Dave G:
LUKE 12:29 “Do not seek what you shall eat and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying”
My life was defined by how I saw myself, always worrying that I was not good enough, that I was not worthy of Love from God, or anyone else for that matter. I felt that if I were a different person, more fun, outgoing, my life could be better. I would be a better person, lovable. Turning to drugs and alcohol changed my perception of who I was and where I thought I was going. It took me away from facing the real me and my true desires. Fear and shame began to fuel my addiction as I knew I was living a lie, not just to myself but to all I truly cared for.
Becoming honest about who I am and giving myself the forgiveness that God has already given me seemed like an insurmountable task. Impact Ministries gave me a safe place to do that. I learned how to incorporate the twelve steps into my life and other such basic living skills such as working, saving money, being responsible for my own mistakes, and learning from them. Impact has given me hope and an opportunity to dream and reach for goals I would have never thought possible. I am forever grateful to all that have made Impact a part of my life and the choice to let God heal me. Self discovery isn’t always pretty, but even I like to look in the mirror once in a while. Start making good choices and let God bless you for them, it’s an investment that never fails.
Love to all, Dave G.
Andy M:
Hi, my name is Andy, and I would like to share with you my experience with Impact Ministries! I participated in the program offered here, and as a result, my life has been restored! You see, by placing myself under the spiritual leadership in people such as Pastor Steve Olson, I grew more than I ever thought I could! I recognized that GOD is working in and through the staff members here and got on board with what HE had planned for me! Seeing the amazing hearts GOD has placed in these people gave me hope, hope for an amazing heart of my own!
An amazing heart of my own was the goal, and that sure took some work. I had spent my youth growing up in a dysfunctional family ridden with addiction. I watched my parents die alcoholic deaths and went on to create a dysfunctional alcoholic and drug addicted life of my own. My life was empty, hollow, and heading for certain death. I spent some time trying to run from it, or rather toward something else. I just didn’t know what I was searching for. I found myself looking everywhere from a trailer park in South Carolina, to the rough homeless streets of California! I kept landing myself in medical detoxes for alcohol withdrawals and numerous secular treatment programs for addictions hoping to find some hope there. But even then, there seemed to be something missing in my life.
However, when I entered the doors of Impact, I could tell there was something different about this place. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at first, but I came to find out just how much the Holy Spirit was at work within these walls. Impact operates with GOD’S love and grace as its core. It incorporates the 12 step model of recovery as it was pulled directly out of the bible and addresses the cognitive approach to recovery by challenging the thought process which had kept me sick for so long. I see it like this: the clinical aspect helped me identify the issues, and the spiritual aspect(GOD) helped me deal with them and let them go!
I’ve learned how to live again, and with an amazing heart full of love. I went from a knocked down addict/alcoholic with nothing to live for, to a full time college student with a job and goals. I’ve found direction and purpose in my life! ALL GLORY TO GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jerry:
My stay at Impact was life changing and I do not know where I would be without it. I had been through several treatment programs, and had never found what was missing when alcohol and pot was removed from my life. I came to Impact a broken person. Suicidal and in a poisonous relationship I was at a loss for a solution.
It all started to change upon meeting Pastor Steve and entering the program. With church, reading the Bible, the meetings, and all the help from the staff what seemed impossible became reality. Turning my life over to God everything changed. With Pastor Steve mentoring me and becoming a true friend my life changed like I could never dream of.
Beyond the 12 steps and stop using alcohol and pot I was given the building blocks for a happy and full life, with God and prayer showing me the way. I cannot say thank you enough to Pastor Steve, the staff and Living Word Chapel.