WEBVTT
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Well, welcome back, everybody.
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Here's another episode of Miking Disciples.
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I'm Mike Willis.
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I'm the ministry development pastor here at High Point Church, and I I love doing this and meeting with you on here every episode we have.
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And I want to welcome today Pastor Andy Blair, my good friend, who's also the executive director of Refuge on the Ridge, just adjacent to our church campus here.
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But they're doing a great work, and you're going to get to hear a little bit more about his story and about what God has done in the past and how he brought him here and what he's doing now.
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So, Andy, welcome, man.
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Hey, man.
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It's uh it's actually it, man, uh it's just good to sit across the desk from you again.
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Absolutely.
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We used to do this every day and don't get to very often anymore.
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It's awesome.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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Um, I I want to just hear a little bit.
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I know that that you're the executive director of this, you founded it.
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Uh five years now, you guys have been uh helping families and helping men, and but I want to hear first how you got here to Lake Wales and maybe a little bit of your own story of what you've seen God do in your life.
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Well uh wow, well, okay.
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So um, you know, if you if it's one of those, you know, you just look now looking back, you can always see, you know, all the pieces, all the steps that God was putting together.
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But uh, you know, I I I got to Lake Wales.
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I uh was pastoring a church in um Natchez, Mississippi, right?
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Now I always tell people if you ever get a chance to go there, pass.
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And uh now it's beautiful people there.
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And uh, but uh I I um uh we my wife and I, Becky, had come to Orlando to go to uh spring break vacation, and it was about 40 degrees one day, and I'm like, oh, we're not gonna do anything.
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So uh friend of mine, Ken Love, who's actually the state pastor for um uh Church of God I in Anderson, Indiana.
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Anyway, he he was um talking to me about an opportunity that he had, and uh he said, Hey man, I'm I'm riding to Lake Wales today for a cluster meeting where all the pastors get together and we just have some fellowship and talk about you know issues and what's going on in their lives.
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And and he said, you know, if you want to ride along, do it.
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And uh I didn't have anything else to do.
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So uh I jumped in the car and and we came to Lake Wales and and it was at the old building.
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Yeah.
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In the old youth building.
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Good times.
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Youth youth room youth room.
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And uh, you know, there's four or five guys there.
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I and I remember meeting Pastor Jack that day, and um I felt like we, you know, just as a group, I I was trying to just listen, but you know, they asked my opinion on some things.
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And so we got we got done, and um and Pastor Jack approached me and he said, Hey man, I I I something to the effect of I really liked what you had to say in there.
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You know, we're looking for would you ever consider moving back to Florida?
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We're looking for a family life pastor.
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And uh he probably doesn't know this to this day, but I guess if he ever listens to this, we'll find out if he listens to this podcast.
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Yeah.
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Um before he could say that, I I wanted to scream yes.
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So, I mean, we we had been not not actively looking to get back to Florida, but that was always, you know, this is home for us.
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We've been in Florida a long time.
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This is our third trip to Florida, and um, so you know, my only concern was going to be a family life pastor from being a senior pastor or whatever.
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Anyway, so um he said, Yeah, um we we'd love to talk to you.
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I'm not in charge of that.
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You know, I might have to get you with Pastor Bonnie, and she's on vacation in Mexico or something like that.
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I think so.
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I think she was.
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And you know, you you know my patience with that.
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So I wanted the interview and the acceptance and all that to happen that day.
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Yeah, and that's really not how it went down.
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So still doesn't.
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Yeah, it still doesn't, and I understand that.
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But uh that's that's just a happened happenstance of a meeting uh that I happened to be at for no reason.
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I had no, you know, so that's how I got to Lake Wales.
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Yeah.
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I heard one time a coincidence is when God gets involved but chooses not to tell anybody.
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Oh, that's good.
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Uh I've never forgotten that.
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I don't know who said it, but um, yeah, that sounds like what you experienced there for sure.
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Yeah.
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So you came here, what when did you and Becky move here?
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Uh we moved here, I I believe in June of 2017.
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Okay.
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Right after I got married then.
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As a matter of fact, maybe you were on your honeymoon or something when I got here.
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Is it was one of those times.
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I kind of think you're right.
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I remember that now because I had gotten back into town and then um you all had something happen in your family that was kind of traumatic, and and one of your daughters was hurt.
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And so I remember coming back and going to the hospital to see you guys.
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That was on my first about that.
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Yeah.
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My first day of employment.
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Welcome to Lake Wales.
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Yeah, welcome to Lake Wales.
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Okay.
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I forgot that that happened.
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I mean, I remembered the accident, but I didn't remember that you had just moved here then.
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Yeah.
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Um, tell me a little bit about what you did.
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What was your role here as Family Life Pastor?
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What were some of the things you did each and every day?
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Well, you know, um my my job was to kind of bring together a cohesive um ministry to children and to children up through college.
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So we looked at um uh we well, we we had to look at obviously curriculum was a big one.
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Yeah, that was the start.
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We we tried to build a culture of of family life ministry, which I believe we we really did get that off to a nice little start, and I'm so happy that it continues today.
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It does, yeah.
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Yeah, and so um building a team and and building a culture is really what I was brought in to do.
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And then, you know, as you know, we we just it's all hands on deck here.
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Right.
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So whatever needs to be done, and I love that about this place, it's like everybody jumps in and um it this is yeah, it's a lot of fun here.
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Yeah, yeah.
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What are some of the things you remember seeing God do here?
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Wow.
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Well, uh one of the uh you know, one of the big ones was uh the building that we were in, yes, which was um can you say turd on a on a on a on a podcast?
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Well, I mean me and on mine.
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I'm the host, so go for it.
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Okay, so so it was a building that, you know, we kind of it had outgrown its usefulness to us.
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That's a good better way of putting it.
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And uh and and it was, you know, I don't know.
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I just felt at the time, and I know you did too, God was moving and and there was and then we hit got hit with COVID, and wow, it was just a it was a weird time, wasn't it?
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It was, yeah.
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Um so so anyway, the fact that um we had the school there next door, Victory Ridge, who was looking to expand, and they were really the only people in the whole world that that wanted that property, right?
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And it fit in, it fit into their so um we were able to to you know have a big dream and a vision, and we were able to procure the property that we're at here today.
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And um, man, that was that was a big one.
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Uh because and then when we looked, we you know, how long do we look for property?
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Oh, I mean, it what's on the agenda for work today?
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Well, we're traveling around looking at every nook and cranny and building and field that we can find around us.
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Yeah, yeah.
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We did that so many days.
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We found some we found things wrong with every place we looked at.
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We did.
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Right.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Except this open field.
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Yeah, exactly.
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This uh overgrown orange grove of almost 20 acres.
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And here we are, you know, we were talking about this in our meeting yesterday that um next January will be five years.
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We've been here.
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That's crazy.
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I know.
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I know and God just keeps moving, he keeps doing great things.
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Um so at some point we were in a staff meeting together, and I don't know how long you had been here, but we you talk about this story a lot uh when you're speaking about the beginning of Refuge on the Ridge.
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And we're in that staff meeting that day.
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Uh we had to sell that building, we rented from Victory Ridge while we were building this building we're in now where we're recording, and we had rented these this office space.
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Um it was the five or six of us and the rats that came in through the garage door, and um, you know, they took over at night and watched over the place for us.
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Yes, they did.
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But we were sitting in our staff meeting in that other room, and you take me back to that moment.
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Okay, what did you say?
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What do you remember Pastor Jack saying?
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What do you remember about the feel of when all of us were kind of chiming in about where where this is going?
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Okay, so so let me back up for a minute.
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So when and I don't remember this.
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Bonnie Bonnie Pastor Bonnie can tell you this.
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She says she said this, so I believe her.
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But you know, when you came when they gave me the tour of Lake Wales back in 2017 or end of May, yeah, it was 2017.
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They they one of the stops on the tour was the Chalet Suzanne with all the history.
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And so, you know, I it and I I I have to tell you though, I didn't look at that place at the time and go, wow, this would be a great place for a rehab.
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I I wasn't in that mode.
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But she says she told me that don't even think about opening up a rehab there.
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And and sounds like something she'd say.
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Yeah, and so then I look at it in in the shape it was in, and I probably thought no no chance of that happening.
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So um, but anyway, so so fast forward three plus years, and uh we we were we had we were getting ready to or we had just broken ground on this piece of property.
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I don't remember which.
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And man, I I just you know life was good.
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I I loved my job, I love the team I was working with.
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I mean, you know, awesome co-workers.
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The most awesome dude ever, my buddy Mike.
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And uh so but God just put something on my heart that you know, here we are maybe a hundred yards from this from this former uh place you know that was this resort, and and and I don't I don't know what happened, but it just started waking me up at night.
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And uh I I just kept the God just kept giving me his dream, man.
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Like somebody, I mean, we all know Polk County is you know, supposedly everybody jokes it used to be or is the meth capital of the world, whatever.
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But but I but there as we when you and I started CR, I mean, we saw that there was a huge need for for a recovery.
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And and myself being um clean and sober since 2006, you know, I always knew that recovery ministry of some sort would be in my future.
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And I've I've tried to force myself into that several times in the last almost 20 years, but um and it never worked.
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So here's what happens.
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So, you know, I I I was taught and have been taught, and now I teach, that if if something's bothering you, you you gotta get it out because if something's inside you, it kind of owns you.
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But if I talk about it, it kind of loses its power over you.
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So so I came to the staff meeting just like every other Monday, and I just decided I'm gonna I'm gonna spill the beans today and say this, and then once I get it out, then I'll be free of it.
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I'll feel free of it.
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Where are we going to lunch?
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Yeah, exactly.
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That's so so I just said something about I said, you know, we'd done whatever we need to do, and I believe I said, hey, I I got something I need to share.
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I need I got something I need to get off my chest, and um I just said, and I think man, I wish we had a recording of that.
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That would be great, wouldn't it?
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Oh, but I think I said I somebody needs to start a rehab over at the old Chelly Suzanne.
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And and uh I was like, so there, that's it.
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That's all I got to say.
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We you know, where are we going to where are we gonna go?
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We're gonna go to the place where we don't get enough salsa or where are we going to eat lunch?
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Yeah.
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And and Pastor Jack said, Hold on a minute.
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Uh he said, well, and he said something to the fact that, well, hold on, may maybe that person's you.
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And and I think I said, No, I'm not, no, I don't, no, I didn't say me, I just said somebody.
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And then he said this.
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He goes, first of all, that's exactly the type of ministry that our churches should be doing.
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Yeah.
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And he kind of punched me, and I'm like, oh, here we go.
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And then he says, Andy, here's what we're gonna do.
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We're gonna walk through this and we'll see if God's in this.
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And if God's in it, it will be very apparent.
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And if he's not, then we'll you know, we'll just move on.
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Well, I already knew, I already knew at that point, I already knew what was gonna happen.
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So I think that was in gosh, I I don't know, was that February or March of 2020?
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Uh maybe 21.
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No, because we o we opened in 2020.
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Oh, yeah.
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Okay, so it had to be 24.
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Yeah, it was 20.
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And uh so we were probably sitting six feet apart during that meeting.
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We were, or if it was before COVID, I don't know.
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I I don't I don't remember.
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Um, but but the point of it is is is so then then here's what happened.
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Um we just man, we started making we made a couple phone calls, this went there, and I tell people now, it was like God parted the Red Sea.
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And and and in September of 2020, I resigned from the church, and I don't know what I was doing.
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I didn't know how to, you know what I mean?
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I didn't have any money.
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I I started to write a business plan, you know, because I have a lot of experience in corporate America, and and after about five minutes, I looked at it and I go, this is the dumbest business plan that anybody's ever put in front of anybody.
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So I just tossed that aside.
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And uh man, I you know, High Point was was nice in in paying my salary for a period of time so that I we could get established, which I I mean, again, God, but God, I mean, I I don't know, I don't know how we did what we did, Mike.
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I really don't.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Well, I do remember him Pastor Jack saying that's the exact kind of ministry churches need to be doing.
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One of the things I love about him is he'll say that, but then he'll back it up.
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He'll be like, okay, well, what do we need to do to we?
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We're in this with you.
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Yeah.
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And and you saw that, and he's still on your board to this day, and we still love every one of the guys that comes through your doors and um have you know lots of uh great memories of that, and and just seeing where God has taken it now is incredible.
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Every time I get to come to a commencement, yeah, it it's just so powerful.
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You know, it's funny you say that.
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I I always think about that.
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The f our first commencement, I think I'd been about four days removed from knee surgery, and uh my first knee surgery, and I think there were maybe 20 people there for our first graduation in the youth room.
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And and I think the um I think there were close to, if not 300 people at our last commencement ceremony, which is man, uh if that's not the power of what God's doing in in this ministry, it's it's crazy.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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Because we all know I'm not smart enough to do this.
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Well, you just brought some people around you that are.
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Well, yeah, there you go.
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Yeah.
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Um so your your mission statement is putting families back together, one man and one family at a time.
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Okay.
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Um tell me about that.
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Where did that mission statement come from?
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Where did the name of the ministry come from?
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Uh tell us about that.
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Because there's people listening to this that don't know what Refuge on the Ridge is.
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Right.
00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:55.039
So spend a couple minutes telling us about that and and what the heart of it is.
00:15:55.279 --> 00:16:03.360
So, so we we're we're a 10-month faith-based uh regeneration program, which you know, I'm a word guy.
00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:08.960
Um, I've always been aware, I've always been a reader, and so um I think words are important.
00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:13.279
So, so I I want to talk, I'll talk about regeneration real quick.
00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:21.039
Um, you know, a lot many in this industry or whatever talk about rehab or rehabilitation.
00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:28.559
Well, in my mind, rehabilitation means bringing it back to what it was, right?
00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:34.159
I I don't think for for me, I I'm not interested in being back to what I was, right?
00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:39.519
I I I feel like I mean I have a new life in Christ and and I'm a new creation.
00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:51.039
So uh regeneration is more of a uh a really uh picture of what we do and what or what we try to do and and what happened in my life.
00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.080
So um so that that that and that's important.
00:16:54.240 --> 00:17:00.240
And then and when it comes to um the name refuge on the ridge, obviously we're on the ridge.
00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.360
That was an easy one.
00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:08.720
I really struggled with refuge for a while because I didn't want this to be a hiding place.
00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.759
Like a lot of times, you know, you that makes sense.
00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:15.759
Sometimes that word could say, oh well, they're there he's he's in a refuge.
00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:20.240
Well, he's you know, he's hiding from something or he's you know laying low or whatever.
00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:27.839
No, I I had to get in my mind that the pr that most people don't think that, but the refuge is it that's what it is.
00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:35.680
It's a place for people to come and experience the healing that that we believe that only God can give them.
00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:49.200
So you know, one of the things that I remember from my time in in treatment was it wasn't so much what I what I the information that I got.
00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:53.680
I mean information everybody knows you shouldn't drink or use drugs, right?
00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:58.720
If that if that did it, then that would I we'd be all be real relevant.
00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:24.640
But the the important thing is is to use that time away from the the phones and the and the and the family and the work and the chaos of this world so that we can actually just slow down for a while and focus on what's really important, and that is either um beginning and developing or enhancing our relationship with God.
00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:33.119
And and so the next part of that question was you asked putting families back together, one man, one family at a time.
00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:54.720
I I I can just tell you that the only the only again, I think that's a God thing, but the thing that I remember thinking was that's exactly what happened to me was um you know my my my life was um I got to the point where you know my mother said she loved me, but she didn't like me, she didn't want to be around me.
00:18:54.880 --> 00:19:05.839
You know, my wife was my wife and I were, I mean, it was done, that was over, my job, even my best friend, everything, everything in my life cornered me at one moment, which is which which is beautiful.
00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:16.720
But um by by surrendering my life to God and by doing the right things, I I got to put each piece of that back together.
00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:18.640
It didn't all happen at once.
00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:25.039
And so I love the part that we talk about one man, one family at a time, because it's a step process, right?
00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:56.880
And so um for me the thing that I love ever since I got into recovery was watching a a man reunite with his wife, or or more importantly, watching a child run up to their father uh who they haven't seen in a while, and just with that complete abandon of love, and uh and and so so we as addicts and alcoholics are are not really used to that either, right?
00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:02.799
Because we've we've been such a disappointment and mostly in our own minds to our families for a long time.
00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:07.519
So so I think that that I don't know where that came.
00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:34.240
God is the only thing I can tell you is where that actually came from, but I can tell you that even to this day, watching those watching the light go on in a man's eyes or his children's eyes or his mom's or his dad's, you know, for somebody to come up and say, you know, my I've got my son back, is I mean, there there's there's no greater there's no greater thing in my life than than to hear those words.
00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:36.880
And you did you helped me with that very thing.
00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:49.200
You know, when we were um when we started celebrate recovery and we launched it in what 2018, and um I remember we went through like a nine-month planning process for this.
00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:59.839
And uh one night we were in one of those planning sessions, and um we were looking at the different groups that that we could offer, the different open sharing groups, and there was one for codependency.
