Destiny International Ministries recently held their first "End of The Summer Picnic" to celebrate the first year in their new home, the former Lemington Elementary School.

Destiny bought the school from the Board of Education last year and has since renamed the school, now known as "The Pittsburgh Dream Center," and also the home of Destiny International Ministries and Destiny School of Theology & Leadership. In the near future, the Dream Center will also include Destiny Christian Academy, Pittsburgh's first all-boys leadership academy servicing primarily inner-city, minority children (grades pre-K-fifth).

PROUD DAY-From left: Jackie Dixon, pastors Michael and Donna Smith, Tom O'Brien and Kathleen Carson smile for the camera.

The picnic was a great success and was attended by many, including Giant Eagle's Government Relations, Jackie Dixon; City Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess; former PNCBank CEO Tom O'Brien; Bill Neal of Champions Enterprise Inc. and the United Rays Corvette Club. There was an abundance of food, camaraderie and spiritual welcome, and all that attended said they look forward to next year's picnic.

Senior Pastor Michael Smith and his wife, Assistant Pastor Donna Smith, are the co-founders of the eight-year-old ministry and have plans to add a day care, Head Start, and after-school programs to the facility.

(For more information on The Pittsburgh Dream Center, call 412-362-5492 or visit the website: destinyinternational.info.)