After years of on going self destructive and selfish decisions, I reached a point in life where I had no hope in no person, idea or anything. The only thing I wanted in life was to work hard, drink hard, and die young. Throughout all this, God had put a very unique person in my life, who set an awesome example of God's love to me (even though I never thought to compare these qualities then). Through listening, encouraging, anger, tears, and never giving up on me, even knowing my gnarliest secrets and actions, I'm quite sure that God told this friend that I was ready. So we met with a couple of the leaders from the SAFE Program. I was so overwhelmed throughout the meeting that I didn't really hear what the program was about (which was good at the time, because the last thing that I wanted was to spend a lot of time under Christian authority, especially sober). SAFE was rough for quite some time, but as I began to soften my heart toward God, the new people in my daily life, and also myself, the process definitely became easier and more rewarding. God put me through all the situations that I needed and hated, and I learned to face them and God, instead of pulling further into myself. Most definitely the hardest, and even more, the best year of my life. I don't fear hardships or challenges anymore. When I do try to take things into my own hands, or to live to please myself, things go downhill real quick. I'm amazed that I am able to go to God and accept his forgiveness and love over and over again, instead of dying inside and filling with hate. I am now filled with his HOPE, PEACE, and UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. There isn't anything that feels better than that. I'm kinda overwhelmed. Quick last thought, opposite of my expectations, I was surprised to find that while in the program, we didn't talk at all about where our lives went off track or what we've done to other people or ourselves. It doesn't matter. You or me can do nothing new under the sun that can push Gods love or forgiveness away. And striving for that is worth any hardship for me.

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When I was young my mother introduced Christ to me. It didn't take long after that for me to turn my back on God and live the way that I wanted. I got bitter towards Jesus and anyone following Him. Not knowing how to be free from drugs, or to put a handle on my unstable emotions, and the guilt that kept piling up. I started going to the SAFE meetings, cause my older bro was in the program. I thought that would be a good chance to get to know him a bit. Jamae's teachings kept coming to my mind. She spoke the truth in a special way. I was sick of life, so it all came down to two choices: Either try to take my life again, or give Jesus a real chance to see if He really had a new life worth living. The year in the SAFE program, Jesus proved Himself trustworthy and wiped my guilt away. Jesus, through the SAFE program, taught me how to build a relationship with Him. Using prayer, God's Word, saturating, practicing self control, and trusting Jesus. Yeah, life is tough, but when I put my faith in Jesus and hold on to his promises, He's always there to give me a future and a hope.

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"Praise God, people, there is hope! There is abundant hope even for the most hopeless. That is exactly what SAFE Ministries offers the drug addicted and emotionally unstable. The most hopeless people in America today are the ones who cannot manage their lives due to addiction or emotional imbalance. However hopeless it may seem, there is a way out of the darkness and despair.

We at SAFE Ministries believe that drug addiction and alcoholism are merely symptoms of a deeper problem. There is a reason why people abuse drugs and allow their emotions to control their lives. It is a spiritual problem, an issue of the heart.

We have discovered that there is only one power strong enough to correct this destructive problem. Simply put, that power is Christ and His supernatural Word. The primary objective of SAFE Ministries is to develop the individual's personal relationship with Christ. This is what makes SAFE so effective and at working with America's worst problems. Jesus is the heart changer and soul saver. I know about this first hand because I once was one of the hopeless. Before I surrendered completely to Christ, I was a drug addict/alcoholic. That all changed when I enrolled in the SAFE program. It was while I was in SAFE that the grave clothes which had bound me so tightly (John 11: 38-44) began to loosen and fall away. I experienced true freedom for the first time in my life at the age of 29! I learned that God not only loved me, but He also thought about my future (Jeremiah 29:11). Today I am living out that future that God had in mind for me…I am pastor of Highlands Baptist Church, Longview, WA.

If God can do this in my life, He can do it in the lives of your friends and loved ones who are also bound in their grave clothes. There is still hope. Jesus is a God of reconciliation and freedom and this is exactly what He wants for you and the people you love.

"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36 (NKJV)

Sincerely,
Kraig Neet
(From Myrtle Creek, OR – Graduate, 11/1995)
SAFE House Director, 1997-99 Senior Pastor Highlands Baptist Church, Longview WA., 2003 - present

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I came to the SAFE program in early 1998 with little more than a history of society’s priorities and a bitter, broken spirit. I brought a suitcase with clothes, but that couldn’t compare with all the other baggage that I brought to SAFE House with me. I felt that I had tried every way possible over the years to do things “right,” but to no avail. No more job, no more wife, no more family – not an unusual story around SAFE Ministries.

When I first walked through the door of the SAFE House, I sensed something different. There was a warmth; there was a caring and a fellowship among the other men in the program; there was hope. I remember thinking that maybe this God I had so recently accepted into my life actually could change my life. That would be a miracle.

