Graduating seniors of Alfred Street Baptist Church. L to
R: Alex Lewis: Purdue-bound (Construction Management; Jessica President (future correctional officer), Josh President,
Timothy Bangura, Leah Garrison (Hampton Univ-bound - Accounting/Economics) and Joyvell Henry (UVA bound with a
4.0 GPA - Chemistry).
April 18, 2010 - Using the bible verse from Isiah 54:17 as a theme, seniors from Alfred Street Baptist Church gave their personal testimonies on how God (along with supportive family members and teachers) brought them through
the trials of growing up.
While most teens worry about peer pressure, getting into a good college after
graduation, making the right choices at a teen party, one senior had far pressing items to deal with.
Read below about the comeback of self-proclamined prodical daughter,
18-year-old Jessica President.
###
“Today, church, my life is amazing. I am alive and well", started President, one of five seniors who participated in the
Senior Youth Day program.
"I should have had HIV or severe health
problems due to my sexual activity and drug abuse, but thanks be to God all my
tests came out negative! That is the power of God!
President admitted she was living the life of drugs, sex, violence that started
when her older brother molested her when she was just a young child.
"He’s not only brought through
all the pain in my best, but has given me the strength to overcome all the major trials on the road my sobriety."
To several standing ovations, President
said God has “spared her life for a huge purpose.”
“I am alive. I am free! I know God is real! If I can overcome all this I know anyone
can do it, too. There’s nothing too hard for God to conquer because greater
is He that is in me, than he that is the world”, President shouted with two hearty Amens.
While the relationship with her mother
is strained, the two seldom talking, it was Jessica’s father and grandmother who received most of the praise during
the emotional Sunday testimony.
Calling her dad her hero, President apologized
to her father for the worrying and pain she caused.
“Daddy, if it weren’t for
you I wouldn’t be here.”
President praised her father for continuing
to pray for her, for his constant love and support, including taking her to and bringing her from treatment sessions, picking
up medications, and for calling whenever there was scheduled phone time while she was in rehabilitation centers.
“Daddy, I love you with all my
heart, mind, soul, and heart, a tearful President said.
While dealing with home issues and his
daughter’s painful recovery process, John President also faced foreclosure, a divorce, and mounting debt.
“I would just pray, and channel
my energy into other outlets to help me cope”, said John President.
John shared with us, after service, that
he is an avid fitness buff and would often work out, lifting weights and body building.
With the family rooted in deep faith,
and the prayers of community and friends, the Presidents are on their way to being a family unit. Jessica will celebrate
19 months of sobriety this July.
"Now, I want to share my testimony with
other young people and give God all the glory", said President.
She not only wants to share her message
with young people, but has a message for parents as well.
“You need to know who your kids
are hanging out with”, advised President.
“Check
their Facebook, check their friend’s Facebook, get into their account, read their Wall posts, make them check in, know the parents
of the friends of your kids’ friends, lock your windows, make sure the screens are on tight, hide the purses and the
keys.”
Admitting her advice to parents might
not settle well with young members listening, President said, "It will save your life."
Jessica will be graduating (on time) June
19th from Edison High School also has this message for young people.
"Stay away from drugs. They will ruin your life."
Related
Alfred Street Baptist Church Home Page
Photos