00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:09.119
And I'm reading through this, and it just kind of describes someone that's struggling in that area, struggling to have healthy boundaries with people.
00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.960
They enable bad behavior.
00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:12.480
I I could go down the list.
00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:14.960
It that flyer is still on my desk to this day.
00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:18.400
I'd pick it up and read it every now and then, and I blurt out.
00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.279
Do you remember this?
00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:23.759
I blurted out, oh my gosh, I'm the poster child for codependency.
00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.200
And you didn't miss a beat.
00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:28.880
You just said, Well, I guess we know who's gonna lead that group for men, don't we?
00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:33.440
And so so that kind of started me down that path.
00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:38.880
What I didn't realize, I thought I was just helping lead celebrate recovery because it's something our church needed.
00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.039
Yeah.
00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:39.680
And we did.
00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.640
And we still do.
00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.480
We're going on nine years now.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:49.839
Um, what I didn't realize was what God was gonna do in me and for me, and really through me.
00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:59.839
And so, in an order in learning healthy boundaries, because of how you were helping me, even um my my oldest son was you know involved in drug addiction.
00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.640
At the time and didn't live in this area.
00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:08.559
My first wife had passed away, and he was grieving, and I was grieving, and I felt bad for him.
00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:13.920
So when I I enabled his behavior for far too long, costing far too much money.
00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:18.720
And finally I drew the line in the sand and said, I'm not doing this anymore.
00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:27.599
And I didn't hear from him for a while, but it gave me the confidence to establish those boundaries and then start building them.
00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:31.279
I also learned how to communicate better with him.
00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:37.920
And um I remember I'd come into the office and we would sit across our desks faced each other like we are right now.
00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:41.599
And about every day I was like, You're not gonna believe what I was able to do with my son.
00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.880
You're not gonna believe what I did.
00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:45.200
And and you just kept saying, I'm so proud of you, man.
00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:45.759
Keep doing it.
00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.319
So even then you were doing what you're doing now.
00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:48.799
Yeah.
00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:51.119
Um, and I'll I'll never forget that.
00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:57.440
It has changed my life, it has changed my relationship with my son, who is a completely different guy.
00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.319
Oh, absolutely.
00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:02.799
I tell people all the time he get he got saved and got sober and got a spouse.
00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:07.920
And all three of those have contributed to him being a completely different man.
00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:10.240
Um, and I'm super thankful for that.
00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:14.799
And um, but that's that's what you're talking about, that one man, one family at a time, right?
00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.079
Yeah, it it is.
00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.160
That that's a perfect example.
00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:23.200
What's one of the most surprising things you've seen God do at Refuge on the Ridge?
00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.839
Wow.
00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:31.839
He doesn't get stumped like this very often, folks.
00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.640
Yeah.
00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:42.000
And I you know I I don't know that there's I think every day's a miracle there.
00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:51.759
I I go back to I go back to I I mean I'm I just jumped in with both feet and and I had you know what I mean?
00:23:51.839 --> 00:24:07.759
I I just I had complete trust that God was in that because it was so apparent that you know here we are in a whole different position, you know, after five years of um so so let me let me think about that.
00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:25.680
I the stories that I have, the things that have happened, um you know, there's just you know men who who haven't seen their children in six years and and now have um great relationships and I I just it the man the stories go on and on.
00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:36.640
But I think um here's one of the things I that I love is is I have been, and you know this about me, I get bored easily, right?
00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:38.079
After about five minutes.
00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:47.759
So so in all the jobs I've ever had in in even incorporated ministry, it's like you know, the same, you know, everyday sort of, there's a routine and all that.
00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:58.480
I think one of the things that God did this in this particular assignment is he said to me, Okay, I got you, because this will, A, this will never be done.
00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:06.720
There's never there's never a way that you can win an award or or you know what I mean that to finish this and then say, okay, what's next?
00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:09.680
Because it it there is no end date.
00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.759
And the second one is it's always different.
00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.960
Every day's different.
00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:15.839
So I mean, I try to plan my schedule.
00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:16.240
Sure.
00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:18.000
I mean, you know, you know a planner I am.
00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:18.640
Yeah, yeah.
00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:20.240
Well, that's a joke, but right.
00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:22.799
Um, but I you know, there are certain things like this.
00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:26.400
I had to plan this, but man, you just never know what's gonna happen.
00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:31.920
Yeah, so uh I think God's big joke on me is here's here you go, Andy, here's your assignment.
00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:39.680
Uh, there's you you don't get to win anything, there's no end date, and um you will promise that you'll never be bored.
00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:42.720
Well, that's him looking out for you, then I guess, right?
00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.519
Exactly.
00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:47.119
Um, you you've talked about this a little bit already, but I want to hear it more.
00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:52.960
Here at High Point Church, we one of our goals is that we want to see people serve God passionately.
00:25:53.680 --> 00:26:05.279
And um I I tell people all the time that means that if you're passionate about worship music, we're not gonna have you teaching two-year-olds because the you know there I'm sorry, but there's no opening to lead worship here.
00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:07.759
So we're gonna put you over here with the two-year-olds for now.
00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:08.240
Right.
00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.680
That doesn't help you.
00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:15.039
It doesn't help the two-year-old, and it doesn't help the people that you would be encouraging if you were leading worship.
00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:23.039
So serving passionately is really about understanding who you are, what God's gifted you to do, what he created you to do in advance.
00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:26.319
And um I I want to hear from you.
00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:30.559
Obviously, you have to be passionate about what you're doing about recovery.
00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:35.200
You've got your own story, every day's different, all those things you just talked about.
00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:39.839
But why are you so passionate about what God has you doing now?
00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:59.599
I I think, well, because I've been through it, um, and I think and I don't know if this is true for everything, but I I can tell you that from addiction recovery, no one can reach another one like one.
00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.119
You know what I mean?
00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:19.200
So um you may be a doctor and have all your you could be a counselor, have all the certifications and all that kind of stuff, but you don't understand, and this is I don't know how scientific this is, but this in the recovery community, this is well known.
00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:41.519
No one can reach another addict or alcoholic like an addict or alcoholic because they understand the depths that it can take you down, they understand the feelings, and so I think uh I I'm gonna go back to the other part that I'm so passionate about is because I know what I know what I was given when when I first came into recovery.
00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:49.519
I I was surrounded by by men who who lived out exactly what what I try to teach these guys.
00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:55.839
Um you know, we're we're pretty crafty people and we're pr we're the best liars in the world, right?
00:27:56.160 --> 00:28:00.640
So um we don't really pay a lot of attention to what other people say.
00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:02.559
We watch how they live their lives.
00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:18.799
And so I watched men walk this thing out through church and through um a relationship with God and through AAA and NA and those sorts of things where they they understood that that they're that is their life.
00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:23.839
And and so I I kind of want to go off on a little tangent here.
00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:42.319
I I one of the things there was there was a couple of things that really changed me when I when I first got sober, um, I started volunteering as a youth in the youth ministry over at a church in Safety Harbor, and um I was and I tell people this all the time.
00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:43.359
I'll I'll start with this.
00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:54.400
I spent the first 39 years of my life serving Andy, and I made a promise on the plane when I went to rehab that I would spend the rest of whatever time I had left serving him.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.000
That's good.
00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:58.000
Wow, and and I meant that.
00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:11.759
And um this is what I tell people all the time, and and you know this, but but I fell in love with Jesus, and I fell in love with this life of recovery by serving others.
00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:15.759
I mean, there were so many mission trips and things that we went on.
00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:26.079
Um I I don't even know if you know this story, I'll tell it quickly, but they um we went to a place called Church on the Street in Atlanta and my son went to that.
00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:27.039
Oh, anyway.
00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:27.920
A couple years.
00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:33.440
Yeah, so so on this was on this particular time, this was the last day.
00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:35.759
We had met these these people at a certain park.
00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:39.519
They live in the parks and travel nights and down there.
00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:46.480
And uh, there was a group of these people that we had met on the first day, and um, I don't know, we just had a connection, you know.
00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:53.359
And those people say, Um, you know, because you think you're gonna go serve the homeless people in Atlanta.
00:29:53.440 --> 00:30:03.200
And they say, look, you know, they would tell me, Andy, we've got we got all the socks, we got all the toiletries, we got all the food, you wouldn't believe the food we have, clothes, we don't need any of that.
00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:06.160
What we miss is human interaction.
00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:09.839
All we really want is for somebody to sit down and listen to us.
00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:18.480
So I met these this this people, this group on the first day, and on the last day, I was bound and determined to find them.
00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:26.799
And I said, I'm not leaving Atlanta until I find this group of people because I want, I want to, I want to pray for them, I want to, you know, tell them I love them.
00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:31.920
And um, so anyway, we we you know, coincidence again, right?
00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:38.720
We we found these people um at one of the parks downtown and and they were like, oh my gosh, we're so happy.
00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:41.920
And so we we spent a little time, you know, chatting it up.
00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:46.960
And then I said, Well, listen, before I before I before we leave, I want to pray for you.
00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:52.960
And this man looked at me and said, No.
00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:58.799
We have a gift for you and we want to pray for you.
00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:05.200
I completely flipped my every my whole world was flipped upside down.
00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.440
Right.
00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:14.000
I I could not comprehend how somebody could be living on the streets of Atlanta wanted to give me something.
00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:16.240
It's a it's this big, it's this big chain.
00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.119
I still have it.
00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:18.640
It's like the most gaudy.
00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:21.279
It's my prize possession, though, right?
00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:23.440
It's silver, this this huge cross.
00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.839
And they prayed a prayer over me.
00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:32.720
And that was that at that point, it was I was kind of teetering on this whole ministry as a vocation.
00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:37.920
I just couldn't wrap my hand around the income part of that.
00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:41.519
So, but that that was a that changed my life.
00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:52.000
And so when I got a little taste of that servanthood, and that's what I told always tell people, you you serve, you serve, and serve until you until you want to.
00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.440
What you always say it.
00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:57.599
You don't serve because you have to, you do, you serve because you get to.
00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:01.599
Yeah, and and at that moment in my life, I understood that I got to serve.
00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:06.000
Yeah, where God had taken me from, and where God put me.
00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:09.279
And so that's that's the big thing at the ridge.
00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:12.240
You know, we serve here, we serve the community a lot.
00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:21.200
We do a lot of all the festivals, Orange Blossom Review, and um uh, you know, those that need help, we we got guys and we throw it out.
00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.960
People get their house ready to sell.
00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:25.359
We do that, we do, we do, yeah, we do lots of things.
00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:34.319
Yeah, but but the point is, is is and that's one of the things that I this program, and and maybe it's different.
00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.920
I don't really care if it's different.
00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:49.599
I teach servant because man, if you want to stay clean and sober and you start getting in your head and you start um, oh poor pitiful me, or I'm having a bad day, go help somebody else.
00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:52.000
And and that that that has worked for me.
00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:57.839
I I I got that pounded into my head, and so I try to pound it into our guy's head.
00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:59.359
That that has always helped me.
00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:04.000
I've never heard the church, uh the uh church street church on the street story.
00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.119
Yeah, that's amazing.
00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.720
Powerful ministry.
00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:14.960
Um and you know, you're right, from the very beginning when we moved into this building, you and I had a conversation that you all wanted to help.
00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:15.359
Yeah.
00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:19.440
And so we decided, I've I don't remember whose idea it was, probably yours.
00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.880
Well, if it was a good one, it was mine.
00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:22.319
If it was a bad idea, it works for me.
00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:23.839
Yeah, because it's working great.
00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.400
So yeah.
00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:27.119
Um, so your guys serve on our parking team.
00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:27.440
Yeah.
00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:43.599
And man, I can't tell you how many times I'm in connection track with people that are new here or are meeting guests here, and they rave about the attitude and the welcoming that they get from the parking team.
00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.759
Um and they don't even know that.
00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.960
You know, they don't pull up.
00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:51.119
Your guys don't have orange vests on that say refuge on the ridge.
00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:54.079
Yes, i you know, and nobody knows that.
00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.480
Yep.
00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:57.680
And when they find that out, they're just blown away sometimes.
00:33:57.839 --> 00:34:05.359
But I love because that's one of the teams I lead here, and I get to spend time with those guys and sometimes and celebrate recovery if they come.
00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:18.960
And you know, being a part of what you're doing and being in with you at recovery church sometimes on Wednesdays, and just building relationships with them, yeah, and seeing them walk that out of how they enjoy serving here.
00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:19.360
Yeah.
00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:22.960
And and some of them will say, I've never had a church welcome me like that.
00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.800
Listen, I love that.
00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:26.960
That I think that that honors God.
00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:28.079
It does.
00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:41.119
And and I I always tell people, you know, the this church has loved, and I'm not, and of course I'm talking about the staff and all that, but I mean the people have loved our guys.
00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:48.880
And they're such, you know, they're and I think we're kind of shifting away from that in society because what does a drug addict look like?
00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:52.559
You know, it looks way different today, probably than it did 25 years ago.
00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:53.280
That's true.
00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:53.599
Yeah.
00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:56.960
So, you know, they're they're they walk among us, as they say.
00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:16.079
And so, so I think the persona is, and and for most of these guys, though, they've been shamed and they've been put down, and you know, and and and the people here, the love of the people here, that nobody's ever said to me, um, well, you know, somebody at church says something about oh, you're just an old drug addict or anything.
00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:16.800
You know what I mean?
00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:17.679
Like none of that.
00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:28.000
Now, the other the other part, which you and I know, is how important that ministry is to the church, because a lot of people make decisions pulling into the parking lot where they're coming back.
00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.760
All the time to our starting point here.
00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:30.239
Yeah.
00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:32.719
And and so, I mean, and they don't they don't know that.
00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:38.800
Every now and again I have to, you know, if somebody gets their noise at nose out of join or something, I have to say, here's why we do this.
00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:40.719
And they're like, Oh, really?
00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:42.719
Yeah, that's important, man.
00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:47.440
Yeah, you you you hold the keys to maybe somebody accepting Jesus or not.
00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.880
And that's that's kind of a big deal.
00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:49.440
Yeah.
00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:58.480
I mean, people are making decisions whether they're gonna come back before they get to the front door and hear the great worship and you know the excellent preaching that we have.
00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:58.800
Yeah.
00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:00.000
Especially this past Sunday.
00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:01.360
This past Sunday, yeah.
00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:04.960
And um, you know, and and so that it's a huge part of that.
00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:12.639
And I love I try to get out there and say hello to them as often as I can and for their team huddle because it is important.
00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:12.880
Yeah.
00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:16.079
Uh it's one of the most important ministries we have here, actually.
00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:16.320
Right.
00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:18.800
And so I I love the fact that we have it.
00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:29.840
I love the fact of how we use it to welcome people, but I love even more who's behind it and who's serving out there and and what you see God doing in each of those guys.
00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:37.440
Um this whole idea of this podcast is to because Jesus told us to go and make disciples.
00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:40.320
And that's really what Miking Disciples is all about.
00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:45.440
It started as a a stupid name that I use as my Twitter handle years ago.
00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:46.719
I still use it for that.
00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.039
Okay.
00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:49.840
I don't get on there very often, but no such thing as Twitter anymore.
00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:52.159
I know I have I know that.
00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:58.639
But if I said X, then I have to explain to some people that it's Twitter, and you know, it it doesn't matter.
00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:01.119
You think Pastor Jack knows Twitter's no longer?
00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:04.000
I'll make sure that I get that information to him.
00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:06.000
So I don't think he's on it very much anyway.
00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:07.280
I wouldn't think so.
00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:15.599
But um you know that that's what the whole pro the whole idea behind this is, is to help make men into disciples of Jesus.
00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:17.920
And so that's really what I want to ask you about.
00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:22.079
Now, what is the the men that you have that you work with that you see coming in?
00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:25.519
Because not everybody that's interested in the program comes.
00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:25.760
Right.
00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:28.800
And not everybody that comes stays the 10 months.
00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:29.039
Right.
00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:37.360
And in fact, you've had men get finish and then come back because they realized this is a community that I need to be around.
00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:37.679
Yeah.
00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:43.920
In order for me to live the life I need to live in recovery and freedom, I need to be around people like this.
00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:44.159
Yeah.
00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:45.119
So they'll come back.
00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:51.199
Some of them stay in a transitional housing area that you have, some of them come on staff with you.
00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:51.519
Yeah.
00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:57.840
So, what is the biggest challenge you see in helping this happen and helping make disciples of men?
00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:00.559
Okay, well, I'm back up a little bit.
00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:05.599
I think and uh I love that word because people say, What do you do there?
00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:07.519
And and a lot of times I can't explain it.
00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:09.840
I believe that's what we do is we make disciples.
00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:11.119
Totally agree with that.
00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:23.519
Because, you know, one a huge part of that program is accountability and responsibility, which you know, you've never you never wanted to take responsibility for anything you've ever done in your life.
00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:25.199
It was always somebody else's fault.
00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:31.199
Uh, and then the so the accountability piece is that's the most important.
