“I come from an abusive and dysfunctional family. At the age of 16 I used pain pills for the first time with my mother. By the time I was 17 I was using cocaine and pain pills with my mother and sister. At 19 I began using heroin, smoking crack and using needles to shoot up. I have been in and out of jail six times staying for up to six months.

On January 7, 2007 at the age of 20 I was arrested again, and on January 11, 2007 I got saved while in jail and then things started looking up. In March the Lord brought me to The Refuge Ranch, and He has done amazing things for me. He gave me new life in Him!

I graduated the program in March 2008, completed a year of Servant Leadership Training and now I am off to Youth with a Mission. I look forward to serving the Lord and ministering to others like me."

Christine

“I am 22 years old and come from a dysfunctional single parent home and a seven year addiction to drugs. Sitting alone in a hotel room and feeling hopeless caused me to reach out for help. The Lord has brought me to The Refuge Ranch so that I can get my life right with my Savior and to become the mother to my 4 year old daughter He intended me to be.

I graduated the program in March 2008, completed a year of Servant Leadership Training and I am now in Staff Training for The Refuge Ranch. I look forward to what the Lord has in store for me.”

Jenna

“My name is Shelly, I am 42 years old and from Monroe, Georgia. I came to The Refuge Ranch nine months ago after struggling with addiction most of my life. My first addiction was food. Then in December of 1996, I had gastric bypass surgery to lose weight. I truly believed all my problems in life were due to my obesity. When life did not fall into place after losing weight, I turned to drugs and alcohol because I couldn't cope with the pain of feeling like I was a mistake. Since coming to the Ranch I have learned that the lies I believed about myself and God kept me in constant pain and seeking solace in drugs. I am learning to replace those lies with the truth of God's word-that I am loved and completely acceptable to Him because of Jesus. God has brought me out of my misery and into the light of His love.”

Shelly