Welcome To Homecoming 2024

Thank You To Our Sponsors

Today's Events

11:00 am: Homecoming starts

12:00 pm: Program starts

12:30 pm: The Oaks of Righteousness induction

12:45 pm: Lunch is served

3:00 pm: Homecoming ends

Oaks of Righteousness Inductees

Cindy Anderson completed the Refuge July 2019. She attends Grace Community Church , and has been employed at Benchmark Education since 8/5/2018. She is involved with a ministry called the Wake (ripple effect of Hope), and is grateful for family restoration and the friends the Lord has placed in her life.

Greg Dearth completed The Refuge in February 2016 and has been an inspiring example of transformation ever since. He became a devoted member of Veritas West and continues to actively participate in the church community today. For the past nine years, Greg has faithfully attended weekly community groups at Veritas, spending the last five years as a valued member of Dustin Sleeper's group. In addition to his strong commitment to his church, Greg is also deeply invested in serving the Hilltop neighborhood, where Veritas West resides. He’s proud to own his own home and has built a stable career, working as a postman with the United States Postal Service for the past five years.

Courtney Farley completed The Refuge in July 2021. Since completing the Refuge, the Lord has allowed her to live and serve within The Covering ministry in Circleville and Chillicothe. She is currently employed as a dental assistant at a private dental practice in Circleville. Over the last three years she has attended Connection Pointe Church of God in Grove CIty, until June when Jesus called Courtney to step into a children's and youth ministry role at Nicholas Drive Church of God, a sister church in Circleville. Courtney is a volunteer Big Sister in the Big Brother Big Sister organization and she also shares her testimony in churches and rehabilitation centers whenever she can. She makes monthly trips to see her family in Johnstown where she grew up. She is living a full and abundant life thanks to Jesus. She is grateful for how far the Lord has brought her and how fully He has redeemed her life and she is grateful for the opportunity to be here and receive this honor. She's thankful to the Refuge for being the spiritual bootcamp she needed and for ultimately being the place where she met the Lord Jesus Christ. And thank you to everyone who has ever said a prayer for her. God bless you all.

Joshua Hinger graduated The Refuge in 2017. God has continued to restore his family, career, and family. He is blessed to have the opportunity to work with men from The Refuge at Thompson Concrete. God has also blessed him with a beautiful wife and two new additions to his home.

Zachary Hunt graduated Feb 20, 2021. He is currently living on the southside of Columbus in Merion Village with his lovely wife Bronte, amazing step daughter Rome, age 4 and the newest addition Royce, 1 month old. He is currently working at The Refuge and has been here for over 2 years. He attends Covenant Church in Grove City, Ohio. He is beyond grateful for his family, his wife who always believed in him, his parents who never gave up on him, his siblings who understood him and his new brothers that he has made over the years here at the Refuge who have walked alongside him. Most importantly he is thankful for his relationship with Christ and His overwhelming love, grace and mercy in his life.

Areil Johnson graduated The Refuge in 2019. She currently lives in Ashtabula, Ohio. She is the Operations Manager at an outpatient behavioral health agency called Anew Behavioral Health. They provide treatment for people who suffer from mental health conditions as well as substance use disorders. She attends church at The City church in Ashtabula and is currently serving on The City Steps team, which welcomes new members into the church and helps them find their place in the church family. She graduated with her associate of arts degree in Human Services from Ohio Christian University in May 2024. But none of these things are any comparison for the fact that she has her oldest child Jozlyn back in her care. She has been the biggest blessing God could have given her! She came home in 2022 and is by far the thing that she is most grateful for!

Dan Kingsley completed The Refuge in 2022 and started his own business which is going very well. He has maintained attendance at a Veritas West community group every week since completion and recently started attending Coaches on Thursday evenings. On June 9, 2024 he got married to his lovely wife Rebekah and they currently live in the Westgate community. He is extremely grateful for the journey God has set before him and the community of people that he shares life with.

Stacie Litchfield graduated in July 2020. She works at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and attends Pickerington Church of the Nazarene. She and her kids and help serve family dinners at Lower Lights. The biggest thing that she is grateful for is the restoration with her family. She gets the chance to be a mom to Quintin and Gabriella. Five years ago she didn’t think it would ever be a reality. It’s amazing to see how the Lord is working in all of our lives! She would never have any of this without Him.

John Lockhart completed The Refuge in 2022 stayed on for a few months. He was saved on May 31, 2021 and baptized August 1, 2021. He now serves as a coach for The Refuge. He is blessed to now be running his own company. He also just married to my best friend, Jayelynn, on September 7, 2024. She was his high school sweetheart, and he thought he lost her more than 30 years ago. In short, he's a walking miracle, truly blessed and favored, and if they stay the course it’s limitless on what God will do. A word to the men going through The Refuge now: God has NOT never not finished anything. Take the 13 for a lifetime of blessings.