00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:32.639
Let's talk about that for a minute.
00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:33.119
Okay.
00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:41.280
Because um, you know, we require them to do certain things, you know, they don't we have to have to be on time.
00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:47.039
These are silly things, but man, you would not believe well yeah, yeah, you would believe.
00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:57.280
You know, there's the generation of the that the the the of these young people, it's like they come and go as they please, they do what they want when they want, and and so it's important.
00:38:57.519 --> 00:39:00.559
I mean, if we're gonna follow Jesus, we we gotta act like Jesus.
00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:00.880
Right.
00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:04.159
We have to be responsible human beings at the very least.
00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:15.280
So um so the accountability part is is the toughest and the most important part because accountability means a lot of different things.
00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:19.039
Accountability means you gotta do certain things when you're here at the ridge.
00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:33.920
And so something that we talk about is we don't have we don't have we have a graduation ceremony, but we don't call it graduation because that in my in that again back to words, graduation means I finish something.
00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.480
Right.
00:39:34.719 --> 00:39:38.480
Well, in the world of recovery, you you don't ever finish.
00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:53.360
We call it a commencement because we're commencing from that point of our lives to a different point of our lives, which which, in order for us to live this life of recovery, to live this life as a as a follower of Jesus, he talks about that.
00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:55.840
You know, he surrounded himself with people.
00:39:56.079 --> 00:40:08.320
Accountability means I'm I've got people in my life that can look at me, that know me, that can tell me, hey, something's off, something's right, you shouldn't do that, those sorts of things.
00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:23.840
And so the the most important thing is these guys, after these 10 months, I could put I could put you, Mike, in a in a room next door or whatever if you were an alcoholic and lock you up and 10 months later let you out and go, hey man, you got 10 months of sobriety.
00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:26.559
Well, what's the first thing you're gonna do?
00:40:26.719 --> 00:40:29.599
You're gonna run, you're gonna run and take care of that 10 months.
00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:29.920
Yeah.
00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:32.639
But but so so we have to teach them a different way.
00:40:32.719 --> 00:40:37.519
And and part of that is is is they hold each other accountable while they're there.
00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:39.039
That doesn't go away.
00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.719
I've got people in my life.
00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:42.400
You're you're one of the people in my life.
00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:48.960
If I've got something eating me up, or you always look at me and say, you know, if something's off, are you are you okay, man?
00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:51.679
Like, um, so you have to allow those people.
00:40:51.840 --> 00:41:03.840
That is that's the most frustrating thing for me is when when a man commences out of the first phase of our program and he just goes and isolates himself all over again.
00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:12.719
Some of these guys want to go back and live the same life that they lived as close to the as they can get to possibly without drinking or drugging, and it just doesn't work.
00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:13.440
Right.
00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:21.280
Um so the accountability piece is is and I and and I and not everybody has to come back to the refuge.
00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:24.480
Matter of fact, some I don't want to come back to the refuge.
00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:25.119
You know what I mean?
00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:25.920
Like I've had enough.
00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:26.159
Yeah.
00:41:26.239 --> 00:41:36.239
And I and I mean that loving way, but but but you have to get involved in AA or in a church small group or in a CR or something.
00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:46.480
You have got to have people in your life that put eyes on you and have the um the um what's the word I'm looking for?
00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:53.519
It's it have the permission from you to call you out on on what you're doing.
00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:54.880
Permission's a good word, yeah.
00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:55.199
Yeah.
00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:57.920
And and I call that a contracted confront, right?
00:41:58.159 --> 00:42:03.360
Where if if if if I go to if I come to you and I go, Mike, listen, man, I I need you in my life.
00:42:03.440 --> 00:42:07.119
I I need somebody to make sure they got eyes on me and I'm not swaying.
00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:09.679
I'm gonna give you permission to call me out on that.
00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:15.519
And I think that's we as men all need that in our lives, whether we're in recovery or not.
00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:16.960
And you know men don't like that.
00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:18.159
Yeah, nobody likes it.
00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:26.559
I don't like it, but I've got 10 guys that that I work with every day, and I always tell them, man, if you see something, if you don't like something, then say something.
00:42:26.719 --> 00:42:26.880
Yeah.
00:42:26.960 --> 00:42:29.360
I I'm you know, I'm an open book.
00:42:29.599 --> 00:42:32.239
And you and I have had those conversations with each other.
00:42:32.400 --> 00:42:32.639
Yeah.
00:42:32.719 --> 00:42:34.559
Uh, you know, where we've challenged each other.
00:42:34.719 --> 00:42:34.880
Yeah.
00:42:35.119 --> 00:42:40.559
An old pastor friend of mine who's gone home to be with the Lord now, Mike Butler, used to call that carefronting.
00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:44.000
That I care about you so much that I'm going to confront you when I need to.
00:42:44.239 --> 00:42:44.960
Oh, absolutely.
00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:47.679
And and that's a great way of saying it, you know.
00:42:47.760 --> 00:42:56.480
And I think that we have people listening to this who are in ministry in other cities, other towns, um in all these areas.
00:42:56.800 --> 00:43:04.079
And what would you say to them about how they can replicate what you're talking about?
00:43:04.239 --> 00:43:09.440
The idea of finding, informing, and continuing in a biblical community.
00:43:09.679 --> 00:43:15.440
What what would that do for someone who's in the situation like the men that you work with?
00:43:18.639 --> 00:43:19.599
What could they do?
00:43:19.840 --> 00:43:20.400
Is that the question?
00:43:20.639 --> 00:43:20.800
Yeah.
00:43:20.880 --> 00:43:23.199
What are some things that that they could do to help that?
00:43:23.360 --> 00:43:28.559
I mean, they don't necessarily start a refuge on the ridge part two, but But they could.
00:43:28.800 --> 00:43:29.199
They could.
00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:30.719
You'd be open to that conversation.
00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:32.719
I would love to help anybody do this.
00:43:32.960 --> 00:43:33.280
Yeah.
00:43:33.519 --> 00:43:40.239
Um I'd uh I it's a lot of work, but I I would it'd be an honor to help somebody else start another one.
00:43:40.480 --> 00:43:44.320
But I think that um I I'm gonna go back to this.
00:43:44.800 --> 00:43:47.199
First of all, it needs to be a small group of men.
00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:47.760
Yeah.
00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:51.360
Um, you know, that's the that's the other thing at the at the refuge.
00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:57.440
We we kind of top out it our our suite numbers between 22 and 25, probably.
00:43:57.679 --> 00:43:59.840
We've had as many as 28 or 29 as two men.
00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:06.719
I think that when I say a discipleship, I mean Jesus only had 12, right?
00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:14.239
So in order to have that true intimate man-to-man relationship, it needs to be a small group.
00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:18.400
I think the number one thing you gotta do is you gotta first you gotta develop trust.
00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:19.039
Right.
00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:20.079
And that takes time.
00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:24.480
Especially if we're talking about addicts and alcoholics, man, you you gotta walk the walk.
00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:25.840
You can't just talk the talk.
00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:32.480
And so um once you have that trust, then you have to ask for that that would you say carefrontation?
00:44:32.719 --> 00:44:33.360
Carefronting.
00:44:33.679 --> 00:44:34.400
Carefronting.
00:44:34.639 --> 00:44:37.440
And I call it contract and confront, which is the same thing.
00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:37.840
Yeah.
00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:42.639
But but and then you they're still not gonna like it.
00:44:43.280 --> 00:44:49.840
But I think but if you want to make disciples, or if you want to mic disciples to your name.
00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:50.559
I like that.
00:44:50.719 --> 00:44:50.960
Yeah.
00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:53.440
So that's that's what you gotta do, man.
00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:55.280
You gotta surround yourself with a few men.
00:44:55.519 --> 00:44:58.320
You gotta build trust first and foremost.
00:44:58.480 --> 00:45:03.599
You could call yourself whatever you want to call yourself, but unless they trust you, you've got nothing.
00:45:03.760 --> 00:45:04.159
Right.
00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:10.960
And then you and then you've got to uh I think I think serving is uh is the way to go.
00:45:11.599 --> 00:45:21.840
So you you meet together regularly, whatever that looks like, build trust, which takes time, yeah, and then you find ways to serve other people and get outside of just caring about you.
00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:23.280
Get outside of yourself, man.
00:45:23.360 --> 00:45:23.440
Yeah.
00:45:23.679 --> 00:45:25.440
Philippians 2, verses 3 and 4.
00:45:25.679 --> 00:45:26.800
Yeah, it's one of your favorite passages.
00:45:27.039 --> 00:45:27.519
It is, man.
00:45:27.599 --> 00:45:27.760
Yeah.
00:45:27.920 --> 00:45:28.559
It's my life.
00:45:28.800 --> 00:45:36.719
Um I I have a couple of guys that I've been meeting with we meet every Wednesday morning as often as we can.
00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:42.800
Uh one guy bolted on us and moved from Florida to Indiana, so he FaceTimes with us or zooms in.
00:45:43.039 --> 00:45:44.079
Well, that's that's dumb.
00:45:44.239 --> 00:45:45.360
He's obviously not very smart.
00:45:45.760 --> 00:45:47.360
He likes cold weather, I guess.
00:45:47.679 --> 00:45:48.159
Oh my gosh.
00:45:48.880 --> 00:45:51.119
But uh I am not that kind of guy.
00:45:51.280 --> 00:45:51.519
Right.
00:45:51.679 --> 00:45:57.039
But we still meet and we still talk and we still pray and and we still are there for each other.
00:45:57.119 --> 00:46:02.000
And these guys, I say all the time, they know everything about me, and I know everything about them.
00:46:02.079 --> 00:46:02.400
Yeah.
00:46:02.639 --> 00:46:10.960
Um, and we trust each other and we lean on each other, and then I have other guys like yourself that unfortunately we don't sit across from each other anymore.
00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:11.199
Yeah.
00:46:11.519 --> 00:46:18.559
So we we check in every now and then, but um it just having men in your life to help you with that, you know.
00:46:18.639 --> 00:46:28.400
I've got um so many times I have people looking for that, and and sometimes I tell them, well, yeah, get in a a group like that.
00:46:28.559 --> 00:46:30.000
Let me help you find one.
00:46:30.320 --> 00:46:37.199
Because you if you are feeling like you need that, then chances are you're way past the time when you really need it.
00:46:37.440 --> 00:46:41.760
And so, uh because we men, we don't ask for help as quickly as we should.
00:46:41.920 --> 00:46:42.400
Right.
00:46:42.800 --> 00:46:45.440
And so, you know, we'll help you find that.
00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:50.480
And and that's what I think is so important about biblic building a biblical community.
00:46:50.639 --> 00:46:52.880
Yeah, it's what I see happen with your guys.
00:46:53.039 --> 00:47:06.159
So guys will come early and they'll just sit and talk with each other, and you know, they'll pick on each other and the things that brothers do, but but at the end of the day, there's a genuine compassion and care and concern for each of them.
00:47:06.239 --> 00:47:10.000
Yeah, and I think that that's what the body of Christ needs to recover.
00:47:10.159 --> 00:47:10.320
Yeah.
00:47:10.480 --> 00:47:13.840
If since we're speaking in recovery, we need to get back to that.
00:47:14.079 --> 00:47:31.199
Um and you can do that when you're sitting on a fishing boat, you can do that when you're playing golf, um, you can do that sitting in a living room or around a table at a church, you can do that over breakfast, whatever it is, you do that regularly and consistently, and that's how you build up the trust.
00:47:31.440 --> 00:47:31.920
That's right.
00:47:32.239 --> 00:47:35.360
Anything you want to say, anything more about you want to say about that?
00:47:35.760 --> 00:47:42.639
About the well, you know, we need more men to step up and uh into and it's not easy.
00:47:42.800 --> 00:47:46.239
And we're and I'm just talking about leading a small group of men.
00:47:46.480 --> 00:47:49.840
Um it's inconvenient.
00:47:50.239 --> 00:47:52.159
There'd be times when you don't want to do it.
00:47:52.320 --> 00:47:58.960
There'll be times, you know, they they used to tell me all the time that there's two times you should go to an AA meeting when you want to and when you don't want to.
00:47:59.199 --> 00:48:02.480
It's the same with leading, it's the same with leading a small group of men, right?
00:48:02.639 --> 00:48:05.519
Um it's not always going to be convenient, you know.
00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:09.280
Everybody's got this, or you've got that, or oh my gosh, I gotta go do this.
00:48:09.599 --> 00:48:17.760
Man, there is nothing more important in this world, nothing, than walking people along a path to live more like Jesus.
00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:18.320
Nothing.
00:48:18.400 --> 00:48:18.960
Yeah, nothing.
00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:26.559
There, and I'm just telling you from experience, no money, no job, you know, none of the glitter and glam and toys and all that kind of stuff.
00:48:26.719 --> 00:48:27.119
Nothing.
00:48:27.199 --> 00:48:28.159
Yeah, yeah.
00:48:28.400 --> 00:48:32.239
It really is all about providing opportunities to help people follow Jesus.
00:48:32.320 --> 00:48:34.960
That's the whole goal of this podcast.
00:48:35.199 --> 00:48:37.920
But really, that's the whole goal of our faith.
00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:41.039
You know, Jesus told us to go and make disciples.
00:48:41.199 --> 00:48:42.800
We don't get an option for that.
00:48:42.960 --> 00:48:43.199
Right.
00:48:43.360 --> 00:48:47.679
Um, he gave us options on how we do it, but not if we're going to do it or not.
00:48:47.760 --> 00:48:51.760
And if we're gonna follow him, then we've got to be doing the things he's asking us to do.
00:48:51.920 --> 00:48:52.079
Right.
00:48:52.239 --> 00:48:55.199
And that's what you've been doing for five years now, right?
00:48:55.599 --> 00:48:58.000
Uh, I want to ask you a couple more things then.
00:48:58.159 --> 00:48:58.559
Yeah.
00:48:58.719 --> 00:49:03.760
Um what would you say if you could go back to talk to a young Andy Blair?
00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:13.119
So when but when you were getting married, when your daughters were being born, and you were pursuing goals in life, what would you say to him now?
00:49:13.360 --> 00:49:13.760
Yeah.
00:49:14.159 --> 00:49:26.320
Um I I think I don't know because if I looked back at that Andy Blair, I wouldn't have listened.
00:49:27.039 --> 00:49:28.639
Um people did tell me.
00:49:29.440 --> 00:49:41.440
I I think what what I I I don't know why, I just feel like I'm supposed to say this, but if there's your parents out there or or or spouses or whatever, l listen to me.
00:49:42.400 --> 00:49:46.000
I know that I was raised right, right?
00:49:46.159 --> 00:49:50.320
I was raised in the church as a child, as a teenager, and all those sorts of things.
00:49:50.480 --> 00:49:52.320
So I knew right from wrong.
00:49:52.480 --> 00:49:54.880
And here's the thing, here's the beautiful thing about that.
00:49:55.679 --> 00:50:03.440
I knew no matter where I was, how far away away I was from God, I always knew where to go to I always knew where the help was.
00:50:04.079 --> 00:50:12.559
And so for you parents out there that are struggling, if you've raised your kid right, they will return back home.
00:50:13.280 --> 00:50:14.400
It's it's gonna happen.
00:50:14.800 --> 00:50:20.480
So I I don't know why I felt like I needed to say that, but um yeah, there you go.
00:50:20.800 --> 00:50:22.159
So so what would I say?
00:50:23.360 --> 00:50:27.280
Man, it it doesn't matter what I would say.
00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:31.440
What I wish I would have listened to was you okay, how about this?
00:50:31.599 --> 00:50:52.559
What I wish I would have heard, and I'm sure it was said a million times, was that that all these things that you find pleasure in and all the this this um this mask that you've put on to make people think that you're this important person and all these things that you've won and all the money you've made.
00:50:53.360 --> 00:51:06.400
I wish somebody would have told me in the beginning and they may have, but I wish I'd have believed that that corporate ladder, that that worldly pursuit of success leads you absolutely nowhere.
00:51:06.719 --> 00:51:07.280
That's good.
00:51:07.679 --> 00:51:13.039
I wish somebody would I wish I would have listened to that to say, hey man, if you just go out and serve other peoples and do the peoples?
00:51:13.360 --> 00:51:13.920
Peoples, yeah.
00:51:14.079 --> 00:51:20.639
Go serve other peoples, go serve people and do the next right thing, your life will be beyond your wildest dreams.
00:51:22.079 --> 00:51:22.880
That makes sense.
00:51:22.960 --> 00:51:28.719
And you know, it it's there's a difference between somebody saying something and you really hearing what they say.
00:51:29.039 --> 00:51:30.239
So you talked about that.
00:51:30.400 --> 00:51:34.400
Okay, so you've been at Refuge on the Ridge, you guys have been in existence now five years.
00:51:34.559 --> 00:51:34.800
Yeah.
00:51:35.039 --> 00:51:36.400
Congratulations on that by the way.
00:51:36.559 --> 00:51:36.880
Thank you, man.
00:51:37.039 --> 00:51:37.519
It's awesome.
