New Wine

Feedback from Graduates of New Wine.

"It is amazing how different life can be when we try to rule and direct it, compared to asking God to be the master of our lives. I came to Setting Captives Free for help to get past my struggle with drinking. I found out, through the daily time in God’s word and in prayer with Him, that my mind and my thoughts began to turn to the person of God, instead of focusing on me and my ideas of what I needed in life, and how to get those needs met. Yes, drinking, among a variety of other sins of self-absorption, were what brought me to this moment in time, but they were not the root problem. The problem was, I gotten caught up in the world and in myself and had let my mind become clouded with the confusion and lies of Satan (and my own) that told me there were things more important than my relationship with God. It really is not very complicated, but very simple. God comes first and everything follows him. I almost lost my wife, children, business - everything. Just as God got the attention of the Israelites in the Old Testament by allowing war, famines and exile to exact their consequences on a sinful people, God allowed me to live the consequences of turning from Him with feelings of fear, insecurity, strife, etc. I was the prodigal son who ending up feeding the pigs, after wasting the many riches of blessing and opportunity that my Father in heaven had given me. I partied and partied, and none of it provided what I hoped for; it provided the opposite. Today is different. Most important, I am in His word and looking to Him for who I am, where to go, what to do, and what I am to become. There is no other way. The way is simple, but the obedience may be hard. I had head knowledge for years, but that didn’t help. It only helped me to trick others to think I was a smart, godly guy, which sounds much like the Sadducees and Pharisees that were against Jesus. Today, I know it is not how much you know, or how much you can talk about God, it’s about if He knows you and what you do! Obedience, Obedience, Obedience. I couldn’t succeed at this before, because I would only obey if it fit into my plans. I have learned my life has to be about God first, others next, and me last. Thank you for being obedient to God and serving others like me. God used you, my mentor, Bill, and three guys at my church to help me, and it is huge to me and my family. God has saved my life and given me incredible hope and power in Him. Thank you, thank You, thank You. Don’t stop; you saved a family, me and a business. I will never forget." Love, your brother, Jeff

Let me start by saying I have been saved from the evils of the world through Christ. I was deep in the clutches of cocaine and crack. I played percussion and sang in a bank that was once quite popular. We released several albums and toured, as well. I was also big in the nightclub bar scene, and worked for one of the biggest live music restaurant venues out there. All of this was lost to an ever-growing drug habit. I eventually started selling drugs in order to keep myself supplied. I did not care for myself or for anyone else. As I fell further and further into sin and away from my family, I began to lose everything. I dated a girl who overdosed and died in my arms. Instead of stopping, I just began using even more. Finally, after many prayers from many Christians I did not even know, God brought the police to my door. I was arrested and soon put into treatment. After I got out, I tried to do the N.A. thing, and did not give myself over to God. This didn't work, and I found myself back out there, even worse than before. Next, I moved closer to my family, and found that location didn't matter, either. I was almost arrested again, and decided that day to ask God for help and to give myself over to Him. I began praying, studying Scripture, and getting active in my church. I have been growing in the Spirit ever since. God has truly made a difference in my life. I am now starting to see the amazing things that He can do if we just ask. I want to spread this to the whole world, and let people know what they are missing. Just ask God into your life, and drink the Living Water daily, and He will work in you. Ken

