Arise and walk…

How faith based addiction recovery programs at Wayside Cross’s Master’s Touch long-term recovery shelter help individuals overcome addiction, homelessness and prison.

It seemed like tragedy followed Matt wherever he went. “There’s no way I should still be alive.”

At 58 years of age, PTS and a series of workplace-related accidents left him crushed, with only one leg. Together, these handicaps limited the ability to work. Eventually, his 15-year marriage and relationship with his children collapsed.

Separated from the life he knew, and the people he loved, Matt did what most people in his situation might do, he turned to alcohol.

Before the accidents, he was a trusted and well-thought-of crew leader for a large moving firm. Some of Matt’s clientele even included a Supreme Court Justice during his travels across the country. He was known as a hard worker with natural leadership abilities. In his broken state, Matt allowed the alcohol to consume him.

But faith, like his former life, were the furthest from his mind. Yet somehow, a small voice began to speak to him that it was time for a change. He checked himself into a 30-day recovery program. Eventually, he found himself back in the same spot —in jail or back in rehab.

For the first time, he prayed for a change.

That’s when he heard about the faith based addiction recovery programs at Wayside Cross Ministries Master’s Touch program. He had already tried everything, why not try God?

“Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ~ John 5:8

Here, he found a safe place to recover and heal. Our 6-month recovery program led to phase-3, one of our 12-to-18 month resident extensions.

Now, Matt is a resident assistant. He guides and encourages others to experience the kind of peace that surpasses all understanding he found. Matt does it by simply encouraging other residents to grant themselves time to heal.

He also gives back in our Hope Outreach work program. Matt coordinates deliveries and pick-ups for our thrift shops, driving one of our trucks, and teaching men the proper way to move and transport furniture donations. Watching these donations move from our warehouse to the thrift shops and back into people’s homes, he knows behind it all: are people praying for and believing in second chances for people just like him.

It seems he found a good use for his work skills as God continues to pour into his life. He’s an inspiration to other residents every time they see him strap on his artificial leg and go to work.

For a man who’s faced death three times, he still struggles to understand hope. But he has discovered a newfound trust in God. This portion of his favorite Bible verse may help explain why…

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ~ Psalm 23-4

These days, he’s taking the time he needs to build a future on trusting God and understanding His plan and purpose for his life.

“I guess you could say I am waiting on the Lord. Before, I’d do everything my way. I’ve struggled to overcome my past. Today, I am looking forward to where God is leading me. I stopped asking why, and started asking what now. God kept me here for a reason I just needed to get with His plan. Every day that I’m not drinking is a good day. But now I’m waiting on Jesus to show me the next step. He’s teaching me I still have value. I guess he’s waiting on me to see it.  

Thinking back, I’ve lost everything and faced death three times. It took me 58 years to realize how much I needed God. I thank him every day for giving me this chance at sobriety. Between jail and Wayside, I’ve been free of alcohol nearly 4-years. The past is losing its grip on me, and I have a good group of friends, a mentor, and a church family who believe in me. I never had that before.  

Today, I have faith. I found that at Wayside.“

Help Matt and many others to recover and rebuild their lives in our faith-based addiction recovery programs

If you enjoyed this story and want to learn about other lives that were changed, click: Stories of Hope & Recovery

If you know someone in need of a safe place to recover and rebuild their lives call Wayside Cross Ministries’ Lifespring Center for Women or Master’s Touch for Men at (630) 892-4239.