I had the privilege of attending an event last weekend called Unity in the Community. It was a gathering of ministries and agencies that serve the addicted in our city. There was music, bounce houses, hotdogs and even a car show. But the best part of the day for me was hearing the stories of those who had been rescued from their addiction. They were amazing and, in every case, when they shared their stories, they did so while choking back the tears. It was a very emotional experience for them to tell their story.
At our two shelters, Faith Mission and Faith Refuge, we believe that Every Story Matters. We believe that, because when we listen to a person’s story, we connect with them and can come along side them. We can no longer treat them like a statistic or a number because, now we know them. We’ve touched a part of their soul and we will never be the same.
But another reason that stories are important is that when we tell them, we soon realize that all our lives are a series of choices. Granted, some choices get made for us, but generally speaking, we are where we are because of choices. When a person sees that and begins to evaluate their lives that way, the next logical step is to seriously consider their next choice. “Do I want different results? Then maybe I need to start making some different choices.”
And many times, the first new choice that is needed is to choose Christ. To decide that He is going to be the Lord of my life and He is going to lead me in my future choices. 2 Corinthians 10:14 says “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” New things, including, new choices.
I had the chance to ask some of the folks I met how they plan to stay strong and sober. How do they intend to keep making good choices? I was happy to hear that, many of them have a support group in their church that loves and encourages them and holds them accountable. Good choice. God never intended for us to go it alone.
God is doing some great things in our city. He is reaching many that were written off or considered too far gone. I’m so thankful that we can be a small part in that.