My mentor is Linda Aulino. I love her and so appreciate her prayers and support! I grew up in a Christian home and asked Jesus into my heart at age five. In college, I lived with some Christian girls who grew up in a different kind of church background than I. Amazingly, we got along great and had great theological and life discussions. Sometimes we would get a bottle of wine and get into some very deep and stimulating conversations - never getting drunk, just very talkative! After getting my degree, I started working and eventually met my husband at a Bible study at church. After seven years of marriage, my husband felt the call of God to go into full-time Christian ministry, which I encouraged him to do. After graduating from seminary, he got a job as an associate pastor at our church. He worked there for five years and then the church planted another sister-church and made my husband the senior pastor. I was the worship coordinator, and together we were a team, using our God-given gifts and abilities in full-time Christian service. We ministered together for about six years, enjoying all God had for us to do there. During this time, Satan slowly began to creep into my life. All along, my husband and I had wine in our home and drank responsibly and very moderately, not every day and not to excess. We always desired to honor and please God in our lives. However, slowly and truly without intending to, the wine drinking began to grow in my life. I honestly can't even remember how exactly or when it began to be a problem, but one day a friend came over to my house and asked me if I had a problem with alcohol, which I denied. But I gradually began drinking more and more during my days. I'd sneak around to different stores to buy my wine, so that the store checkers wouldn't suspect a problem. As a Christian, I kept on justifying it with all kinds of reasons: Jesus drank wine, I deserve it, it's OK to have a little to relax with, it's OK to have some to celebrate special occasions, lots of Christians drink, it's OK if I don't get drunk, and I'm not drunk - just tired, etc. One night in February of 2004, I had been drinking and had to pick up my daughter. When I pulled into the parking lot, I crashed into a truck. It was my first DUI, and the most humiliating and embarrassing night of my life, at least so far. But, even that didn't stop me for long. I went through losing my license, going through classes and, before they were over, I was back to drinking. Drinking wine became my god - I did it almost everyday and for any reason. There were many times that I can remember trying to stop drinking. It would last a couple of days at most and then something stressful would happen or I'd find something to celebrate and I'd go get a bottle. I didn't realize that I was losing my joy, gradually stepping farther and farther away from God and moving closer and closer toward Satan and his ugly desires for me. He had me in his grip; he knew it, but I didn't. So, life went on. As a result of the DUI, my husband and I felt the need to let the church know about it. So, we each prepared a speech to give before the congregation of one Sunday. Afterward, people came up and hugged me and said they would pray for me, but many people were outraged. As a result of some church politics, my husband was put on sabbatical earlier in the year and was expected to return but, now facing this in our life, he asked the elders for an extension. The church created a restoration committee who would, with the elders, either recommend that we return or not. Well, as time went on, my husband and I decided to resign from the church because the opposition and stir that our return would cause in the church was too much. This was a very painful and stressful time for our family. My drinking continued to escalate. I got so drunk on New Year's day that I think I came close to death. That day, I started on a journey that God had been orchestrating in my life all along. I found out about Setting Captives Free and enrolled in the New Wine course. From that point on, because of Gods grace and mercy, I have been alcohol free for the longest time in many, many years - 60 days of complete sobriety! Never to go back! Today, I have recommitted my life back to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am living each day with the motivation to please Him in all of my daily choices. I have humbled myself before Him, confessing my sin of drunkenness and I know that my guilt and shame have been taken away, by His grace. I have been brought back into a real and vital relationship with Christ. I want to live in obedience and dependence on Him for the rest of my life. I look forward to Bible study each day and worship at church. The only way to live a real Christian life is by walking daily with Christ and depending on Him. I praise God today for setting me free through Setting Captives Free. And, now, out of gratefulness to Him and thankfulness for His protection on my life through all of my disobedience, I want to become a mentor in the New Wine course so that I can help other Christian women, who may be experiencing what I've gone through - particularly those in church leadership. I am not proud of where I've been, but I know for certain Who I belong to now and Who I am living the rest of my life for - my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who was always there loving me. Thank you, Jesus! Carol

My name is Al, my mentor has been Bill, whose feedback has been an encouragement and referred me to a Scripture reading that was helpful. At the time I started this New Wine course, I had been free from alcohol and prescription drugs (ativan-Valium) since December 19, 1984. I had been freed from captivity to sexual sin last year through The Way of Purity course, even though I had been through AA 12-step program and many step four and fives and had confessed my sexual sins many times, but I could not get free. The blessings and spiritual growth I have experienced in the last year has brought the "Word of God" alive in my heart, but everything was not quite right. I still experienced some fear-anxiety in my life. When I first started this course, I realized that after all these years I still did not consider my past drunkenness a sin. Gratefully, through the guidance of this course, I have now been led to see that my drunkenness was sinful, and I was lead to repentance, confession and forgiveness. I am so grateful that I was able to see my sin, to see the effect this sin has, and what had to happen for my forgiveness and redemption. I experienced true sorrow at the price that Jesus (gladly) paid for me on the cross. What love! What did I do to ever deserve this compassion? I have been led to experience the "richness," the value of this relationship that I never could have dreamed of! This is the result of this course on me. It is my prayer that it will be the same for many others who come to this course. Al

