Recovery Church Greenville SC

Jesus is recorded saying, “Follow me,” throughout His ministry. I was 21 years old when I pledged my life to Christ with a poor understanding of what those words would mean. Over the years, I would learn that “Follow me” would often sound like my marriage vows. For better or for worse. Following Christ led me into the world of addiction where I saw my beloved husband struggle for the better half of our marriage with drugs and alcohol. I was very naïve and was quick to forget about not leaning on my own understanding and giving it to God. God patiently waited for me to surrender my controlling nature and give Cliff and his addiction to Him to deal with. God in His grace and mercy would use the challenges addiction brought into our marriage to fuel a passion in my heart. God led me back to college where I got a degree in Addiction Psychology, so I could understand what my husband was struggling with, and so I could help others like him. 

I currently work as an addiction counselor at the Phoenix Center. I have the privilege of working with women who have faced extraordinary trauma in their lives which led them down the path of addiction. I have been blessed to work side by side with family members who are struggling with how to support their loved ones as well. Addiction does not affect just one person but the entire family. God has brought Cliff and I closer than ever and we look forward to following Christ and helping others find their way out of addiction and into a relationship with Jesus.

Growing up I was always searching for something and was never content. That was until I found drugs. The drugs seemed to give something I felt I had always needed, freedom. Freedom from life’s cares and worries. I got lost in the throws of addiction for about 15 years and about halfway during that time I realized that the drugs had not given me freedom but a cage. There was a point that I honestly tried to quit but could not. After several attempts to stop and in and out of jail and rehab I began to grow hopeless and felt stuck. I thought that I would eventually die of my addiction. 

At my lowest point my wife had backed away along with the rest of my family. I experienced despair like David describes in Psalm 32:3, “When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long”. I was tired but couldn’t sleep, hungry but couldn’t eat, I was sad and lonely. This was my moment of desperation. It was at this point that I reached out to God and begged Him to change my life. Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry” (Matthew 11:28-30 NET). I experienced true freedom that day in Christ Jesus and now my desire is to go and share the good news of Jesus with those who are lost and suffering and feel there is no hope.

At the age of 38 I stood at the crossroads deciding if I live or die- I was riddled with depression, guilt, shame and exhaustion- that’s when I realized I could not continue living the way I was- I needed help- that’s when I got on my knees and said “ God please help me “ That’s where my journey began, lots of praying and hard work, being willing to do gods will- I began turning my will and life over to Gods, accepting help through the program of A.A. AND I found peace and joy that I never knew- I’m so grateful