This isn't a new problem, free will and poor choices have been around since man was created. The story of Adam and Eve chronicles the fall of man (Genesis3) . The story of their trials and tribulations, their God given free will and bad life choices led to lives that must have included shame and guilt, parents probably blaming each other for their poor choices, all the symptoms of what we know today as family dysfunction. We do know with certainty, the end result was violence and murder in their childrens lives. For reasons we will know later, God allowed this example to happen in the beginning of creation so that all of mankind could use this as an illustration of how free will and the choices we make affect our lives and our standing with God. Thsi also shows how our personal choices and actions have consequences and how they can affect not only us but those who are close to us. It seems what was in the beginning, is still the same today....free will and consquences for all our actions, negative or positive.
If you can't stop using drugs in spite of your best intentions, know you are not alone and I strongly suggest you click on the "scripture and question" page....whether you are from a Christian background or whether you have grown up not believing in God, I am asking you to give yourself a break and check this out. I came from an atheist home and my father taught me that there was no God...but feeling so hopeless and helpless, I had to reach out to something that had more power than me because I was so totally powerless over the drugs...not long after I became a Christian I found out that a man named Saul, who after his conversion changed his name to Paul, not only changed his name and ways after an encounter with God, he became a warrior for Christ, as opposed to a warrior against Christ and he did amazing works for His kingdom, one being writing almost 3/4 of the New Testament of the Bible. While you might not realize it now, God has a plan for you, not the same as Pauls or anyone elses but perfect for you....what is so needed in the world today is for us who suffered from addiction to rise above the self centered nature of our being and get well and then reach out our hand to help others get well.
Today we live an increasibly fast paced world where instant gratification has become the norm rather than the exception, and negative life choices, family dysfunction etc. continue to affect us in the same traditional ways that they have since the creation of mankind. But we are now seeing an increasing manifestation and complexity of these problems that is leading to an explosive rise in addiction, homelessness, violence and crime in our communities. Addicts can and do recover but first they must decide to become survivors and victors over the fall created by the bad choices chronicled in Genesis 3. They must rise up for the glory of God, do the required work on themselves and discard, what is in most cases a pre-conceived victim status mentality. This victim status is always accompanied by low self esteem/self worth and drugs are the best tool that satan has in his arsenal to make one feel instantly better about how they feel about life. The only solution is to replace the temporary and false feeling of well being created by drug use, which most often leads to addiction, with an everlasting authentic and eternal feeling of Gods love and closeness which always fosters renewed self worth and self esteem.
Our mission is to bring awareness of the love of Christ to those suffering from addictions/homelessness and to encourage them seek the Lord as they start the healing journey which is necessary to repair and restore their damaged souls so they may find their true life purpose, through Eternal solutions supported by a loving God. We offer them encouragement and support through the process of re-setting their moral compass while at the same time they deal with the wreckage of their past and make amends and restore relationships where possible.
We also offer proven and time tested, God inspired employment training and lifeskills which are necessary to assist the broken and vulnerable as they strive to become responsible and productive members of the community.
Those who suffer from the brokeness and addiction are children of God and He loves them deeply. The emotional scars they carry and the way they have adapted their lives to deal with these wounds is simply their best attempt at navigating their way through life while attempting to escape their personal pain through drugs and other negative behaviors.
Addicts are His treasures in damaged earthen vessels, looked upon by many as a burden to society when, in fact, they have the capacity to become valuable members of their community, with great purpose. We seek to equip them to reach others who are addicted and to bring them also to a life centered on eternal solutions through a loving God. Those who have suffered from the pain of addiction are often the best suited to reach out and inspire others in a similar situation as they seek to make positive and lasting, life changes
Many of us know, first hand, the powerlessness of being in the grip of addiction, the downward, progressive and out of control lifestyle and the never ending cycle of hurting oursleves and others. It seems we are doomed, in spite of our best intentions, we keep causing more damage and pain.
But we also know the power of a loving and mighty God, who is always there for support, even in our darkest hours, we just have to call upon Him.
Romans 7:24 Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God- through Jesus Christ our lord
Many of us come to Christ not comprehending how we had become so jaded, so full of hurt and so disconnected from our spirit through a life of using drugs and abuse of ourselves and others. We can't understand that why, even though we have the best of intentions and try so hard to do what is right that we are so easily seduced back into the trap of Satan/addiction.
Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do, for what I want to do, I do not, but what I hate, I do.
Our hope and prayer is that the love of Christ may be shown to those suffering from addictions and our efforts may be used as a conduit for His grace and compassion, pure love in its simplest form. We pray that those who reach up for His mighty hand will allow our loving God to embrace their lives and that they may walk closely with Him as they become the new creation He wants them to be.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.
We believe that the therapeutic value of a former addict, now living a solid life in Christ, reaching out and offering a hand up to a still suffering addict is without parallel. Our hope is that many of those who break the chains of addiction and are changed through Christ will rise up and be ambassadors to help others who suffer from addictions and give hope to those who feel no hope for the future
2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christs ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.