My mentor's name is Donna. I thank God for her faithful prayer and encouragement during this course. I came to know the Lord as my personal Savior over two years ago. Needless to say, this was a life-changing event. I truly became a new creature in Christ - except for one area of my life....drunkenness. I had not completely given that sin over to the Lord. After my salvation, I didn't drink for several months. I fooled myself into thinking that drinking was OK. After all, the Bible says a little wine for the belly is good. I actually told myself that the Bible--God's Holy Word--condoned my drinking! With this incorrect belief, I started drinking again. My drinking started out as occasional social drinking, but ended up consuming me. My drunkenness pulled me away from my Lord and onto the path of destruction. I went through the vicious cycle of waking up in the morning and not wanting to drink, to ending the day in a stupor. The Holy Spirit was convicting me so hard during this time. Then, by God's grace a friend recommended Setting Captives Free as a Bible study to grow spiritually closer to Jesus. When I checked out the web site, the Holy Spirit kept drawing my attention to the New Wine course. I wanted to try a different one, but the Lord kept pushing me back to the New Wine course. Having completed the course, I find myself FREE from the sin of drunkenness. I have absolutely no desire for alcohol, and I now understand that I cannot handle even one drink. I am walking in the Light of Jesus Christ, who is indeed my Rock and has given me true Christian liberty from the sin of drunkenness. My daily prayer is that I live a life that is glorifying to Jesus Christ and Him alone!! AMEN Cindy

The name of my mentor is Bill. I began abusing alcohol right from the start of my adolescence, drinking with friends to catch a "buzz" and to have a good time. For the next thirty years, I continued to use alcohol whenever I was stressed out or wanted to escape from daily drudgery. I would tell myself that I was having a couple of beers to unwind on weekends. This would typically lead to drinking after work for months at a time, until I would get really drunk and "cut down" again. This viscous cycle continued, and I realized that alcohol controlled me and was the "main" focus of my life. When I tried to quit on my own, I failed, time after time. It was only when I decided to ask to God take over that the miraculous happened. I started logging on to Setting Captives Free website and learning more about God's saving grace and His love for me. I eventually started to live each day for God and asked Him do all the heavy lifting. God then started to "lift" the burden of my addiction and truly "set me free" to live in His Light and not the darkness of my sin. I hated my sin and, with God's grace, removed temptations and simplified my life, focusing more on the truly important areas of God and family. I am now living alcohol-free for almost three months and do not miss it one bit. I am closer to Christ, and my family life has never been better. I thank God and the dedicated staff at Setting Captives Free for my "New Life of Freedom!" John

Glory to God! I started at the age of 19 snorting cocaine. God had blessed me with a good opportunity in AT&T and the work ethics to move up in the company and become successful, which I did. Within 15 years, I received five promotions. Then things got real bad. This is when Satan became my ruler. I thought that everything I accomplished was of me. I received many rewards and recognition from man, which made me feel like I was on top of the world. During this climb, I went from snorting cocaine to smoking cocaine. I was what we call a functioning drug addict. I never missed work. However, the addiction did lead me down a path that eventually got me fired. Now, everything that I thought made me was gone and I had nowhere to turn. Thank God for a praying mom. She stuck with me and reminded me of the good days when my focus was on the Lord. I turned to God humbly and with true sorrow in my heart and asked for forgiveness. I then started my journey back home. The closer I got to Jesus, the further cocaine felt from me. It's funny how different my attitude is between living in the flesh and living in the Spirit. I am now at day 59 of the course. I feel like a young man in Christ, not knowing everything but knowing enough to know that I'd rather have the gifts of God than the death in Satan. My goal is to do the work of God. I pray that the experience I had to learn the hard way does not become in vain. I want to use my time I was with Satan to teach others that is not where they want to be. Ronald

First, I praise God for the comfort of knowing that everything that comes my way has been filtered through His permissive hands. My mentor for the New Wine course has been Linda Aulino. The Lord knew before the beginning of time that we would spend these last 60 days together - amazing! I grew up in church and was active in teaching and worship until my senior year in high school. Even with this being the case, I sought out love and acceptance from boys to make up for the lack of it in my family. This drove me into a life of sexual sin for the next 15 years. In the midst of searching for what I know now only God can provide, I experienced deep heartache, guilt and shame. In hindsight, I see why these overwhelming feelings eventually lead to my drug and alcohol addiction. At 18 years old, I moved out of my parent's house and in with my drug-dealing boyfriend. This is where I made the deliberate choice to turn my back on God. When I began drinking and smoking marijuana, I really thought of it as recreational. It didn't take long until I was trying acid, mushrooms, crack, coke, and ecstasy. It was all available to me, and I was hooked on them all. I lived this way for the next 13 years. My life revolved around getting high and staying high. I was completely trapped, bound and blind, not even knowing it. I felt like I had chains tied to my ankles and, when I tried to come up for air, it was impossible. I was sinking deeper and the chains seemed to gain more weight the harder I tried to escape. I was looking all around for help, but never looked up. There were more nights than I can remember that I woke up next to someone I didn't know. I was very ashamed of this, which perpetuated my use. Even with my back turned on God, I can look back on many times when I should have overdosed or wrecked my car, but it never happened. God had a plan for my life and gave me a second chance. I remember times when I would hear a little voice tell me, "This is not what I had planned for you." I thought it was a joke, as my shame was an all-consuming driving force, keeping me in the dark.

