LINCOLN -- The senior breakfast for Lincoln High School graduates is a community effort, with churches, businesses, organizations and individuals coming together to give the seniors one last time together before graduation.
About 100 seniors showed up at 8 a.m. last Wednesday at First Assembly of God for a country breakfast prepared by volunteers, a short talk from an adjunct professor at Ecclesia College in Springdale and door prizes. The breakfast ended with the senior slide show.
Lincoln Area Ministerial Brotherhood sponsors the senior breakfast. This year, local businesses, churches and individuals donated about $2,500 for the breakfast and door prizes. Every senior received a cash award that ranged from $20-$30 and some also received gift certificates.
"We had so many generous people in Lincoln who gave gift certificates that we are able to have a bonus round (of prizes)," Randy Magar, pastor of First Baptist in Lincoln, said as he called out ticket numbers for the door prizes.
Those preparing the breakfast included Sue Pergeson, Sue Mizell, Misty Mejia and Carolyn Igo with First Assembly of God, Gary Davis with First Baptist, and volunteers at Lincoln Senior Center.
This year's speaker was Don Preston, an adjunct professor of business at Ecclesia College. Preston's full-time job is working for Samaritan's Community, which helps feed hungry children in Northwest Arkansas.
Preston told seniors of a troubled childhood and teenage years. He was involved with drugs and alcohol and showed no respect for authority.
He was in jail at 18 years of age when he picked up his first Gideon Bible. Later in life, he married, had four children, graduated from the University of Arkansas. He told the students he thought he was smarter than everyone else. He was making his own methamphetamine and in 1999, was arrested while serving as a graduate teaching assistant at the UA for manufacturing meth.
He was in jail for 15 months and when he was released, Preston said he was determined to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
He returned to the University to earn a master's degree of business administration and said he thought he had it all. He had a $300,000 house, a six-figure income but had no love for anyone, except he said, "a little bit for my kids."
His life took a turn for the worse when his daughter informed him that his wife was having an affair. Preston said he turned to alcohol again and his daughter also began drinking. He was arrested for public intoxication and during that time again picked up a Gideon Bible. Around the same time, Preston's daughter died of an overdose.
"I fell on my knees and cried out to God to make me whole," Preston said.
When he was released from prison, Preston said he began to live his life for God and not for himself.
"I had a personal relationship with God that I would have scoffed and laughed at a few years ago," Preston said.
Preston reminded the students they can find comfort through God in all circumstances and that God will give them a peace they cannot find elsewhere.
In Scripture, Jesus tells his followers to go to all nations and tell others about God.
"As you graduate, remember you have a mission in this life," Preston said.
General News on 05/31/2017