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Growing in my Relationship with Christ

My name is Bridgette Clowers. I started using drugs at an early age. By the time I was seventeen, I had my first baby. At eighteen, I lost custody of my child to my mother. Then I started using meth. A few years passed and I had two more babies. I also lost custody of them because of my drug use.

Now I’m 30 and I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission on August 2, 2011 to change my life. I have been saved and I have let God into my heart. My relationship with Christ seems to grow more and more every day.

When I first arrived, there was no hope of seeing my girls. After two months, we contacted the adoptive parents and asked if I could see them upon completion of the program. At Christmas I had been here four months and God blessed me. I got to go home for Christmas to see all three of my children. It made my holiday happier. I’m happier now than I have ever been. I have truly been blessed by God!

Never Give Up

Luke 13:34 :”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing”. [Jesus]

Being a chaplain at any mission can, at times, be discouraging. We see lives shattered and shackled by substance abuse. Many times we pray over and plead with hundreds to join our one year program so they can get their life straight and be set free from bondage. All too often, we hear “no thanks”.
Recently, a particular homeless person who has frequented the mission for over two years returned as an overnight guest. I can remember several stories about his drunken escapades. Many times I have prayed for this gentleman. Many times I talked with him about his life and for him to possibly join our recovery program, to no avail.

Many times a person gets weary in witnessing to the same person. It’s easy to write people off after a few times. However, recent polls show a person must be witnessed to at least seven times before accepting the truth of God. It is never too late.

I must admit I was dragging my feet this time; however, God wasn’t dragging His. This gentleman entered my office and said he was tired of the life he has been living; however, he couldn’t change on his own and wanted to join our program. Wow, I was taken back.

Never give up on witnessing; it’s never, ever too late. This gentleman is now in our program learning to trust God and is changing his life away from the bondage that controlled him.

Jesus tells us a parable of two sons in Matthew 21:28-32. First, the man in our program said “no” like the man in the parable but then he did what the father asked of him.

Thank you for your support that made this happen.

Chaplain Clyde Thompson

This month marks the beginning of a new, improved recovery program. Along with the newly revised program, many rules have also changed for these individuals. To help explain these updates, I have sat down with our Sr. Director of Men’s Ministry, Dr. Kerry Walker and Sr. Director of Women and Children, Cara Henderson.

CB: How has the recovery program changed in 2012?
KW: We have condensed our class schedule to hold classes five days per week instead of two days with a goal of completing the program in a one year period.

CB: What new classes are we teaching?
CH: We are so excited about the new classes we are introducing this year! We have added “Understanding Addiction”, “Basic Christianity”, two life skill classes as well as a life application class about moral excellence based on Biblical precepts and principals.

CB: How will the revised program better help those dealing with addictions?
KW: First, they will have more time spent in classes and in study. This will overcome some of the extended down time our residents experience. Second, we are trying to remove obstacles we have identified which have been causing some of our residents to relapse. The goal is to have a much higher success rate for all our clients.

CB: What rule changes have been made for residents?
CH: We have shortened the recovery program to one year. Our residents will no longer be able to have cell phones (phone rooms are provided on campus to keep contact with family). Our residents’ time off campus will be limited with more family visitation time on campus. We have also made outside work or school an option only after graduating from our yearly program. We are adding a new transitional program to help residents after their year of study. All of the new rules are designed to help those in our program keep a better focus on their recovery while growing in their relationship with Christ.

CB: Who will be teaching the new classes?
KW: We use primarily our staff to teach our discipleship classes, but we have used specialist volunteers to teach things like financial skills and resume’ writing.

CB: In years past, the mothers staying with us have not had much of a program. What are we doing with them now?
CH: Because resources are so saturated and they are not transitioning as quickly as in the past, we want to better equip our moms with the life changing Word of God, parenting classes, life skills such as finances, resumes, etc. We are also looking to add nutrition and fitness classes.

Following Christ to a Life of Freedom

My name is Donald Jones. I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission seven months ago looking for help in getting my life back together. I had broken a twelve year sobriety after losing a good friend that I had taken care of for five years. He was very sick and needed attention 24/7. I tried other rehabilitation centers but they weren’t doing anything for me. I needed a good Christian recovery center. That is why I came to the Downtown Rescue Mission. There is a lot of Christianity here. They provide for each of my needs, even taking me to the free clinic when I need to go.

