My Other Mission
Beyond the songs — walking alongside the lost, the broken, and the searching. is both God's calling for me and one incredible gift.
More Than Music
When I am not waiting for the Holy Spirit to send another song, I am in the addiction recovery trenches. God loves the "lost sheep" there. Through my church's Neighborhood Group ministry, I currently walk alongside more than 100 individuals in active addiction — a wide and humbling spectrum of souls, from the desperately lost to those being beautifully reborn as Transformed Children of God.
The Hardest Cases
An estimated 45 million people in the US are addicted to alcohol, roughly 15% of those 12 and older. When we add other mind-altering and prescription drugs, gambling, online gaming and porn, the percentage grows dramatically. We serve all. One addict in a family infects the entire family with painful trauma and stress. So helping just one person probably cures at least 10 or more family members that (might) still maintain a seed of love. Plus many friends that have not given up. My greatest joy in life is from the hugs I get from family members and close friends of recovering addicts. Externally, the demon behavior of every addict is to due the greatest harm to everyone that matters in their life., plus themselves. The devil alcohol or drug is in fully in charge. Lying, stealing, hiding, and cheating are normal behaviors. It has come clear to us that inside every one of those addicts is a beautiful Child of God, waiting to break out. Such a blessed thing to witness. After a heart attack over a decade ago, I asked God why I am still alive, and heard back (not quite audibly but VERY clearly) "because you have a story to tell, and your story can help others". It's the only reason I am still alive. Such a gift to serve Him with this ministry.
PLEASE NOTE: We are clearly aware that helping an addict needs to be a very selective "stingy" process. We cannot help enable. The rock bottom addicts have drained all their loving enablers and we cannot be another. Initial support has provided gift certificates for gas money so they can still reach their job. Or certificates to a clothing store (not one like Walmart who sells liquor) so they can look professional during the new job interview, after being fired from the last. If food is criticaL, we can have it delivered from the store, rather than another very tempting gift certificate to a grocery store that would be misused. We have gifted more than one haircut. Sober living homes can be a "safe haven" for a now-homeless and broken soul willing to change. Supporting even a 1-month stay for a financially broken soul is expensive. Then, for that rare individual that we determine is really ready, believing a treatment facility might work we would love to help save that soul, thru God (and you?). Depending on the facility and the length of stay required, getting one person into treatment can run anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000. We have helped fund this before. We would be honored with help to fund more souls, for the best prospects only. We wish — deeply wish — that we had a scholarship fund large enough to say yes ON VERY SELECTIVE TIMES when someone has been handed the gift of total desperation and is ready to take that step.
A Simple Request from the Heart
Want to help just one hopeless addict become sober, and some lost atheist/agnostics start to run toward the open arms of Jesus? Helping just one helps an entire family. More than one and we start healing a community.
If that mission touches your heart, we are asking for your help. Any monetary contribution you can make — large or small — will go directly toward supporting the most vulnerable people in this ministry, meeting immediate crisis needs like food, clothing and housing, possibly funding rehab stays, and walking with those who mistakingly believe they have no one else walking with them. God bless any heartfelt consideration. Be assured that ANY donor supporting these worthy souls will receive quarterly updates on how these funds have supported the recipients. Be assured some amazing recovery stories are waiting to be told. Yours will be an amazing gift to one or more struggling but deserving Child(ren) of God.
Every dollar given here is an act of faith. You may never meet the person your gift helps. But God will know — and so will they.
$$
Any donation will be planted and nurtured for faithful support and growth. Most addicts have self-destructed their finances. Our weeks are filled with frequent meal funding, coffees, providing recovery books plus (rare but occasional) more significant $$$ support to prevent total hopelessness self destruction..
$25,000+
Minimum cost per rehabilitation stay. From the over 100 guys connected through my church neighborhood group of addicts, I might anticipate no more than 3 per year where a "scholarship" might be the needed gift to save a life. This cannot be used to "enable" the fallen soul, so any selections are very strictly chosen.
100+
Individuals currently in our church neighborhood group of current and former addicts being supported from a strong spiritual base. We learned valuable lessons and recovery options from a strong set of books by Dr. Don Middleton. He has masterfully placed a Christian blanket on top of the solidly proven 12 steps of AA. God Bless you Doc. Dr. Middleton's website is:www.DunamisInitiative.com
Ways to Give
Secure giving options are being set up under the official trade names MyEmptyPrayer and Paul JonDurham, registered in the State of Arizona. In the meantime, please reach out directly and I will personally ensure your gift reaches the mission.