1. Community Ministries SERVING INNER-CITY YOUTH & FAMILIES IN
Newsletter ~ February 2009 THE DOWNTOWN ATLANTA AREA
We moved into our new ASP home in January of 2009!!!
Testimonials From the Kids
Written by James Walton (age 15) would have been walking the I am now a 15 year old freshman
streets with my friends and attending Maynard Jackson High
My name is James Walton and I
everything but there are some School and I am still a part of all of
have been a member of Ms.
extra curricular activities that are these programs. In two more years
Justina’s after school program,
keeping me off of streets and I hope to become a Job Trainer at
summer camp, basketball leagues,
around bad things. summer camp and will always be a
and football teams since I was 7
part of it.
years old. These programs have I have even been to church with
had a great impact on me for so Ms. Justina and her family on some
many years because they have Sundays. I think of them as a part of
kept me out of trouble, and off of my family as well because I have
the streets hanging around bad known and been around them for
influences in my community. so long. I have also been trying to
keep other kids off of the streets
I like this program so much
and ask them to join too. My friend
because it helps me keep my
Russell now helps out and plays on
grades up and is a great influence
the team because I told him what
not just on me but on other kids as
we do.
well.
If I didn’t join this program who “If I didn’t join this program
knows what bad influences I would who knows what bad influences
have been around. I probably I would have been around.” (Continued on page 2)

2. February 2009 ~ Page 2 Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
Written by Bianca Smith (age 11 )
Hello my name is Bianca Smith and
I am 11 years old. I have been
going to Summerhill Community
Ministry for 6 years and they have
been the best years of my life. I
have participated in the summer
camp, after-school program, soccer
and many other activities. This has
made a great impact on my life
Written by Edrek Brooks (age 14 ) because Ms. Justina has taught me a
Hello, my name is Edrek Brooks. I lot about the Bible and God’s word.
(Continued from page 1) have been going to Summerhill I have made a lot of friends and
After School Program ever since I being around Ms. Justina is like my
Written by Markeesha Arnold (age 12 )
was 6. If it wasn’t for Summerhill I mom and I love her for that. All the
My name is Markeasha Arnold, and would probably be on the street or teachers here are nice and caring.
I have been in Summerhill program in a gang. These are my wonderful
ever since I was nine years old. experiences in my life in the
Mrs. Justina is like another mother Summerhill Community Ministry.
for our after school program. The Written by William Bland (age 13 )
three years I have been here Mrs. Hello, my names is William Bland. I
Justina has been nothing but careful have been going to the after school
to us. program for two years and I’ve
been to the summer camp when I
was four years old. At these places
I’ve made a lot of friends. One of
my best friends here is Ms. Justina.
She was my best friend when I was
a baby. She took care of me when
my mother was at work. She gave
me a home, a bed and food.
Thank you for
donating the
funds needed
to purchase
the wood
chips for our
playground!

3. February 2009 ~ Page 3
An Update From Justina
Ashley & I had good mother and soon and a written notice from a
daughter time on the way to Morris doctor can lessen your wait time. I
College in South Carolina before also heard of heart palpitations and
Christmas. On my return drive after knew that they felt serious, but were
break, about an hour into Georgia, very common and not as life
my heart seemed to skip a beat and threatening. I had to be sure I Around midnight my pastor, Mike
began to race. Short of breath, a needed the emergency room. Higgins, called on my cell phone. He
little light headed, nervous and said that many people were praying
After the doctor examined me, he for me and that I was going to be
praying I worked my way into the
didn’t waist any time. My heart rate alright. I felt at peace and believed
slow lane and took some deep
was 150 beats per minute even after just that. He told me no one was
breaths. Finally on the side of the
calmly waiting an hour to see the allowed to come back to where I
interstate I called Ashley and asked
doctor. Forbidden to drive, he sent was, but he was in the waiting room.
her to pray as well. Even after
me to the emergency room. James Pastor Mike prayed for me and then
several minutes my heart was still
stayed with me and I persuaded began to pray for all of the people in
pounding. “Ok Lord, I need you
Emanuel and Justin to help me by the waiting room, which was pretty
right now! I’m out here in the middle
carrying out the After School full. I remember thinking how God
of what seems like no where, and I
Program that day. used him to send up prayers for
am asking You to please help me in
Jesus’ name.” There were many people at Grady these people who clearly were in
Memorial. As I sat there taking small need of prayer. I became full and
“You’ve been up since 4am this began to thank God.
breathes and trying to stay as quiet
morning. You’re just tired and need
and still as possible, I saw a mother
to rest when you get home. Just calm
bring in a very small baby wrapped “Then they labeled me a
down and think of calming things.” I
in a white sheet that was dripping
thought of water fronts, my cardiac patient who had a mild
with blood. The mother was covered
granddaughter’s smile, my favorite heart attack.”
in blood and the dad was almost
worship music, and so on. After 20
delirious with grief. I began to pray.
more minutes my heart rate was
down. I could actually feel when it Another woman came in from Duluth The results were back pretty soon
stopped racing and returned to a GA. She was limping and had cuts from the many tests. The blood test
normal pace--but feeling also very on her face. She was in a car revealed that I had high cardiac
tired as if I had run a mile or two. accident and was taken to a hospital enzymes which only appear when
in Duluth, but they told her that her your heart has undergone an attack.
Praising God for being alive and His Then they labeled me a cardiac
injuries were not life threatening
merciful answer to prayer, I made it patient who had a mild heart attack. I
and that she would have to go to
home in the next hours and went to was on a heart monitor, blood
Grady because she did not have
the after school program. After thinner, aspirin and a high blood
insurance. I quickly learned that
going to bed early, I woke up in the pressure medication for the next 4
there were many people in this
wee hours of the morning with my days. While in the hospital, other
waiting room who were there
heart again pounding. I knew that I tests were taken. My EKG, stress
because they did not have
had to go to the doctor. But by 6:30, test, and chest ex-rays were fine, no
insurance.
after trying to calm myself, I was so plaque build up, no diabetes, and no
tired and out of breathe that I could The stories went on and on. There high cholesterol or glucose levels.
barely make it to my nephew’s was another young lady who we all My blood pressure was good, (and
room. Justin got the boys dressed watched vomit over 25 times in a that’s because I’ve been taking a low
and took them to school for me. pan, while her older sister tried to dose HBP pill). Adding more whole
After Jeremy was off to school, I comfort her. I wished I could have grains, veggies, fruits, green tea and
called the doctor who said to come given her my place in line. lean meat to my diet in 2008 was
right in. paying off!
It took about an hour for the intake
Why not straight to Grady process. I was finally called back The team of cardiac doctors was
Memorial? You must have a real and soon after admitted into the very attentive and explained how
emergency for them to take you hospital. (Continued on page 4)
P. O. Box 160294 • Atlanta, Georgia 30316 • 404-964-4604 • justinascm@juno.com • http:www.summerhillcm.com