Since being in the Rescue Mission’s classes, I have learned how to cope with life. There are some really great people who care. Our men’s ministry directors have really helped a lot. I have learned about having a better and closer relationship with God. I really appreciate all that the staff has done for me. They are a true blessing!

I love these two Bible verses. Apostle John wrote in Revelation 22:14, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” John also wrote in his gospel, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Donald Jones

Hi! Shalon is my name and Jesus is my game! Now, one year ago, it wasn’t. I was using meth very heavily and had been for years. I lost everything to my addiction: my marriage, children, dignity and faith in the Lord. Since being at the DRM, I have been clean one year, regained visitation of my five year old son Ethyn, and most importantly, regained my faith! God is good all the time; all the time God is good! I thank my director for having faith in me and my sisters in Christ. Most of all, thank you, Jesus!

Shalon

The Downtown Rescue Mission saved us. Before here, I felt completely lost and now I feel as though I’ve been given another chance from our Lord. Due to our Bible studies and Chapel services for times weekly, I feel as we have grown more spiritually and are walking closer to God. Dedicated volunteer tutors have helped my daughter with her academics and has helped her love of learning grow. The Downtown Rescue Mission has added a new class to learn valuable parenting skills. Lisa Young (Asst. Dir. of Women and Children) helps and provides for our kids as if they were her own! I thank the Downtown Rescue Mission for opening their doors for us with kindness and compassion.

Rainda Ruth

Since returning, I’m learning to cope with life once again sober. Putting God first in my life, He gives me the strength to live again. He is restoring my relationship my loved ones so I can be the brother and uncle to the ones I love. In Philippians 4:9, Paul wrote, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Thank you to the directors and staff who have been there for me. They have shown me there is a purpose for life. I also would like to give a special thanks to Mike, friend and DRM staff member, who has been there during my ups and downs since we met in 2004. Thank you Lord and DRM.

George Ballard

Father, give me the words to tell a testimony of Jesus Christ in my life. How even in a world of darkness, addiction and “the life” supporting my addiction, Jesus was my Protector.

The night I cried out the Name of Jesus from my very soul to save me from a man, whose intent was to take my life, I saw the power in the Name of Jesus. That night the man thought I was alone, and before calling Jesus’ Name, so did I. I had no contact with my family and really no one would have missed me. I had lost my husband to prison. I was alone, a lost addict. The man came at me enraged, arms raised, weapon in his hands. It was then I called out the Name of Jesus and in my heart I began to pray the Lord’s Prayer. It was as if the man froze. He stopped and stood, eyes still enraged with intent, arms still raised, weapon still in hand, but he just froze there – breathing heavily. I began to slowly fall out toward the door; I never took my eyes off Jesus, praying the Lord’s Prayer in my heart. The man continued to stand still, held back by the Name of Jesus. I was amazed at what was happening. I knew then I was not alone when I saw what happened in an instant at the Name of Jesus. He saved my life – to save my soul.

Another Plan for my Life

Many times in my life of addiction, I found myself in dangerous situations. Now I know the enemy’s plan is to kill and destroy (John 10:10), but God is in control – and He had another plan for my life. God sent a warrior into the streets and alleys of Birmingham and one day she approached me to pray. I wasn’t saved that day but Rita kept showing up to pray. One day she came to the park. She heard that she needed to find me and get me off the street. The word, again, was I had trouble. By the grace of God, she found me – we prayed and that day she brought me out of Birmingham to Huntsville to the Downtown Rescue Mission. I thank God for His answer to the first prayer Rita and I prayed on the square in Birmingham – to place me in DRM, a place off the street, a place of love, compassion, strength and direction. Since coming here, I have fallen in love with my Protector, Jesus Christ, and living a life of forgiveness and salvation.

I love my DRM family, our leaders, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and the message that has been put on my heart here – the world looks at the outward appearance, Ally, but God sees the inside, my heart, the heart of a warrior for Christ. Praise God! I’m in the 3rd step of the program, making peace with my past through the love of Christ and my days are blessed, spent in the Agape Shoppe, seeing God meet people’s needs everyday and sharing the love of Jesus. And He’s not through with me yet – He will complete the good work He began in me until the return of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). I press on by the grace of God to walk in love (1 Corinthians 1:8); covered by His promise of protection (Psalm 91); standing firm in all of God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-24); knowing the truth (Proverbs 15:33; 22:4).

