Apologia Church

Redemption from Addiction and the Search for Healing

Pretty much I was drinking every day, 30 pack a day. You know, it started out when I was 16 years old, getting into cocaine and smoking pot. I was homeless, I lived in my car for a year.

I turned into using alcohol and marijuana and pills on a daily basis.

I was drinking a lot, I was taking a lot of prescription pills, really anything I could get my hands on.

I started using when I was 10, so I've been using for 12 years. Really, it's all I knew. Every time I had an issue, every time I was happy, and every time I was sad, and every time I was lonely, I would use.

It's my solution for everything that I've ever felt, essentially, for my whole adult life.

I had to do a pill when I woke up to get up and do anything. I had to do a pill just to eat.

I stole for it, I robbed for it.

I was homeless.

I've lived on the streets probably two years of my adult life. Because of my addiction, I've overdosed several times. I've overdosed probably four times. Two of them were pretty bad where I was pretty much dead.

Coming to Christ and Seeing Jesus as the Only Way

I think that when I was coming back to church and hearing about Christ again and kind of getting into that, I came to realize, first of all, that I was worshiping ecstasy in the way that I went to it for coping.

The way I thought about it all the time, it was always on my thoughts. Coming to Christ gave me a real Bible, something to worship that is going to make me feel better, that is going to heal me, that is going to change my life.

And being able to feel that immediately.

I had a lot of questions that were unresolved that no one had ever answered for me. So when these questions got answered, I was able to truly, in my heart, know that He was the only way. He was God in flesh on this earth.

He transformed my life.

It got to the point where I was questioned, do I love drugs more than I love Jesus? And that was kind of when my whole foundation shook. And I couldn't answer the question.

Life in the Church and the Need for Fellowship

I definitely wouldn't be here if it wasn't for people at Apology and obviously God's hand just guiding me through.

And then it's great to hear how people are growing in Christ next to you. That you've seen their addiction or where they've come from. And just to see how they're growing and you're growing yourself. And it's just amazing.

I need to continually, I need to be in the Word. I need to be loved on by His people. Fellowship is extremely important for me. Having those good friends, those Christian friends when you're going through things that you can talk about God with.

That they can help you turn to Christ. That they can help you to grow in Him through those tough times.

Redeemed Rebels and a New Identity in Christ

Everything's changed.

Jesus has redeemed me from slavery. I am definitely a slave to Jesus now.

I feel saved.

My name's Justin and I'm a redeemed rebel.

My name is Ben and I'm a redeemed rebel.

My name is Whitney and I'm a redeemed rebel.

My name's Kyle and I'm a redeemed rebel.

My name is Joy and I'm a redeemed rebel.