God does work miracles. The more I learned about Him, the more I saw what He was doing in the lives of others. The more I recognized what He was doing in my own life, the more I learned to trust and love Him. It took time and a great deal of self-examination to come to the realization that He offered the peace, hope and stability I so desperately sought. I found wisdom, comfort and guidance from the Bible. I found answers through prayer. And, more than anything else, I found that a life in Christ was what I had been seeking for so many years.

The SAFE program provided me with the foundation I needed to construct a life that had once been pretty meaningless and destructive. Through faith, I can now address problems I confront with the knowledge that, with His help and guidance, I can make good and positive decisions. My actions impact others, positively or negatively. My ability to make those decisions that are positive is derived from the tools given to me in SAFE.

The Lord has truly blessed me. My ex-wife is once again my wife. My ex-family is once again my family. I have true friendships, and I have a church family. John 8:36 tells us “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

Indeed. 

Sincerely,
Steve Chapin
(From Battle Ground, Washington - Graduate, 3/1999)
SAFE ministries Admin. Asst. 1999 – present

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"I was raised in a very good home. I was brought up in church and was taught right from wrong. Through the years, I was trying to do what was right. I eventually started abusing alcohol and drugs. Before I knew what was going on, I was a full-blown addict. I eventually lost everything I had worked for all my life. I finally reached a point in my life where I didn’t care if I was dead.

Praise God, I remembered a program in Portland, Oregon called SAFE. I made the call and was accepted into the program. Three days after I arrived in Portland, I gave my life to the Lord. My desire to do drugs was taken away.

Since giving my life to the Lord, I have been truly blessed. I graduated the SAFE program and served as Junior Director and House Director for three years. I now have a relationship with my family, and I got married in July 2002. I praise God for the work He has done in my life. "I now have a future and a hope.”

Sincerely,
Scott Cook
(From Barnsdall, OK - Graduate, 10/1998 ) (House Director 1999 – 2002 )

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"Growing up was hard. I was never comfortable with myself. I started drinking and using drugs at a young age to try to fit in. I got married at 18 years old; the marriage only lasted 2-1/2 years. I got married again and had three children. After 12 years (some good, some bad), my wife left me with nowhere to turn; or so I thought. I turned to I.V. drugs, and that led me to a world of crime, homelessness and helplessness. I had no friends left, and I was in and out of jail.

I checked in to a 6-month treatment center. After about three months, I got in touch with my brother. He was at SAFE Ministries and had asked me if I would like to go to church with him. I started going and liked what I saw going on there. The people were happy and friendly, and I felt at home there right away.

I finished the six months at the treatment center but knew that a 12-step program would not work for me. I still had those feelings of shame, hopelessness and a life with no future. I knew that I needed Jesus in my life and a stable, safe place to build a relationship with my Lord.

I went to SAFE Ministries and enrolled in their inpatient program. For the next year, I watched as God started working in my life. My prayers were being answered, and I started to learn what His will for my life was. The shame and the guilt were going away. I can see a future now. With my life with God, I have the peace and joy that I thought was gone forever.”

Sincerely,
Duane Loumena
(From Portland, Oregon - Graduate, 10/2001 )

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"My name is Forrest H. Healey. I’m very proud to say that I am a graduate of the SAFE program in Portland, Oregon. I was twelve when I first used alcohol and that opened the flood gates for me to a life of turmoil and unbelievable, horrible experiences. I got myself on probation before I was 13. Due to my using and abusing drugs and alcohol, I remained on probation until the age of 26. Then I graduated to prison for 22 months. I got off parole when I was 30 – still using.

One day I said to myself, “I’m either gonna kill myself or end up back in prison. Please, God, Help Me!”

God led me from San Antonio, TX to Portland, OR to an awesome place called SAFE. I’ve learned many tools to live a free and righteous life. The very main one is my relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, I’m eternally free, and I love Him so much for that.

Praise the Lord for making the SAFE program.”

Sincerely,
Forrest Healey
(From San Antonio, Texas - Graduate, 2/2002)

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"I grew up in chaos. My mom was an alcoholic. My dad (even though I never knew him) was an alcoholic. We were off and on welfare while I was growing up. Consequently my adult life has largely reflected that upbringing. I've had children out of wed lock, numerous boyfriends, and a divorce. I would use drugs now and then (Amazingly enough, I've been spared from an actual addiction to any of them). I've had an abortion, lost custody of my two daughters, and have had to stand by and watch as my daughters made poor choices, such as drug use and promiscuous living. One of them is in and out of jail consistently.

