Alumni / David Moran: Class of 2017
written by Gregg Moran, David's father
David epitomizes God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11 “'For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’”
When David was growing up, his mother and I wondered about this promise as we dealt with a school suspension due to his inappropriate choice when dealing with a bully. Again, we questioned God’s promise while sitting across from teachers who said, “David doesn’t need a diploma. He will never go to college. Let him accept a Certificate of Completion.”
The final doubt in God’s promise occurred during a post-job training meeting while the “experts” looked us in the eye and declared “David is unemployable.”
While at my computer, I cried out to the Lord about my nineteen-year-old son sitting at home with no plans to prosper, no plans for a hope and a future, only the prospect of harm and decay. The Shepherds College web page popped up on the screen. I read with tears in my eyes about young adults with mental and physical challenges thriving in a faith-based community. Later, one of my high school students invited us to a fundraising presentation at her church where we met a representative for Shepherds College. My wife, son, and I hurried home and sent an email to Shepherds College asking for more information.
David barely contained his excitement during a Shepherds College Preview Day. He asked permission to attend a summer camp called College for a Week where he told us in a phone call, “God told me I was going here.”
My wife and I responded, “Well, He better tell us.” Sadly, we had already decided that we could not pay for David’s schooling based only on my teacher’s salary, and applying for aid was out of the question since David didn’t have a diploma.
God found a way to prosper David and not to harm him. He also created a way to give David hope and a future. David attended Shepherds College and graduated with a certificate in Culinary Arts. Today, David works in a senior care center where he practices the interpersonal skills he learned at Shepherds College. A new facility manager decided she was uncomfortable working with an intellectually disabled individual. She now calls David to fill in shifts because he showed her God’s love and a strong work attitude instilled by the staff at Shepherds.
David is protected from harm because he lives in a secure apartment complex filled with retirees and other individuals like him. The joy he demonstrates in keeping his apartment the way he likes it is much different than the countenance exhibited living in our basement. David also increased his mobility by learning to drive a car after graduating from Shepherds.
David’s future is bright because he attended Shepherds College, learned to drive a car, live independently, and rejoice with the help of a short Scripture verse found in Jeremiah 29:11.
