LIHU‘E — Chances are you know someone who has graduated from the U-Turn For Christ program. To date, around 300 men over three years have graduated from the anti-drug program, including Malani Bilyeu, front man of the iconic Hawaiian rock
LIHU‘E — Chances are you know someone who has graduated from the U-Turn For Christ program.
To date, around 300 men over three years have graduated from the anti-drug program, including Malani Bilyeu, front man of the iconic Hawaiian rock band Kalapana.
While Bilyeu of Wailua Houselots acknowledges he is not totally out of the woods yet, he also knows that the U-Turn program is a major reason he is able to rock on and not be locked up.
“God has used U-Turn For Christ Kaua‘i to help me get out of a downward spiral of drug abuse and selfishness,” said Bilyeu.
“I was on the brink of losing everything, my family, house and livelihood,” he said.
So he is extremely pleased to turn one of the statewide series of 35th-anniversary Kalapana concerts into a fundraiser for U-Turn for Christ.
The Kaua‘i event is June 13 at 5 p.m. at Kilohana’s lu‘au pavilion in Puhi, states a press release.
It doubles as the U-Turn for Christ Second Annual Dinner and Concert Fundraiser.
Kapena Bustamente was a program participant, a graduate and, now, a program leader, and boasts of his transformation as well.
“If it wasn’t for God changing my life through U-Turn, I would probably be doing something bad and crazy right now,” he said. Sadly, his mother died a few weeks ago at the age of 43.
Over 300 men over the past three years have graduated from the U-Turn for Christ program, and have been restored to become productive members of society, the release states.
U-Turn for Christ Kaua‘i helps men who are suffering from substance abuse, restoring them back to become healthy members of their families and society, the release states.
These men live on a working ranch dedicated to obedience, integrity, accountability and community service. The men are put in real-life situations through working and participating in the community.
When stresses, frustrations and the desire to escape occurs, the men are taught how to deal with these strong emotions through relying on God and His strength instead of using drugs and alcohol to anesthetize themselves, states the release.
Donations help subsidize the cost of housing, transportation and living expenses for an eight-month period for each person.
A $50 donation provides a ticket for a buffet dinner provided by Gaylord’s at Kilohana, the concert by Kalapana, other musical guest performances and a special guest speaker. Call 652-8698 for tickets and more information, or e-mail uturnforchrist@gmail.com for more details on the program.
