Parent Testimonials
One Family’s Journey with Promise Village
Culture has a way of watching over the change of so many things. Over time things fade away. Given any particular situation, this can be a good thing or a bad thing. For instance, words take on new meanings. Perhaps the original iron clad definition many trusted in throughout time become weaker and even changed situationally. “Promise” is one such word. Thankfully though, there are still bastions of purists who truly strive for the precious meaning of this word. Promise Village: Home for Children in our opinion is one such place.
It was here that we found our son Chris. Having been introduced to Promise Village through a small Christian school where we worked and our daughter attended, we began to interact with a number of the boys and staff from Promise Village. As we began to be more involved with this organization, we were able to see how its name was way more than letters on a page. Because of our positions in the school we had a chance to be more intimately involved with the staff and the boys of PV. What we began to see was a place that kept its word, a place that truly offered a promise.
With regard to our son Chris, there is hardly a day that goes by without us realizing where he has come from. We know that ultimately God is the one who has ushered in the change, but there is equally no doubt that he used Promise Village to facilitate much of this change. It was here that Chris was able to be equipped to articulate things that many of take for granted. Chris was shown that he was worthwhile, that he mattered, that he could be a world changer. He was introduced to Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Through intentional mentoring and one on one counseling Chris was equipped to identify areas in his life that were spinning out of control, some he had responsibility for and some he didn’t. The structured and loving environment of Promise Village gave him a safe place to heal emotionally and to put into practice many of the new principles that he was being taught, not the least of which was his growth as a child of God.
Patiently and steadily Chris made progress. He worked hard. He was not made perfect through PV; however, they had a hand in some amazing metamorphosis of this young man. We witnessed success championed and failure lovingly, yet firmly addressed. Chris was taught that with success comes freedom, and with failure there is always consequences. For almost a year we watched this take place with Chris as we were waiting for the adoption process to be completed. Then finally on June 17, 2010 Chris was a permanent part of the Mavin home.
We daily build on what Chris was introduced to at Promise Village. He is 180 degrees from where he began when he first came to be at PV. Like any honest follower of Christ, Chris is a young man in process. He still has successes and failures. However, he has a different perspective in responding to both, because of his time at Promise Village. We are grateful to be affiliated with PV. Not only because they were instrumental in introducing us to our son, but because of our 22 year history in working with students and ministries and organizations that work with them and this is an organization that truly keeps it promise!
With Love and Gratitude,
Kris & Trina Mavin
Adoptive Parents from PV
“I Thank God That His Life Was Not Wasted”
Our firstborn son was raised in a caring family environment. As a child he was healthy, easygoing, intelligent, and funny. Then adolescence came. After a couple of years of steady decline, our 17 year old was sick beyond the normal teen turmoil. He had given up sports, studying, God, youth group, while choosing a self-destructive path. We watched his life being drained away, as our interventions failed. I pleaded to God to heal our son, in desperation pointing out that his life was in danger, and I was helpless.
It was time to prayerfully face reality and find professional help, so the frantic search started. There were surprisingly few places and resources available, and the ones I checked were fundamentally inadequate and/or unaffordable. Our church youth pastor recommended PVHC. Victor agreed to give the program a try, a divine sign of a residual instinct of self-preservation. His intake interview took place on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. We had a deeply meaningful time with Dr. Denise and Dr. Tim until early evening, and my fading hope was revived…finally a safe harbor where my son could be healed. I waited anxiously to learn if he was accepted into the program and I had the first full night of sleep in a long time.
The causes leading into our crisis were many, with roots extending into the physical, spiritual, emotional and social realms. At PVHC, Vic’s compassionate therapist, Dr. Denise, Dr. Tim, and the life coaches, addressed all these aspects. Vic also got attached to his assigned horse Bob, loved to go in exciting field trips with Dr. Tim, and became a much better basketball player, a passion he carries on to this day. There were rough times on the course of the 7 months program, but the staff was compassionate, committed, competent, and relied on God to guide us through. PVHC’s emphasis on integrating the family into the program was key, as the crisis had brought considerable strain into the relationships. During weekly family therapy sessions we learned much about each other, identified changes to be made, and together devised action plans. Vic graduated from High School and PVHC at the same time. His father and I were prouder of the latter.
Victor acknowledges that PVHC saved his life, and stays in touch with Dr. Tim, who became a role model for him. Today my son has a healthy lifestyle and lives with his younger brother and me. Our relationship has never been better. He is planning on going to graduate school, after finishing English and Psychology studies at Oakland University. I thank God daily that his life was not wasted, and pray that every parent in my situation has access to a Promise Village.
Ana
“If you need healing for your child and family, you really should prayerfully consider Promise Village.”
The program is designed to help your child become whole by providing an excellent clinical approach. It addresses the physical, emotional, psychological, relational and spiritual needs of your child and each family member. True healing cannot be accomplished without the involvement of God, the one true healer. Dr. Tim Coldiron and his staff understand this and practice it every day.
