Good News

Faith, Purpose & Perseverance

Kickoff Ministry’s Inspiration articles are created to encourage people to improve their lives through faith in God, walking with Jesus Christ, prayer, reading, reflection, critical thinking, and the pursuit of their own goals. Through these writings, we pray that readers are inspired to continue their journey through life’s victories, struggles, accomplishments, disappointments, and moments of adversity with faith, hope, and purpose. We believe that we are all God’s children and that every step forward matters, whether an achievement seems great or small. Our hope is that these articles encourage readers to keep growing, keep believing, remain thankful for their progress, and continue seeking the purpose God has placed before them.

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Marijuana: A Memoir, Part 5

Roy Andrade
09/13/2026

Author’s Note: Some names and identifying details in this story have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. In some cases, symbolic or fictitious names are used to reflect the role a person came to represent in my life. One thing I learned later in life was the importance of taking accountability for my own actions. I think, as people, we often struggle to fully accept responsibility for the choices we make.…

Marijuana: A Memoir, Part 4

Roy Andrade
09/11/2026

Author’s Note: Some names and identifying details in this story have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. In some cases, symbolic names are used to reflect the role a person came to represent in my life. Saint Didacus required us to wear uniforms and keep our shirts tucked in while at school. We wore burgundy polo shirts with gray shorts or pants. Once a week—if I remember correctly, every Friday—we also…

Marijuana: A Memoir, Part 3

Roy Andrade
09/09/2026

One thing I never got over was the day I stood alone at my grandfather’s bedside, staring at him as he slept. It was just the two of us. The room was cold, and my best friend was dying, although at the time I had little understanding of what was actually happening. I simply wanted to be near my grandfather. He had always been a father figure in my life. His biological children had flown…

Marijuana: A Memoir, Part 2

Roy Andrade
09/03/2026

At the time, Burbank was peaceful, quiet, and enjoyable. But on March 1, 1994, my grandfather died, and the direction of my life took a wild turn. My mother, who lived in Sylmar with my father, decided that I would attend Saint Didacus, a private school in Sylmar, from sixth through eighth grade. Looking back, John Muir Middle School was literally around the corner from my grandmother and grandfather’s home. Attending school there might have…

Marijuana: A Memoir, Part 1

Roy Andrade
08/30/2026

Marijuana was a gateway drug in my life. I know that from personal experience. Without digging too far into circumstances I never questioned and never cared to examine until now, I was taken to Burbank, California, to live with my biological grandmother, Connie, and her husband, John D. Clement. John was my step-grandfather, a British American, a Purple Heart recipient, a World War II veteran, and a UCLA graduate. He was born on June 25,…