How it all began.
7 years ago, drugs had taken over my life. I lost my job. I was homeless. My family deserted me and my future was about to end. In desperation I fell to my knees in prayer before God, a prayer that would change my life and plant the seed for Transformation to Recovery.
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.
- Psalm 40:1-3
Addiction is a symptom of a deeper heart issue. For me, my pride and selfishness had pushed others away and left me broken and alone on the floor of a rundown motel room. As my idol of self-sufficiency was painfully torn down, God was exposing the void in my heart that I had been hopelessly trying to fill with drugs and alcohol. At absolute rock bottom I had no other choice but to cry out to God and relinquish control. It was the start of my new life in Christ.
God led me to the Colony of Mercy Addiction Recovery Program at America’s Keswick where I learned to rely fully on His Son and grew to thirst daily for His word. I graduated the program in 2014 with a heart to see others’ lives transformed in the same way as mine.
I moved to Philadelphia and joined a local church plant with a mission to serve their local South Philly community. We knew that we had to do something about the opioid epidemic that was ravaging our neighborhoods. Transformation to Recovery launched as a single weekly recovery meeting in my living room where we set the foundation of our ministry firmly in the Word of God. No matter how much we have grown or will grow, the light of the Gospel will continue to be our bedrock.
As I reflect back on the astounding years of growth and God’s faithfulness, I must conclude that my addiction was the best thing that has ever happened to me, for without it, I would not have met the Lord. You cannot see the light without darkness.
For those who are still bound by their addiction, I hope my testimony can bring liberating truth to your struggle. God’s redemptive work in my life bears witness to His power to redeem you. It is because of Him that new life is possible.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
- Psalm 119:67-72
John K. Carlson
Executive Director, Transformation to Recovery