Orlando, FL - Today in federal court, Liberty Counsel will go to trial on behalf of Men of Destiny Ministries, against Osceola County to protect the ministry from being shut down by the County. A trial will be held before Judge Gregory Presnell beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Men of Destiny Ministries (MDM) is a Christian ministry that provides healing and regeneration to men who have chemical addictions to drugs and alcohol. Their 'Regeneration Program' consists of discipling men by introducing them to Jesus Christ and helping them gain freedom from addiction in order to become productive members of society. The men in this Christian discipleship ministry do not use drugs. They have come to a point in their lives where they really want to change. For many, secular programs have not yielded success. The men work during the day and have Christian discipleship meetings in the evenings Monday through Friday. During these meetings, Pastor George Shafter leads the men in prayer, teaches them about Jesus Christ, and instructs them on overcoming addictive and dependent behavior.

Osceola County attempted to shut down the 6,300 square foot home where the fourteen men are currently residing due to an obvious so-called "NIMBY" (not in my back yard) syndrome. The County's professional zoning staff recommended approving Men of Destiny Ministries, but then politics and political pressure from some neighbors influenced the elected officials to vote against the ministry because of preconceived stereotypes, and the County ordered MDM to shut down in 45 days. The County ordered the ministry to cease operations in May, but that effort was halted after Liberty Counsel filed for emergency injunction against the County. The three-day expedited trial begins today.

Anita L Staver, President of Liberty Counsel, said, "Men of Destiny Ministries transforms lives and mends broken families destroyed by drugs and alcohol. It is important for the success of the program that it be Christ-centered and residential. Osceola County has a choice - modify your stereotypes of recovering addicts and open your heart to this ministry, or lock your doors and open your jails. We will now let the courts decide. We feel confident that justice will prevail and that this Christian ministry will be able to continue mending broken lives and making productive citizens out of men whose future was once controlled by an evil addiction."