Calvary Chapel Greeneville in the News ~

Big 'U-Turn For Christ' Crowd Attends Hog Roast
The Greeneville Sun, July 19, 2008
By Nelson Morais

Sun Photo by Nelson Morais
About 175 to 200 people from across the country attended the annual U-Turn For Christ "hog roast" on Saturday, July 12, at the local ministry's men's ranch. Pastor Gerry Brown, on stage, of U-Turn For Christ in Perris, Calif. spoke about love being "the bond of perfection." Brown is the founder and head pastor and director of the drug and alcohol recovery ministry. He is also pastor of Calvary Chapel Romoland in California.

An estimated 175 to 200 graduates and supporters, as well as several preachers, from around the country as well as locally attended the annual "hog roast" held at U-Turn For Christ's men's ranch on Saturday, July 12.

U-Turn For Christ is a men's and women's Christian discipleship program attended mostly by recovering drug addicts and alcoholics.

"It was a celebration/alumni event where people who continue to walk with the Lord came back to Greeneville," said local U-Turn For Christ Pastor Steve Nordgren.

He added, "We celebrated what God's done in our lives. We had a great time."

The event featured testimonials from individuals who have graduated, worship music, a drama dance team from Calvary Chapel Greeneville and teaching by four pastors on the general theme, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly," from the book of Colossians, chapter 3, verse 16.

Learning Patience, Endurance

Lionel Hernandez, who went through the U-Turn For Christ program twice, drove from his home in Old Bridge, N. J. to attend the local hog roast with his wife, Susan, and thre daughters before leaving the next day for a family vacation in Maryland.

Hernandez said in an interview, "I learned mostly patience and endurance from my experience at U-Turn. It has helped me tremendously."

He said of U-Turn For Christ, often referred to by its leaders as a "Christian boot camp," that "every time I find myself not wanting to do something, I say to myself, 'It can't be any worse than U-Turn.'"

Love, 'The Bond of Perfection'

California's U-Turn For Christ founder and head pastor/director of the worldwide ministry, Gerry Brown, spoke at the hog roast on love, "the bond of perfection." Brown is also pastor of Calvary Chapel Romoland in California.

George Parsons, pastor of Leisure Lakes First Baptist Church in Florida, spoke on the elect of God and being merciful and tender-hearted.

Steve Mattier, pastor of U-Turn For Christ in Lexington, S.C., taught on forgiveness and "bearing with one another."

Kevin Hay, pastor of U-Turn For Christ in Old Bridge, N.J. and assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge, N.J., spoke on "restoring and reconciling a new man."

13 Ranches and 12 Churches

Since its formation in California in 1995, U-Turn For Christ has opened 11 ranches in the U.S., and one each in Mexico and Kenya. The ministry has also started a total of 12 U-Turn For Christ churches in the Philippines, Thailand, and most recently, one church in Myanmar (formerly called Burma).

Pastor Nordgren estimated 1,000 men and women have gone through the U-Turn For Christ programs in Greene County since the men's ranch opened locally in 2002. The women's ranch opened in 2005.

Pastor Nordgren also estimated that since 1995, when the first U-Turn For Christ ranch opened in Perris, Calif., 55 to 60 men who graduated the program have gone on to become ordained pastors. Many more graduates continue to serve as volunteers in the ministry in various capacities.

Gilbert Perez supplied and barbecued the pig for Saturday's hog roast.

Reprinted from the The Greeneville Sun