We watched our son go from a young man that only wanted to say whatever he needed to get what he wanted in the world, to a person that could genuinely care for others. Prior to his time at Promise Village, he made few friends and did not pursue spending any time with them. After completing the program, he can now make friends and cares to be with them. He still considers the young men that he met as students and the Life Coaches at PV as life-long friends.
The other blessing that our family received from Promise Village that we did not see in other secular counseling situations was the openness of the counselors and the feedback we received regarding where our son was in the healing process. The year of aftercare counseling that our entire family received once our son came home really helped us regain ties that we had all but given up on.
We thank God for the experience, insight, life changes and spiritual direction that we received from our time invested with Promise Village.
Mark and Marie Schulte
Goodrich, Michigan
“He is now an Honor Roll student”
Promise Village has helped Dewayne and me in so many ways. Dewayne’s anger had been a big factor in our situation. Promise Village has given him the tools to control his out bursts. He now has a great attitude. He was very impatient and now he has learned how to wait on help. He has also learned to communicate better and ask for assistance. The Promise Village environment has helped him to become sociable, along with tending to and caring for the animals.
When Dewayne was in the public school district he could not keep up with his school work. Having a smaller class room setting and extra help from his teachers has greatly improved Dewayne’s study skills. He is now an honor roll student.
I am very grateful to Promise Village and Dr. Tim for being there to save our family during our trials and tribulations.
Sincerely,
Rene McKinney
“I thank God for Promise Village”
About a year ago I was afraid of losing my son. He was almost 15 and experimenting with drugs, smoking, failing in school, shoplifting and stealing from me. He had been arrested twice and banned from 3 stores in our small town. He had no respect for himself or me. I never knew where he was, what he was doing or when he would be home, despite having rules and curfews. We tried changing schools and counseling, but nothing helped. I knew there was a good person hiding inside of him, but didn’t know how to reach him.
Then I heard about Promise Village and knew this was the place for him. Asking for their help was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I felt like I was abandoning him. Thank God I made that call. I sent them a very troubled child headed for jail or worse. Thanks to all the wonderful people at Promise Village he is becoming a wonderful and caring young man. Drugs, smoking and stealing are out of his life. They have been replaced with a deep love of God; he now respects himself and others. He has learned that God cares about him and what he does. He is doing great in school and is passing all of his classes. When he returns home he wants to continue going to a Christian school.
As hard as it was to make that first call and ask for help, it was the best thing I could have done for both of us. Thanks to Promise Village we are becoming a family again and are both looking forward to the time when he can return home.
Joe Sauve
“Brandon and I have learned through our family therapy how to communicate with each other which has made our relationship better and brought us closer than ever before.”
My son Brandon and I were introduced to Promise Village in October of 2008.
Before we went there I was unsure what my next step was going to be because I thought we had exhausted any and all possibilities. Brandon was having anger issues and was unable to deal with them. Communication was also a problem.
While at Promise Village I can proudly say I saw great progress in my son. He showed great improvement in his behavior, his emotional stability and maturity as well as his schooling. Because of this program and the different types of therapies offered, he learned to deal with his anger issues, as well.
Brandon and I have learned through our family therapy how to communicate with each other which has made our relationship better and brought us closer than ever before.
Lastly, I need to say how blessed we are because without the love and support from Dr Tim, Mr. Lloyd, the Life Coaches & Brandy I don’t know where we would be today.
Thanks and God Bless.
Forever Grateful Mother
Lisa C.
“My son’s experience at Promise Village has been literally life changing!”
When he left me to go there and get help, he was an extremely angry young man that was not much fun to be around. Now, during our visits we have a great time! We laugh, crack jokes, and just hang out, without all of the arguments. The programs at Promise Village have helped Jared immensely. He has had opportunities that I wasn’t able to provide for him. He is now very active with church and learning more about God, he rides his horse, Adora, and he goes on outings with what he calls his “brothers”. The counseling sessions that are provided are not only helpful to Jared but they are very helpful to me and his sister also. The staff at Promise Village has given me and my family the opportunity to be close, to be happy…. I thank God each day that I found Promise Village and that they were able to help my family!!!
A grateful parent ~ Kellie
Dr. Tim Coldiron is the Founder and Executive Director of Promise Village. From 1987 to 2000 he was the sole owner and clinical director of the largest free-standing outpatient mental health and substance abuse clinic in Michigan. He has been working professionally with children, adolescents, and their families for more than thirty years in clinical settings, youth organizations, churches, and youth residential treatment facilities. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, a Master’s in Clinical Social Work, a B.A. in Communications, and a B.A. in Education; in addition to this, he has learned a tremendous amount from the hundreds of families with whom he has been privileged to work alongside. 