One day my boyfriend brought over a movie on the end times and prophecy. Afterward watching it. I thought, "Oh yeah, Jesus is coming back and what if he comes while I'm high or having sex?" Within a few days of that incident, I woke up to a message on the radio about sexual purity. I fell to my knees and asked for God's forgiveness, promising to stay sexually pure and pleaded with Him to come back into my life. After some time, I got up and realized I had to break up with my boyfriend, which I did that very night. Little did this person know that God was going to use him to bring me back. I asked for guidance to find a church, for stuff to read, and for constructive friends. I remember getting a devotional magazine in my mailbox. It was addressed to my neighbor who had moved and the postman put it in my box by mistake. I found a church and then I came home to a message on my phone. It was from a good friend from high school, who has played an important role in my life ever since. There are more times that I could ever document where the Lord reached out to me knowing how desperate I was for help. Once I did look up, I saw the hand of God extended out to me ready to lift me from the trap I found myself in. God took my hand and pulled me out of the depths of my sin and planted my feet on solid ground. God is working in my life and I am experiencing sobriety for the first time in my life. I came across Setting Captives Free through my Christian 12-step group. I have learned a great deal about the price of sin being death both physical and spiritual and the gift of God's love and mercy in my life. I have had some struggles with sin and looking to other sources for the love only Christ can provide but, because I am walking in the Spirit, God gives me the gift of repentance and I don't stray as far as I have in the past and plan, by the grace of God, to keep it this way.

I have never felt the peace I now have. I have never felt there was a real plan for my life and see now that God has called me to share with other addicts the freedom I have found through my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I have made it my life-long goal to expose Satan's lies for what they are, and shed light on a lost and dying world. The Truth had set me free and I am free, indeed. The well-spring of Life nourishes my soul and I am thirsty no more. My flesh had been crucified and it is no long I who live, but Christ who lives through me and, although the battle still rages, I claim victory over sin and death through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. "I trust in your unfailing love and my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing praises to your name for you have been good to me." Psalm 13: 5-6 Jananne

My mentor is Bill; he has been kind, gentle, and understanding. He has filled each day with knowledge and love backed by biblical readings and verses, which correspond to the day’s teaching or my life’s situation at that present time. I have been an addict since I was twelve, on and off....either to sports and playing through them or alcohol and drugs and using them. I think there is a direct correlation between endorphins brought out in sports and the endorphins brought out in drugs. Well, after years of abuse, one stint in rehab and numerous chances on my own, I have been given the chance through the Lord. I have learned to study, pray, and give my problems to the Lord. I have learned that if I live the word, the problems I have do not exist. I have learned that the living water will give me eternal life. My life now is day-to-day free of addiction and a life of Christian living. I live with God in my life; I help others and am active in my church. I did all of these things before, but without understanding, and for the wrong reasons. Stephen

My name is Nikki, and I am 30 years old. I started drinking when I was 15. Over the years, my drinking started to get me in trouble with the law. I got saved in 2000, and I was able to quit for one year. I was a new Christian, but I never grew, never attended church regularly, and never feasted on Gods word. I started drinking again, even heavier. This time I would get convicted and would have shame and guilt. But, for some reason, I didn't pray about it; I just kept on drinking. Deep down inside, I was alone. I had a void in me; something was missing..but what? I did not know. I got so far down...alcohol was controlling me, my every thought and move and I was trapped. I was enslaved to my master. I was so miserable, I would cry out to God, begging for help. I would pray and beg God to help me quit, and then I would turn right around and drink again. This went on for another year when finally it dawned on me that it was a SIN; I never looked at it like that. I was sinning against my God. I started to realize that I had to ask for forgiveness and repent. I had to grow in my relationship with Christ. The Lord had much MERCY on me then. He showed His love, grace and mercy toward me. I started to have real freedom from my sin. I was no longer a slave to my sinful nature. Jesus died for my freedom from sin. I now have gained victory over alcohol through my Lord and Savior. I have a new-found hope, joy, and a peace that transcends all understanding. By the grace of God, I am a new creation. I feast on God's word, I attend church now to have fellowship with other believers and I pray like I have never prayed before. Praise God for setting this captive free. Nikki

