detoxification unit to
get clients off drugs or alcohol, followed by outpatient counseling.

But without around-the-clock support after detox, such as what Cornerstone
provides, clients often return to their addictions, said the Rev. Jody
Seymour, pastor of Gastonia's First United Methodist Church.

Seymour and Ben Rudisill, owner of a Gaston County beer distributorship,
helped launch a fund-raising campaign early this year to get the center back
in operation.

The campaign has raised about $182,000 of the center's $225,000 yearly
operating cost, Rudisill said. Area businesses pledged $78,000. Another
$67,000 came from endowments and private foundations. An appeal Seymour made
to area churches raised $37,000.

Volunteers have applied for grants to pay the remaining cost, Rudisill said.

"We hope contributions from the business and religious community will be on
a continuing basis," he said, adding he thinks that will happen when
potential donors see results of the center's work.

As part of their treatment, clients will operate a planned county recycling
center on East Long Avenue, clean streets and do other odd jobs, Rudisill
said.

The center receives no United Way or government funding. It can take 18 male
clients at a time for 120 days of treatment. They will spend the first 30
days drying out from their addictions and undergoing counseling. During the
next 90 days, clients will spend mornings in Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics
Anonymous and Bible study sessions. Afternoons will be devoted to work.

Clients pay nothing to enroll, but half of what they earn goes toward the
$1,200 cost of their care.

Seymour said he made an appeal to Gaston County's religious community
because "we believe that helping (drug and alcohol abusers) turn their lives
around is a mission of the church." So far, 27 churches have included
Cornerstone, but at least 20 more are needed to sustain the operation.

That should tug at the hearts of lots of churchgoers since caring for those
in need is a big part of their religious beliefs.