I have begun to realize that many details and information about my most recent mission trip were very vague heading into the trip. A major reason for the vagueness was simply because we did not even know exactly what we were going to do once we got there. Even once we were there plans changed sometimes literally on the hour. Now that I have come and gone I know exactly what we did and I am looking forward to unpacking it all here in the blog world. So here is the scoop:
The ministry we worked with is called Casa Betel. Casa Betel has been helping in the restoration progress of drug addicts all over the world with centers in New York City, all over Russia, Australia, India, Ireland, Italy, Spain, etc. Betel practices a “cold turkey program.” The “cold turkey” approach means as a current addict voluntarily applies to the one year program at the center all drugs (heroine, cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, etc) are confiscated and destroyed. There is no detox program or drugs to help off the current addiction. This is very unique from any American program I have been familiar with in the past. Most of the people I talked with came to the program in the bottom of the pit and ready to quit, desperate for God. This desperation leads to a seeking and yearning for restoration that is beyond what I have seen anywhere else.
Betel believes strongly in God breaking addictions and struggles in a moment but also realizes the lifelong process that follows. A process of maturing, growing and making wise choices. This is much like the life of a Christian where we are justified in our salvation by Christ’s life death and resurrection but the process of growing more like Christ (sanctification) continues for a lifetime. When entering the program a new patient is partnered with someone further along in the program whom they follow all daily as a shadow. This shadowing goes from breakfast to work, to prayer to bible study, to church services to dinner time. This shadowing is really a simplified example of true discipleship and fellowship. While in the program patients learn life skills as they work up to 12 hour days. Work choices include cleaning, cooking, farming, woodworking and construction. The money that is made from this labor is then given to the center. This job system works in two ways. First it keeps the patients in the program occupied while teaching them vocational skill and also provides majority of the money needed to keep the center running.
Even after completing a one year program of abstinence members are not necessarily thrown right back into society but can choose to stay a part of Betel and continue to contribute on a daily basis. Mario the missionary who is over all of the Betel Centers in Russia is actually restored born again Christian who came through the center after struggling with drug addiction himself for many years ago. As patients comes through the program and grow many are sent out to start centers in new locations. While in St. Petersburg I had the opportunity to talk with a couple of the men who were about to be sent out to the Ukraine to start a Betel there in the near future. This part of the process is extremely exciting to me as it shows that the ministry is not just for the one individual but rather they are learning that their experience and testimony of how God has healed and restored each of them can bring the same healing and restoration to others all over the world.
The personal implications are huge here. Have all of us received justification through the cross? Is the process are sanctification continuing? Are we voluntarily leaving our addictions? Am I being discipled? Am I discipling someone else? Am I spreading what God is doing in my life to others or am I keeping to myself?