I've had my share of addictions throughout my life - from sex and pornography, to methamphetamine (AKA crank), cocaine, nicotine and pot. But the one that was the most difficult was the one I had to alcohol, beer in particular. I began drinking at 12 years of age when my father gave me my first taste of alcohol. I used to be the bartender at social events for the holidays and thought I was cool. As I became older, I began drinking to deal with the pain that I had inside. When I started having a lot of chronic, physical pain, I found that drinking helped, so I self-medicated. I mean, it was better than getting hooked on prescription pain pills, right? I would use any excuse I could to drink - I was upset, my kids angered me, I had a hard day at work, I was PMSing, etc. The reasons were always readily available. The truth of the matter was I didn’t want to admit that I had a problem just living without being in a state of drunkenness. I was drinking anywhere from 18-24 beers and smoking two packs of cigarettes within a six-hour time frame, several times a week. There were times when I would drink every day. After about six and half years, constant fighting with my husband and kids, and feeling like there was nothing left for me but utter destruction, I finally surrendered everything to God. Sure, I would always promise God "If You would just heal me...take away the desire..." But God knew that in my heart I wasn’t truly ready - until this last time. I knew that I wanted a normal life. I wanted to be able to function without something controlling me. All of my life I felt like others controlled me - who I was, what I did. I believed that alcohol was the one thing that I could control. That was a pure lie from the pit of hell. But when I was truly repentant and gave everything to God, He began to work in me. It wasn’t easy, but I have to honestly say that drinking rarely enters my mind anymore. My life is better, my relationship with God is deeper, and I am able to function in the here and now with my thoughts focused and my eyes on God. My husband has been a wonderful source of support for me throughout these past sixty days, and I am truly blessed to have two very dear friends who have been my accountability partners. My pastor who is so much more than my spiritual leader...he is my brother, a source of wisdom and acceptance; and my best friend who has been the sister to me that I never had. I love them very much and am grateful to have them in my life. I see hope in my future, and am looking forward to all that God has in store for me. Thank you to my family and friends, to my Setting Captives Free mentor, Linda, for her words of encouragement, and to the SCF New Wine program for being there to help pull me up and keep me going on the right path. Above all, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His faithfulness and mercy for me, a sinner saved by grace who, without Him, would have and be nothing. God Bless all! Lori

My mentor's name is Linda Aulino. She was great. I looked forward to reading her responses; they helped me tremendously. I truly appreciate her prayers, encouragement and support. I started drinking as a teenager with friends - it wasn't out of control, but there were episodes of getting drunk. Alcohol was a part of my life for years. I would drink after work and on the weekends. However, I worked a full-time job and attended college in the evenings, so I could not drink all time. I felt that if I took care of everything I was supposed to, I was entitled to have a drink as this is what I'd seen while growing up. I knew about God all of my life, but I did not have a consistent, real personal relationship with him. Eventually, this drinking caught up with me, and when it did, I was in reinforced steel chains, locked down, beaten down, confused, frustrated, physically and mentally tired, and lost. Drinking led to experimenting with drugs, but drinking was my overall problem. I came to the end of myself, I cried out to God and he led me to Setting Captives Free. Without a second thought, I signed up. The day I came here, I was hurting badly and I didn't know what to do. I knew in my heart this was God sending me help. I was so happy when Linda responded to my first email because it gave me hope. I leaned on the Lord with my whole being. God has given me grace, mercy and true repentance to overcome alcohol and drugs - it has been 93 days since I had alcohol - and my heart rejoices to the fact that God saved me, set me free and delivered me. I've learned so much at Setting Captives Free, and now I understand in detail how and why I fell in this sin and about the grace of God. My life is changing for the better - I stay in his presence as much as I can. I don't know where I would be right now if it weren't for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus! Joely