I came to SAFE seeking stability. I felt that if I could be stable, then I could offer that hope to my daughters. I definitely found what I was searching for. I've received lots of counseling during my life, but nothing has been more useful than the SAFE program.

These days, I'm letting God guide me. In the past, living with a guy was normal. Now I realize that God is against that. I am important to Jesus. He wants me to value myself as much as He does. Recently, I've made one of the toughest decisions of my life. I've had to separate from the man I've been living with for the past seven years. That was hard! I almost didn't do it. However, I'm beginning to understand that the relationships I've had with men in the past have really been me trying to fill holes and meet needs that only God can satisfy.

All my life, I knew that God was with me no matter where I was. SAFE MINISTRIES has taught me so much more. It's given me tools to help me receive and understand the "Peace" that Jesus offers to all who will seek Him for it. Now I look forward to passing that hope on to my daughters."

Janice Stetson
SAFE GRADUATE 2/2004

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At 15 years of age I was using hard drugs; they were a regular part of my life, and my drug of choice was always speed.

I cleaned up to raise my kids and become “SELF SUFFICIENT”. In three years I became fully self-sustaining. Trying to be the perfect mom, I started taking my boys to church and I think I even went up at invitation time.

I had accomplished all this yet I still felt empty inside. To fill the emptiness I started shooting up methamphetamines. It took me a grand total of 10 months to lose everything in my life. I lost my kids, my home, and my job, my mind. It took all that for me to cry out to God for mercy.

I spent 15 months locked up in jail, and it was there I turned to the Lord. While I was inside, I read my Bible every day and studied with the other women.

When I was released, I remember one of my counselors saying to hang on to your “higher power”. For me that was Jesus. I called the International Life Liners and talked to Quilla Whiten whose husband had worked with many people like me. She gave me information on SAFE ministries.

I made a commitment to the out-patient program. I have learned to put the principles of the Bible into action in my life and follow through with my commitments. SAFE is a Christ centered program that helps you to build a trusting relationship with the Lord. In the SAFE manual we are given formulas for success and everything leads back to the most important thing – leaning on our Lord Jesus and washing our mind with the word of God.

Since my release from prison, I can say truthfully that God is continuing to do a good work in me. He is restoring what was lost. I praise God for leading me here. His grace is SUFFICIENT.

Best regards,
Eelia Miera
(From Coeur d’Alene, Idaho - Graduate 12/2003)

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"In high school I turned to drugs and alcohol because I was severely depressed. I joined the Navy at 17 and became a typical sailor. I was a heavy drinker and was always getting in trouble for my deviant behavior. At 23, I assessed my life and came to the conclusion that I had messed everything up that I had put my hand to.

I turned to Jesus for salvation and asked Him to take charge of my life. I had no idea of how to live the Christian life, and it wasn’t long before I was messing my life up again. I ended up in the SAFE House inpatient program in 1990. I learned all about how to have a good relationship with the Lord. My depression went away, and I no longer felt empty. Since then, the Lord has continued to teach me how to live a life worth living by following Him.”

Sincerely, Jerome Skufca
(From Beaverton, Oregon - Graduate, 9/1991)
House Director, 2002- present

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"I always wanted to be somebody. I wanted to be liked and cared about. I sought to fill those desires through relationships, through being a musician and partaking in what everyone else was doing. In other words: drugs, sex, and rock and roll. I soon learned that these things would not fill the hurtful void I felt, but drugs did kill the pain for a short time. Eventually, I became a full-time addict, which led to the loss of everything!

Praise the Lord! Jesus didn't give up on me. He used the lowest point in my life to reveal Himself to me. Soon I gave up and turned my life over to Him, and He received me gladly. Through circumstances only He could have made possible, He brought me to SAFE. What a blessing! He's taught me so much through this ministry and blessed me with awesome brothers and sisters. Now, I'm playing music that gives glory to God, and I'm learning how to have true, meaningful, Godly relationships. I've been clean for over a year and a half because that void that created so much pain is now filled with Jesus Christ."

O.K., there goes God again. The same day that Troy e-mailed me to ask if I’d update my testimony, while at work, they brought me an old I.D. badge with my picture, before I was saved. WOW! One of my co-workers asked if I tried to forget that guy I once was. My reply was that I never wanted to forget that guy lest I forget the grace of God!

So, it’s been three years since my first writing. What has God been doing in my life? There’s not enough room to write it all, though two things come as highlights. First, His continued revealing of Himself drawing me to a deeper relationship with Him. And second, He has blessed me to be praise leader in our church and an encourager in S.A.F.E. This blessing doesn’t come because I’m something, but because He has chosen to allow me to see Him at work in the lives of others. There’s nothing that could take the place of knowing Him!!! Thank You, Jesus!!!!

Sincerely,
Dan Chumbley
Graduate, 2/2001
Gresham, Oregon

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