00:51:37.760 --> 00:51:38.159
Well, yeah.
00:51:38.400 --> 00:51:41.039
Um in another five years, yeah.
00:51:41.440 --> 00:51:47.760
Where do you see God using you or or working through you, or what is he doing in Refuge on the Ridge then?
00:51:48.000 --> 00:51:50.960
You know, we we're we're exploring a lot of things right now.
00:51:51.119 --> 00:51:59.599
I don't know that um uh it's there, there's there's things on around the horizon uh which I'm really excited about.
00:52:00.239 --> 00:52:05.760
So, you know, people ask me what I do, and and the answer is I just try to stay out of God's way.
00:52:06.559 --> 00:52:10.079
And so that so for the next five years, I'm gonna try to do that again.
00:52:10.239 --> 00:52:12.159
Okay, because it worked pretty well so far.
00:52:12.400 --> 00:52:13.199
It worked well.
00:52:13.519 --> 00:52:19.039
And so, you know, there's been a couple of times in these five years where I've had a great idea, right?
00:52:19.599 --> 00:52:22.960
And we're gonna go do this, or or let's go down this road.
00:52:23.119 --> 00:52:23.519
Yeah.
00:52:23.760 --> 00:52:27.760
And then I I'll get down the road a little bit and I'll look back and there's nobody behind me.
00:52:27.920 --> 00:52:28.079
Right.
00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:29.199
And I go, okay, wait.
00:52:29.840 --> 00:52:30.320
All right, God.
00:52:31.440 --> 00:52:33.039
Okay, God, I'm gonna wait on you.
00:52:33.199 --> 00:52:34.960
So that's where I'm at right now.
00:52:35.119 --> 00:52:35.440
Okay.
00:52:35.599 --> 00:52:39.679
Uh I I'm in it's a cliche, but I'm telling you, I live my life this way.
00:52:39.760 --> 00:52:41.280
It's whatever God wants.
00:52:41.519 --> 00:52:48.559
And I've seen that power work in in just my own life, and then in putting this whole refuge on the ridge together.
00:52:48.719 --> 00:52:53.920
So I am sitting patiently, which you know this is my my strong suit.
00:52:54.000 --> 00:52:54.320
Yeah.
00:52:54.480 --> 00:52:56.800
Uh and waiting on the Lord to say, here, here you go.
00:52:56.960 --> 00:52:57.199
Okay.
00:52:57.440 --> 00:53:03.920
And um, so so I think there's there there's something coming that I'll I'll be excited to announce very, very soon.
00:53:04.000 --> 00:53:04.400
Yeah.
00:53:04.639 --> 00:53:06.719
But um can't do it yet.
00:53:06.960 --> 00:53:07.199
Right.
00:53:07.280 --> 00:53:07.840
That's fine.
00:53:08.079 --> 00:53:10.000
And I don't want to put you on the spot with that.
00:53:10.079 --> 00:53:15.920
I just am, you know, that waiting patiently to see what God does next is a is a great way to answer that.
00:53:16.079 --> 00:53:23.440
So if someone wanted to reach out and get information about you all, uh maybe they're wanting to um uh just find out more.
00:53:23.599 --> 00:53:25.920
Maybe they want to start another one where they're at.
00:53:26.079 --> 00:53:30.960
Maybe they have a loved one that that is looking for that type of regeneration program.
00:53:31.199 --> 00:53:34.559
Or, and I'm sure you wouldn't mind this, they want to donate to what you're doing.
00:53:34.719 --> 00:53:35.199
Oh, wow.
00:53:35.360 --> 00:53:40.079
Um, you know, they can find you on your website at refugeontheidge.org.
00:53:40.239 --> 00:53:40.639
Correct.
00:53:40.800 --> 00:53:45.119
Or they can call at 863-455-8585.
00:53:45.599 --> 00:53:46.559
That number.
00:53:46.719 --> 00:53:48.239
Uh double check on that.
00:53:48.480 --> 00:53:49.119
I think that is the number.
00:53:49.280 --> 00:53:49.840
Don't quote us.
00:53:49.920 --> 00:53:52.639
I try to keep that in my memory for people that ask.
00:53:53.039 --> 00:53:58.079
Here's the other way is they can email us at info at refugeontheridge.org.
00:53:58.400 --> 00:53:58.719
Okay.
00:53:58.880 --> 00:54:00.079
That's probably the best way.
00:54:00.239 --> 00:54:04.400
All right, because it goes to like three of us, and and so we all get that.
00:54:04.639 --> 00:54:16.880
And so we, you know, now sometimes it goes into the to the spam folder and yeah, I don't see it for a few months, but uh info at refuge on the ridge.org um would be a great way just to reach out.
00:54:16.960 --> 00:54:23.679
I mean, if you want to serve, if you've got a loved one, if you're interested in starting your own, or you know, if you want to donate, you can donate on their website too.
00:54:23.840 --> 00:54:24.079
Okay.
00:54:24.400 --> 00:54:25.920
At refuge on the ridge.org.
00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:33.119
So and they can see some of the progress that God's doing on social media as well as and uh learn a little bit more about that.
00:54:33.280 --> 00:54:35.119
There's videos that you can see, things like that.
00:54:35.440 --> 00:54:37.360
Our Facebook page is pretty, really active.
00:54:37.599 --> 00:54:37.840
Okay.
00:54:38.239 --> 00:54:38.559
Okay.
00:54:38.719 --> 00:54:39.039
Yeah.
00:54:39.280 --> 00:54:39.760
Very good.
00:54:39.920 --> 00:54:41.920
Well, man, it's been great to catch up with you.
00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:42.639
It always is.
00:54:42.880 --> 00:54:45.280
It's never um never a bad time.
00:54:45.360 --> 00:54:46.960
I I wish we could do it more often.
00:54:47.119 --> 00:54:47.280
Yeah.
00:54:47.440 --> 00:54:51.360
You know, when you went into this role, we're like, oh, we'll still get together for lunch.
00:54:51.599 --> 00:54:51.760
Yeah.
00:54:52.000 --> 00:54:55.519
And now I have to to work with your office staff to get on your schedule.
00:54:55.760 --> 00:54:57.519
Well, listen, buddy, it's not that's okay.
00:54:57.599 --> 00:55:01.440
Yeah, it is not um, it's not something I enjoy.
00:55:01.519 --> 00:55:01.840
Yeah.
00:55:02.079 --> 00:55:02.960
But I do enjoy it.
00:55:03.039 --> 00:55:03.519
You know what I mean?
00:55:03.599 --> 00:55:14.079
Because it's just like like now I've got I'm going to another lunch today, and you know, there's days when I just want to go, you know, put my gym shorts on and go to the woods or go go fishing.
00:55:14.159 --> 00:55:14.480
Yeah.
00:55:15.119 --> 00:55:16.000
Those days are over.
00:55:16.159 --> 00:55:16.800
Yeah.
00:55:17.039 --> 00:55:20.320
So um anyway, but well, we do need to go to lunch.
00:55:20.480 --> 00:55:20.960
Yeah, we do.
00:55:21.039 --> 00:55:22.000
We'll do well, we'll get on that.
00:55:22.079 --> 00:55:22.800
I'll get on that schedule.
00:55:23.119 --> 00:55:24.000
I'll let you buy me lunch.
00:55:24.239 --> 00:55:24.719
That's fine.
00:55:24.800 --> 00:55:25.920
I'm good with that.
00:55:26.239 --> 00:55:28.880
Well, um, I I really appreciate you coming on, man.
00:55:29.039 --> 00:55:32.960
I'm so excited for you and Refuge on the Ridge and what God is doing.
00:55:33.119 --> 00:55:41.920
Uh, I wish that you all that are listening could see the examples of life change that that the Lord is bringing in the men that come there.
00:55:42.239 --> 00:55:51.840
Um and you know, it it is such a powerful ministry tool and a powerful way of God transforming lives of men.
00:55:52.079 --> 00:55:53.840
And really that's what we're all about.
00:55:54.000 --> 00:55:57.280
And I'm thankful really that I get a front row seat to that.
00:55:57.440 --> 00:55:58.880
And uh Me too.
00:55:59.280 --> 00:56:00.880
I'm so thankful for that.
00:56:00.960 --> 00:56:02.000
It's such a blessing.
00:56:02.239 --> 00:56:07.280
And um, you know, we we love seeing what happens, so keep up the great work.
00:56:07.519 --> 00:56:10.400
Um anything else you want to say before we end this?
00:56:10.719 --> 00:56:11.519
I don't think so, man.
00:56:11.599 --> 00:56:12.239
Okay, thank you.
00:56:12.320 --> 00:56:14.320
Yeah, this is this has been a been a pleasure.
00:56:14.639 --> 00:56:19.519
Well, I uh months ago I said, Hey, I want to get you on, and then it's just a matter of making it happen.
00:56:19.599 --> 00:56:21.360
So thanks for taking the time to come.
00:56:21.440 --> 00:56:22.639
I know you got other things to do.
00:56:22.880 --> 00:56:24.800
Anytime we can talk about whatever you want to talk about.
00:56:25.039 --> 00:56:25.920
Okay, sounds good.
00:56:26.079 --> 00:56:30.320
And that's why we just some questions were planned, and some it's like, hey, let me ask you this.
00:56:30.559 --> 00:56:34.239
Yeah, and uh, but I you know, I say it to you all the time.
00:56:34.400 --> 00:56:37.199
I I'm a different man because of how you helped me.
00:56:37.280 --> 00:56:40.159
Wow, and now you're helping other men do the same thing.
00:56:40.239 --> 00:56:41.760
So I appreciate you.
00:56:41.920 --> 00:56:44.719
I wouldn't be where I am without how God used you.
00:56:45.199 --> 00:56:46.239
Well, thank you for that, Mike.
00:56:46.639 --> 00:56:54.480
I want to I want to comment on that because you know, that's important for people to understand.
00:56:54.559 --> 00:56:59.039
You never know what you're gonna say or how you're gonna affect someone.
00:56:59.360 --> 00:57:09.199
And so I think for for those that are listening, you know, words have power, um the power of life and death, right?
00:57:09.360 --> 00:57:10.000
It's in the tongue.
00:57:10.239 --> 00:57:18.880
But but that's true, so so something that I say, like for example, and you I may not think that's a big deal, but for you that was a huge deal.
00:57:19.119 --> 00:57:19.599
It was.
00:57:19.840 --> 00:57:29.440
And so so I I encourage you out there to to people are listening to this to encourage you, brothers, you know, because you never know what you're gonna say.
00:57:29.760 --> 00:57:34.639
And what what I used to say to you always wasn't positive when it came to that sort of stuff.
00:57:34.800 --> 00:57:35.119
Right.
00:57:35.280 --> 00:57:38.639
So I don't know exactly what it was one day when you went, you know what?
00:57:38.800 --> 00:57:40.800
I think I may I may take some of this advice.
00:57:40.880 --> 00:57:44.159
And yeah, and uh it literally turned your life around.
00:57:44.320 --> 00:57:46.719
Yeah, I don't remember what that was either, but it really did.
00:57:47.360 --> 00:57:54.480
And it's just God used me to say something to you at a time when you were open and you heard it, and now look at your life today.
00:57:54.559 --> 00:57:56.960
That that's that's ministry, man.
00:57:57.119 --> 00:57:57.519
Right, right.
00:57:57.760 --> 00:58:02.400
It's nothing I did, it's something that God gave me to say, and I said it, and now look here we are.
00:58:02.559 --> 00:58:02.800
Yeah.
00:58:03.039 --> 00:58:08.239
And I think, you know, there's a lot of truth to what you just said too, that uh I was ready to hear it.
00:58:08.400 --> 00:58:08.559
Yeah.
00:58:08.719 --> 00:58:10.880
And sometimes we you talked about this earlier.
00:58:11.039 --> 00:58:18.159
You say things to people, you said it in your own life situation, you know, that people probably said those things, but I wasn't ready to hear it.
00:58:18.239 --> 00:58:18.480
Yeah.
00:58:18.719 --> 00:58:23.519
It doesn't mean that we shouldn't say it, because sometimes God can use your very words to to do that.
00:58:23.599 --> 00:58:30.159
And you never know if this is the time they're going to actually hear it and embrace it and take it to heart and follow it.
00:58:30.320 --> 00:58:33.440
But um, so when God tells you to say something, say it.
00:58:33.519 --> 00:58:33.760
Yes.
00:58:34.079 --> 00:58:39.440
And if people aren't listening, keep praying that they'll open up their ears and their hearts and hear what he has to say.
00:58:39.599 --> 00:58:39.840
Yeah.
00:58:40.000 --> 00:58:43.360
And who knows where God will take that man when that happens.
00:58:43.599 --> 00:58:49.840
So um, it's happened to me, it's happened to all the guys that you're working with, and uh, it's happened with you as well.
00:58:50.079 --> 00:58:57.119
So keep doing that, keep speaking truth into men's lives, keep um loving on them and their families as well.
00:58:57.519 --> 00:59:00.880
And um, we're just excited to see where God takes you guys.
00:59:01.039 --> 00:59:01.280
Yep.
00:59:01.440 --> 00:59:01.760
All right.
00:59:01.920 --> 00:59:02.719
So thank you, brother.
00:59:02.960 --> 00:59:04.719
That's all the time we have for today.
00:59:04.880 --> 00:59:07.280
Uh really great to have Andy Blair on with us.
00:59:07.360 --> 00:59:12.480
And I just want to let you know if you have any questions or comments for me or for him, you can do that.
00:59:12.639 --> 00:59:14.480
You can go to the link in the show bio.
00:59:14.719 --> 00:59:20.000
Uh, you can reach out to him, like he said, at inforefugeontheidge.org.
00:59:20.719 --> 00:59:31.280
And uh one of either he or one of his staff will get back with you and get you the answers to your questions, uh, pray for them and and ask God how he might want you to get involved as well.
00:59:31.440 --> 00:59:35.440
And uh so we would just want you to keep coming back to Miking Disciples.
00:59:35.519 --> 00:59:42.159
These episodes come out every two weeks where I either teach through the Sermon on the Mount or have guests on like Andy today.
00:59:42.320 --> 00:59:48.480
And I just want to thank you for joining us, and I'll talk to you later so we can help every man become a godly man.
00:59:48.639 --> 00:59:49.760
Thanks so much.
00:59:53.760 --> 00:59:57.280
Thanks for joining us today for this latest episode of Miking Disciples.
00:59:57.440 --> 01:00:04.159
If you have any comments or questions, I would love to get for you to go to the comments or questions link that's found in the description of the episode.
01:00:04.239 --> 01:00:06.079
And I really would love to hear your thoughts.
01:00:06.239 --> 01:00:07.440
Thanks for joining us today.
01:00:07.599 --> 01:00:09.199
We'll talk to you later.
00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:17.519
Well, welcome back, everybody.
00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:19.679
Here's another episode of Miking Disciples.
00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:20.640
I'm Mike Willis.
00:00:20.719 --> 00:00:27.839
I'm the ministry development pastor here at High Point Church, and I I love doing this and meeting with you on here every episode we have.
00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:37.759
And I want to welcome today Pastor Andy Blair, my good friend, who's also the executive director of Refuge on the Ridge, just adjacent to our church campus here.
00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:47.039
But they're doing a great work, and you're going to get to hear a little bit more about his story and about what God has done in the past and how he brought him here and what he's doing now.
00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:48.560
So, Andy, welcome, man.
00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:49.280
Hey, man.
00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:53.840
It's uh it's actually it, man, uh it's just good to sit across the desk from you again.
00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:54.479
Absolutely.
00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:57.200
We used to do this every day and don't get to very often anymore.
00:00:57.520 --> 00:00:58.000
It's awesome.
00:00:58.159 --> 00:00:59.200
Yeah, absolutely.
00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:01.439
Um, I I want to just hear a little bit.
00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:05.120
I know that that you're the executive director of this, you founded it.
00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:17.920
Uh five years now, you guys have been uh helping families and helping men, and but I want to hear first how you got here to Lake Wales and maybe a little bit of your own story of what you've seen God do in your life.
00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:20.159
Well uh wow, well, okay.
00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:30.719
So um, you know, if you if it's one of those, you know, you just look now looking back, you can always see, you know, all the pieces, all the steps that God was putting together.
00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:33.840
But uh, you know, I I I got to Lake Wales.
00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:38.480
I uh was pastoring a church in um Natchez, Mississippi, right?
00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:41.439
Now I always tell people if you ever get a chance to go there, pass.
00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:44.319
And uh now it's beautiful people there.
00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:59.920
And uh, but uh I I um uh we my wife and I, Becky, had come to Orlando to go to uh spring break vacation, and it was about 40 degrees one day, and I'm like, oh, we're not gonna do anything.
00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:08.879
So uh friend of mine, Ken Love, who's actually the state pastor for um uh Church of God I in Anderson, Indiana.
