How Do You Break the Cycle of Addiction?

Last week in Huntersville, I heard a former client (I'll call him James) give his testimony for the first time. As a child growing up, his dad owned a bar. He grew up in Charleston, SC in an alcoholic household. That was the only life he knew.

As an adult, his addiction caused him to lose his job, his wife & children and his home.

James spoke of how he entered our Rebound men's program about a year ago and completed it. Now he is employed at Charlotte Rescue Mission and living a clean and sober life. Last week, he visited his brother whom he hasnt spoken with in over 3 years. His brother said he was a changed person. He told us how proud he was that his daughter was graduating high school and on the honor roll.

Colin Branch, who recently visited the mission for a tour, said that one of the more profound things we were doing here was stopping the generational cycle of addiction. I couldnt agree more and neither could James. It was truly a blessing to hear his story.

Former Dove's Nest Client

Recently, a former client of our Dove’s Nest program shared her story of the streets with our Board of Directors. When she concluded, a Board member who was so taken back by her story, looked at her and said, “Now tell me one more time, how old were you when you started drinking?” Her answer of 10 years old silenced him. More than ever, he realized the pain our clients experience before they admit their need and come to us seeking help.

I see it every day at the mission. Sometimes its easy to forget how hopeless life can seem for some people.

Colin Branch Visits Charlotte Rescue Mission

We had a special guest at the mission today. Carolina Panther Colin Branch took a tour of our facilities. He will be speaking at our banquet tomorrow in Huntersville.

Colin apparently has a real heart for ministry and the Panthers organization in general has been very generous to us at the mission. We've nearly completed construction on the outdoor pavilion for our clients which was funded by the Panthers.

Newsletter Available Online

Our latest edition of the newseltter is now available online in pdf format: 2007 January / February Beacon.

Video Now Online

Here is one of our videos.

New Windows For CRM

If you drive down West 1st St these days you may not recognize the mission. Thanks to some very generous donors, our main uptown campus recently received a much needed facelift. We have new windows which replace the old, broken glass block. This doesn't just improve the appearance of our facilities for staff and guests but more importantly, it is just one more way to improve the quality of the program for our clients.

Just how big of a difference does it make? Judge for yourself. See the before & after photos.

A Client Returns to His Family

Recently, a client told me he was about to receive his certificate for completing our program. He had gone through its rigor, facing the issues that drove him to the streets.

The other good news in this story is that his family had seen the changes in his life. They decided to invite him home to stay with them. He grabbed my hand (almost twice as large as mine) and almost crushed it. He thanked me for giving him his life back. When I mentioned the next chapter in his life, he was already prepared. He had a support system in place, ready to keep him on the “straight and narrow”. Just as important, there was more than hope in his eyes. There was a sense of confidence, that his life had taken a dramatic turn. He would never return to the life he recently left.

When people ask me what keeps me going, it’s the look of change that comes across a client’s face. It is knowing that their past does not have to determine their future. You are an integral part in making the miracle of that change possible.

Friday Friends

I have recently been involved in the leadership team of a new initiative in Charlotte called "Friday Friends".

"A study of 40 major metro areas identified Charlotte as number two for attendance at houses of worship and number thirty nine for racial trust."

In light of this, we have started "Friday Friends" which will pair up two individuals of a different race to have lunch the last Friday of every month. I'll be letting you know more details as time goes on but in the mean time, do give their website a visit and consider joining the program.

A Client on a Mission

Some time ago, I was in our dining room when a client who resides in our halfway house program greeted me. He was celebrating eleven months of being clean from drugs and alcohol. He told me the challenges of where he grew up. He shared his plans for the future. He had walked away from his past and was preparing for the next chapter of his life. He was a man who came “through the Mission”, who was now “on a mission”.

Welcome to Charlotte Rescue Mission's Blog

You can think of this blog merely as a window into the world of Charlotte Rescue Mission. If you don't know about the mission, please visit our website. This blog will keep you informed of all the news and events surrounding the premiere free addiction recovery center in the Carolinas. Thank you for being involved in our ministry as we work to defeat homelessness and addiction in Charlotte and throughout the region.

Be sure to check back often. We will update no less than once each week.