By Trennis Henderson

Originally published at The Baptist Paper https://thebaptistpaper.org/charis-house-drug-rehab-program-helps-transform-lives-physically-spiritually/

Reposted with permission from The Baptist Paper

 Last week’s blog featured the first part of the article from The Baptist Paper, telling the story of how Kathleen Schuster, MVO’s director of Tender Hearts Caring Hands, found her way to Jesus, the Charis House and MVO. This week’s blog features the second part of the article.

Restoring broken relationships

 Vanessa Bettis, director of Ladies Recovery Ministries at Ministry Village, said classes for the women at Charis House address issues such as boundaries, life skills, how to stay clean and sober, and relapse prevention.

She said another key goal is “restoration with families because a lot of them come from broken families.”

“Once they are here, we help them to restore that relationship back with their family and children,” Bettis explained. “That plays a very important role in their recovery.”

Most of the women who come into the program “have very low self-esteem,” she acknowledged. “Once they are here six months to nine months to a year, their appearance has changed, their demeanors have changed.”

Noting “we have a great support system from the church,” Bettis added. “They have so much to offer and sponsor our ladies in so many different ways.”

Passion for the community

 Drayton Smith, executive director of Ministry Village, said the overall organization encompasses a variety of hands-on ministries.

“Ministry Village was started out of a passion for the community,” he explained. “The No. 1 thing that we’re trying to do is reach a community that needs help.”

Affirming the biblical call to minister to “the least of these,” he said, “We live by that. We believe that we should have a lifetime impact on the community that we live in.”

Now sober for nearly seven years, Schuster said her journey through Charis House definitely sparked a life change — physically, emotionally and spiritually.

“I knew that there was a bigger picture than just stopping drinking,” she reflected. “It was completely just giving myself to the Lord and saying, ‘Here I am. Take me. Do with me what You will.’”

To learn more about Charis House, click here.