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Drug Use, Prison Time Spark Recovery Ministry
YELM, WA (November 30, 2005) - Through his drug use and related activities,
Joseph Ottley earned the opportunity to spend seven and a half years of
his life incarcerated in a California prison. During each of the more
than 2,700 days he was behind bars, Ottley never thought he would be
where he is today.
When he was released, he says, he discovered grace that he had never
earned, and his life turned around. So did the life of his wife, Carmin,
also a recovering drug addict. Together, the two started Truth and
Motivation - a Christ-centered recovery ministry - at Redeemer Covenant
Church in Sacramento, California.
But God then called them to Yelm, where the two now have worked with
Crossroads Covenant Church to open a transitional housing unit for those
who the Ottleys hope will experience the same grace they received – and
recovery from their addiction.
During the last month, the church opened the four-bedroom,
2000-square-foot house that will eventually have space for nine men.
Already four men are living in the home. "I can't even explain it," says
Joseph, who also is the church's youth pastor. "We weren't supposed to
have four guys in there until March."
The house is desperately needed because Pierce County, where it is
located, is the nation's second largest producer of methamphetamines in
the country, Joseph says.
To purchase the house, the church received a $10,000 grant from Churches
Planting Ministries of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Half of the
money comes from the North Pacific Conference and the other half from
the denomination.
Joseph says obtaining the house was a miracle. The house sits on land
adjoining property that the church already has purchased for its new
building. Adjacent to the home on the three-acre property is a shop that
will be converted into meeting space, where recovering individuals will
take classes in conflict resolution, the Bible, budgeting and where they
will attend meetings offered by recovery groups such as Alcoholics
Anonymous.
Men who stay at the house pay $450 a month and their meals are provided.
A house manager, who also is in recovery, does a lot of the cooking and
helps with the cleaning, Joseph says.
Word of mouth about the house already has spread through Yelm, but the
church also is using direct marketing to reach treatment centers and
other churches. Joseph says he hopes the church will be able to add room
for women residents in 2007.
Although Joseph is technically the director, he gives much credit for
the house to Carmin.
"She is my motivator and keeps me going."
To learn more about this special outreach program or other ministries of
the Yelm church, please call 360-400-7877 or email church staff at
crossroads@ywave.com.
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