Alexus
I was born into a family plagued by addiction. Growing up, I watched my older siblings and parents use alcohol and street drugs to have fun, celebrate, cope, and even to fight off boredom. It’s no surprise that I quickly followed their example. My life became centered around how quickly I could get high. I dropped out of school at 16, and legal issues soon followed. I equated drug use with happiness and spent the next 14 years chasing one high after another, disregarding the consequences and the pain I inflicted on my children and family. I felt spiritually lost, living in my car, and I no longer believed was meant for anything more than becoming another tragic statistic, like one of our friends found dead in a hotel room or a flop house. I was a neglectful mother, an ungrateful granddaughter, and a burden to everyone around me. I tried to clean up my life and turn things around, but I could never maintain a productive lifestyle, and I had lost all faith in myself. But then, something changed. I had once again been arrested, and I could feel the onset of sickness creeping in. My whole body ached, and I knew that soon I would be too sick from withdrawal to even stand. But despite that, I felt something else—hope. I sensed the strength of my Higher
Power, as I no longer had any of my own. I spent two weeks in that state, pushing through the pain and fog that came with the drugs leaving my system. Finally, I called my mom and gave her the phone number for the first rehab on the list they kept in Walton County Jail. I still remember squatting by the phones in jail when I called to interview with Mr. Mike. From that point on, everything began to fall into place, and soon I found myself in my mom's car, headed to South Georgia.
Looking back still brings tears to my eyes. The 24/7 House program reshaped my entire life. I learned all the key components that had been missing from my previous attempts o turn things around. I found structure and a family that taught me how to give and receive love. I discovered the importance of a strong spiritual foundation and the “magic”; that happens when you immerse yourself in the 12 steps. I also realized how crucial it is to hold myself accountable. Although none of this felt natural or easy, I never once felt like I was going through it alone. The shattered relationships in my life have been restored. I have been welcomed back into my family with open arms and plenty of tears. I have been blessed with a second chance at life. Today, I am an addict, but that’s not all I am—I am also a mother, a wife, a dog (and goat!) Mom, and I am responsible for my life- I am free and thriving.
Mark
Coming to the 24/7 House in Baxley, Georgia, was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. For so long, I felt trapped by addiction, and no matter what I tried, I couldn’t seem to break free. There were so many moments in my addiction where I felt completely alone, even when I was surrounded by people. Loneliness was a constant companion, a heavy blanket that kept me isolated. I’d be in a room full of friends or family, and yet I felt like I was on a desert island, waving a white flag that no one could see. I desperately needed someone to talk to, a guide, a simple hand to hold, but I was so lost in the chaos that I didn’t know how to reach out. The fear of being judged, the shame of my actions, and the weight of my secrets kept me silent.
During that time, God, to me, felt like a friend I had lost touch with years ago. I knew He was there, somewhere out there in the world, but our connection felt broken. I remembered times when I had felt His presence and guidance, but the noise of my addiction drowned it out. It was a relationship I had neglected, a bond that had weakened with every wrong turn I took. In those lonely moments, I would have glimmers of hope that maybe, just maybe, He still remembered me, but the distance felt too great to cross on my own. It wasn’t until I started my journey toward recovery that I realized He had been waiting for me to turn back all along. The 24/7 House gave me a safe, structured environment and a community of people who understood exactly what I was going through. It was here that I learned to confront the root causes of my addiction and, with the guidance of the staff and the help of God, I began to rebuild my life. The program’s focus on faith and the 12 Steps gave me a new perspective and a new set of tools to live a sober life. The daily devotionals, meetings, and personal counseling helped me develop a deeper relationship with God and find a sense of peace I never thought was possible. The community here is like a family; we support each other through the good times and the bad. The 24/7 House didn’t just help me get clean; it gave me back my hope and taught me how to live a life of purpose and freedom. I am forever grateful for the second chance I’ve been given.
Kim
24/7 House not only helped save my life, but they showed me how to live. My whole life was consumed by drugs and chaos. I had never been in recovery, and didn’t even know that I wanted to be, but boy was I wrong. Looking back now, I know that I was just afraid to change, and chaos was my comfort. You can’t think your way into sober living; you live your way into sober thinking. Learning to live life without substances and actually enjoy it, has been a remarkable and transforming experience. I’ve gained friends and family that I’ll carry with me forever, and everything the enemy took from me in addiction, is being restored by God. I am eternally grateful for this program, the staff, and the community. I never knew I would find such selfless love from people I didn’t even know.
Paige
When I arrived at 24/7 House I was completely broken and spiritually bankrupt. I had lost all of my self-worth and any sense of who I was. My addiction took everything I had, and I had no idea how to climb out of the darkness. Walking through those doors was the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but it was also the first step towards a real-life change. At 24/7 I found people who believed in me until I could believe in myself. They gave me structure, accountability and love that I didn’t think I deserved. I was able to create lifelong bonds with women who I love dearly to this day! Day by day God began to heal
the parts of me that I thought were too far gone. I started to see that I wasn’t defined by my past, but by the new life God was building in me.
The 24/7 House became more than a program; it became a place where I learned how to live again. I walked out of there with hope, freedom, and a relationship with God that continues to carry me forward today. I am so grateful for that season of my life because it laid the incredible foundation for the person I am becoming. Today I am married have all of our children are in our lives, we have 3 amazing grandchildren and one on the way. God has truly restored every other relationship that was broken in addiction. We are both ministry leaders at Celebrate Recovery and are able to give back what was so freely given to us. I am forever grateful that God brought me out of that horrible pit and set my feet upon a rock!