Debra Nelson graduated from the Refuge on July 1, 2020. She moved to Circleville after leaving the Refuge. She is a member of Connection Point Church of God in Grove City where she is a substitute Sunday School Teacher and serves on the Greeters Committee. She is also on the Praise Team for  Tuesday night services at Nicholas Dr Church of God. She is currently employed at Pickaway County Community Action as the Wellness Coordinator/ Peer Support Specialist and also works part-time as a Barista at Joy House Coffee. She volunteers for the residential program at the Covering to pour into those ladies. She also goes into the Fairfield County Jail doing Bible studies with the women in jail. The one thing she is very grateful for is her children and granddaughter.

Carla Patterson graduated from The Refuge on January 20, 2021. She then stayed on to coordinate helping the woman behind her for four months. She has been living at the Covering with her daughter Khia for about three years. She is now an accountant at a company called EPC-Columbia in Circleville, Ohio. She attends church at the Grove City Connection Point Church on Harrisburg Pike. She is involved in helping the moms behind her and helping them with their children. She gained custody of her daughter on August 10,2021 after not having custody for six years!! Something she is grateful for is The Lord giving her the chance to step back into motherhood and providing the stability that her daughter needs!

Ashley Patton graduated the Refuge in May of 2019 and served as a coordinator for 6 months following completion. She now lives with her son Doren in Circleville, Ohio. She is a member at Connection Pointe Church of God in Grove City. She serves as The Outreach Director for The Covering and goes into Fairfield county jail to minister to the inmates. She is currently working on getting her biblical counseling certification and also has her medical assisting certification. She is extremely grateful for her family that has supported and loved her through it all!! God has extended her family into The Covering where she cherishes and adores those relationships just as much as real family. For her future she is looking forward to connecting with as many people as she can to tell them God is still transforming lives!!!

Nicole Wagner completed the Refuge in 2020, moved back to Circleville, and shortly thereafter received full custody back of her kids. Sje was offered my job back at a dental office from which she was fired from before coming into the ministry. They have since sent her on to further my dental career, and she is now an expanded functions dental auxiliary. Nicole, her husband Jordy, and their 2 daughters, Ada and Elsie, attend Heritage Nazarene Church in Circleville. They are very close to The Covering ministry and like to serve when they can. They enjoy spending time at the ballfield either watching the girls play softball or watching other sporting events. Spending time with her family is her favorite activity whether it’s out and about or relaxing at the house.

Craig Smith completed in September 2017. He is currently living in Circleville, Ohio with his wife Katie and their daughter Mabel and are attending XChurch. Craig is working as a Regional Account Manager for UFP Packaging. Over the years he has stayed connected by continuing to attend a weekly Bible Study with Duke Heller and Ed Churchill. As a way to give back to the community Craig goes a few times a year and talks to high school health classes about his experiences with drugs to try to deter them.

Wayne Truewell completed The Refuge on March 3, 2022. He is a member at Veritas and attends faithfully every week. Wayne is also involved in other groups at Veritas as well as a coaches group on Thursday night with men currently in the ministry. He is employed by Franklinton International, a partner company for the men currently going through the ministry as well as alumni after completion.

Jared Walker completed The Refuge in 2019. Since completion of The Refuge, Jared has started working for Square One Health as a lead clinical and counselor for their residential treatment center. His family attends Corpus Christi Parish and reside in Conneaut, Ohio. His fiancé Amber and Jared have one son Cole 4 years old and a daughter soon to be on the way. He has the privilege to disciple men who are currently going through treatment where he is working and continues to walk alongside men he went through the ministry with.

Matt Ward graduated from The Refuge in May 2020. Since then, he has become a key member of Lighthouse Baptist Church, where his pastor frequently highlights him as the go-to person for welcoming new members and visitors. Matt owns and operates Freedom Construction, a thriving business where he often extends a helping hand by employing men with a history of addiction, providing them with opportunities for a fresh start.

Naomi Yost graduated The Refuge in January 2020 and served as a coordinator for 6 months following completion. She now lives with her family in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a member of Grace Baptist Church in Mason, serving in the children’s ministry as a Sunday school teacher, as a vocalist on the praise team, and a dedicated leader in her young adult community group. Naomi works at Queen City Music Studio and teaches around 40 piano and voice students every week, as well as regularly dog sitting for several recurring clients. She is extremely grateful for her close relationship with her family that is still growing with three nephews, one niece, and another niece on the way.