Empowering Men

Author: Ed Lugo, serves at Oliver Gospel Mission and with The Harvest Hispanic ministry

Psalm 34:5 "Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed "

I've been an Addiction Recovery Life Coach at Oliver Gospel Mission for six years, and I love what I do because I get to influence and coach men to become followers of Jesus. Drug and alcohol addiction does not show compassion; it does not show empathy. It does not show love. It only holds men in bondage, as it steals God's promises, and causes men to live with guilt and shame. Drug addiction is a tool of the enemy to hold men under bondage so that they can't experience the abundant life God offers them through His son, Jesus Christ. I believe that salvation and a surrendered relationship with Jesus are the only way to break the bondage of sin that will free men to serve God with purpose and hope--through a faith thatempowers them to have victory over their addictive behavior and patterns.

I have seen God's empowering work in men like Joe, whose addiction to crack cocaine destroyed his relationship with his family. His wife and his children could not depend on him; they lost their trust in him and decided to put Joe totally out of their lives. All the money Joe made at work went to maintain his drug habit. The cocaine 'demon' controlled and affected every area of his life. One day Joe hit rock bottom with no place to go; he had no family, no friends and no hope. Thoughts of suicide bombarded Joe's mind, and while walking through the streets of Columbia, not knowing where to go or what to do, Joe saw a sign that said Oliver Gospel Mission. Joe came to the front desk looking for a place to sleep for the night. The front desk attendant noticed the signs and effects of his addiction said, "Sir you look like you need more than a bed. We have a Christ-centered drug recovery program. Would you like to apply for the program?" Joe said, "Yes," and entered the program in December of 2009. Joe has been clean for three years now. He has a steady job, his own place to live, has connected to a local church in Columbia, and lives a new life in Christ. Joe still has struggles, but he is committed to his recovery, having found value in Christ Jesus. Thanks to God's empowering gifts of love, mercy and grace, Joe is on the road to recover all the treasures that addiction stole from him.

My goal at Oliver Gospel Mission is to set men like Joe on the course of inward transformation, helping them understand the road of sanctification and painting a clear picture of God's plan for them. Recovery coaching at Oliver Gospel Mission is about guiding men to get clear on what they wants from life and then putting a strategy in place to help them get there. The whole point to recovery coaching is to ultimately empower the men with the skills and mind set to leave those addictive tendencies behind them and to move forward in the power of a new life found in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come."

The drug recovery treatment plan at Oliver Gospel Mission consist of four phases in which the men are taught life skills, learn about their addictive behavior, undergo group and individual counseling, and receive Bible-based classroom instruction on all elements of becoming a fulfilled, functional, and fruitful member of their community.  I can't think of a better way to spend my time and life than to help men find a better quality of life.