The Transformation Project held a graduation ceremony for E. W. Keener, who became the group's 61st graduate, but the first graduate of a year-long alliance with the House of Refuge ministry.

Joel Davenport, director of programs for the Transformation Project, said,
"When we began working with the House of Refuge, we were excited about the potential of being able to utilize their resources, while sharing our own resources with them."

"They had empty beds in three houses they were seeking to receive men who have demonstrated a desire to change their life, and the Transformation Project works to provide daily accountability, structure and character education to all of our participants.

"Robert Thomas, who was hired at the House of Refuge's executive director a year ago, and I work closely together as we work with these men."

The Transformation Project's mission is making disciples of Jesus Christ by transforming the lives of addiction-related offenders and their families through the power of God, thereby reducing recidivism.

The Transformation Project now has three campuses in Hamilton County and is in the process of establishing campuses in 16 other counties.

On the same evening as Mr. Keener was graduating at the North Chattanooga campus, two others were graduating at the North Hamilton County campus (located at the Bethel Temple Assembly of God, in Hixson).

Mr. Keener's own parole officer, who referred him to the Transformation Project, also attended the event.

He said, "E.W. has worked hard and persevered in many difficult situations as he has worked to get his life on the right track. And one of the very encouraging things is that he has expressed the desire to stick around with both us and the House of Refuge to work with other men who are coming through this alliance - giving back to the process that helped him to change his own life."

As Mr. Davenport addressed a crowd of about 50 people at the North Chattanooga Campus of the Transformation Project, he said, "In a nutshell, we know that someone has demonstrated real change when they become givers instead of takers, as well as when they are willing to share their own transformation experience with others openly and honestly."

E.W. will graduate from the House of Refuge's side on July 19 at an evening ceremony to be held at the Church of the Firstborn, where House of Refuge founder, Alford Johnson, is the senior pastor.