Star Gospel Mission Fall 2011 The Newsletter of the Star Gospel Mission, Charleston, South Carolina Shining brightly since 1904 Transforming hearts and lives through Jesus Christ Being molded by God Based on an interview conducted by Pastor Christian with John Doherty.

John, tell me about your with arson at the time. So police. Then I started getting formative years growing up when I tried to join the army I into stealing cars. Everything 474 Meeting Street in Jersey City, NJ? went to the judge and told I did was related to either him that I didn’t even know As a kid, I was in the foster being drunk of getting high The Rev. William K. Christian that they had convicted me of care system in Jersey. The on drugs. I never did any- anything. The judge said, Executive Director state took me away from my thing sober or straight. That “well, it stands, I can’t change Tel. 843-722-0980 parents when I was eight. My was my way of dealing with it,” so they wouldn’t let me father was an alcoholic, very life. If something got hard I in. That was really major for abusive, he used to beat me a would either get high or lot so they took me drink. § away. My mother was also Besides the fights and steal- an alcoholic. She took a lot ing cars, was there any

of the beatings herself. other trouble that you got Board of Directors What happened after that? into? Furman F. Cole, Chairman Mostly I was running the Yes, in 1989 it all came to an James Buxton streets as a kid, doing drugs, end. I’d been working up in Dr. Thomas Cook drinking, getting into trouble, Connecticut doing a restora- tion on a porch and I got into Dan David getting into fights, and some violent stuff with the police a fight with the owner of the Manly Eubank and other people. house. He passed away as a David H. Garner result of my actions, but I Are there any major events don’t even remember it. I had John Ott in your past that you might drunk a fifth of Vodka and James Kerr want to share? John Doherty did some heroin so I was out Dwight L. Moody, Jr. of it. That happened on a When I turned 18 I tried to me because it was the first William Moody, Jr. join the army and they would- Friday night and I was ar- time in my life that I wanted rested on a Sunday in New John L. Pardee, Jr. n’t let me in. to do something to change York. They sentenced me to W. Reid Patrick, Jr. Why was that? and I kind of hit a brick 25 years and I served one wall. That’s when I really John A. Stuhr I’d been living at a juvenile month shy of 20 years. I got gave up on my life, I just out in June of 2009. W. Floyd Whitfield group home and I’d gotten hated everything and every- into an argument with a one; there was a lot of anger When you were released did teacher. I went underneath in me. you come to Charleston? the school because it was up § on concrete blocks. We used Where did that kind of I was actually on my way to to burn our names into the thinking lead you? to try to get some wood with Bic lighters. The work with the oil cleanup It led me to prison. I was down there. I decided to stop teacher said that he thought I getting little “skid bits”, like Design and layout: was trying to burn down the over for the night in Charles- six months or a year for fight- ton. I started drinking with Ben Bennett school, which I wasn’t. I had ing, mostly fights with the no idea that they charged me Continued, page 4 Page 2 The Star Gospel Mission From the Executive Director The end of the year is traditionally a time for reviewing ones financial matters, including plans to make charita- ble contributions to organizations one believes in and knows are doing the most good with the resources they are en- trusted with. For over 107 years the Star Gospel Mission has been serving the homeless and needy throughout the greater Charleston area in a significant way, by assisting them with housing, food, clothing, rent and utilities assistance, emergency medical and transportation needs, and a wide array of other services. Since we are designated not only as a Church but also as a 501c3 organization, all contributions made to the Mission are tax deductible. When you make a contribution to the Mission, I guarantee that a letter of acknowledgment will always be sent to you within one week of receiving your gift. As you consider making charitable gifts between now and the end of the year, remember that any gifts you make now can generate income tax deductions that could help reduce your taxes for 2011. With many of the proposed changes to federal tax laws, giving this year may never save you more! Only gifts made by Dec. 31 can help reduce the amount of taxes you will owe next April. So please consider making a contribution to the Star Gospel Mission by years end. Know that 100% of the resources we receive at the Mission come from individuals, churches, foundations and civic organizations. NOT ONE PENNY is received from local, state or federal government agencies! Your generosity will help transform the lives of men who are in need of a second chance and a brand new be- ginning. Always remember that the primary beneficiary of the gift is the giver. The Rev. William Christian

Always remember, A Life Well Lived never look back, In remembrance of Samuel S. Dugan 1929—2011 keep your eyes on A faithful Board member, Jr., then ran the Mission the future and not Sam Dugan, passed away until 1986. Since then, on the past. on October 10 at the age another one of Sam’s of 82. Sam was born on brothers and a sister served April 18, 1929 in Conway, on the Board of Director’s. SC. He graduated from When Sam returned to in 1950. He Charleston he took his turn served in the United States at serving on the Mission’s Army as a pilot in Korea. Board thus maintaining the Sam was a retired Execu- continuity of having a tive from IBM and lived in Dugan associated with the Samuel S. Dugan Mt. Pleasant with his wife Mission since it’s’ incep- Pat; they were married for tion. 57 years. Sam was also a Sam was deeply commit- member of the Exchange Always remember that: ted to making sure that the Club of Charleston. Sam A group from St. Stephen's ministry his grandfather Episcopal Church bringing THE PRIMARY was a part of the Dugan began would continue to Christmas gifts for residents BENEFICIARY OF family legacy and their change lives for the better of the Mission. THE GIFT IS THE integral involvement with for many years to come. the Mission. GIVER. Sam loved the Mission Please join us in keeping Sam’s grandfather, Oba- and, as much as anything the ministry of the Star diah Dugan, founded the in the story of his life, a The bumps in the Gospel Mission thriving Mission in 1904. Sam’s life well-lived, this was road of life are by sending your tax de- father, The Rev. Ernest part of his shining legacy. Dugan took over the reins ductible contributions in May his soul, and the souls not bumps they of the Mission in 1936 and of all the faithful departed, the envelope enclosed. ARE the road. served as Superintendent rest in peace. until 1973. Sam’s brother, The Rev. Ernest Dugan, Shining Brightly for 107 years Page 5

