This week, Dr. David Allen, an international expert in addiction and recovery visited us at Helping Up Mission. His professional credentials include an M.D. from St. Andrews University Medical School in Scotland and a M.P.H. from Harvard Medical School.
In addition, Dr. Allen was mentored in theology by Dr. Francis Schaeffer at L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland, in psychiatry and spirituality by Fr. Henri Nouwen at Yale Divinity School, and in contemplative psychology by Dr. Gerald May at the Shalem Institute, Washington, DC.
Helping Up Mission was recommended to him by an associate who said it was a place that practices the kind of holistic, integrated, spiritual approach to recovery that he espouses. So Dr. Allen flew here from his native Bahamas, where he directs the Renascence Institute International on Nassau Island.
Dr. Allen toured our campus, had a couple of meals and strategy sessions with HUM directors and taught a couple of my classes. When he left he said we were doing the kinds of things that he practices and teaches, even proposing some collaboration in the future.
This visit was exciting and affirming to our staff here at HUM. We have tried to follow God’s leading in what we are doing and felt encouraged to continue developing our model.
Admittedly, we don’t do anything as well as we could and there are many more things that we should do. But we, and the men we serve, feel like we are doing the right things. We also look forward to doing even better in the future.
Always and Only, One Day at a Time,
Pastor Gary Byers
Deputy Director