Church Buzz

Try to imagine yourself hopelessly addicted to drugs, alcohol or both.

You’ve lost your job and place to live.

Your family and friends have given up on you.

Living on the street is worse than you ever imagined.

It’s a nightmare that will not end.

What do you do ? Where do you turn?

Sadly, many of us here are in that situation or know someone who is.

A ray of hope for some of them is Reconciliation Ministries, a local rehabilitation program. They are in vacant office space at Columbia First Church of the Nazarine in the St. Andrews area.

Executive Director Ashley Miller explained to me that it is a highly structured residential recovery and discipleship program. It was founded on biblical principles. And it’s for men and women seeking substance abuse treatment.

Students enter the program at the first stage, called the Reconciliation Track, a self-paced learning process that takes 9-15 months. It consists of 5 contracts of Bible curriculum, character qualities, leadership development classes and work and life skills training.

After that, residents move into the Re-entry Track to successfully help them live independently.

They can get a job off site or work within the ministry while living there.

Reconciliation Ministries has acquired 2 triplexes and a quadplex apartment building where participants can live during rehab.

They also have a house for up to 7 women.

Last year a large tree fell on the house in a storm. What seemed like a tragedy became a blessing as insurance and donations have helped them expand the house for more women.

They will be starting a fund-raising campaign so that the ministry can expand even more. Visit www.reconconciliation-min.org or call 803-727-4697 for more information.

Do you have a ministry that you want to talk about? Contact me by phone at 803-348-0243 or email at Chuck.lexchron@gmail.com .