Greetings and may God bless each and every one of you accordingly.
My name is Steven. I’m a genuine five time loser who has been in and out of the Missouri Department of Corrections for the past ten years. I am currently incarcerated at the Ozark Correctional Center. After accepting the plea bargain of four years in the MDOC for the crime of attempting to steal over five-hundred dollars, I was offered a twelve month treatment program. If successfully completed, I will be released back into society with a term of five years probation like so many of the other offenders here at O.C.C.
On July nineteenth, two thousand six, I found myself in St. Charles County Jail, locked up once again due to my addiction to heroin. I was full of worry, loneliness and resentment, thinking to myself, if I could only live like other people, normal people, the kind whom have careers and families. Why am I not like them? What makes me so different? Why do I hurt the ones whom I’m closest to? The evening of August thirty first, two thousand six, I was in complete and utter despair. My mother’s birthday and here her only son sits, locked up again, a drug addict, a criminal – she must be so proud (I highly doubt it). I was in complete despair and brokenness. I found myself asking God to forgive me of my sins, to please give me another chance to live life like normal people.
After arriving at O.C.C., I was immediately led by the Spirit to a program called Celebrate Recovery. It is a Christ-centered recovery program based on beatitudes, a ministry born out of Saddleback Church, founded by John Baker. Celebrate Recovery is a Biblical and balanced program that can help you overcome your hurts, habits, and hang-ups, based on the actual words of Jesus rather than psychological theory.
My first “CR” experience was on January fifth, two thousand seven. I honestly did not care for the meeting one bit! The praise and worship band really got things going, spirits were lifted, only to come crashing down once we broke into our small groups. A small group consists of six men who take turns sharing for three to five minutes each their burning desires and experiences. We were to follow a strict format and be a support for our brother, not fix him. This discouraged me because I wanted to share what was working for me. Feeling disappointment, I decided to quit attending. Brother Long approached me and offered me the invitation to join his small group. I accepted and decided to give Celebrate Recovery one more try. At the next Friday evening meeting after the band was finished playing we broke down into small groups. It was almost as if the hand of God directed me right back to my original group which has been the best experience of my life to date. I think of it as serendipity. Now my small group has become a major part of my life. They are the only group of men that I know to date who will listen to my deepest secrets and not judge me for them. The level of confidentiality amazes even me.
So, if at first the Celebrate Recovery experience doesn’t entice you, don’t give up before the miracle happens. Good luck and may God bless you in all your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Your brother in Christ,
Steven
Steven, one of our CR inside leaders at Fordland, was released Friday December 28, 2007. While traveling to his sister's home by Greyhound Bus, he began to question if his heart was really changed and if he going to make it this time. You see this was Steven's third time in prison because of his drug addiction to heroin.
Steven said he began feeling sick with worry. His stomach was churning so bad he thought he was going to throw up on the bus. He had to change buses in St. Louis and while waiting for the bus that would take him to Columbia, Mo, sitting next to him in the bus station was this homeless man - the man was dirty and smelled terribly. Steven started to get up and move when God put on his heart that the homeless man may be hungry. As Steven looked at the man again he saw not a dirty bum, but one of God's children that needed help. Steven asked the man if he was hungry and the man said he had not eaten in a while. Steven brought the homeless man a meal and told him "God Loves You". On the bus ride to Columbia, he realized that his heart had been changed. He had always been repulsed by these kinds of people and never would have talked to the homeless man, much less buy him a meal, if his heart had not been truly changed.
To whom it may concern:
My brother, Steve, has been in and out of prison for several years. He has battled with a drug addiction that he was unable to kick on his own. During his “last” trip to the Department of Corrections, he was introduced to the treatment program, “Celebrate Recovery,” that I believe has forever changed his life and our family’s.
Previously, during his stays with the D.O.C., he would gain drive to better himself and his intentions were good ones, but as he entered back into society, it was only a matter of time before his and our problems started all over again. He had no support from others that had been through a similar situation. This seems to be a common occurrence among individuals like him. I often wonder why these people rarely receive proper rehabilitation. I don’t believe it is possible for people with addictions to get better alone, without some kind of support group and guidance. How can these people be expected to be productive members of society if they haven’t received treatment? The problem isn’t solved, for them, or society. It seems this just creates a never-ending cycle of their entering and re-entering the system. Locking them away doesn’t get to the bottom of their issues, although I know this is often necessary.
I have to admit I believed Steve would come home a completely reborn person, the perfect brother, but this isn’t what happened; instead I got my big brother back. He is a non-perfect human, just as we want him. He makes mistakes and gets frustrated just like the rest of us. The difference is this time he is healing. He knows how to deal with daily issues because he has been shown. His strong bond with God and the “Celebrate Recovery” program have made all the difference.
Steve speaks of the “steps” often, and they are truly a part of him. My family and I are grateful to the “Celebrate Recovery” program and it’s volunteers for showing my brother how to accept his past mistakes, learn from them, and deal with the new issues that come along. This program has given him direction and he no longer feels alone.
I want to personally thank all of the volunteers of this exceptional program. You are changing lives and providing hope for so many; you are making a true difference! If ever I can be of assistance with this program, I would be more than willing.
Sincerely,
Amanda