OCTOBER 2021 | VOL. 26 NO. 1
ALLOWING GOD TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW
C
olin woke up in a local hospital to hear a counselor tell him he was lucky to be alive after his drinking binge. When the hospital was ready to release him, Ron, a longtime friend and graduate of the Mission’s Life Transformation Recovery program, picked him up and took him to the Mission. Colin was interviewed and was accepted into the recovery program immediately, but it didn’t stick. He left the program after a short period of time, and life seemed to turn around for him. He was attending church and had a great job, but one night he decided to drink. That first drink turned into a 30-day bender. Still smelling of alcohol, he visited a pastor who lived next door, and they talked and prayed. That was when Colin knew exactly what he needed to do, return to the Mission. When he showed up at the Mission, Colin said he was “more prepared.” He brought his Bible, recovery books, and a bicycle. He was accepted back into the program, and within a week, he realized he wanted to be 100% committed to the program. Colin recalled what Pastor Dick said the first time Colin was in the program, “You’re either all in or not; there’s no one on the fence.” Colin decided to turn his will over to God completely. During his recovery time at the Mission, Colin has been involved in classes in discipleship with Pastor Tim, personal disciplines with Jodi, the Program Director, and Pastor Greg’s 12-week study on James. Colin is so thankful for the wisdom and teaching he is receiving. He is also getting closer with the other men in the program, “Johnny, Kalob, and I have become super good friends. We are all in the same spot growing together. We are like the three strands in Ecclesiastes 4:12.” “I have been reading James 1:19-21 ‘My dear brothers, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you.’ When I read the part about ‘getting rid of all moral filth and evil,’ that really spoke to me – it was about me. I needed to put aside the old me and allow God to create something new; a better version of me through the power of the Holy Spirit.” The three men going through the program are excited about the changes that God is making in their lives. Doing daily reading of the scriptures, attending church, serving/ working at the Mission, and prayer are not chores but opportunities to grow closer to God. They all work in the kitchen together. Colin reflected, “With any job, there is repetition, and it’s easy to lose sight of why you go to work, but time spent side by side with these guys reminds me how good we have it at the Mission. We are serving God and helping people less fortunate. Every once in a while, you see that glimmer of hope in someone you have just served, and they are so appreciative.”
BE THE
ONE
As I spend time talking with donors and volunteers, I have an opportunity to learn how they became a member of our Mission family. I asked one donor their story, and they shared with me the importance of never giving up on people who come through the door because one day, may be the day their life changes for good.
“Before I retired, I worked as an alcohol and drug counselor for many years. One time, a group of us talked, and we asked ourselves how we each became successful in our recoveries while many others failed? We wondered if there was something key that we all shared that made the difference. We discovered that each of us had in our lives a person who, we knew, was not going to give up on us, no matter what. No matter failures, disap-
pointments, relapses, no matter what. Knowing that many of the people we worked with might not have that person in their lives, our challenge became to ‘Be the One.’ To be the one that, no matter what, was not going to give up on that person struggling towards recovery. I will ‘Be the One.’ No matter what!” ~ Karen Robbins, Community Relations
OLYMPIA UNION GOSPEL MISSION | PO BOX 7668 OLYMPIA WA 98507 | 360.709.9725 | OUGM.ORG | FACEBOOK