TTR: 2024 Year In Review
Peer Support Groups
Reflecting back, I remember the magical night TTR had at the 2024 annual Benefit dinner. Recalling to mind that the entryway opened to a magnificent banquet hall! It was not just any typical banquet hall, but a marvelous room giving light to freedom from the bondage of addiction. Inspiration and excitement indwelled the guests as they made their way to the round tables that filled the Christ Church South Philly sanctuary.
“ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
The Sanctuary of Christ Church South Philly transformed into a beautiful banquet hall filled with hope and joy, which hosted the Transformation to Recovery’s 5th Annual Benefit Dinner on April 27th 2024.
Praise God for the many ministry partners led by Pastor Caleb McCurley, which brought manifestation to the grand room used for the Church and workshops into a pulchritudinous space. That space was filled with flowers and place settings illuminated by tranquil lighting designed to set the Spirit of the atmosphere.
The essence of the benefit dinner celebrated what God had accomplished in the previous year through the vessel of TTR. The urgency was to celebrate explosive transformational growth, but not without challenges. I am overjoyed to share with you just some of what God accomplished that was reflected on the stage that magical night, and in the present.
We were reminded of the TTR mission: “To bring the light of the Gospel to the darkness of addiction in South Philadelphia.” The results of the past year confirmed our mission as we’ve watched again as the lives of both men and women have been radically transformed by the power of the Gospel. TTR continues to point to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ for guidance and truth.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
We are so grateful to have supporters of the ministry such as Scott Palmer (Phillies announcer), who was our M.C. for our 2024 benefit dinner. Scott was introduced by Pastor Jeff Boettcher, TTR’s vice President of the Board. Scott brought much needed compassion and personality to the event. He is a dynamic and bright speaker with such compassion for the mission of restoring lives.
We are so grateful to witness many restored lives through testimonies from heroes with lived experience. Powerful stories of trauma, addiction, abuse, and darkened lives only to give way to the hope received by the light of the Gospel in Christ. The testimonies shared were from friends who journeyed through the TTR program leaving broken lives behind and now experiencing restoration! God uses TTR as His vessel to restore lives by bringing the light of the gospel to the darkness of addiction. Friends there is Hope!
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Witnessing these testimonies, I am reminded of a quote from our Vice president of the Board and lead Pastor of Christ Church South Philly, Jeff Boettcher: “God welcomes us to come to Him as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us as we are. The power of God’s love is not just that He welcomes everyone, but that He can change anyone.”
“Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. (Ps. 62:1-2)
Another significant example of a servant for the ministry is found in Dickie Noles from the Phillies. Dickie was our keynote speaker. What an amazing treat to listen to his many stories of struggle and hope. Dickie talked about his struggle with alcohol and how God transformed his life out of that struggle. God has called Dickie to minister to others who are currently battling trials, and to be a bright light to those in the world who are blessed to meet and talk with Dickie. We were so honored to have Dickie Noles share with us on this amazing night.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)
Let’s reflect on some of the amazing accomplishments that God blessed us with through TTR in 2024. For the first accomplishment we are directed to the engine room behind the scenes, “Transformation to Recovery’s Board Members.” We are blessed with such an amazing board who are so instrumental in the mission of saving lives. A much colossal thank you goes out to our Board of directors which include: Bill Rodabaugh: Board President, Pastor Jeff Boettcher: Vice President, Bill Festa: Treasurer, Julie Matiliano: Secretary, Larry Andersen And Kathryn Kaiser. So blessed to have such an amazing team that helps in the mission of spreading the hope of the gospel.
We celebrate the successful plan to hire Pastor Caleb McCurley 3-years ago and now works full-time running the day to day operations of Hope House. Caleb, one of the pastors at Christ Church South Philly, has many gifts that contribute to our mission. It is two-fold, using his pastoral gifts to minister to the TTR members and the Men of Hope House, and assisting me with various administrative needs.
We celebrate the strength provided from the impact of ministry partners. Ministry partners are friends who have compassion for the mission of TTR. God has continued to sustain TTR through prayers and financial generosity of so many partners, and we are incredibly grateful! Monthly Ministry Partners have a huge impact on the foundation of restoring lives! We were able to increase our monthly ministry partners by eight with a year ending total of forty-five!
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,” (Phil. 1:3-5).
A foundation of a successful recovery program is found in strong relationships. We have discovered one of the strengths behind encouraging strong relationships are the program meetings. TTR continued to increase and sustain meeting and workshop participation over the past year by twenty percent, which serves as the foundation of the disciple program.
Our current numbers involved approximately 100-men and women attending any of our eight weekly or bi-weekly Peer-Support Groups. Our meeting selections are diversified to target the balance in recovery needs, therefore encouraging growth. Selections available are: Narcotics Anonymous, URStorytellers Training, 12-steps A Biblical Perspective, Disciple program classes, with topics such as: (Biblical Addiction Specialist Counseling, Bible studies, and Theological teachings).
The Disciple program also focuses on life skills development: with topics such as: Culinary Arts Class and Financial Literacy. We also host important workshops such as Addictions Workshop-a Biblical Perspective, and the Motivational Interviewing-A Biblical Perspective. Lastly, but definitely not least is the original powerhouse Friday night meeting: The New Life Recovery Meeting.
“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25).
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;” (Ps. 19:7).
Our Homeless Outreach team is active every month bringing food and critical supports such as crisis phone numbers, conversation and most importantly the Gospel. We serve on an average of thirty-five people in need per outreach in the streets of Philadelphia. Also, the Hope House serves the Chosen 300 ministries in West Philly every quarter, serving and ministering to sixty people per night.
“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14).
The cornerstone of our ministry continues to be the Hope House, a ten-bed men’s recovery house and discipleship program designed to teach transformation in Christ and integrate men into the life of our church. It is an extreme blessing to witness the men faithfully submitting to the program renewing their minds and becoming new creations in Christ! An example of a Disciple goal is to encourage growth in advancing the men to facilitating and leading meetings, taking an important step of not just being discipled, but also investing in the discipleship of others.
Some more exciting news, seven men graduated from the Hope House in the last year and we have a few more men who are on target for graduation in the near future. Restoration is the goal as God continues to bless Hope House, and by God’s grace since opening in March of 2018 we have celebrated over thirty graduations from the program, and over 100-men have lived in our house.
Praise God for the men at Hope House who continue to be renewed!
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:2)
Finally, as I close this message, I reflect back to the beginning of 2024 and honestly could never have imagined all that God was going to do this past year. Many of the ways we were able to grow as an organization were not even on our radar at the beginning of this year. We are so grateful for Proverbs 16:9 which reminds us:
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”
We can do nothing but praise God for all the ways he has blessed this ministry over the last year. He is completely sovereign and truly faithful to this ministry and the role it plays in His mission to awaken dead hearts to the light of the Gospel.
I would like to thank all of you who have prayed and supported our mission this year. Without people like you, this ministry would not be in existence. We are extremely grateful and encouraged that God has called you to be the part of the vessel that supports the TTR ministry. Through your generosity we are able to continue bringing the light of the gospel to the darkness of addiction.
Homeless Outreach
Thank you, God Bless you!
John K. Carlson, Executive Director, Transformation to Recovery
