The is a post from December 2021, when I recognized the changing marketplace for addiction recovery as a result of “Obamacare.” I knew then it was time to consider future changes coming to my ministry. Now, with those changes behind me, I find myself just as busy, just as aware of the need for my ministry and far more relaxed in the doing of it than under the stress of the prior pattern in full time residential care.
Titus 2 Partnership, Inc. Envisions the Future. CBB 12/6/21
We have available to our county several insurance-paid local 30-day in-patient substance abuse programs, a 60 day state-supported residential program, 90-day in-jail programs, multiple sober houses, church-sponsored recovery residences and transitional programs for women seeking substance abuse transition after short term treatment. The number of individuals willing to commit to longer term, six to 12-month residential life recovery, doing intensive twelve step work in a faith-foundational environment are fewer and fewer. Titus 2 is evaluating the continued need for its long term substance abuse residential program as we look to 2022. Other opportunities for transformational ministry to women with life-limiting crises are being explored.
The speed with which addiction destroys lives seems to have accelerated. If survived, the time one is willing to commit to worship-and-work-focused holistic life recovery seems also to have decreased. As soon as one’s immediate crisis is addressed and she regains a sense of peace and reconciliation with God, self, and others, and has job opportunities restored and financial stability is enabled, individuals appear ready to resume their lives, often much as they were before. Additionally, fewer seem willing to address nicotine addiction, along with their other addictive patterns to enter a smoke-free environment.
Because there appear to be so many more shortened and less comprehensive options available and desired, we have seen less demand for the long term structured program we offer and are in prayerful consideration about discontinuing long term residential options for substance abuse recovery.
Instead we see an opportunity for short term intensive spiritual nurture for those who are already detoxed or have no need of substance abuse treatment and desire a brief stabilizing environment to strengthen their relationship with Christ to assess their options before continuing their daily lives.
Titus 2 has tested intensive Christian education and spiritual formation activities of 3 days’ to 2 weeks’ duration for some that do not need long term substance abuse treatment, but that introduce the value of Christian discipleship and developing a biblical strategy for living. Individuals coming for short term intensive Christian life recovery would need to have a plan in place for resuming their work and family commitments after the specified sabbatical stay.
Please join us in prayer as we envision the future of Titus 2’s ministry to women in emotional crisis for whom spiritual emergence is a desired goal.
Thank you for your prayers and support for our ministry.