00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:23.520
Anyway, he he was um talking to me about an opportunity that he had, and uh he said, Hey man, I'm I'm riding to Lake Wales today for a cluster meeting where all the pastors get together and we just have some fellowship and talk about you know issues and what's going on in their lives.
00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:26.560
And and he said, you know, if you want to ride along, do it.
00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:29.199
And uh I didn't have anything else to do.
00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:34.080
So uh I jumped in the car and and we came to Lake Wales and and it was at the old building.
00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:34.560
Yeah.
00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:35.759
In the old youth building.
00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:36.319
Good times.
00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:37.680
Youth youth room youth room.
00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:40.400
And uh, you know, there's four or five guys there.
00:02:40.479 --> 00:02:51.280
I and I remember meeting Pastor Jack that day, and um I felt like we, you know, just as a group, I I was trying to just listen, but you know, they asked my opinion on some things.
00:02:51.360 --> 00:03:00.960
And so we got we got done, and um and Pastor Jack approached me and he said, Hey man, I I I something to the effect of I really liked what you had to say in there.
00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:05.039
You know, we're looking for would you ever consider moving back to Florida?
00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:07.120
We're looking for a family life pastor.
00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:13.759
And uh he probably doesn't know this to this day, but I guess if he ever listens to this, we'll find out if he listens to this podcast.
00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:14.479
Yeah.
00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:19.120
Um before he could say that, I I wanted to scream yes.
00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:26.240
So, I mean, we we had been not not actively looking to get back to Florida, but that was always, you know, this is home for us.
00:03:26.319 --> 00:03:28.000
We've been in Florida a long time.
00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:38.240
This is our third trip to Florida, and um, so you know, my only concern was going to be a family life pastor from being a senior pastor or whatever.
00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:44.159
Anyway, so um he said, Yeah, um we we'd love to talk to you.
00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:45.439
I'm not in charge of that.
00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:51.360
You know, I might have to get you with Pastor Bonnie, and she's on vacation in Mexico or something like that.
00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:51.840
I think so.
00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:52.319
I think she was.
00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:54.960
And you know, you you know my patience with that.
00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:58.560
So I wanted the interview and the acceptance and all that to happen that day.
00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:00.400
Yeah, and that's really not how it went down.
00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:01.520
So still doesn't.
00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:03.520
Yeah, it still doesn't, and I understand that.
00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:09.759
But uh that's that's just a happened happenstance of a meeting uh that I happened to be at for no reason.
00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:12.800
I had no, you know, so that's how I got to Lake Wales.
00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:13.120
Yeah.
00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:17.680
I heard one time a coincidence is when God gets involved but chooses not to tell anybody.
00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:18.560
Oh, that's good.
00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:19.839
Uh I've never forgotten that.
00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:24.160
I don't know who said it, but um, yeah, that sounds like what you experienced there for sure.
00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:24.560
Yeah.
00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:27.600
So you came here, what when did you and Becky move here?
00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:32.560
Uh we moved here, I I believe in June of 2017.
00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:33.120
Okay.
00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:35.279
Right after I got married then.
00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:39.759
As a matter of fact, maybe you were on your honeymoon or something when I got here.
00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:41.040
Is it was one of those times.
00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:42.480
I kind of think you're right.
00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:52.319
I remember that now because I had gotten back into town and then um you all had something happen in your family that was kind of traumatic, and and one of your daughters was hurt.
00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:56.079
And so I remember coming back and going to the hospital to see you guys.
00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:58.000
That was on my first about that.
00:04:58.160 --> 00:04:58.319
Yeah.
00:04:58.480 --> 00:04:59.360
My first day of employment.
00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:00.319
Welcome to Lake Wales.
00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:01.519
Yeah, welcome to Lake Wales.
00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:02.000
Okay.
00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:03.199
I forgot that that happened.
00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:07.439
I mean, I remembered the accident, but I didn't remember that you had just moved here then.
00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:07.920
Yeah.
00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:11.120
Um, tell me a little bit about what you did.
00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:13.920
What was your role here as Family Life Pastor?
00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.399
What were some of the things you did each and every day?
00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:27.360
Well, you know, um my my job was to kind of bring together a cohesive um ministry to children and to children up through college.
00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:33.199
So we looked at um uh we well, we we had to look at obviously curriculum was a big one.
00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:34.480
Yeah, that was the start.
00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:44.720
We we tried to build a culture of of family life ministry, which I believe we we really did get that off to a nice little start, and I'm so happy that it continues today.
00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:45.519
It does, yeah.
00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:50.879
Yeah, and so um building a team and and building a culture is really what I was brought in to do.
00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:55.120
And then, you know, as you know, we we just it's all hands on deck here.
00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:55.439
Right.
00:05:55.600 --> 00:06:03.439
So whatever needs to be done, and I love that about this place, it's like everybody jumps in and um it this is yeah, it's a lot of fun here.
00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:04.160
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.120
What are some of the things you remember seeing God do here?
00:06:07.920 --> 00:06:08.480
Wow.
00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:21.040
Well, uh one of the uh you know, one of the big ones was uh the building that we were in, yes, which was um can you say turd on a on a on a on a podcast?
00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:22.560
Well, I mean me and on mine.
00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:23.759
I'm the host, so go for it.
00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:28.319
Okay, so so it was a building that, you know, we kind of it had outgrown its usefulness to us.
00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:29.759
That's a good better way of putting it.
00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.439
And uh and and it was, you know, I don't know.
00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:42.720
I just felt at the time, and I know you did too, God was moving and and there was and then we hit got hit with COVID, and wow, it was just a it was a weird time, wasn't it?
00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:43.759
It was, yeah.
00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:58.399
Um so so anyway, the fact that um we had the school there next door, Victory Ridge, who was looking to expand, and they were really the only people in the whole world that that wanted that property, right?
00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:11.279
And it fit in, it fit into their so um we were able to to you know have a big dream and a vision, and we were able to procure the property that we're at here today.
00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:14.560
And um, man, that was that was a big one.
00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:19.199
Uh because and then when we looked, we you know, how long do we look for property?
00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:22.399
Oh, I mean, it what's on the agenda for work today?
00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:28.000
Well, we're traveling around looking at every nook and cranny and building and field that we can find around us.
00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:28.800
Yeah, yeah.
00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:30.000
We did that so many days.
00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:32.879
We found some we found things wrong with every place we looked at.
00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:33.519
We did.
00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:33.759
Right.
00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:34.079
Yeah.
00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:34.480
Yeah.
00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:36.160
Except this open field.
00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:36.560
Yeah, exactly.
00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:40.480
This uh overgrown orange grove of almost 20 acres.
00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:47.600
And here we are, you know, we were talking about this in our meeting yesterday that um next January will be five years.
00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:48.079
We've been here.
00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:48.720
That's crazy.
00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:49.120
I know.
00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:53.199
I know and God just keeps moving, he keeps doing great things.
00:07:53.439 --> 00:08:05.040
Um so at some point we were in a staff meeting together, and I don't know how long you had been here, but we you talk about this story a lot uh when you're speaking about the beginning of Refuge on the Ridge.
00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:07.439
And we're in that staff meeting that day.
00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:16.399
Uh we had to sell that building, we rented from Victory Ridge while we were building this building we're in now where we're recording, and we had rented these this office space.
00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:26.319
Um it was the five or six of us and the rats that came in through the garage door, and um, you know, they took over at night and watched over the place for us.
00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:27.519
Yes, they did.
00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:34.399
But we were sitting in our staff meeting in that other room, and you take me back to that moment.
00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:35.840
Okay, what did you say?
00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.919
What do you remember Pastor Jack saying?
00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:43.440
What do you remember about the feel of when all of us were kind of chiming in about where where this is going?
00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:45.519
Okay, so so let me back up for a minute.
00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:47.679
So when and I don't remember this.
00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.080
Bonnie Bonnie Pastor Bonnie can tell you this.
00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:52.639
She says she said this, so I believe her.
00:08:52.879 --> 00:09:01.919
But you know, when you came when they gave me the tour of Lake Wales back in 2017 or end of May, yeah, it was 2017.
00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:07.279
They they one of the stops on the tour was the Chalet Suzanne with all the history.
00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:16.480
And so, you know, I it and I I I have to tell you though, I didn't look at that place at the time and go, wow, this would be a great place for a rehab.
00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:18.080
I I wasn't in that mode.
00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:23.759
But she says she told me that don't even think about opening up a rehab there.
00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:26.799
And and sounds like something she'd say.
00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:34.000
Yeah, and so then I look at it in in the shape it was in, and I probably thought no no chance of that happening.
00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:47.519
So um, but anyway, so so fast forward three plus years, and uh we we were we had we were getting ready to or we had just broken ground on this piece of property.
00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:48.879
I don't remember which.
00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:53.919
And man, I I just you know life was good.
00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:56.879
I I loved my job, I love the team I was working with.
00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:58.720
I mean, you know, awesome co-workers.
00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:02.080
The most awesome dude ever, my buddy Mike.
00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:22.720
And uh so but God just put something on my heart that you know, here we are maybe a hundred yards from this from this former uh place you know that was this resort, and and and I don't I don't know what happened, but it just started waking me up at night.
00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:26.159
And uh I I just kept the God just kept giving me his dream, man.
00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:34.720
Like somebody, I mean, we all know Polk County is you know, supposedly everybody jokes it used to be or is the meth capital of the world, whatever.
00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:42.399
But but I but there as we when you and I started CR, I mean, we saw that there was a huge need for for a recovery.
00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:52.960
And and myself being um clean and sober since 2006, you know, I always knew that recovery ministry of some sort would be in my future.
00:10:53.120 --> 00:11:01.120
And I've I've tried to force myself into that several times in the last almost 20 years, but um and it never worked.
00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.200
So here's what happens.
00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:13.360
So, you know, I I I was taught and have been taught, and now I teach, that if if something's bothering you, you you gotta get it out because if something's inside you, it kind of owns you.
00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:16.480
But if I talk about it, it kind of loses its power over you.
00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:30.559
So so I came to the staff meeting just like every other Monday, and I just decided I'm gonna I'm gonna spill the beans today and say this, and then once I get it out, then I'll be free of it.
00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.320
I'll feel free of it.
00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:33.279
Where are we going to lunch?
00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:34.000
Yeah, exactly.
00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:42.080
That's so so I just said something about I said, you know, we'd done whatever we need to do, and I believe I said, hey, I I got something I need to share.
00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:48.559
I need I got something I need to get off my chest, and um I just said, and I think man, I wish we had a recording of that.
00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:49.840
That would be great, wouldn't it?
00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:56.879
Oh, but I think I said I somebody needs to start a rehab over at the old Chelly Suzanne.
00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:01.759
And and uh I was like, so there, that's it.
00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:02.799
That's all I got to say.
00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:05.039
We you know, where are we going to where are we gonna go?
00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:08.799
We're gonna go to the place where we don't get enough salsa or where are we going to eat lunch?
00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.200
Yeah.
00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:14.399
And and Pastor Jack said, Hold on a minute.
00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:20.000
Uh he said, well, and he said something to the fact that, well, hold on, may maybe that person's you.
00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:26.799
And and I think I said, No, I'm not, no, I don't, no, I didn't say me, I just said somebody.
00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:28.639
And then he said this.
00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:33.600
He goes, first of all, that's exactly the type of ministry that our churches should be doing.
00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:34.000
Yeah.
00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:37.519
And he kind of punched me, and I'm like, oh, here we go.
00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:41.919
And then he says, Andy, here's what we're gonna do.
00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:45.679
We're gonna walk through this and we'll see if God's in this.
00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:49.519
And if God's in it, it will be very apparent.
00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:54.639
And if he's not, then we'll you know, we'll just move on.
00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.519
Well, I already knew, I already knew at that point, I already knew what was gonna happen.
00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:08.559
So I think that was in gosh, I I don't know, was that February or March of 2020?
00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:10.799
Uh maybe 21.
00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.519
No, because we o we opened in 2020.
00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:13.919
Oh, yeah.
00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:15.279
Okay, so it had to be 24.
00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.559
Yeah, it was 20.
00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.919
And uh so we were probably sitting six feet apart during that meeting.
00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:22.480
We were, or if it was before COVID, I don't know.
00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.240
I I don't I don't remember.
00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:29.039
Um, but but the point of it is is is so then then here's what happened.
00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:39.679
Um we just man, we started making we made a couple phone calls, this went there, and I tell people now, it was like God parted the Red Sea.
00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:48.000
And and and in September of 2020, I resigned from the church, and I don't know what I was doing.
00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:50.000
I didn't know how to, you know what I mean?
00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:51.120
I didn't have any money.
00:13:51.279 --> 00:14:01.840
I I started to write a business plan, you know, because I have a lot of experience in corporate America, and and after about five minutes, I looked at it and I go, this is the dumbest business plan that anybody's ever put in front of anybody.
00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:04.240
So I just tossed that aside.
00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:19.519
And uh man, I you know, High Point was was nice in in paying my salary for a period of time so that I we could get established, which I I mean, again, God, but God, I mean, I I don't know, I don't know how we did what we did, Mike.
00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.240
I really don't.
00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:21.039
Yeah, yeah.
00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:26.639
Well, I do remember him Pastor Jack saying that's the exact kind of ministry churches need to be doing.
00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:30.720
One of the things I love about him is he'll say that, but then he'll back it up.
00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:34.320
He'll be like, okay, well, what do we need to do to we?
00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:35.360
We're in this with you.
00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:35.679
Yeah.
00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:51.919
And and you saw that, and he's still on your board to this day, and we still love every one of the guys that comes through your doors and um have you know lots of uh great memories of that, and and just seeing where God has taken it now is incredible.
00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:56.240
Every time I get to come to a commencement, yeah, it it's just so powerful.
00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.840
You know, it's funny you say that.
00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:58.960
I I always think about that.
00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:09.919
The f our first commencement, I think I'd been about four days removed from knee surgery, and uh my first knee surgery, and I think there were maybe 20 people there for our first graduation in the youth room.
00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:24.320
And and I think the um I think there were close to, if not 300 people at our last commencement ceremony, which is man, uh if that's not the power of what God's doing in in this ministry, it's it's crazy.
00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:25.279
Yeah, absolutely.
00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.279
Because we all know I'm not smart enough to do this.
00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:29.360
Well, you just brought some people around you that are.
00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:30.720
Well, yeah, there you go.
00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:31.279
Yeah.
00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:37.679
Um so your your mission statement is putting families back together, one man and one family at a time.
00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:38.159
Okay.
00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:40.159
Um tell me about that.
00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:42.240
Where did that mission statement come from?
00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:44.720
Where did the name of the ministry come from?
00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.480
Uh tell us about that.
00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:50.399
Because there's people listening to this that don't know what Refuge on the Ridge is.
00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:50.639
Right.
00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:55.039
So spend a couple minutes telling us about that and and what the heart of it is.
00:15:55.279 --> 00:16:03.360
So, so we we're we're a 10-month faith-based uh regeneration program, which you know, I'm a word guy.
00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:08.960
Um, I've always been aware, I've always been a reader, and so um I think words are important.
00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:13.279
So, so I I want to talk, I'll talk about regeneration real quick.
00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:21.039
Um, you know, a lot many in this industry or whatever talk about rehab or rehabilitation.
00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:28.559
Well, in my mind, rehabilitation means bringing it back to what it was, right?
00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:34.159
I I don't think for for me, I I'm not interested in being back to what I was, right?
00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:39.519
I I I feel like I mean I have a new life in Christ and and I'm a new creation.
00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:51.039
So uh regeneration is more of a uh a really uh picture of what we do and what or what we try to do and and what happened in my life.
00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.080
So um so that that that and that's important.
00:16:54.240 --> 00:17:00.240
And then and when it comes to um the name refuge on the ridge, obviously we're on the ridge.
00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.360
That was an easy one.
00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:08.720
I really struggled with refuge for a while because I didn't want this to be a hiding place.
00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.759
Like a lot of times, you know, you that makes sense.
00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:15.759
Sometimes that word could say, oh well, they're there he's he's in a refuge.
00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:20.240
Well, he's you know, he's hiding from something or he's you know laying low or whatever.
00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:27.839
No, I I had to get in my mind that the pr that most people don't think that, but the refuge is it that's what it is.
00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:35.680
It's a place for people to come and experience the healing that that we believe that only God can give them.
00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:49.200
So you know, one of the things that I remember from my time in in treatment was it wasn't so much what I what I the information that I got.
00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:53.680
I mean information everybody knows you shouldn't drink or use drugs, right?
00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:58.720
If that if that did it, then that would I we'd be all be real relevant.
00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:24.640
But the the important thing is is to use that time away from the the phones and the and the and the family and the work and the chaos of this world so that we can actually just slow down for a while and focus on what's really important, and that is either um beginning and developing or enhancing our relationship with God.
00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:33.119
And and so the next part of that question was you asked putting families back together, one man, one family at a time.
00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:54.720
I I I can just tell you that the only the only again, I think that's a God thing, but the thing that I remember thinking was that's exactly what happened to me was um you know my my my life was um I got to the point where you know my mother said she loved me, but she didn't like me, she didn't want to be around me.