4. February 2009 ~ Page 4 Summerhill Community Ministries, Inc.
(Continued from page 3)
there was no actual damage or
lacerations to my heart which
“I was reminded of God’s love
toward me, thorough His people.”
V-Day Celebration
usually occur as a result of a heart
attack. One of the women in midst I want to sincerely thank all of you
said, “That was God!” My response that prayed for my family and me,
- “Yes it was!” sent an email or text message, and
called. It meant a lot.
The doctors told me that although I
have made better changes to my Thanks goes out to my sons -
diet, I also have to rest and need James, Emanuel, Justin, Joel and
exercise regularly. I was sent home Jeremy, who took care of me so
with orders to bed rest, daily aspirin well during my recovery, and also
and high blood pressure kept all of the ministry programs
medication, and follow-up monitor going.
visits.
To my church family, Redemption
Fellowship and to Pastor Mike and
“I appreciate God’s gentle
first lady Renee Higgins, thank you
reminder that I need to take for taking care of my family and me
care of this temple He has so with such care. Thank you for all of
graciously given me…” the meals, prayers, visits, phone
calls and cards.
In retrospect, I know that I had been
To our faithful after school program
wearing myself down for some time.
volunteers from Christ Church and
My mother reminded me of what
East Cobb PCA, Anne Burlas, John
I’ve been doing this last year.
and Anne Buchanan and family,
Besides taking care of my family and
Sally Doster, Anna Winter,
working in the ministry, I’ve been
Rebecca Niederfringer, Elisa
primarily taking care of her
Bennett, Lisa and Shelby Robinson,
household and her physical care
Mamie Hite, Bunny and family,
since she had surgery in March of
Sallie Gustafson and family and
2008. For those that don’t know, this
others. You ALL were a real
was when she caught staph infection
blessing to the kids in the ASP, and
and it started a series of surgeries,
they were so glad that we did not
resulting in the loss of her hip. She
have to close our doors during this
has to have 24 hour care and has had
time! Thank you for helping the
to adjust to a different way of life.
program to run so smoothly.
When it comes to a sick parent, you
do what you have to do to make sure Thank you to Danny Wuerffel and
they are taken care of. This meant Desire Street Ministries for your
often filling in when my siblings prayers and for being ready to
could not make their shift. Sleep step in at any given moment with
and rest became less and less. more help for this ministry.
Nevertheless, I appreciate God’s I did not have to worry about
gentle reminder that I need to take anything during my time of
care of this temple He has so recovery because God had placed
graciously given me, or I’ll be of no dear friends and wonderful people
good to anyone. A dear friend told in my life. I was reminded of God’s
me the other day that “life is love toward me, through His
precious”. May we never forget this people. Thank you all for this gift.
and try to live it as well as we can -
spiritually, mentally, and physically. Justina Dix
P. O. Box 160294 • Atlanta, Georgia 30316 • 404-964-4604 • justinascm@juno.com • http:www.summerhillcm.com