Shown is the Fernandez family. From left are Hector Fernandez, grandson Deacon Cheeseman and Debbie Fernandez. Photo provided by Debbie Fernandez.

By Wendy Melton
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER – Hector and Debbie Fernandez are two people who are on a mission. Little did they know when they moved to Fulton County in 1981 the impact they would one day have on their new community.

They came to Rochester while they were both teenagers. They started their lives together without much of a support system. That has all changed. Today, they volunteer for four ministries, helping others find a brighter path.

During the first few years of their life together, addiction began to play a role.

“We were both in addiction until 2010. We found Christ. We were both addicted to methamphetamines, crack cocaine, and anything we could get our hands on. We weren’t crazy about heroin, though. We had our home foreclosed on, lost our cars, went seven years without NIPSCO. Our teenagers, two in middle school and two in high school, had to pretty much fend for themselves. It was sad, but in 2010 we got sober,” Debbie Fernandez said.

“Hector tore his shoulder at his job where he had worked for 30 years. He tore it so bad he had to have two shoulder replacements and they fired him so he went to real estate school. We were going to sue, but we realized that wasn’t what God wants us to do because we had been saved. This happened in 2013 and we had been sober since 2010.

“We thought real estate school was good because Hector was so personable, but then after he graduated, God said, ‘No, you’re going to work for free.’ That’s why we volunteer with these ministries.”

Debbie Fernandez said, “God has taken amazing care of us. We put in anywhere from 50 to 70 hours a week. Anyone can do this.”

The couple was recently named Citizens of the Year by Rochester Mayor Trent Odell for just this reason. Their commitment to those in need did not go unnoticed.

Odell said, “I’ve seen what they’ve done with their Celebrate Recovery and the JCAP program at the jail, bringing in so many of the community to help with the programs and help the people get restarted in life.”

Debbie Fernandez explained, “We do two ministries in the jail, the Jail Chemical Addiction Program and we do Celebrate Recovery Inside for both men and women. We absolutely love it.”

They adapted their program from AA. “We just added Biblical principles. We’ve seen a lot of success through that. Then we do Celebrate Recovery on Mondays, which is amazing. It isn’t just people with addictions. It’s people with any type of hurt, habit or hang up.

“We also do Youth Group which is a mixture of Celebrate Recovery one week and the next week we will do a Biblical lesson. They need to learn to navigate through their hurts, habits and hang-ups like adults. We’ve been doing this for eight years.”

In addition to those ministries, the couple has served as coordinators for the local Road to Recovery program for the last five years.

The Fernandezes know first hand what it’s like to struggle.

“We’ve been there. It’s important to have people. When we were in our addiction, we were functioning addicts. We didn’t tell anyone. No one was there to hold our hands. We found God and he was there, but it’s important that people know this is just a speed bump in your journey. It’s not your destination,” said Debbie Fernandez.

Although Hector and Debbie do not seek the spotlight, the beacon of hope they offer draws in those who need them the most.

Despite Hector Fernandez’s recent ALS diagnose, the couple has no plans to slow down. Even with the new challenges they face, their commitment to others remains as strong as ever. They will continue with their volunteer work and look forward to sharing their “attitude of gratitude” with the many people they serve.