Recovery at Walk
Last week we spent two days with Walk Ministries in Stoke on Trent. We had experienced generous hospitality and friendship with Simon and Karen and the amazing team. Walk Ministries is a rehabilitation centre helping men break the cycle of reoffending starting with the journey out of various addictions and behaviour patterns seeing them right through to the opportunity of having employment at the end .
We were so inspired as they showed us around the facilities including offices, training rooms, large gym and houses used for the men to live in during the different stages of recovery . We heard about the enterprises that run along side WALK which can become places of employment during the time of restoration .
Alison started the first of her four teachings over the next two days around the topics of Breaking free from addiction, handling with anxiety, the problem of rejection and the freedom of forgiveness . These sessions were very relational and interactive with the men sharing how it is for them and we found starting the time with prayer helped bring every one together It became very obvious that there was a culture of courtesy politeness and servanthood among the men and as part of this they would regularly offer to make us drinks .
On the last evening I had the privilege of leading the bible study which encouraged us all as Steve lead us in passionate praise and worship that creating a free environment to speak boldly the word of God we considered the scripture in Luke 4 where Jesus explained the purpose for the Holy Spirit being upon him and then we looked at the scriptures where Jesus said to all believers this same spirit would come to them and what this would look like . The Holy Spirit was clearly moving as every one then stood to pray and with outstretched arms called on Jesus to receive forgiveness and to be filled with the Holy Spirit .
We found it so humbling to have this time and received so much more than we gave . I was touched to see how Alison connected corporately and personally with every one and everyone was valued and this made it easy for them to receive . For me I will never be the same again having been with these forty people that have been through so much and so open to all the help that they are receiving .
Thank you to those of you who personally support us to go and be part of these life transforming communities.