“An Evening of Transformation”

The venue was already an inspiration for the “evening of transformation” that was

 

about to commence. It was Friday, December 11 at The Palace Theater in Danbury, where despite the cold weather hundreds of guests gathered for a fundraising gala event to benefit the Jericho Partnership, featuring the story of former Governor of Connecticut John G. Rowland’s personal transformation.An atmosphere embedded in another era, with the Theater’s original chandeliers and other period fixtures suspended throughout the spaces of a grand lobby surrounded by Corinthian columns. It was a perfect magnet for the words of inspiration the guests were about to hear.A hallway full of silent auction items stretched its way toward an assorted and aromatic array of hors d’oeuvres and led into the auditorium, where life-changing testimonies were being shared.

“The very fabric of our community is within the faith-based organizations,” said Danbury Mayor Boughton, after being introduced by Bill Beattie, Jericho Partnership Executive Chairman. Pastors from different denominations and churches set the climate for the keynote speaker with words that reminded the audience of the power of coming together as a community to defeat the “giants” of homelessness, domestic violence and other challenges in today’s society.

“At the beginning I was scared to talk about my faith because it is ‘politically incorrect’,” shared Rowland. “Three years ago I decided to speak of my faith.”

In his own words, Rowland shared interesting physical transformations he went through as an inmate. “I was affected by the disease of arrogance and fell from the highest pedestal to be prisoner 15623504.”

“A fall from grace,” said Rowland, recalling what happened not only to him but also to Eliot Spitzer, and just recently, Tiger Woods.

“If you are in that much trouble you are not in grace to begin with… but can you fall ‘into’ grace?”

The audience was somewhat surprised and definitely absorbed by Rowland’s willingness to open up and talk about the numerous challenges he faced as he transformed into man of faith.

“Life is like a vessel and you’ve got to fill it with something,” he stated. “The circumstances in my life forced me to empty that vessel, and now you ask, ‘what am I going to fill it with?’” He paused and then continued, “Ill fill it with the three ‘Fs’ – faith, family and friends.”

The Jericho Partnership, Inc. is a collaboration of congregations and Christ-centered ministry agencies serving the youth, at-risk and homeless populations of Danbury, CT. For more information about the agency and how to help, please call (203) 791-1180 or visit their website at www.jerichopartnership. org.

1- Rev. Sothy Trang of Cambodian New Life Evangelical Church, Rev. Ophir DeBarros of All Nations Baptist Church (both in Danbury), Rev. Dr. Peola Hicks founder of Firm Foundations Ministries and pastor of New Life Community Church in New Fairfield, and Rev. Phil Morgan of First Assembly of God in Brookfield 2- Jericho Community Choir 3- Carrie L. Amos, Executive Director of Jericho Partnership, and Rev. David Hutchinson, pastor of Christ the Shepherd Presbyterian Church 4- Former Connecticut Governor John Rowland 5-Charneil Bush a graduate of the Pathways Danbury mentoring program, and his mentor Mr. William Beattie, founder and Executive Chairman of Jericho Partnership, Inc.