From a Mess to a Ministry

“The life God uses for His purposes is often a mess at different stages. That messiness becomes the strength of your calling as He does His work in and through you.” – Os Hillman

Deanna and I attended Freedom Church in Vero Beach for several years before I accepted an invitation to fill the pulpit at Cornerstone Baptist Fellowship in Sebastian while their pastor recovered from a stroke. We wound up staying at Cornerstone for four years – and even relocated to Sebastian to be closer to our church family there – before moving back to Vero Beach in 2021 so Deanna could more easily babysit our six grandkids. Six months after our return to Vero, God led us to plant Midway Bible Fellowship, and we have been happily serving there ever since.

Back to our years at Freedom Church…

Actually, it was called Immanuel Baptist Church when we first started going there, but the congregation voted to change the name to Freedom Church to reflect the freedom we have in Jesus Christ. Free from our sins… free from our guilt and shame… and free to serve God in newness of life.

One of the core programs at Freedom Church was Celebrate Recovery, which helps people overcome their “hurts, habits, and hang-ups”. In fact, I would estimate that more than half of the people who attended Freedom Church were recovering from something: an addiction to drugs or alcohol, a divorce, or some other personal struggle.

Two of those people were named George and Heath, and I got to know both of them pretty well. George and Heath were both addicted to different substances and had, by their own admission, relapsed numerous times. But with the help of Pastor Roger Ball, the Celebrate Recovery program, and a loving and supportive congregation, they managed to overcome their addictions one day at a time.

Just this week, I saw Facebook posts by George and Heath that were extremely encouraging. George now serves as executive director of a local recovery community called Dynamic Life. He also pastors the Recovery Church of Vero Beach. Heath is also an ordained minister and is on staff at both Dynamic Life and First Methodist Church of Vero, where he oversees their recovery program.

George’s Facebook post highlighted a speaking engagement he had last Sunday at a church where he was invited to share his dramatic testimony, warts and all. As for Heath, his post mentioned the fact that he has been clean and sober for nine years. Both men share their pasts in order to give hope to others who are struggling with similar problems… and to give glory to God for their ongoing recovery.

I love these brothers and greatly admire their transparency. God has indeed transformed their messes into their ministries… and He can – and will – do the same for you and me if we give Him the chance.

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.” I Timothy 1:12-13 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President