Being molded by God (cont. from page 4) Based on an interview conducted by Pastor Christian with John Doherty. Tell me about St. Andrew’s and them to understand that anger and ha- what they’ve done for you in tred and the anti-social behavior is just your spiritual walk. our way of coping, our way of surviv- Kurtz Smith invited me to go on a ing. We don’t truly want to hurt peo- men’s retreat. During that retreat I ple, we don’t want to be alcoholics and received word that my father had drug addicts but that’s the only answer passed away. I made a decision we’ve ever had or ever known. that if I couldn’t find a way to So you want to give back by sharing forgive my father I couldn’t go your story with people who are in- back to St. Andrews anymore carcerated? because I would have been a hypocrite. Being forgiven and Yes, because it will teach them that given a second chance by society God truly does have the power to and God for taking a persons life, transform your life if you will let Him. Members of Woodmen of the World donating a commercial refrigerator to the Mission. L to R if I couldn’t forgive my own fa- Where do you see yourself right now ther, it wouldn’t have been right Pastor Christian, Tim Houlahan, Don Molineu and where do you see your life going (State Manager), Mike Shealy (National Director), for me to go back. in the future? Keith Bunting. So did you? Right now I consider myself a lump of Thanks to those who provide regular support I did. At five o’clock in the clay. I believe that I’m being molded morning I was out on the beach into what God created me to be. I’m • First Scots Presbyterian Church by myself, and I was crying and starting school in January at Trident • Second Presbyterian Church talking to God. I was pretty much Tech., and eventually I’d like to start • The French Huguenot Church my own heating and air conditioning begging Him saying that I didn’t • Grace Episcopal Church know how to forgive him for the business. • St. Michael’s Episcopal Church things that he did to my mother John, is there anything else you’d • St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and me. Somehow God put it into like to say? • Holy Communion Episcopal Church my heart to forgive him and I did • Congregation Beth Elohim I’m still learning, I still make mistakes, so that very day. • Bethel United Methodist Church but 99 percent of the time my thoughts • John Wesley United Methodist Church Do you feel that God has for- are about what I can do for someone • Trinity United Methodist Church given you for your past? else, not about what I want or how I • St. Johannes Lutheran Church can get it. It’s all about what can I do Absolutely. With everything • Catholic Charities of Charleston to help other people? that’s been given to me in the past • Good Cheer Fund of 14 months, even though I’ve All things work together • Washington Light Infantry fallen a couple of times, I know • New England Society that God has truly blessed me for good for those who • The St. Andrew’s Society with so many good people. love God. • The German Friendly Society It’s as though He took the anger • Strickland Marine Agency out of you and replaced it with • Hughes Lumber Company love. Where do you see this • Piggly Wiggly Carolina leading you? • The Guy E. Beatty Foundation • The Verhagen Foundation Eventually I’d like to become a • The Benson Family Foundation facilitator for “Life Plan” because • The Coastal Carolina Foundation that was the beginning of change • The Exchange Club of Charleston for me in prison. These people • The Saul Alexander Fund took the time to teach me about • Ashley Hall Girls School who I was and why I became that • High Cotton Restaurant person. They said that that’s not • Haynsworth, Sinkler and Boyd why God created me. I now Junior and Senior class girls from the • St Andrew’s Church know that it’s my duty to share Ashley Hall School provide gifts for my story with people and to help • St Matthew’s Lutheran Church Mission residents each Christmas • Woodmen of the World Non-profit Organization Star Gospel Mission US Postage Paid 474 Meeting Street Permit # 1057 Charleston, SC 29403 Return service requested

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An Exciting New Expansion of the Star Gospel

The Board of Director’s is beyond transitional housing very excited to announce the into the next level on the purchase of an abandoned housing continuum, that of home on Nassau Street, a renting an apartment or home property located directly be- on their own at current mar- hind the Mission complex. ket value. Star Gospel currently owns The purchase of this home Residents and staff of the Star one home on Nassau Street was made possible, in large Gospel Mission, Nov. 2011. which is also located directly part, by a very generous gift alongside Mission property. from The Guy E. Beatty Our strategic plan is to begin Foundation and through a developing these two single large donation from the Ex- 89 Nassau Street property to JUST DO THE RIGHT be renovated into 4 studio THING, WHICH family dwellings this coming change Club of Charleston. year by restoring and convert- We expect to begin the de- apartments. MEANS, DON’T DO ing each home into four studio sign and construction phase THE WRONG THING! apartments that can be utilized in early 2012. Teams from GOD’S for additional transitional local churches may also be housing for low income indi- utilized during the construc- GOODNESS IS Current Mission Needs viduals. These apartments tion phase, much like Habitat BIGGER THAN would then be leased to cur- for Humanity does. Any OUR BADNESS. Men’s clothing, pillows, twin size rent residents of the Mission additional financial support GOD’S POWER sheets and pillow cases, towels and and other needy individuals at you might be able to provide TO FORGIVE IS washcloths, paper towels, toilet an affordable below current will go a long way toward GREATER THAN paper, napkins, meats and canned market value rate. This would making this goal become a vegetables, cleaning supplies, toi- OUR ABILITY TO enable them to establish a line reality! SIN. letries, light bulbs. of credit and thereby move