In the midst of a busy week at sea aboard the Gaither Caribbean Cruise, Dove Award-winning artist Joseph Habedank took a moment to reach out to a special group of individuals. Accompanied by Country Music Hall of Famer Jimmy Fortune, the duo made a trip to Centro De Rehabilitacion Cristo Transforma, a rehabilitation center in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, where they had the unique opportunity to share their testimonies with a small group of attendees.
“I’ve had the privilege of telling my story at every concert event for the last decade, but this one was special,” shares the GRAMMY nominated singer/songwriter. “On the outside, I have very little in common with these special people: we live in different countries with different backgrounds and do not even speak the same language. However, we have Jesus in common. The power of His grace and redemption reaches far beyond the borders of any country or language barriers and has touched their lives the same way it touched mine. It was an honor to encourage them, even briefly, in their walk to long-term sobriety.”
The visit to Centro Cristo Transforma was arranged by Wayne Duley, a former member of the Gaither road crew who now works at the facility in the Dominican. The non-profit ministry is based in Christian principles and is dedicated to reaching, treating and restoring people trapped in drug use, abuse and addiction, as well as educating and researching the problem of drug addiction. Habedank continues, ”While addiction is a prevalent issue touching the lives of so many Americans, the struggles are not limited to any one country, demographic, race, or gender. God can use these trials to reach the lost and hurting, and make them receptive to the Gospel. It’s a common bond we can use to let them know that each and every one of us is in need of God’s grace in our lives.”
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