This is what some of our previous and current students or their families had to say about our program. We are so blessed to have worked along side them and see them freed from life-controlling issues such as substance addiction.
Greetings, to all who read I am fortunate by the grace of God to be alive to share these thoughts with you. It’s a small glimpse into a self-made man turned into a servant leader through Christ, may all honor and glory be His for its through Him I am saved.
(Isaiah 53:5) But He was wounded[a] for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Who am I today? I am a man of God, a father to 3 amazing children, a son, brother, a uncle, Reverend, a ministry director, a servant leader, and a friend. But that wasn’t always that way, not even close.
(1 John 3:2) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
February 2022, I picked up the bottle again, never thinking really about anything, assuming I had it under control, telling myself only for this week, well maybe for the weekend too, alright who am I fooling I can keep this up, as long as I eat right and still get rest as needed. Well, rest never came. Well, no rest no problem there are uppers(cocaine) drugs for this issue, onto cocaine which I had done for years prior to this, so that was an easy fix. But even at this pace the base drugs couldn’t keep up with my consumption. There were times it wasn’t accessible, so it meant moving onto pills, molly, LSD, meth, even fentanyl. Mixing this combination together caused a very fast downward spiral, leading to frequent seizures, blackouts, cardiac arrest. I don’t remember those times all too well. Looking back, I only thought that I was hurting myself, never once did I realize all the loved ones I was truly damaging. Not until I realized that I would not be making it out of this alive would I put my hand out one last time, my mother answered. I can’t thank her enough for answering me that day and not listening to my excuses.
(Romans 1:21-25) 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
90 days I remember saying so arrogantly to my family, 90 days, and I’m out, that is absolutely all I will give you. This is what I remember saying as close family and friends circled me in the hospital, either in person or via video chat, I would soon understand that this would be an intervention. I wasn’t exactly the most thrilled, or easy to get along with. Even my dad had held up his bible and said son its either go to treatment or don’t be calling me for this support anymore, I won’t listen, understanding now how scripturally proof his justification was. I mean the Lord as his witness even my dark, unclean spirit understood that.
(Matthew 16:23) But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
The beginning of the end, for the old man would soon be washed away. As I traveled to the RAM center, I had no idea what to think, in fact I wasn’t able to think at all, but inside of me a part of me said to trust in the process, not yet understanding what the process was. A week earlier I was coming out of induced coma, not even remembering who I was, now somewhere totally foreign to me. I would not be comfortable here for a week or so, not wanting to let go of my past because that’s who I am, I struggled as I had to start convincing myself that this would pass quickly. I remember putting my mind on a Groundhog Day setting, keeping every day the same and the days would blend together and hopefully go by quicker. I remember about 2 separate occasions when I packed up ready to leave, taking an incompletion. This happened after a video we watched about how we must submit our entire life to God, family, money, loved ones, the past, our sins, other people’s problems, etc. I thought to myself how is this possible? How can this God we speak of take care of me and my loved ones from so far away? Ok, so there’s purpose for my life? Ok so others before me suffered this life and even greater sufferings? Ok God I want to trust you, please teach me how show me how, please don’t let me down, because I can’t do this anymore, I am tired, I am lost, I am broken, I give myself to you, here. The submission of my life now in the hands of God, the best decision I privately made not to anyone but Him. When I hear God as my witness, well I now understand that meaning. So, I began praying as in conversation with my Father, to talk things through and ask for the proper guidance in all things, and I soon found myself opening up for His love to pour through me. My father wasn’t looking for perfection, only looking for effort and obedience, and to love Him and trust Him. I now realized I was no longer in control and my old self was dead and I was made a new creation in Him. This life would never be the same. From the waking up for devotion, to the completion of class work, campus projects to community service, chapel services, Wednesday bible study, and Sunday service, thus creating love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It reminded me from that part in the movie the karate kid,” wax on wax off”, if you work towards something and believe in the process and allow yourself to be taught putting your trust in your teacher, it will work, time and time again. This life would never be the same.
(Galatians 2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live be faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The Lord God in fact hears His children and gives us the desires of our heart even if we don’t know or see it, amen.
I trusted in the Lord and was delivered, I repented before the Lord and was forgiven, I submitted my life to the Lord and was given life, purpose, and most of all a relationship that has no ending. Through this program which I now see as a foundation, a cornerstone, built upon Gods promises is real. No man or beast can take away the fact that God works through this place but are we willing to put in the work?! My personal testimony of being dead to this world living again through Him, has answered so many prayers. From thinking I lost everything, the Lord blessed me with the call to ministry, to become a men’s ministry director, to pastor, even when I didn’t want that for myself, knowing that was not my decision but His, but that’s what that obedience is, stepping out of your comfort zone, your safe place, that boundary that deceives us. We only needed someone to believe in us and give ourselves a chance. So, I leave you with this, if God was willing to save a drug addict, alcoholic, sinner like myself, then I tell you redemption and salvation are rightfully yours for the taking, take up the cross and run with no intentions of stopping, God as my witness you won’t be let down, amen.
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
"When I arrived at the R.A.M. Center, I had no expectations. I tried numerous other treatments, none being faith-based. I quickly knew this was different. Within a week I turned my life over to Christ. Staff truly shows the LOVE OF GOD and are 2nd to none. My testimony could go on for pages. Through GOD'S steadfast love, peace, patience, and this program, my life has been saved."
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