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2011年1月14日 星期五

Addiction-treatment facility struggles

JACKSON-Jackson resident Sondra Armstrong has watched family and members of the Church transition of alcoholics and drug addicts to productive members of society after their stay at my father's House of freedom.

The processor at 826 N. West St. houses a 12-step outreach program that more than 400 men from the Metro area has welcomed.

One of the many non-profit organizations who are struggling financially, the Ministry of the Vineyard Church could close.

Armstrong, a member of the Flowood Vineyard Church, has helped with fundraisers for the place.

"Because there are so many people out there now, looking for jobs temp agencies will not take anyone with crimes," she said. "The Centre is really suffering and struggling to keep up.

Some of the men who my father's House of freedom have criminal background.

Participants must commit to a minimum stay of six months and a $ 175 admission fee. Part of the money they earn work-$ 125 per week-shall also be given to the Centre for housing, food and transportation costs to and from work and health appointments.

The two-home facility can house 22 men, who participate in Vineyard Church every Sunday as part of their recovery.

"In this particular Church, there are a lot of people in recovery who have undergone treatment centers," Armstrong said.

My father's House of freedom makes use of Christian principles to learn addicts life skills, financial management and conflict resolution. They also participate in counseling, Bible study and addiction support group meetings.

Five years ago, Maria Hamblin, a member of the Church of the vineyard, Director of the Center.

She said that the Church is not able to fully support the Centre and receives no State or federal funding. It's depend on private donations, but most funding comes from business participants.

"Until the last year, guys would come, and we were able to get them to jobs in no time," said Hamblin. "Now, if we have them in, but there are no jobs, it is a financial drain on the Ministry.

"We don't see anyone away for lack of money, but it's hard to pay our rent and pay our utilities if we are unable to (they found jobs.) Employment is our biggest obstacle. "

Jobs also help participants paying fines that they owe.

"It is also about the community, because if they have been restored and functioning, they are able to pay their bills, they are not in prison and they don't get food stamps," said Hamblin. "They are no longer a burden on taxpayers. They can also begin saving money. "

In 1977, Bruce Wimberley, now of Brandon, moved from Kansas with 35 persons to the plants of a church in Jackson. It was later that congregation Vineyard Church.

"Our hearts are always for the down and out, even if the up and out," he said. "It must be part of our DNA to the people who help pain."

Wimberley said that my father's House of freedom began "by accident."

"One of our guys in the Church, who has been a drug addict find a place where he was accepted," Wimberley said, "and he began to bring other people to his home until it was filled.

As a result, the Church decided to purchase a facility to House a treatment centre.

If the Centre is closed, Wimberley said, the church outreach efforts will continue, but he predicts that they will be less effective.

"That's why we have the Live facility," he said. "Our boys pay their way, and we cannot afford to have them if they cannot afford to pay their way."

Participants are valued members of the Church, he said.

"I think we them as bad as they need us have need," he said. "The Christian Church was sent to the world not just stop and wait until Jesus comes. We really feel that we need to do the work of the Kingdom, and that work not only on Sunday morning. It is in our jobs. It is at Walmart. It is where we go. "


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