Founder, Mitchell Ellison

One of the things I have learned over the past seven years is that this type of ministry is both challenging and rewarding. You meet and build relationships with all sorts of folks: young, old, black, white, male and female. As you attempt to help them through their different struggles and challenges with drug and alcohol issues, you find yourself becoming a part of their family and them becoming a part of yours. Disconnecting is sometimes out of the question. You are committed for the long haul and sometimes a long haul is just that. Scripture tells us however, that love suffers long. We may see someone this year and not see them again until next year. One of our favorite sayings is "All men fall, but the great ones get backup." There is nothing more rewarding than to see the smiles on the faces of those who know someone cares. 

Partner Appreciation Dinner

 Our 2008 partner appreciation dinner at the Confluence Park banquet center was a wonderful celebration of God's provision during the past year. CHM partners, supporters, volunteers, program graduates and friends, 160 of us in all, gathered to hear about the past year as well as what is planned for the year to come.  The C.R.A.C.K. House Praise Band opened the evening with worship and praise.

This was followed by a specially made video airing Mitchell's testimony and lives that have been impacted through the ministry at the C.R.A.C.K. House.  

See it here.

We heard several moving testimonies about lives that God was changing through His people and His work at CHM. Karen shared her fight for freedom with us. She has been clean for over a year now after starting to use at age 13 and being in bondage half her life.  One of our neighbors at CHM, Lillian shared the family she and her son have found at CHM. Sister Lilly has been a great source of encouragement to many at CHM. And Tom, outwardly successful but bound to drugs, shared about his new found freedom from using and the part CHM has played in that.

Mitchell, in his typically transparent way, shared with us the struggles and the pain he himself faced in 2007 at the discouragement of seeing several he has poured into go back out on the streets. Mitchell reminded all of us where that road inevitably leads -- institution, incarceration or interment. He shared about two nephews he lost the past year and at whose funerals he had responsibility to speak. But he also reminded himself and all of us that we served a God who knew and weeps with us at the pain of sin but gives strength and joy each day as we seek Him.

Chris outlined CHM 2008 goals for improving the sober house program with the help of a volunteer team.  The most pressing need is to add structure, mentoring and accountability to the mens sober house resident program.  This is envioned to occur in 5 areas: a.) Spiritual growth, b.) Recovery, c.) Relationships d.) Financial, and e.) Employmnet. Accomplishing this will require establishing and involving a team of volunteers who can help mentor, encourage, and train the residents of the sober houses in these areas. 

The evening closed with two of our CHM partners, Jeff Gibbs and Ben Rule, sharing what their investment in CHM has meant to them.