00:18:54.880 --> 00:19:05.839
You know, my wife was my wife and I were, I mean, it was done, that was over, my job, even my best friend, everything, everything in my life cornered me at one moment, which is which which is beautiful.
00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:16.720
But um by by surrendering my life to God and by doing the right things, I I got to put each piece of that back together.
00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:18.640
It didn't all happen at once.
00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:25.039
And so I love the part that we talk about one man, one family at a time, because it's a step process, right?
00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:56.880
And so um for me the thing that I love ever since I got into recovery was watching a a man reunite with his wife, or or more importantly, watching a child run up to their father uh who they haven't seen in a while, and just with that complete abandon of love, and uh and and so so we as addicts and alcoholics are are not really used to that either, right?
00:19:57.039 --> 00:20:02.799
Because we've we've been such a disappointment and mostly in our own minds to our families for a long time.
00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:07.519
So so I think that that I don't know where that came.
00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:34.240
God is the only thing I can tell you is where that actually came from, but I can tell you that even to this day, watching those watching the light go on in a man's eyes or his children's eyes or his mom's or his dad's, you know, for somebody to come up and say, you know, my I've got my son back, is I mean, there there's there's no greater there's no greater thing in my life than than to hear those words.
00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:36.880
And you did you helped me with that very thing.
00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:49.200
You know, when we were um when we started celebrate recovery and we launched it in what 2018, and um I remember we went through like a nine-month planning process for this.
00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:59.839
And uh one night we were in one of those planning sessions, and um we were looking at the different groups that that we could offer, the different open sharing groups, and there was one for codependency.
00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:09.119
And I'm reading through this, and it just kind of describes someone that's struggling in that area, struggling to have healthy boundaries with people.
00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.960
They enable bad behavior.
00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:12.480
I I could go down the list.
00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:14.960
It that flyer is still on my desk to this day.
00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:18.400
I'd pick it up and read it every now and then, and I blurt out.
00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.279
Do you remember this?
00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:23.759
I blurted out, oh my gosh, I'm the poster child for codependency.
00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.200
And you didn't miss a beat.
00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:28.880
You just said, Well, I guess we know who's gonna lead that group for men, don't we?
00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:33.440
And so so that kind of started me down that path.
00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:38.880
What I didn't realize, I thought I was just helping lead celebrate recovery because it's something our church needed.
00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.039
Yeah.
00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:39.680
And we did.
00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.640
And we still do.
00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.480
We're going on nine years now.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:49.839
Um, what I didn't realize was what God was gonna do in me and for me, and really through me.
00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:59.839
And so, in an order in learning healthy boundaries, because of how you were helping me, even um my my oldest son was you know involved in drug addiction.
00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.640
At the time and didn't live in this area.
00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:08.559
My first wife had passed away, and he was grieving, and I was grieving, and I felt bad for him.
00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:13.920
So when I I enabled his behavior for far too long, costing far too much money.
00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:18.720
And finally I drew the line in the sand and said, I'm not doing this anymore.
00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:27.599
And I didn't hear from him for a while, but it gave me the confidence to establish those boundaries and then start building them.
00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:31.279
I also learned how to communicate better with him.
00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:37.920
And um I remember I'd come into the office and we would sit across our desks faced each other like we are right now.
00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:41.599
And about every day I was like, You're not gonna believe what I was able to do with my son.
00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.880
You're not gonna believe what I did.
00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:45.200
And and you just kept saying, I'm so proud of you, man.
00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:45.759
Keep doing it.
00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.319
So even then you were doing what you're doing now.
00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:48.799
Yeah.
00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:51.119
Um, and I'll I'll never forget that.
00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:57.440
It has changed my life, it has changed my relationship with my son, who is a completely different guy.
00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.319
Oh, absolutely.
00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:02.799
I tell people all the time he get he got saved and got sober and got a spouse.
00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:07.920
And all three of those have contributed to him being a completely different man.
00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:10.240
Um, and I'm super thankful for that.
00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:14.799
And um, but that's that's what you're talking about, that one man, one family at a time, right?
00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.079
Yeah, it it is.
00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:18.160
That that's a perfect example.
00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:23.200
What's one of the most surprising things you've seen God do at Refuge on the Ridge?
00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.839
Wow.
00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:31.839
He doesn't get stumped like this very often, folks.
00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.640
Yeah.
00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:42.000
And I you know I I don't know that there's I think every day's a miracle there.
00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:51.759
I I go back to I go back to I I mean I'm I just jumped in with both feet and and I had you know what I mean?
00:23:51.839 --> 00:24:07.759
I I just I had complete trust that God was in that because it was so apparent that you know here we are in a whole different position, you know, after five years of um so so let me let me think about that.
00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:25.680
I the stories that I have, the things that have happened, um you know, there's just you know men who who haven't seen their children in six years and and now have um great relationships and I I just it the man the stories go on and on.
00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:36.640
But I think um here's one of the things I that I love is is I have been, and you know this about me, I get bored easily, right?
00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:38.079
After about five minutes.
00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:47.759
So so in all the jobs I've ever had in in even incorporated ministry, it's like you know, the same, you know, everyday sort of, there's a routine and all that.
00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:58.480
I think one of the things that God did this in this particular assignment is he said to me, Okay, I got you, because this will, A, this will never be done.
00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:06.720
There's never there's never a way that you can win an award or or you know what I mean that to finish this and then say, okay, what's next?
00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:09.680
Because it it there is no end date.
00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.759
And the second one is it's always different.
00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.960
Every day's different.
00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:15.839
So I mean, I try to plan my schedule.
00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:16.240
Sure.
00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:18.000
I mean, you know, you know a planner I am.
00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:18.640
Yeah, yeah.
00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:20.240
Well, that's a joke, but right.
00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:22.799
Um, but I you know, there are certain things like this.
00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:26.400
I had to plan this, but man, you just never know what's gonna happen.
00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:31.920
Yeah, so uh I think God's big joke on me is here's here you go, Andy, here's your assignment.
00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:39.680
Uh, there's you you don't get to win anything, there's no end date, and um you will promise that you'll never be bored.
00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:42.720
Well, that's him looking out for you, then I guess, right?
00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:43.519
Exactly.
00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:47.119
Um, you you've talked about this a little bit already, but I want to hear it more.
00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:52.960
Here at High Point Church, we one of our goals is that we want to see people serve God passionately.
00:25:53.680 --> 00:26:05.279
And um I I tell people all the time that means that if you're passionate about worship music, we're not gonna have you teaching two-year-olds because the you know there I'm sorry, but there's no opening to lead worship here.
00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:07.759
So we're gonna put you over here with the two-year-olds for now.
00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:08.240
Right.
00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.680
That doesn't help you.
00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:15.039
It doesn't help the two-year-old, and it doesn't help the people that you would be encouraging if you were leading worship.
00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:23.039
So serving passionately is really about understanding who you are, what God's gifted you to do, what he created you to do in advance.
00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:26.319
And um I I want to hear from you.
00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:30.559
Obviously, you have to be passionate about what you're doing about recovery.
00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:35.200
You've got your own story, every day's different, all those things you just talked about.
00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:39.839
But why are you so passionate about what God has you doing now?
00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:59.599
I I think, well, because I've been through it, um, and I think and I don't know if this is true for everything, but I I can tell you that from addiction recovery, no one can reach another one like one.
00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.119
You know what I mean?
00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:19.200
So um you may be a doctor and have all your you could be a counselor, have all the certifications and all that kind of stuff, but you don't understand, and this is I don't know how scientific this is, but this in the recovery community, this is well known.
00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:41.519
No one can reach another addict or alcoholic like an addict or alcoholic because they understand the depths that it can take you down, they understand the feelings, and so I think uh I I'm gonna go back to the other part that I'm so passionate about is because I know what I know what I was given when when I first came into recovery.
00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:49.519
I I was surrounded by by men who who lived out exactly what what I try to teach these guys.
00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:55.839
Um you know, we're we're pretty crafty people and we're pr we're the best liars in the world, right?
00:27:56.160 --> 00:28:00.640
So um we don't really pay a lot of attention to what other people say.
00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:02.559
We watch how they live their lives.
00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:18.799
And so I watched men walk this thing out through church and through um a relationship with God and through AAA and NA and those sorts of things where they they understood that that they're that is their life.
00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:23.839
And and so I I kind of want to go off on a little tangent here.
00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:42.319
I I one of the things there was there was a couple of things that really changed me when I when I first got sober, um, I started volunteering as a youth in the youth ministry over at a church in Safety Harbor, and um I was and I tell people this all the time.
00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:43.359
I'll I'll start with this.
00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:54.400
I spent the first 39 years of my life serving Andy, and I made a promise on the plane when I went to rehab that I would spend the rest of whatever time I had left serving him.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.000
That's good.
00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:58.000
Wow, and and I meant that.
00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:11.759
And um this is what I tell people all the time, and and you know this, but but I fell in love with Jesus, and I fell in love with this life of recovery by serving others.
00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:15.759
I mean, there were so many mission trips and things that we went on.
00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:26.079
Um I I don't even know if you know this story, I'll tell it quickly, but they um we went to a place called Church on the Street in Atlanta and my son went to that.
00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:27.039
Oh, anyway.
00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:27.920
A couple years.
00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:33.440
Yeah, so so on this was on this particular time, this was the last day.
00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:35.759
We had met these these people at a certain park.
00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:39.519
They live in the parks and travel nights and down there.
00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:46.480
And uh, there was a group of these people that we had met on the first day, and um, I don't know, we just had a connection, you know.
00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:53.359
And those people say, Um, you know, because you think you're gonna go serve the homeless people in Atlanta.
00:29:53.440 --> 00:30:03.200
And they say, look, you know, they would tell me, Andy, we've got we got all the socks, we got all the toiletries, we got all the food, you wouldn't believe the food we have, clothes, we don't need any of that.
00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:06.160
What we miss is human interaction.
00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:09.839
All we really want is for somebody to sit down and listen to us.
00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:18.480
So I met these this this people, this group on the first day, and on the last day, I was bound and determined to find them.
00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:26.799
And I said, I'm not leaving Atlanta until I find this group of people because I want, I want to, I want to pray for them, I want to, you know, tell them I love them.
00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:31.920
And um, so anyway, we we you know, coincidence again, right?
00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:38.720
We we found these people um at one of the parks downtown and and they were like, oh my gosh, we're so happy.
00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:41.920
And so we we spent a little time, you know, chatting it up.
00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:46.960
And then I said, Well, listen, before I before I before we leave, I want to pray for you.
00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:52.960
And this man looked at me and said, No.
00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:58.799
We have a gift for you and we want to pray for you.
00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:05.200
I completely flipped my every my whole world was flipped upside down.
00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.440
Right.
00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:14.000
I I could not comprehend how somebody could be living on the streets of Atlanta wanted to give me something.
00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:16.240
It's a it's this big, it's this big chain.
00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.119
I still have it.
00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:18.640
It's like the most gaudy.
00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:21.279
It's my prize possession, though, right?
00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:23.440
It's silver, this this huge cross.
00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.839
And they prayed a prayer over me.
00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:32.720
And that was that at that point, it was I was kind of teetering on this whole ministry as a vocation.
00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:37.920
I just couldn't wrap my hand around the income part of that.
00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:41.519
So, but that that was a that changed my life.
00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:52.000
And so when I got a little taste of that servanthood, and that's what I told always tell people, you you serve, you serve, and serve until you until you want to.
00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.440
What you always say it.
00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:57.599
You don't serve because you have to, you do, you serve because you get to.
00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:01.599
Yeah, and and at that moment in my life, I understood that I got to serve.
00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:06.000
Yeah, where God had taken me from, and where God put me.
00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:09.279
And so that's that's the big thing at the ridge.
00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:12.240
You know, we serve here, we serve the community a lot.
00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:21.200
We do a lot of all the festivals, Orange Blossom Review, and um uh, you know, those that need help, we we got guys and we throw it out.
00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.960
People get their house ready to sell.
00:32:23.279 --> 00:32:25.359
We do that, we do, we do, yeah, we do lots of things.
00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:34.319
Yeah, but but the point is, is is and that's one of the things that I this program, and and maybe it's different.
00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:35.920
I don't really care if it's different.
00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:49.599
I teach servant because man, if you want to stay clean and sober and you start getting in your head and you start um, oh poor pitiful me, or I'm having a bad day, go help somebody else.
00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:52.000
And and that that that has worked for me.
00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:57.839
I I I got that pounded into my head, and so I try to pound it into our guy's head.
00:32:57.920 --> 00:32:59.359
That that has always helped me.
00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:04.000
I've never heard the church, uh the uh church street church on the street story.
00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.119
Yeah, that's amazing.
00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.720
Powerful ministry.
00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:14.960
Um and you know, you're right, from the very beginning when we moved into this building, you and I had a conversation that you all wanted to help.
00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:15.359
Yeah.
00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:19.440
And so we decided, I've I don't remember whose idea it was, probably yours.
00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.880
Well, if it was a good one, it was mine.
00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:22.319
If it was a bad idea, it works for me.
00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:23.839
Yeah, because it's working great.
00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.400
So yeah.
00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:27.119
Um, so your guys serve on our parking team.
00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:27.440
Yeah.
00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:43.599
And man, I can't tell you how many times I'm in connection track with people that are new here or are meeting guests here, and they rave about the attitude and the welcoming that they get from the parking team.
00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:45.759
Um and they don't even know that.
00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.960
You know, they don't pull up.
00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:51.119
Your guys don't have orange vests on that say refuge on the ridge.
00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:54.079
Yes, i you know, and nobody knows that.
00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.480
Yep.
00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:57.680
And when they find that out, they're just blown away sometimes.
00:33:57.839 --> 00:34:05.359
But I love because that's one of the teams I lead here, and I get to spend time with those guys and sometimes and celebrate recovery if they come.
00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:18.960
And you know, being a part of what you're doing and being in with you at recovery church sometimes on Wednesdays, and just building relationships with them, yeah, and seeing them walk that out of how they enjoy serving here.
00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:19.360
Yeah.
00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:22.960
And and some of them will say, I've never had a church welcome me like that.
00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.800
Listen, I love that.
00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:26.960
That I think that that honors God.
00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:28.079
It does.
00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:41.119
And and I I always tell people, you know, the this church has loved, and I'm not, and of course I'm talking about the staff and all that, but I mean the people have loved our guys.
00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:48.880
And they're such, you know, they're and I think we're kind of shifting away from that in society because what does a drug addict look like?
00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:52.559
You know, it looks way different today, probably than it did 25 years ago.
00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:53.280
That's true.
00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:53.599
Yeah.
00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:56.960
So, you know, they're they're they walk among us, as they say.
00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:16.079
And so, so I think the persona is, and and for most of these guys, though, they've been shamed and they've been put down, and you know, and and and the people here, the love of the people here, that nobody's ever said to me, um, well, you know, somebody at church says something about oh, you're just an old drug addict or anything.
00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:16.800
You know what I mean?
00:35:16.880 --> 00:35:17.679
Like none of that.
00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:28.000
Now, the other the other part, which you and I know, is how important that ministry is to the church, because a lot of people make decisions pulling into the parking lot where they're coming back.
00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.760
All the time to our starting point here.
00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:30.239
Yeah.
00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:32.719
And and so, I mean, and they don't they don't know that.
00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:38.800
Every now and again I have to, you know, if somebody gets their noise at nose out of join or something, I have to say, here's why we do this.
00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:40.719
And they're like, Oh, really?
00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:42.719
Yeah, that's important, man.
00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:47.440
Yeah, you you you hold the keys to maybe somebody accepting Jesus or not.
00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:48.880
And that's that's kind of a big deal.
00:35:49.199 --> 00:35:49.440
Yeah.
00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:58.480
I mean, people are making decisions whether they're gonna come back before they get to the front door and hear the great worship and you know the excellent preaching that we have.
00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:58.800
Yeah.
00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:00.000
Especially this past Sunday.
00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:01.360
This past Sunday, yeah.
00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:04.960
And um, you know, and and so that it's a huge part of that.
00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:12.639
And I love I try to get out there and say hello to them as often as I can and for their team huddle because it is important.
00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:12.880
Yeah.
00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:16.079
Uh it's one of the most important ministries we have here, actually.
00:36:16.239 --> 00:36:16.320
Right.
00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:18.800
And so I I love the fact that we have it.
00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:29.840
I love the fact of how we use it to welcome people, but I love even more who's behind it and who's serving out there and and what you see God doing in each of those guys.
00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:37.440
Um this whole idea of this podcast is to because Jesus told us to go and make disciples.
00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:40.320
And that's really what Miking Disciples is all about.
00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:45.440
It started as a a stupid name that I use as my Twitter handle years ago.
00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:46.719
I still use it for that.
00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.039
Okay.
00:36:47.199 --> 00:36:49.840
I don't get on there very often, but no such thing as Twitter anymore.
00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:52.159
I know I have I know that.
00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:58.639
But if I said X, then I have to explain to some people that it's Twitter, and you know, it it doesn't matter.