My name is Kevin McAnnally. Everyone here at DRM calls me Butters. I grew up in the small town of Cleveland and I have great parents and a brother. They have always been there for me. I thought I had everything I needed in life but I really did not. I started hanging around the wrong people and doing drugs. I seen how much money I could make selling them and I thought I was on top of the world. Then one day it came to a sudden stop. I went to jail and that was when I woke up and said no more. I started praying about it every day. I got out of jail and started going to church and got saved.

I came to DRM looking for help and they gave me the hope I was looking for. They teach you everything about life and how to live again. If you want to do something bad enough, you can do it. They trusted me enough to put me in security and I’m doing great. I keep the DRM safe and sound. I want to thank them for giving me hope and believing in me. They have made a new person out of me, wanting to look more and more like Jesus each day. I have a lovely wife named Karen. She has been here with me and for me the whole time I’ve been here. I am going to miss everyone when I go home for good but I won’t forget all of you at DRM. Thanks for helping me get my life back on track.

In the Lord’s Hands

Holding a sign on an off-ramp in Atlanta, stating that I was “homeless and in need of any blessing” was not exactly what I thought I would be doing at 50 years of age. I didn’t think either that I would have been brutally raped, beaten, robbed and living in constant fear. Yet, I succumbed to it every day. Day after day for a couple of years I was drinking to find some more empty courage.

I prayed all the time, being brought up Catholic in a very religious home and having attended twelve years of parochial school. I truly thought I knew the Lord. Ah! How I was wrong! Darkness was not just for nighttime, it was with me all day. Wallowing in self pity, I drank more thinking it would ease the pain of my despair. Wrong again!

One day a very precious, beautiful young woman named Mary opened her car window to ask me to meet her a block away to have lunch with her at Subway. I did – and so began the most glorious, awe-inspiring, divine intervention I ever thought was possible. I knew God the Father, His precious Son, Jesus Christ, and His dear Holy Spirit had designed this plan just for me. Every prayer that I had thought had gone unanswered, every possible prayer I could have in the future was truly in the Lord’s hands. I just knew because I knew this truly Jesus-anointed woman was handing me the key to a world filled with joy and peace and all the things bright, beautiful and right, which could have only been from the Lord!

Guided by the Holy Spirit

She told me how the Holy Spirit had talked to her and guided her with His strength and wisdom. It could not have been easy for her. I was frightened, disbelieving and trapped in a dark hole that had become so familiar it was my comfort zone. Living under a bridge and then in the woods next to the railroad tracks was my home. I was diagnosed legally blind and had lost my front teeth when I was attacked. Too locked and lost in darkness, I feared that if I turned to my precious son, sister or brothers who I loved very much they would be so embarrassed of me. Relentlessly, Mary chipped away at the walls I had surrounded myself with. The Holy Spirit guiding her, she helped bring me to a life with Jesus. She called her mother Cathy, who drove several times from Huntsville to Atlanta, to help chip away some more.

She had looked up a mission, a true haven, she had heard about online – the Downtown Rescue Mission. Here I am almost seven months later. Together with our very devoted, insightful and compassionate women’s director and Cathy’s very special friend, I am surrounded by warriors of God who I will never let out of my life. They found a dentist who wanted to do something for Jesus and he gave me my smile back for nothing in return. They found an eye surgeon who, again, wanted to do something for the Lord and he operated on my eyes out of the kindness of his heart and love for Christ. I could see!

With my self-esteem returning, I got up my courage and wrote my son. I was answered a week later with his beautiful words saying how much he loved me and how grateful he was to God for bringing me back to him. As if this wasn’t enough, Cathy and Kim introduced me to their families and friends who are all true warriors in Christ. Now, the only true longing, desire and necessity I need in my life is the love of Jesus and how to share Him with others. If home is where your heart is, I have found it here surrounded by the love of Jesus at the Downtown Rescue Mission, my son and my family back in my life, my true sisters in Christ, a great job working in their Agape Shoppe and a beautiful garden to tend every day. We are all traveling this truly anointed road together!

Glory be to God!
Patti Moody