I don't really have a compelling story to keep you on the edge of your seat or bring tears to your eyes. I've not been in addiction like most that come through CEO. But as a human living life, I do know great loss and great pain.
Perhaps, if we must segregate, I'm considered from the other side of the fence.
It was most definitely divine intervention that led me to CEO.
When I arrived, life had left me paralyzed socially, an already introverted personality, I became had become afraid of the public, of church, and afraid of people all together. I would put on a smile, force myself to go places, pray nothing would happen and for it to be over asap. Group settings made me physically sick outside of my home and family. I would try to blend and stay in a corner of the room. To be called on to speak would cause a rush of heat over me till I felt as if I would faint. All I could hear was a pulse pounding in my head and blurred vision, unable to breathe steady and my chest pounding so hard, I could see it through my shirt. The fear was so debilitating, it drained me. I couldn't take it. I would tremble on the way home and pace the floor until it all subsided. I spent as much time behind the scenes, alone and out of sight in those days. Often, I would not go back for a few weeks, even months except for a short to visit and be the first to leave.
Working for CEO and sponsoring others in connection with The Gathering Church, I slowly began to come out of my prison shell I had built to protect myself and keep others out. This enabled me to meet these fears head on by helping others.
It also led me to know with every certainty, my life purpose.
I was 50 when I finally understood why I was placed on earth. Trust me, It is never too late to build your life, you simply need the right people, at the right time and in the right place.
CEO was apart of the catalyst that began the wheels turning in allowing me to help people heal. Since the age of 14 I've never wanted to be anything other than a cardiac nurse. Disappointment over a dream lost it seemed. But then between God, CEO and The Gathering Church, I realized that dream. I still help heal hearts, I'm still a cardiac nurse, just of a different kind. I'm a counselor and ironically help those who struggle with some of the same things I did.
So, today I give thanks to CEO , Tony Metcalf and all connected to this ministry in some way that touched my life, for believing in me and seeing in myself what I could not see.
Shalom and Blessings
At 40y/o I was released from prison after serving 2yrs in Idoc. A life long resident of Knox co. I was left with a choice, go back to the life I had destroyed or rebuild. I came to Posey co. to stay with my parents and CEO was the first place I stopped. I instantly knew that God had placed me here for a purpose I still don't fully understand. I quickly got involved in my church and community both recieving help and serving others. I found a home and a family. God is on the move and I'm excited about the future.
My name is Jacob Hale I'm a convicted level 2 drug offender but that title does not define who I am today in 2015 I was arrest at the very height of my addiction for dealing in methamphetamines and I thought my life was over looking back I realize I was rescued from my self over the past few years I have been involved with CEO Churches Embracing Offenders and some of the resources they offer are outstanding I enrolled in a class called thinking for a change and learned many ways to channel my aggression it has helped immensely in my home life my wife and children and I communicate so much better today. I also took a class called safer people it was a great experience sometimes we have to learn what a toxic relationship is before we can realize we are in one I thank God for CEO and the people who help make things possible and for believing that people can change thank you for taking time to read a small portion of my big testimony
I volunteer at Branchville Correctional Facility one day a week, teaching a variety of classes, and also mentoring individuals, especially on the unit that provides treatment for men with acknowledged addiction issues. One phrase that is often repeated in substance abuse treatment programming is the central importance of "changing people, places, and things." Without such changes, persons in recovery often return to old, familiar lifestyle patterns which lead toward relapse. When men leave Branchville, CEO provides men returning to Evansville very specific opportunities to change "people, places, and things" by becoming a part of well established, compassionate church communities.
Because CEO staff and volunteers have for years been actively involved in teaching and mentoring at Branchville, this organization is well known in that prison. Each time I'm at Branchville, someone will ask me about CEO, what services are provided, how to become involved on their return to the Evansville area, etc. The men recognize that this organization has been an essential asset in the lives of their friends and associates who have returned to Evansville and could be vital to their successful re-integration in to our community as well.
As the years have gone by, one of the particularly encouraging and gratifying parts of my association with CEO is that I now get to work alongside with CEO graduates, who themselves are volunteering both in Evansville and Branchville, seeking to serve and to point men in the direction of the embrace of compassionate communities and the God who loves and cares for them all.
CEO is good program,for those who want something different. It help me stay out jail. CEO found me a church to work with me and my recovery. It brought God and my recovery program together...after 11yr I am still clean.and. no more trouble..Thank you Doris,for have faith in me.Thank you Charles for working with me. Today with God my life good
I have been around CEO for the past 10 + years. I have seen miracle after miracle happen. There is nothing greater to witness than to see lives transformed from hopeless to hopeful. This organization has changed the lives of so many. I cannot say enough about this organization. I could fill up a library with all the stories of success. What is remarkable is that this program works when all the rest have failed. This program is the answer to so many problems that our society faces today with addictions, families, and jail overcrowding. The more you learn about this organization the more you will understand what it has done for our community. I would highly recommend a book that was produced by it's founder Pastor Everett Freels. There are many stories in the book that would give you a glimpse of how CEO transforms lives and is changing how we deal with addictions.
This program not only gave me a awesome relationship with Jesus Christ, it saved my life. I recommend this program to anyone that is tired of their old way of life. Amazing people!
Churches embracing offenders helped my husband and I get a new start in life. They taught us how to build our house on a firm foundation which is the word of God. Since then even our children have begun to serve a mighty God. It hasn't only affected my husband and I but our children's families and their children. We are grateful for such an as organization as churches embracing offenders
Previous Stories
CEO is a program that saved my life and my husband's as well. CEO helped us to grow more on a spiritual level and helped us to adapt to living a better life in society. My husband and I had been addicted to meth for 20 yrs. We are forever grateful to CEO for helping us on this journey and giving us a whole new group of people to help us stay accountable and taught us how to live life to the fullest. CEO helped us with the restoration of our families. We are forever grateful. Sharon and Donald Woolsey
My life has been transformed by God. He has used Churches Embracing Offenders to give me a chance at being a father and a contributing member of society. Pastor Anthony Metcalf and CEO helps connect people with a Church family that is there to support them, not only at the time of their release, but moving forward as they face the struggles of trying to acclimate themselves to being in society and making right decisions. Each person has a unique set of needs. They have a committee at the Church that they are connected with. That committee is made up of volunteers that genuinely want to see the individual clients succeed in all areas of their lives. CEO helps ex offenders restore and redeem their lives. Families are reconnected. Homes are found. Careers are established. Falling back into the same bad situations are avoided.
Society, as a whole, is changed for the better.
Joy and Hope is found in the lives of so many of the clients.... lives that were hopeless and stuck in a viscous repetitive cycle of failure and heart ache before. How do I know this? Because my life is one of those lives transformed by CEO. I am forever grateful.
My name is Brian J Hahn DOC# 956423.. I spent over 11 years incarcerated and nearly my whole life in addiction. However in 2013 I had an experience where I turned my life over to Christ but yet wondering "what now"? So I took a leap of faith and by word of mouth I asked to be accepted into the CEO program. I was the direction and accountability I needed to guide and teach me a new way of life. Without it I'm not sure I would of made in once I was released. Through the program I was able to take on a job the gave me a career. I also was able to be a volunteer director of a transition house for men like myself. I recently moved in with my family that I had been separated from for over 16 years. CEO is the program that pushed me to be willing and submissive enough to follow Christ and without it I wouldn't be where I am today.. Successful...