00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:01.119
You think Pastor Jack knows Twitter's no longer?
00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:04.000
I'll make sure that I get that information to him.
00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:06.000
So I don't think he's on it very much anyway.
00:37:06.400 --> 00:37:07.280
I wouldn't think so.
00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:15.599
But um you know that that's what the whole pro the whole idea behind this is, is to help make men into disciples of Jesus.
00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:17.920
And so that's really what I want to ask you about.
00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:22.079
Now, what is the the men that you have that you work with that you see coming in?
00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:25.519
Because not everybody that's interested in the program comes.
00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:25.760
Right.
00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:28.800
And not everybody that comes stays the 10 months.
00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:29.039
Right.
00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:37.360
And in fact, you've had men get finish and then come back because they realized this is a community that I need to be around.
00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:37.679
Yeah.
00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:43.920
In order for me to live the life I need to live in recovery and freedom, I need to be around people like this.
00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:44.159
Yeah.
00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:45.119
So they'll come back.
00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:51.199
Some of them stay in a transitional housing area that you have, some of them come on staff with you.
00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:51.519
Yeah.
00:37:51.760 --> 00:37:57.840
So, what is the biggest challenge you see in helping this happen and helping make disciples of men?
00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:00.559
Okay, well, I'm back up a little bit.
00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:05.599
I think and uh I love that word because people say, What do you do there?
00:38:05.760 --> 00:38:07.519
And and a lot of times I can't explain it.
00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:09.840
I believe that's what we do is we make disciples.
00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:11.119
Totally agree with that.
00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:23.519
Because, you know, one a huge part of that program is accountability and responsibility, which you know, you've never you never wanted to take responsibility for anything you've ever done in your life.
00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:25.199
It was always somebody else's fault.
00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:31.199
Uh, and then the so the accountability piece is that's the most important.
00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:32.639
Let's talk about that for a minute.
00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:33.119
Okay.
00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:41.280
Because um, you know, we require them to do certain things, you know, they don't we have to have to be on time.
00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:47.039
These are silly things, but man, you would not believe well yeah, yeah, you would believe.
00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:57.280
You know, there's the generation of the that the the the of these young people, it's like they come and go as they please, they do what they want when they want, and and so it's important.
00:38:57.519 --> 00:39:00.559
I mean, if we're gonna follow Jesus, we we gotta act like Jesus.
00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:00.880
Right.
00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:04.159
We have to be responsible human beings at the very least.
00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:15.280
So um so the accountability part is is the toughest and the most important part because accountability means a lot of different things.
00:39:15.440 --> 00:39:19.039
Accountability means you gotta do certain things when you're here at the ridge.
00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:33.920
And so something that we talk about is we don't have we don't have we have a graduation ceremony, but we don't call it graduation because that in my in that again back to words, graduation means I finish something.
00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.480
Right.
00:39:34.719 --> 00:39:38.480
Well, in the world of recovery, you you don't ever finish.
00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:53.360
We call it a commencement because we're commencing from that point of our lives to a different point of our lives, which which, in order for us to live this life of recovery, to live this life as a as a follower of Jesus, he talks about that.
00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:55.840
You know, he surrounded himself with people.
00:39:56.079 --> 00:40:08.320
Accountability means I'm I've got people in my life that can look at me, that know me, that can tell me, hey, something's off, something's right, you shouldn't do that, those sorts of things.
00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:23.840
And so the the most important thing is these guys, after these 10 months, I could put I could put you, Mike, in a in a room next door or whatever if you were an alcoholic and lock you up and 10 months later let you out and go, hey man, you got 10 months of sobriety.
00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:26.559
Well, what's the first thing you're gonna do?
00:40:26.719 --> 00:40:29.599
You're gonna run, you're gonna run and take care of that 10 months.
00:40:29.679 --> 00:40:29.920
Yeah.
00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:32.639
But but so so we have to teach them a different way.
00:40:32.719 --> 00:40:37.519
And and part of that is is is they hold each other accountable while they're there.
00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:39.039
That doesn't go away.
00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.719
I've got people in my life.
00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:42.400
You're you're one of the people in my life.
00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:48.960
If I've got something eating me up, or you always look at me and say, you know, if something's off, are you are you okay, man?
00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:51.679
Like, um, so you have to allow those people.
00:40:51.840 --> 00:41:03.840
That is that's the most frustrating thing for me is when when a man commences out of the first phase of our program and he just goes and isolates himself all over again.
00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:12.719
Some of these guys want to go back and live the same life that they lived as close to the as they can get to possibly without drinking or drugging, and it just doesn't work.
00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:13.440
Right.
00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:21.280
Um so the accountability piece is is and I and and I and not everybody has to come back to the refuge.
00:41:21.840 --> 00:41:24.480
Matter of fact, some I don't want to come back to the refuge.
00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:25.119
You know what I mean?
00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:25.920
Like I've had enough.
00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:26.159
Yeah.
00:41:26.239 --> 00:41:36.239
And I and I mean that loving way, but but but you have to get involved in AA or in a church small group or in a CR or something.
00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:46.480
You have got to have people in your life that put eyes on you and have the um the um what's the word I'm looking for?
00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:53.519
It's it have the permission from you to call you out on on what you're doing.
00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:54.880
Permission's a good word, yeah.
00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:55.199
Yeah.
00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:57.920
And and I call that a contracted confront, right?
00:41:58.159 --> 00:42:03.360
Where if if if if I go to if I come to you and I go, Mike, listen, man, I I need you in my life.
00:42:03.440 --> 00:42:07.119
I I need somebody to make sure they got eyes on me and I'm not swaying.
00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:09.679
I'm gonna give you permission to call me out on that.
00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:15.519
And I think that's we as men all need that in our lives, whether we're in recovery or not.
00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:16.960
And you know men don't like that.
00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:18.159
Yeah, nobody likes it.
00:42:18.239 --> 00:42:26.559
I don't like it, but I've got 10 guys that that I work with every day, and I always tell them, man, if you see something, if you don't like something, then say something.
00:42:26.719 --> 00:42:26.880
Yeah.
00:42:26.960 --> 00:42:29.360
I I'm you know, I'm an open book.
00:42:29.599 --> 00:42:32.239
And you and I have had those conversations with each other.
00:42:32.400 --> 00:42:32.639
Yeah.
00:42:32.719 --> 00:42:34.559
Uh, you know, where we've challenged each other.
00:42:34.719 --> 00:42:34.880
Yeah.
00:42:35.119 --> 00:42:40.559
An old pastor friend of mine who's gone home to be with the Lord now, Mike Butler, used to call that carefronting.
00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:44.000
That I care about you so much that I'm going to confront you when I need to.
00:42:44.239 --> 00:42:44.960
Oh, absolutely.
00:42:45.280 --> 00:42:47.679
And and that's a great way of saying it, you know.
00:42:47.760 --> 00:42:56.480
And I think that we have people listening to this who are in ministry in other cities, other towns, um in all these areas.
00:42:56.800 --> 00:43:04.079
And what would you say to them about how they can replicate what you're talking about?
00:43:04.239 --> 00:43:09.440
The idea of finding, informing, and continuing in a biblical community.
00:43:09.679 --> 00:43:15.440
What what would that do for someone who's in the situation like the men that you work with?
00:43:18.639 --> 00:43:19.599
What could they do?
00:43:19.840 --> 00:43:20.400
Is that the question?
00:43:20.639 --> 00:43:20.800
Yeah.
00:43:20.880 --> 00:43:23.199
What are some things that that they could do to help that?
00:43:23.360 --> 00:43:28.559
I mean, they don't necessarily start a refuge on the ridge part two, but But they could.
00:43:28.800 --> 00:43:29.199
They could.
00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:30.719
You'd be open to that conversation.
00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:32.719
I would love to help anybody do this.
00:43:32.960 --> 00:43:33.280
Yeah.
00:43:33.519 --> 00:43:40.239
Um I'd uh I it's a lot of work, but I I would it'd be an honor to help somebody else start another one.
00:43:40.480 --> 00:43:44.320
But I think that um I I'm gonna go back to this.
00:43:44.800 --> 00:43:47.199
First of all, it needs to be a small group of men.
00:43:47.440 --> 00:43:47.760
Yeah.
00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:51.360
Um, you know, that's the that's the other thing at the at the refuge.
00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:57.440
We we kind of top out it our our suite numbers between 22 and 25, probably.
00:43:57.679 --> 00:43:59.840
We've had as many as 28 or 29 as two men.
00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:06.719
I think that when I say a discipleship, I mean Jesus only had 12, right?
00:44:07.280 --> 00:44:14.239
So in order to have that true intimate man-to-man relationship, it needs to be a small group.
00:44:14.800 --> 00:44:18.400
I think the number one thing you gotta do is you gotta first you gotta develop trust.
00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:19.039
Right.
00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:20.079
And that takes time.
00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:24.480
Especially if we're talking about addicts and alcoholics, man, you you gotta walk the walk.
00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:25.840
You can't just talk the talk.
00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:32.480
And so um once you have that trust, then you have to ask for that that would you say carefrontation?
00:44:32.719 --> 00:44:33.360
Carefronting.
00:44:33.679 --> 00:44:34.400
Carefronting.
00:44:34.639 --> 00:44:37.440
And I call it contract and confront, which is the same thing.
00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:37.840
Yeah.
00:44:38.000 --> 00:44:42.639
But but and then you they're still not gonna like it.
00:44:43.280 --> 00:44:49.840
But I think but if you want to make disciples, or if you want to mic disciples to your name.
00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:50.559
I like that.
00:44:50.719 --> 00:44:50.960
Yeah.
00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:53.440
So that's that's what you gotta do, man.
00:44:53.519 --> 00:44:55.280
You gotta surround yourself with a few men.
00:44:55.519 --> 00:44:58.320
You gotta build trust first and foremost.
00:44:58.480 --> 00:45:03.599
You could call yourself whatever you want to call yourself, but unless they trust you, you've got nothing.
00:45:03.760 --> 00:45:04.159
Right.
00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:10.960
And then you and then you've got to uh I think I think serving is uh is the way to go.
00:45:11.599 --> 00:45:21.840
So you you meet together regularly, whatever that looks like, build trust, which takes time, yeah, and then you find ways to serve other people and get outside of just caring about you.
00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:23.280
Get outside of yourself, man.
00:45:23.360 --> 00:45:23.440
Yeah.
00:45:23.679 --> 00:45:25.440
Philippians 2, verses 3 and 4.
00:45:25.679 --> 00:45:26.800
Yeah, it's one of your favorite passages.
00:45:27.039 --> 00:45:27.519
It is, man.
00:45:27.599 --> 00:45:27.760
Yeah.
00:45:27.920 --> 00:45:28.559
It's my life.
00:45:28.800 --> 00:45:36.719
Um I I have a couple of guys that I've been meeting with we meet every Wednesday morning as often as we can.
00:45:36.880 --> 00:45:42.800
Uh one guy bolted on us and moved from Florida to Indiana, so he FaceTimes with us or zooms in.
00:45:43.039 --> 00:45:44.079
Well, that's that's dumb.
00:45:44.239 --> 00:45:45.360
He's obviously not very smart.
00:45:45.760 --> 00:45:47.360
He likes cold weather, I guess.
00:45:47.679 --> 00:45:48.159
Oh my gosh.
00:45:48.880 --> 00:45:51.119
But uh I am not that kind of guy.
00:45:51.280 --> 00:45:51.519
Right.
00:45:51.679 --> 00:45:57.039
But we still meet and we still talk and we still pray and and we still are there for each other.
00:45:57.119 --> 00:46:02.000
And these guys, I say all the time, they know everything about me, and I know everything about them.
00:46:02.079 --> 00:46:02.400
Yeah.
00:46:02.639 --> 00:46:10.960
Um, and we trust each other and we lean on each other, and then I have other guys like yourself that unfortunately we don't sit across from each other anymore.
00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:11.199
Yeah.
00:46:11.519 --> 00:46:18.559
So we we check in every now and then, but um it just having men in your life to help you with that, you know.
00:46:18.639 --> 00:46:28.400
I've got um so many times I have people looking for that, and and sometimes I tell them, well, yeah, get in a a group like that.
00:46:28.559 --> 00:46:30.000
Let me help you find one.
00:46:30.320 --> 00:46:37.199
Because you if you are feeling like you need that, then chances are you're way past the time when you really need it.
00:46:37.440 --> 00:46:41.760
And so, uh because we men, we don't ask for help as quickly as we should.
00:46:41.920 --> 00:46:42.400
Right.
00:46:42.800 --> 00:46:45.440
And so, you know, we'll help you find that.
00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:50.480
And and that's what I think is so important about biblic building a biblical community.
00:46:50.639 --> 00:46:52.880
Yeah, it's what I see happen with your guys.
00:46:53.039 --> 00:47:06.159
So guys will come early and they'll just sit and talk with each other, and you know, they'll pick on each other and the things that brothers do, but but at the end of the day, there's a genuine compassion and care and concern for each of them.
00:47:06.239 --> 00:47:10.000
Yeah, and I think that that's what the body of Christ needs to recover.
00:47:10.159 --> 00:47:10.320
Yeah.
00:47:10.480 --> 00:47:13.840
If since we're speaking in recovery, we need to get back to that.
00:47:14.079 --> 00:47:31.199
Um and you can do that when you're sitting on a fishing boat, you can do that when you're playing golf, um, you can do that sitting in a living room or around a table at a church, you can do that over breakfast, whatever it is, you do that regularly and consistently, and that's how you build up the trust.
00:47:31.440 --> 00:47:31.920
That's right.
00:47:32.239 --> 00:47:35.360
Anything you want to say, anything more about you want to say about that?
00:47:35.760 --> 00:47:42.639
About the well, you know, we need more men to step up and uh into and it's not easy.
00:47:42.800 --> 00:47:46.239
And we're and I'm just talking about leading a small group of men.
00:47:46.480 --> 00:47:49.840
Um it's inconvenient.
00:47:50.239 --> 00:47:52.159
There'd be times when you don't want to do it.
00:47:52.320 --> 00:47:58.960
There'll be times, you know, they they used to tell me all the time that there's two times you should go to an AA meeting when you want to and when you don't want to.
00:47:59.199 --> 00:48:02.480
It's the same with leading, it's the same with leading a small group of men, right?
00:48:02.639 --> 00:48:05.519
Um it's not always going to be convenient, you know.
00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:09.280
Everybody's got this, or you've got that, or oh my gosh, I gotta go do this.
00:48:09.599 --> 00:48:17.760
Man, there is nothing more important in this world, nothing, than walking people along a path to live more like Jesus.
00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:18.320
Nothing.
00:48:18.400 --> 00:48:18.960
Yeah, nothing.
00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:26.559
There, and I'm just telling you from experience, no money, no job, you know, none of the glitter and glam and toys and all that kind of stuff.
00:48:26.719 --> 00:48:27.119
Nothing.
00:48:27.199 --> 00:48:28.159
Yeah, yeah.
00:48:28.400 --> 00:48:32.239
It really is all about providing opportunities to help people follow Jesus.
00:48:32.320 --> 00:48:34.960
That's the whole goal of this podcast.
00:48:35.199 --> 00:48:37.920
But really, that's the whole goal of our faith.
00:48:38.320 --> 00:48:41.039
You know, Jesus told us to go and make disciples.
00:48:41.199 --> 00:48:42.800
We don't get an option for that.
00:48:42.960 --> 00:48:43.199
Right.
00:48:43.360 --> 00:48:47.679
Um, he gave us options on how we do it, but not if we're going to do it or not.
00:48:47.760 --> 00:48:51.760
And if we're gonna follow him, then we've got to be doing the things he's asking us to do.
00:48:51.920 --> 00:48:52.079
Right.
00:48:52.239 --> 00:48:55.199
And that's what you've been doing for five years now, right?
00:48:55.599 --> 00:48:58.000
Uh, I want to ask you a couple more things then.
00:48:58.159 --> 00:48:58.559
Yeah.
00:48:58.719 --> 00:49:03.760
Um what would you say if you could go back to talk to a young Andy Blair?
00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:13.119
So when but when you were getting married, when your daughters were being born, and you were pursuing goals in life, what would you say to him now?
00:49:13.360 --> 00:49:13.760
Yeah.
00:49:14.159 --> 00:49:26.320
Um I I think I don't know because if I looked back at that Andy Blair, I wouldn't have listened.
00:49:27.039 --> 00:49:28.639
Um people did tell me.
00:49:29.440 --> 00:49:41.440
I I think what what I I I don't know why, I just feel like I'm supposed to say this, but if there's your parents out there or or or spouses or whatever, l listen to me.
00:49:42.400 --> 00:49:46.000
I know that I was raised right, right?
00:49:46.159 --> 00:49:50.320
I was raised in the church as a child, as a teenager, and all those sorts of things.
00:49:50.480 --> 00:49:52.320
So I knew right from wrong.
00:49:52.480 --> 00:49:54.880
And here's the thing, here's the beautiful thing about that.
