Global Center for Success Promo from Daniel Bernardes.

Richard Anderson

At some point one has to ask the question “how did I get here”, for some the answer is very obvious for others it’s a wake-up call. For me it was a simple matter of being unemployed and depending on another for my food and shelter. When an altercation changed all that I suddenly found myself in a very tenuous and awful situation, I was homeless. Luckily I was introduced to an organization called the Christian Help Center and they took me in as a guest. Vallejo California is one of the few towns that has such a shelter, where they not only provide food and a bed but also education and a means to get to social services. All of this was very overwhelming to me since I had never experienced homelessness; my background is technical in nature and included management positions so I knew what it was like to make good money. But my disabilities and time had brought me to a low point in my life, so it goes to show that anyone can find themselves in this very same situation. To add to this I met people from all walks of life and I learned so much from them. I renewed my faith in God and found that a little prayer goes a long way. I had to walk everywhere that I went and sometimes I would find myself going uphill, at first it was difficult and my legs would hurt with the effort. But much like my life each day I found that I could go a little further and it would not hurt quite as much. This was a metaphor for my life as I went through the education provided by the Christian Help Center and its sister nonprofit agency, The Global Center for Success. I also received the social services that I needed and found myself improving each day. I managed to get myself a job and it was at this point that I reconciled with my friend and moved back home.

This experience taught me a very valuable lesson, one that I will never forget, and that is never take what you have for granted. I graduated from the classes provided by the Global Center for Success and was asked to speak in front of the affiliated church’s congregation of my success. My self-esteem and dignity had taken a step upwards and I owe that to organizations that dedicate themselves to the reintegration of people that have lost everything back into society. One thing that I can say is that while they help people get their lives back, the people they help must also make an effort as well. The parting thought is this: “If you’re not serious about improving your life then no one else is going to be able to do it for you.”

George Dix, Jr.

I thank God for this wonderful opportunity to share my amazing testimony. I am honored for this privilege to share what God has done through the Christian Help Center, the Global Center for Success, and The Vallejo Lord’s Fellowship Church. My name is George and my whole life was a disaster. There were some good times, but the majority of my life was horrible. When I look back on my life it was like a category 5 hurricane. I destroyed everything that was in my path; I wanted to do right, but I couldn’t get my life together. I tried rehabs and relocating to different cities and nothing worked. One day my wife asked me with this look that I’d never seen, “What are we going to do? I can’t keep living like this!” During this time we were living in New York City, and I had given up all hope in life. I couldn’t see anything but dark clouds hovering over our lives.

We met Pastor Rey Bernardes in 2003 when we lived in California for over a year and by the Grace of God we still kept his phone number. In response to her question, “what are we going to do,” I told her to “give me the phone,” and I dialed his number. Pastor Rey answered the phone on the first ring and this phone call changed our lives forever! Two or three weeks later we were on our way to California. When we arrived in Vallejo, we had about ten suitcases, four children, and twenty dollars.

Since July 4, 2006 until now, God has performed miracles in our lives through the Christian Help Center, the Global Center for Success, and The Vallejo Lord’s Fellowship Church. I am so grateful for the Pastor and the staff at these three ministries. Without them I have no idea where we would be.

Today, I am one of the associate Pastors of the church. I oversee the men’s ministry, the men’s transitional housing ministry, and I am in training to become a program director for Teen Challenge. I am currently enrolled at Bethany University for my BS Degree in Biblical and Theological studies. I am also one of the teachers at the Lord’s Fellowship Bible Institute. God also opened up doors of opportunity for my wife. She recently started working for a non-profit helping women who are victims of domestic violence. She is also one of the case managers for a women’s permanent housing facility, and she is the church’s children’s ministry coordinator.

Because of the ministry of the Christian Help Center, Global Center for Success, and The Lord’s Fellowship Church, God has changed our lives. I almost forgot to tell you that in 2010, I received The Sargent Shriver Award from the Community Action Partnership – Solano. This award is for individuals who, through the help of an agency, have overcome obstacles in their lives, are now thriving and are giving back to the community.

I could say more, but I must close. The Christian Help Center, Global Center for Success, and The Vallejo Lord’s Fellowship Church have blessed me and my family. I am so grateful to Global for empowering and training me and my wife to develop the personal strengths we already have to succeed. Without them where would we be?