November 1, 2010

Casablanca Training Centre Psalm 23 was birthed from a vision I received while I was working with Union Gospel Mission back in 1999.  After opening our basement to those in need in 2001, I questioned if it was a vision from the Lord or  a fantasy?  In 2003 after resigning from UGM and Psalm 23 received its Non-Profit Charitable status, the vision started to take place in our community. The vision was about having a place where those in need could come and spend the time needed to work through the issues of their lives. But the vision was doing more than just having a door open, it was about training men & women in all aspects of life and preparing them for integration back into the streamline of society.

After opening our original house for men in 2001, the need has escalated each and every year. It isheartbreaking to see the pain of families who feel helpless because they cannot change the path of their loved ones. The Lord provided our second home in 2003 (Freedom House) which we opened up to five men. God also provided much guidance and support from many members of Immanual Fellowship Baptist Church,  some of whom were the first board members, some coming along side of me and mentoring towards building Christian values in our organization. Prayer support was building and God placed others to support financially as they were touched by changes God was making in those who were once lost.

As Psalm 23 continued to critique our programs and build healthy relationships with those in our community, our growth plate of change increased.  We have lived and built our programs on integrity and honesty.   As our growth continued we were blessed to come into a relationship with MLA Mike de Jong and with his belief in our society of helping others we were introduced to MLA Rich Coleman.  Through this meeting a relationship with BC. Housing was formed. While looking at properties to expand our programs,  we gained much community support from those at City Hall to MLA John van Dongen and MLA Randy Hawes. Finally after looking at over 120 properties,  we were blessed to partner with BC Housing with them purchasing our new home on Peardonville Road (Genesis House).

During the time when the City of Abbotsford  was  making  changes  toward  weeding  out  the bad  operators  of  Recovery  Houses,  we  went through  a  very  lengthy  and  costly  process towards having our facilities licensed. We were so  thankful  once  again  for  the  support  of  BC Housing who provided the upgrade costs for each facility  and  also  helped us put  in  sprinkler systems.  After  knowing  that  we  were  going  to have our third house,  the Lord called us to open up  a  home  for women.   The women's (House of  Angels) home had a total house renovation and prepared us for opening the women's facility on  November 1, 2009.

Now little did I know how an email in 2008 from a couple in 59 Mile would change the face of our society and present more of the vision God had placed upon me years ago. You see, we were asked if we were interested in purchasing their property  as  they  were  looking  to  sell.  My response  at  the  time  was  thanking  them  for getting in touch with us but we as a society we just did not have the money to purchase and that God had  just  provided  us  with  a  new  home  on Peardonville.  I  thanked  them  and  prayed  that God would find a buyer for their home. 

Upon returning home on June 13, 2010, the day of our Grand Opening of our women's facility "House of Angels", I opened up my emails and I got excited instantly. I called my wife Shelley over and I pointed to an email from Bill & Connie the owners of Casablanca who had asked us a couple of years ago to purchase their property.  As we opened the email, my eyes went straight to the word donation. The hairs stood up on my arms as we continued to read the email.  Bill & Connie were now asking Psalm 23 if we were interested in having the property donated to the society and to take over a small mortgage.  Through much prayer and support Shelley and I, along with various board members, started  talks about receiving the property.

 We knew that there was a great need up north, as I was asked a couple of years ago by a group in 100 Mile,  if Psalm 23 would be interested in opening up a recovery facility. The surrounding need in the communities of Prince George, Quenel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile, Cache Creek, Kamloops, Kelowna and Merritt is quite high,  and now we feel blessed by the Lord for providing the direction towards the new facility.

Now today I see the vision more clearly. After all the pruning, struggles, blessings and growth stages,  I see that by being faithful to God how He is going to bless so many more families with sending our Charitable Organization up north.  We seek your prayers and support as we now have the property to fulfill the vision of training individuals towards a new way of life with Jesus Christ.

You can read more in the housing report of Casablanca Training Centre in our November newsletter.

Praise be to God!

 

Marvin Declare