Overcoming the grip of addiction and the destructive behavior associated with it can be very difficult. The men and women in our addiction recovery
put forth a conscious effort every day to walk away from that lifestyle. They have shared with us that some days are much harder than others. Sometimes, sharing their struggles is a great way to help get them through the valleys.
Pastor Robert Barbazette and David O’Kelly, who are associated with Great Commission Fellowship Church in Charleston, have been volunteering with their team at the Union Mission Men’s Shelter for over 5 years serving meals and presenting devotionals. Within the last year, however, Robert and David have also been providing a very valuable service to the men in our addiction recovery program. Each Friday, they come to the men’s dorm and casually hang out with the men for the evening. They talk and share their experiences but most importantly, they listen.
‘When we come in every Friday,” Robert says, “ the purpose is to just invest in them – to be with them. Whether it is playing ping pong, pool, or sitting on the couch and talking. We want to be present and listen. It is the joy of my week.”
“The conversations range all over the place,” says David. “Many times they circle around to Scripture and the life application of a passage they may be studying. The entry point is a challenge as we are trying to earn their trust, but once we have it, the conversations are genuine. I think they realize as volunteers, we are not paid to be here. We are investing in them when we could be doing other things. They see that and appreciate it.”
Robert explains that each encounter is different. “There are some men that make a b-line right for us when we come in. Others are more standoffish
and maybe don’t want to talk at all. We want to respect their space and their time. This particular evening is a rare evening where they have some
free time. If they want to spend it hanging out and talking with us, we want to be there for them. If they prefer to just sit and watch a movie, then we will do that as well.”
The results of the efforts Robert and David put forward are difficult to track as they are not something that can be recorded on a spreadsheet or a report. We know, however, that they epitomize the reality of discipling others. Classroom time, structured life-skills training, daily activities and
responsibilities are all a key part of the recovery process, but having wise counsel in an informal setting is invaluable.
“What Robert and David do is really quite simple, but it requires a VERY specific attitude and personality traits,” says Lindsay Stephens, Director of Addiction Recovery. “To be a positive voice for these men requires someone to be consistent and humble. They truly need to possess a servant’s heart. Robert and David (and their team) worked four years serving meals at the shelter before volunteering on this level. It is a weighty commitment and I am so appreciative of the effort these two put forth for the men in recovery.”
Experience in discipling people is vital in order to volunteer at this level. There are times that in order to be a positive role model for someone you
need to present facts and explain the importance of hard work and honest effort. There are times that you need to jump in and help get someone
through a rough patch. It may require getting your hands “dirty”. There are other times where all you need to do is listen.
