Most who arrive at the Mission seeking help are used to a life of happenstance where they are tossed about like waves on the sea. The transition from such an unstructured way of life to the regimented routine of our life-recovery program often earns it the nickname “Bible Boot Camp”. Call it what they may, learning to maintain a consistent daily schedule is necessary to becoming a prosperous member of society.

Although our biblical teachings tend to our guests’ spiritual needs, we understand there are also practical roadblocks to a productive life, especially for a person without a high school diploma. That’s why the Mission’s recovery programs also review, assess and address our clients’ educational standing so that we may care for the whole person…mind, body and soul.

Men and women from all walks of life and levels of education come to the Mission. Some arrive with masters’ degrees and PhDs. Others have difficulty writing their own names. For this reason, our education staff and volunteers are prepared to teach everything from the ABCs to GED and college prep.

Some program graduates’ educational journey ends with their GEDs, and the computer and commercial training needed to land a good job after graduation. A number of people, however, see graduation from our program as the on-ramp to the road to higher learning.

Nathan traded a life of chaos and addiction for one of peace and acceptance, allowing him to clear his mind of all distractions and realize God’s destination for his life.

“After giving up any thought of school or anything else really…except my addiction,” Nathan explains, “my time at the Mission helped me to know exactly how God wired me and now I am pursuing a life based upon it.”

Listening to God’s call, Nathan enrolled at Tennessee Tech where he has begun the necessary work to obtain a degree in Political Science.

Ronald’s spiritual life was changed and eternity secured while in our life-recovery program. It was also during this time that he discovered his passion for helping and counseling others.

“I like to listen…I am really interested,” he says. “At the Mission, I realized that my problems weren’t as bad as some of the problems others were having. Focusing my attention on helping them got my eyes off me and life was a whole lot easier to see.”

When Ronald began asking his counselor and other Mission staff questions and it became clear that college was the next step. He is now a full-fledged student at Free Will Baptist Bible College and on his way to obtaining the credentials needed in counseling so he can live his life by helping others.

The Mission helps in every possible way to aid graduates as they reenter “life”. This is where the true story of God’s redemption is told. As Mission graduates become productive citizens in our community, there is no doubt that God is still in the business of miracles. For even one of our graduates to pursue college only accentuates this.

“The level of commitment required by a person to graduate the program is tremendous,” says Fred Hoffman, Director of Programs. “For a person to then take it up another level and pursue college, we’ll meet those efforts and look at ways to lend a hand.”

Nathan and Ronald are just two more people with stories of God’s grace and love imprinted on their lives. Thanks to your generous support and faithful service, the Mission is able to provide a platform for God to help each person do what He needs done. For over 50 years we have been meeting people where they are so they can get to where God wants them to be. With your friendship and support we will have 50 years or more to come.