ATLAS Ministry Holds First Annual Fundraising Dinner

200 Guests attend ATLAS Ministry's First Annual Fundraising Dinner 

It was a magical evening!  On Friday, April 29th, ATLAS Ministry held its first annual fundraising dinner, drawing a crowd of more than 200 attendees.

After a delicious dinner catered by the Washington Grass Inn, guests enjoyed a lively evening of entertainment by popular Christian humorist and magician Matt Fore.  Fore dazzled guests with his amazing sleight of hand, magic tricks, humor, and audience participation. He ended his performance on a serious note, sharing his personal testimony as a Christian.  Quoting scripture passages from the Bible, he challenged guests to live out the command to serve the less fortunate in our community.

Mike Daniel, founder and board chair of ATLAS Ministry, then laid out the mission of ATLAS, which has served families in the greater Greene County area since 2006.  Citing the ministry's strategy to change lives through its Family Services division and its HOPE division for youth (Healthy Options for Personal Empowerment), Daniel emphasized that the ministry offers a hand-up, not a hand-out, to the families it works with.  Families receive a mentor and a financial coach, and participate in Bible studies, parenting classes and other life skills classes.  Through its HOPE division, ATLAS teaches moral values and life principles for success to the youth of our community.

ATLAS Family Services leader Nesial Miller then spoke, citing real-life examples of clients whose lives have been transformed during their time in the ATLAS program.  She said, "Our success is measured by changed lives for Christ, and only God can bring about true and lasting change in people's lives."  Ms. Miller described how ATLAS clients help other families by being someone that others want to emulate.  "They say, 'I saw her growing and God changing her, and I want that."

A recent graduate of the ATLAS program then shared how her life had been changed over the last two years through her involvement in ATLAS.  Less than three years ago, this young woman came to Greensboro with her "faith in God, $300, and her clothes."  Now a student at Athens Tech, she has a fulltime job and will move into a Greene County Habitat for Humanity home in June.  She credited her accomplishments to her "faith in God and what He has done" for her through ATLAS Ministry.   

Shirley Wynn, Greene County City Council member and HOPE Advisory Board member, outlined the ATLAS youth development program, which stresses the benefits and consequences of choices.  A primary component of the HOPE program is its abstinence education instruction, which has been received by approximately 250 Greene County middle school students and 150 high school students during this school year.  "We believe we are planting seeds of hope and enlightenment one student at a time, believing that God will give the increase," Ms. Wynn said.

The evening closed with Greene County High School student and HOPE peer leader Keyerra Monfort, who stated the importance of the HOPE program in her life.  Ms. Monfort will graduate in the top 10 percent of her class next month, and credits HOPE with "exposing the truth in the world" to her.  "Without the HOPE program," she said, "I would not be prepared for the real world.  God is the head of my life.  I give the honor to Him."

In addition to thanking the dinner sponsors, Dr. Steve McIntosh, of East Atlanta Gastroenterology Group, and Special Friends of ATLAS, ATLAS Ministry thanks Hesse Wealth Management for sponsoring Matt Fore's magical performance.

Thomas Olsen with Christian Humorist Matt Fore