00:49:55.679 --> 00:50:03.440
I knew no matter where I was, how far away away I was from God, I always knew where to go to I always knew where the help was.
00:50:04.079 --> 00:50:12.559
And so for you parents out there that are struggling, if you've raised your kid right, they will return back home.
00:50:13.280 --> 00:50:14.400
It's it's gonna happen.
00:50:14.800 --> 00:50:20.480
So I I don't know why I felt like I needed to say that, but um yeah, there you go.
00:50:20.800 --> 00:50:22.159
So so what would I say?
00:50:23.360 --> 00:50:27.280
Man, it it doesn't matter what I would say.
00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:31.440
What I wish I would have listened to was you okay, how about this?
00:50:31.599 --> 00:50:52.559
What I wish I would have heard, and I'm sure it was said a million times, was that that all these things that you find pleasure in and all the this this um this mask that you've put on to make people think that you're this important person and all these things that you've won and all the money you've made.
00:50:53.360 --> 00:51:06.400
I wish somebody would have told me in the beginning and they may have, but I wish I'd have believed that that corporate ladder, that that worldly pursuit of success leads you absolutely nowhere.
00:51:06.719 --> 00:51:07.280
That's good.
00:51:07.679 --> 00:51:13.039
I wish somebody would I wish I would have listened to that to say, hey man, if you just go out and serve other peoples and do the peoples?
00:51:13.360 --> 00:51:13.920
Peoples, yeah.
00:51:14.079 --> 00:51:20.639
Go serve other peoples, go serve people and do the next right thing, your life will be beyond your wildest dreams.
00:51:22.079 --> 00:51:22.880
That makes sense.
00:51:22.960 --> 00:51:28.719
And you know, it it's there's a difference between somebody saying something and you really hearing what they say.
00:51:29.039 --> 00:51:30.239
So you talked about that.
00:51:30.400 --> 00:51:34.400
Okay, so you've been at Refuge on the Ridge, you guys have been in existence now five years.
00:51:34.559 --> 00:51:34.800
Yeah.
00:51:35.039 --> 00:51:36.400
Congratulations on that by the way.
00:51:36.559 --> 00:51:36.880
Thank you, man.
00:51:37.039 --> 00:51:37.519
It's awesome.
00:51:37.760 --> 00:51:38.159
Well, yeah.
00:51:38.400 --> 00:51:41.039
Um in another five years, yeah.
00:51:41.440 --> 00:51:47.760
Where do you see God using you or or working through you, or what is he doing in Refuge on the Ridge then?
00:51:48.000 --> 00:51:50.960
You know, we we're we're exploring a lot of things right now.
00:51:51.119 --> 00:51:59.599
I don't know that um uh it's there, there's there's things on around the horizon uh which I'm really excited about.
00:52:00.239 --> 00:52:05.760
So, you know, people ask me what I do, and and the answer is I just try to stay out of God's way.
00:52:06.559 --> 00:52:10.079
And so that so for the next five years, I'm gonna try to do that again.
00:52:10.239 --> 00:52:12.159
Okay, because it worked pretty well so far.
00:52:12.400 --> 00:52:13.199
It worked well.
00:52:13.519 --> 00:52:19.039
And so, you know, there's been a couple of times in these five years where I've had a great idea, right?
00:52:19.599 --> 00:52:22.960
And we're gonna go do this, or or let's go down this road.
00:52:23.119 --> 00:52:23.519
Yeah.
00:52:23.760 --> 00:52:27.760
And then I I'll get down the road a little bit and I'll look back and there's nobody behind me.
00:52:27.920 --> 00:52:28.079
Right.
00:52:28.239 --> 00:52:29.199
And I go, okay, wait.
00:52:29.840 --> 00:52:30.320
All right, God.
00:52:31.440 --> 00:52:33.039
Okay, God, I'm gonna wait on you.
00:52:33.199 --> 00:52:34.960
So that's where I'm at right now.
00:52:35.119 --> 00:52:35.440
Okay.
00:52:35.599 --> 00:52:39.679
Uh I I'm in it's a cliche, but I'm telling you, I live my life this way.
00:52:39.760 --> 00:52:41.280
It's whatever God wants.
00:52:41.519 --> 00:52:48.559
And I've seen that power work in in just my own life, and then in putting this whole refuge on the ridge together.
00:52:48.719 --> 00:52:53.920
So I am sitting patiently, which you know this is my my strong suit.
00:52:54.000 --> 00:52:54.320
Yeah.
00:52:54.480 --> 00:52:56.800
Uh and waiting on the Lord to say, here, here you go.
00:52:56.960 --> 00:52:57.199
Okay.
00:52:57.440 --> 00:53:03.920
And um, so so I think there's there there's something coming that I'll I'll be excited to announce very, very soon.
00:53:04.000 --> 00:53:04.400
Yeah.
00:53:04.639 --> 00:53:06.719
But um can't do it yet.
00:53:06.960 --> 00:53:07.199
Right.
00:53:07.280 --> 00:53:07.840
That's fine.
00:53:08.079 --> 00:53:10.000
And I don't want to put you on the spot with that.
00:53:10.079 --> 00:53:15.920
I just am, you know, that waiting patiently to see what God does next is a is a great way to answer that.
00:53:16.079 --> 00:53:23.440
So if someone wanted to reach out and get information about you all, uh maybe they're wanting to um uh just find out more.
00:53:23.599 --> 00:53:25.920
Maybe they want to start another one where they're at.
00:53:26.079 --> 00:53:30.960
Maybe they have a loved one that that is looking for that type of regeneration program.
00:53:31.199 --> 00:53:34.559
Or, and I'm sure you wouldn't mind this, they want to donate to what you're doing.
00:53:34.719 --> 00:53:35.199
Oh, wow.
00:53:35.360 --> 00:53:40.079
Um, you know, they can find you on your website at refugeontheidge.org.
00:53:40.239 --> 00:53:40.639
Correct.
00:53:40.800 --> 00:53:45.119
Or they can call at 863-455-8585.
00:53:45.599 --> 00:53:46.559
That number.
00:53:46.719 --> 00:53:48.239
Uh double check on that.
00:53:48.480 --> 00:53:49.119
I think that is the number.
00:53:49.280 --> 00:53:49.840
Don't quote us.
00:53:49.920 --> 00:53:52.639
I try to keep that in my memory for people that ask.
00:53:53.039 --> 00:53:58.079
Here's the other way is they can email us at info at refugeontheridge.org.
00:53:58.400 --> 00:53:58.719
Okay.
00:53:58.880 --> 00:54:00.079
That's probably the best way.
00:54:00.239 --> 00:54:04.400
All right, because it goes to like three of us, and and so we all get that.
00:54:04.639 --> 00:54:16.880
And so we, you know, now sometimes it goes into the to the spam folder and yeah, I don't see it for a few months, but uh info at refuge on the ridge.org um would be a great way just to reach out.
00:54:16.960 --> 00:54:23.679
I mean, if you want to serve, if you've got a loved one, if you're interested in starting your own, or you know, if you want to donate, you can donate on their website too.
00:54:23.840 --> 00:54:24.079
Okay.
00:54:24.400 --> 00:54:25.920
At refuge on the ridge.org.
00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:33.119
So and they can see some of the progress that God's doing on social media as well as and uh learn a little bit more about that.
00:54:33.280 --> 00:54:35.119
There's videos that you can see, things like that.
00:54:35.440 --> 00:54:37.360
Our Facebook page is pretty, really active.
00:54:37.599 --> 00:54:37.840
Okay.
00:54:38.239 --> 00:54:38.559
Okay.
00:54:38.719 --> 00:54:39.039
Yeah.
00:54:39.280 --> 00:54:39.760
Very good.
00:54:39.920 --> 00:54:41.920
Well, man, it's been great to catch up with you.
00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:42.639
It always is.
00:54:42.880 --> 00:54:45.280
It's never um never a bad time.
00:54:45.360 --> 00:54:46.960
I I wish we could do it more often.
00:54:47.119 --> 00:54:47.280
Yeah.
00:54:47.440 --> 00:54:51.360
You know, when you went into this role, we're like, oh, we'll still get together for lunch.
00:54:51.599 --> 00:54:51.760
Yeah.
00:54:52.000 --> 00:54:55.519
And now I have to to work with your office staff to get on your schedule.
00:54:55.760 --> 00:54:57.519
Well, listen, buddy, it's not that's okay.
00:54:57.599 --> 00:55:01.440
Yeah, it is not um, it's not something I enjoy.
00:55:01.519 --> 00:55:01.840
Yeah.
00:55:02.079 --> 00:55:02.960
But I do enjoy it.
00:55:03.039 --> 00:55:03.519
You know what I mean?
00:55:03.599 --> 00:55:14.079
Because it's just like like now I've got I'm going to another lunch today, and you know, there's days when I just want to go, you know, put my gym shorts on and go to the woods or go go fishing.
00:55:14.159 --> 00:55:14.480
Yeah.
00:55:15.119 --> 00:55:16.000
Those days are over.
00:55:16.159 --> 00:55:16.800
Yeah.
00:55:17.039 --> 00:55:20.320
So um anyway, but well, we do need to go to lunch.
00:55:20.480 --> 00:55:20.960
Yeah, we do.
00:55:21.039 --> 00:55:22.000
We'll do well, we'll get on that.
00:55:22.079 --> 00:55:22.800
I'll get on that schedule.
00:55:23.119 --> 00:55:24.000
I'll let you buy me lunch.
00:55:24.239 --> 00:55:24.719
That's fine.
00:55:24.800 --> 00:55:25.920
I'm good with that.
00:55:26.239 --> 00:55:28.880
Well, um, I I really appreciate you coming on, man.
00:55:29.039 --> 00:55:32.960
I'm so excited for you and Refuge on the Ridge and what God is doing.
00:55:33.119 --> 00:55:41.920
Uh, I wish that you all that are listening could see the examples of life change that that the Lord is bringing in the men that come there.
00:55:42.239 --> 00:55:51.840
Um and you know, it it is such a powerful ministry tool and a powerful way of God transforming lives of men.
00:55:52.079 --> 00:55:53.840
And really that's what we're all about.
00:55:54.000 --> 00:55:57.280
And I'm thankful really that I get a front row seat to that.
00:55:57.440 --> 00:55:58.880
And uh Me too.
00:55:59.280 --> 00:56:00.880
I'm so thankful for that.
00:56:00.960 --> 00:56:02.000
It's such a blessing.
00:56:02.239 --> 00:56:07.280
And um, you know, we we love seeing what happens, so keep up the great work.
00:56:07.519 --> 00:56:10.400
Um anything else you want to say before we end this?
00:56:10.719 --> 00:56:11.519
I don't think so, man.
00:56:11.599 --> 00:56:12.239
Okay, thank you.
00:56:12.320 --> 00:56:14.320
Yeah, this is this has been a been a pleasure.
00:56:14.639 --> 00:56:19.519
Well, I uh months ago I said, Hey, I want to get you on, and then it's just a matter of making it happen.
00:56:19.599 --> 00:56:21.360
So thanks for taking the time to come.
00:56:21.440 --> 00:56:22.639
I know you got other things to do.
00:56:22.880 --> 00:56:24.800
Anytime we can talk about whatever you want to talk about.
00:56:25.039 --> 00:56:25.920
Okay, sounds good.
00:56:26.079 --> 00:56:30.320
And that's why we just some questions were planned, and some it's like, hey, let me ask you this.
00:56:30.559 --> 00:56:34.239
Yeah, and uh, but I you know, I say it to you all the time.
00:56:34.400 --> 00:56:37.199
I I'm a different man because of how you helped me.
00:56:37.280 --> 00:56:40.159
Wow, and now you're helping other men do the same thing.
00:56:40.239 --> 00:56:41.760
So I appreciate you.
00:56:41.920 --> 00:56:44.719
I wouldn't be where I am without how God used you.
00:56:45.199 --> 00:56:46.239
Well, thank you for that, Mike.
00:56:46.639 --> 00:56:54.480
I want to I want to comment on that because you know, that's important for people to understand.
00:56:54.559 --> 00:56:59.039
You never know what you're gonna say or how you're gonna affect someone.
00:56:59.360 --> 00:57:09.199
And so I think for for those that are listening, you know, words have power, um the power of life and death, right?
00:57:09.360 --> 00:57:10.000
It's in the tongue.
00:57:10.239 --> 00:57:18.880
But but that's true, so so something that I say, like for example, and you I may not think that's a big deal, but for you that was a huge deal.
00:57:19.119 --> 00:57:19.599
It was.
00:57:19.840 --> 00:57:29.440
And so so I I encourage you out there to to people are listening to this to encourage you, brothers, you know, because you never know what you're gonna say.
00:57:29.760 --> 00:57:34.639
And what what I used to say to you always wasn't positive when it came to that sort of stuff.
00:57:34.800 --> 00:57:35.119
Right.
00:57:35.280 --> 00:57:38.639
So I don't know exactly what it was one day when you went, you know what?
00:57:38.800 --> 00:57:40.800
I think I may I may take some of this advice.
00:57:40.880 --> 00:57:44.159
And yeah, and uh it literally turned your life around.
00:57:44.320 --> 00:57:46.719
Yeah, I don't remember what that was either, but it really did.
00:57:47.360 --> 00:57:54.480
And it's just God used me to say something to you at a time when you were open and you heard it, and now look at your life today.
00:57:54.559 --> 00:57:56.960
That that's that's ministry, man.
00:57:57.119 --> 00:57:57.519
Right, right.
00:57:57.760 --> 00:58:02.400
It's nothing I did, it's something that God gave me to say, and I said it, and now look here we are.
00:58:02.559 --> 00:58:02.800
Yeah.
00:58:03.039 --> 00:58:08.239
And I think, you know, there's a lot of truth to what you just said too, that uh I was ready to hear it.
00:58:08.400 --> 00:58:08.559
Yeah.
00:58:08.719 --> 00:58:10.880
And sometimes we you talked about this earlier.
00:58:11.039 --> 00:58:18.159
You say things to people, you said it in your own life situation, you know, that people probably said those things, but I wasn't ready to hear it.
00:58:18.239 --> 00:58:18.480
Yeah.
00:58:18.719 --> 00:58:23.519
It doesn't mean that we shouldn't say it, because sometimes God can use your very words to to do that.
00:58:23.599 --> 00:58:30.159
And you never know if this is the time they're going to actually hear it and embrace it and take it to heart and follow it.
00:58:30.320 --> 00:58:33.440
But um, so when God tells you to say something, say it.
00:58:33.519 --> 00:58:33.760
Yes.
00:58:34.079 --> 00:58:39.440
And if people aren't listening, keep praying that they'll open up their ears and their hearts and hear what he has to say.
00:58:39.599 --> 00:58:39.840
Yeah.
00:58:40.000 --> 00:58:43.360
And who knows where God will take that man when that happens.
00:58:43.599 --> 00:58:49.840
So um, it's happened to me, it's happened to all the guys that you're working with, and uh, it's happened with you as well.
00:58:50.079 --> 00:58:57.119
So keep doing that, keep speaking truth into men's lives, keep um loving on them and their families as well.
00:58:57.519 --> 00:59:00.880
And um, we're just excited to see where God takes you guys.
00:59:01.039 --> 00:59:01.280
Yep.
00:59:01.440 --> 00:59:01.760
All right.
00:59:01.920 --> 00:59:02.719
So thank you, brother.
00:59:02.960 --> 00:59:04.719
That's all the time we have for today.
00:59:04.880 --> 00:59:07.280
Uh really great to have Andy Blair on with us.
00:59:07.360 --> 00:59:12.480
And I just want to let you know if you have any questions or comments for me or for him, you can do that.
00:59:12.639 --> 00:59:14.480
You can go to the link in the show bio.
00:59:14.719 --> 00:59:20.000
Uh, you can reach out to him, like he said, at inforefugeontheidge.org.
00:59:20.719 --> 00:59:31.280
And uh one of either he or one of his staff will get back with you and get you the answers to your questions, uh, pray for them and and ask God how he might want you to get involved as well.
00:59:31.440 --> 00:59:35.440
And uh so we would just want you to keep coming back to Miking Disciples.
00:59:35.519 --> 00:59:42.159
These episodes come out every two weeks where I either teach through the Sermon on the Mount or have guests on like Andy today.
00:59:42.320 --> 00:59:48.480
And I just want to thank you for joining us, and I'll talk to you later so we can help every man become a godly man.
00:59:48.639 --> 00:59:49.760
Thanks so much.
00:59:53.760 --> 00:59:57.280
Thanks for joining us today for this latest episode of Miking Disciples.
00:59:57.440 --> 01:00:04.159
If you have any comments or questions, I would love to get for you to go to the comments or questions link that's found in the description of the episode.
01:00:04.239 --> 01:00:06.079
And I really would love to hear your thoughts.
01:00:06.239 --> 01:00:07.440
Thanks for joining us today.
01:00:07.599 --> 01:00:09.199
We'll talk to you later.
