Wednesday, June 27, 2001
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Wednesday, June 27, 2001 |
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Collins attends opening of new ministry U.S. Rep. Mac Collins attended a ribbon cutting last week in Tyrone for a facility housing a company that cleans residential and commercial properties and a ministry that helps young drug addicts clean up their lives. Collins, whose 3rd District includes Fayette County, and Rep. Jack Kingston joined ministry founder Dr. Jorge Valdes, a former member of the Medellin cocaine cartel who quit the drug trade and opened a ministry for ex-addicts. He founded Coming Clean Ministries to intercept youths on destructive paths and redirect them toward becoming contributing members of society. The ministry will share a facility with a franchise of the Servicemaster Total Cleaning company. The firm is a nationwide franchise business providing professional cleaning services to residential and commercial businesses. Valdes and his wife purchased a Servicemaster franchise two years ago. Tremendous growth led him to open the new facility to provide disaster restoration training and advanced technology training for the entire Southeast region. Valdes said he saw the construction of the facility as a chance to provide more resources for Coming Clean Ministries as well. The Christian ministry is available to pastors, teachers, parents and other community leaders who want to be better informed of the dangers facing contemporary youth. Collins and Kingston were invited to attend the ribbon cutting of the new facility. "Dr. Valdes should be commended for building a successful small business, and working with a ministry on behalf of youth," Collins said. "He is an example of a person living the American dream, and renewed through the power of Christ." Kingston has worked extensively with Valdes, who recently conducted an event in Savannah for hundreds of teenagers. "Dr. Valdes has dedicated the rest of his life to helping others. He's traveled throughout my district in Southeast Georgia and the impact has been tremendous," Kingston said. "I was delighted the House voting schedule changed at the last minute so congressman Collins and I could attend today's event."
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