In the world of recovery, Helping Up Mission is known as a 12-month residential Spiritual Recovery Program in a 12 Step therapeutic community. We run a year-long program that is unapologetically Biblical and focuses on the spiritual aspect of recovery. With minimal staff and resources, as a therapeutic community, we recognize that one addict can really help another and that they can very effectively hold each other accountable. Meanwhile our staff provides both overall structure and instruction.
With 400 men in residence every night, some significant event happens in the lives of somebody here daily. Those events can be positive or negative, but they are always happening. Good things include graduation from our Program, obtaining high school diplomas, getting new teeth and dental work finished, reconnecting with family members, starting a new job and closing out all legal problems. Among the bad things are family crises, men relapsing or leaving early without graduating. One or more of the above happens here every single day of the year.
I don’t suppose I will ever get over the loss I feel when we lose good guys, but neither will I ever get tired of hearing how good things for going for others. Jeff will graduate next month. He stopped me on the street this week and told me how thankful he is for what has happened in this life this year at Helping Up Mission. He was always pretty quiet in class, and I was not sure he was getting it. But this day Jeff began describing to me how his whole world has turned around during this past 11 months and how excited he is for the future. Jeff was so full of hope that I got genuinely excited just listening to him.
The Bible is very clear that God only promises us today (Proverbs 27:1). But, when you think about it, He also only asks from us one day at a time. While here, Jeff has learned to do this “one day at a time” thing. And he has been equipped to be able to do it for the rest of his life. God is good.
Sincerely,
Pastor Gary Byers
Spiritual Life Director