RESPONDING TO THE CALL

Couple finds multiple blessings as Lifeline volunteers

Gary Cardin hadn’t even retired yet, when he found God’s direction for the next phase of life – as a Lifeline volunteer.

“I was seeking God’s leadership in finding a ministry in which I could serve,” he said. “Although I had not shared this with anyone, God used a friend to steer me to Lifeline. I had virtually no knowledge of Lifeline.”

Five years ago, Gary’s fellow Sunday School friend from East Baptist Church, Bob Hill, asked if he’d considered getting involved at Lifeline, where Bob serves on the board.

“There was a need for someone to teach an early morning chapel class (which) fit my work schedule perfectly,” Gary said. “I felt confident God had led me to the place He wanted me to serve.”

Gary has since retired from his banking career and continued his weekly service at Lifeline. So has his wife, Brenda, a teacher in the women’s second-phase “Walk of Repentance” class. They also are regular donors.

Neither had any personal knowledge or experience with addiction. “I do have close friends who have children suffering from substance addiction,” Gary said. “I have witnessed them deal with the heartache in seeing their child’s life wrecked.”

Brenda has seen the same. “I saw what they went through,” Brenda said. “I’ve learned that addiction can attack anyone. It doesn’t matter how rich you are or if you grew up in a Christian home.”

Gary said he met a Lifeline client in his first class who had been a manager for a successful restaurant chain, moving here to open a new restaurant.

“Somewhere in the process, he became addicted (which) led to jail, loss of employment and numerous other problems.”

Seeing his recovery, and that of many clients since then, has affirmed Gary’s belief in Lifeline’s faith based model. “I have found it to be a place where Christ is magnified and lives are changed,” he said, “and the impact on the clients is multiplied when considering the impact on the lives of their families.”

Brenda said volunteering at Lifeline has had a significant impact on her own life: “I fall in love with these ladies,” she said. “Just knowing that maybe a word I say or a smile they see from me will help them recover and live a life that God intended … is a blessing every time I go.”

Both are grateful to be a part of the ministry. “I thank God for allowing me to be a part of Lifeline,” Brenda said. “My goal is to love on these ladies and help them be the ladies God intended them to be. I look forward to going every week to listen to them about their week, good or bad, and hear how God is working in their lives and in their families’ lives. I just want them to know that someone really cares about them, and that I pray for them every day.”