How God Works in the Trials — The Marlows and Topes

Dan and Jeanine Marlow, Charlie and Marty Tope, share how God has worked in their own lives through trials of their own prodigal.

15 and Addicted — The Stanfills Story

At 15 years-old, Tindell Stanfill thought that the only way she could be happy was to be in a "popular" crowd with a life of addiction and heartache. In college she realized that only Christ could fill her emptiness and cure her loneliness.

Chasing All The Wrong Things — Mark Oerther

Mark got sober from a life filled with drugs and alcohol at 21 years-old while he was in college. His life was empty and he chased after every wrong thing imaginable. Mark is the Director of Business Development at Inner Change.

Family in Recovery — Dave Garton

Dave shares his own personal story of salvation out of a life of dependency on marijuana and drug use. He also talks about his the importance of the "Family in Recovery."

Selfish, Destructive Survival Mode — Kevin Sulcer and his mom Harriet

As a high school student, Kevin's family went through a serious crisis as his father's health began to deteriorate. The financial and emotional strain was too difficult to sustain his parent's marriage. Kevin retreated to a selfish, destructive survival mode life. But his mom Harriet never stopped praying for him.

Back to the Dinner Table — Heather Hayes

American parents are in direct competition with smart phones, iPads and the internet for the attention of their children. Adolescent behavior expert and intervention pioneer Heather Hayes has developed a blueprint for parents to get their children away from the web, and back to the dinner table.

Healthy Boundaries — Beth Venable and Jason McKeown

One of the consistent challenges of parenting is establishing and maintaining boundaries that are appropriate and healthy for your family. Beth Venable is Referral Relations Director at Trails Carolina. Jason McKeown is Director of Clinical and Family Services at Trails Carolina.

Embracing Powerlessness: The Door to Authentic Faith — Mark Crawford

Life is made up of the small area that we can actually manage and the larger area that have no control over (including those we move love). After we understand and accept that much of what is important to us is out of our control, we must embrace a faith that allows us to turn over some of the most important things in our life to the care and control of God.

Loving Someone with an Addiction — Janet Fluker

Janet is the Director of the Family Program at MARR (Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences). Janet leads seminars "Loving Someone with an Addiction" for family members who have loved ones with addiction issues. She will try to condense a one day seminar into 1 ? hours. You don't want to miss this. She will touch on the disease of addiction, enabling, rescuing and controlling, and identifying and establishing boundaries.

Seven Bridges to Recovery — Seven Wells

Pastor Seven accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior while in solitary confinement at USP Atlanta in 1996. Unable to read or write, he requested a Bible upon his release from solitary confinement and supernaturally began to read. Since the Word of God is alive and active, the rest is history. Now a complete, sold-out, on fire, uncompromising child of God, he lays his life down daily for those who cannot pay him back. As a homeless runaway since age 10, he had built his life around crime, centered on drugs, firearms, money laundering and the mafia. This lifestyle is the basis of his testimony that God can and will use anyone. Having never before felt love, His Father in heaven poured out His love into that solitary confinement cell, where no man could take the credit. God himself changed his heart. Now he shares this love to the homeless of Atlanta and has an amazing ministry at 7 Bridges to Recovery.

Out of Control — Daniel Krasner

Daniel Krasner is the Clinical Solutions Provider with the Ranch at Dove Tree and Texas Tech University, a residential treatment center for drug and alcohol addictions. Daniel was born in Atlanta, GA. and grew up in the East Cobb area with a loving family. Life was normal until he was 14 years old and started to use drugs and alcohol. For 4.5 years his life spiraled out of control. At age 18, Daniel got sober and started a life of recovery in Mississippi. Daniel will share his story and give hope to parents as you hear his journey to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Reflecting Beauty from Brokenness — Cynthia Spell

Cynthia is a counselor in private practice in Marietta, GA and author of "Deceived By Shame, Desired By God." She is also a professional speaker and teacher. Cynthia will be speaking on "Reflecting Beauty from Brokenness." Shame convinces us that we are irreparably broken at our very core. But God wants us to know there is nothing about our past that cannot be redeemed through His healing, unconditional love.

Over and Over Again — Jennifer Angier

Executive director of Foundations Recovery network in Roswell, GA. Jennifer will be speaking on How can a parent of an addict best respond or react to a child who continues to relapse over and over again? She will address the issues of....What kind of help should a parent offer? When is enough, enough? How can we love the addict without enabling? I have spent all my money on treatment and they continue to use and abuse, what do I do now?

Break the Code of Silence — Penny Whipps

Our guest Speaker will be Penny Whipps. Penny is a speaker and author who lives in Sisters, Oregon and began a non-profit organization called Just 1x (Just One Time). Just 1 X was founded in direct response to her son's untimely death in 2008. After speaking with his friends that were with him the night he died and knew that Kyle was doing something dangerous, but none of them talked to him about it, Penny felt she needed to take action. Penny goes into schools and talks to all kids—the academic, the athlete, the artist—great kids that are living dangerously and losing their lives. She challenges the students to "break the code of silence" around their friend's dangerous and risky behaviors with drugs, alcohol, pills, and cutting and seek help for them. 

What Exactly is a Drug Problem and What can we do About It — Marcos Sanchez

Marcos is a certified addiction counselor and an expert in drug and alcohol recovery and has worked with adolescents and young adults with substance abuse since 1993.

The Latest Drug Trends and Paraphernalia - Officer Mark

Mark has been in the field of Law enforcement for many years and also served with the Drug Enforcement Administration and is dedicated to helping families in crisis. Mark will educate families on the latest drug trends and paraphernalia, as well as methods of concealment used by many of today's teens and adult drug users. Mark not only runs a safe transport service, but he also will bring a team into your home to search for hidden drugs.

Path of Destruction — Conrad Santamaria

Hear Conrad Santamaria share his powerful testimony. Conrad started down a path of destruction at age 11 yrs. He became involved in a life of fighting, drug dealing, and gangs. This lifestyle ultimately led him to serving 3 1/2 years at a maximum security prison. In prison, Conrad accepted Christ . Conrad now is married and has two children. They continue to pursue all that God requires of them for His glory!

The Call for Transformation in Adolescence and Young Adults — Mary Flora

Mary is a dually licensed Professional counselor and Clinical addiction specialist presently working at Trails Carolina. Mary will speak on "The Call for Transformation in Adolescence and Young Adults". She will discuss how parents can balance the tension in the home and also practice self care by setting healthy boundaries. Mary will discuss barriers to development and emotional growth and how parents can support their child during setbacks and provide appropriate boundaries through open and honest communication.

Breaking the Silence on Sexual Addiction — Mitzi Walters and Georgia Nickles

Mitzi Walters is a licensed Professional counselor, certified substance abuse and anger management evaluator, and sex addiction counselor. Mitzi assisted in the implementation of the first Family Dependency Treatment Court Program for Cobb County Juvenile Court. We will also hear from Gerogia Nickles, a sex therapist in the Alpharetta area with 20 years of experience. Mitzi and Georgia will be speaking on "Breaking the Silence" on sexual addiction and pornography attacking our world today. Many of you have asked to have someone speak on this topic so don't miss, as this is taking over our country today with teens and adults.

Panel of Former Prodigals

This meeting will be a "Panel of Prodigals" that will be sharing their story and answering questions that most parents of prodigals want to know. This is always a highlight each year and you won't want to miss! This is the time of the year that we all need some HOPE and encouragement. You will be blessed to hear these powerful stories of how God brought these four young men and women from a life of despair to a life of purpose and hope.