I grew up in home that was full of love, but also highly dyfunctional. Mom and dad would argue a lot, but they loved us. Dad drank heavily at times, and this definitely fueled the bickering and arguments. Our house was sort of the "hang out" house, and also where most of the kids who got kicked out of their houses ended up staying. I did not really do much drinking growing up (maybe drunk once or twice at a wedding celebration), but this changed a lot when I was 18. I began drinking, and experimenting with drugs (different kinds, but mostly PCP). It was not long before drinking and doing drugs would lead to arrest, or losing jobs, or even being homeless for a few years. One day, while I was partying, I heard the Lord speak to me, telling me to seek for Him. Finding this a bit strange, I asked dad about it, and he gave me a book with testimonies of famous athletes, about how they met God. As I read this book, I understood that Jesus died for me, and that God loved ME! I asked Jesus into my life, and He came in. Since that time, there have been a lot of up and down, times of doing really well, and times of slipping back into old habits. The funny part is, the old habits no longer brought hapiness, only doing what I should do, did. God has been patient, gently leading me back each time I stumble, and giving me strength, to grow in Him, more and more. HE delivered me from drugs (over 10 years) and, more recently, has delivered me from alcohol. He gives me joy, peace, hapiness, and hope! I only want to grow closer to Him as each day goes by. Ken

First, I wish to thank my mentor, Bill, who has been an invaluable source of advice and support. My testimony begins at a place of darkness. The funny thing is that I didn't realize how dark it was until I was led out into the light. I was relying on my own strength to see me through and, clearly, it wasn't working but. I wasn't about to admit it. After I reached a particularly low point, I confessed my problem to a friend who pointed me towards the Setting Captives Free web page. That same friend later became one of my accountability partners. Through daily Bible readings and the lessons on SCF, I had what can only be described as an experience similar to that which Paul had on his way to Damascus. Now I am moving forward, away from the place where I was once. I am working with others trying to share what I have learned. All praise to our Lord whose grace has saved me, a sinner. Duncan

"My mentor is Donna. I was involved in alcohol abuse, and abuse of Marijuana. I tried other drugs, but mainly I loved alcohol and weed. I started abusing drugs and alcohol after my brother, Timmy, passed away. I think the first time I drank I became an alcoholic. I drank Tequila and I loved it. From then on, in my senior year of high school, it got worse. I would binge drink a lot. When I went to college, I finally had "freedom." I drank mainly by myself those first two years, so not too many people knew it was a problem. During my second year of college I started regularly attending a church, even though I wasn't a Christian. I would hear the message Sunday and get drunk with my friends Sunday night because it was too hard to hear the truth. I began emailing and calling a pastor from that church drunk. He set me up with a mentor, and I began meeting with her every week. Still, I was convinced I didn't need God. I went to a church back home that summer where I had my first experiences of the love of Christ, and then I went back to the church I attended during the year seeking Christ, but still not able to stop drinking or using drugs. That year, my drug use and drinking escalated. I wound up in the hospital, destroyed property, and still didn't quit. In April of 2006, I managed to go to AA and stay sober until this July. But something was missing. I was a Christian, but I wasn't growing anymore. I came to Setting Captives Free willing to try anything that would bring me lasting freedom and joy in Christ. From the first lessons, I saw how my motivation was wrong. If I were to stay free from drugs and alcohol, it needed to be for God's glory not my own. Today I am 77 days free of drugs and alcohol by the grace of God. It says in the Psalms "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." That's what's happening right now for me. God has shown me his love and I'm embracing it. God has given me the desire to reach out and help others struggling with this. That is why, after much prayer, I want to be a mentor now - not for my glory but to help give God the glory he deserves." Caitlin

I want to start out by saying thanks to my mentor, Kathy, Setting Captives Free, and my Aunt Carolyn. I have been addicted to drugs and alcohol most of my life. The only time my world seemed all right was when I was on drugs. I had tried many times to stop, but usually I just sank deeper into my life of sin. I hurt people and myself repeatedly. I ended up in prison, having lost my home and my freedom. One night I started reading my Bible. When I prayed that night, I repented from my sins and I cried like never before. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and told Him I wanted to live by His ways. The day I was baptized, I promised God I would never turn to drugs or alcohol again, but to Him, instead. I gave Him control of my life. Shortly after that, my aunt introduced me to Setting Captives Free and I began the course. I know in my heart God led me to this course to help me with my new life. I am sober, peaceful, and loved by God. I have learned so much from this course about myself and God's plan for me. His word guides me through my new life. I'm sitting in prison, but I feel freer than I have ever felt before. I am so blessed and thankful for everything this course has taught me. You are all in my prayers. Love, Lydia

In reading this course, I have learned: alcohol was my idol; I leaned on it and my faith was in it. Now I walk with Jesus every day in the Bible, and I am sure the grace of God saves me from idolatry. I know His love is immense and I thank my mentor, Bill, who showed me the way to God. Ed

My mentor is Rick Streu. He’s been a great support over the past several weeks. I mentioned to him just the other night that his e-mails seemed to have God’s timing on them. They were right on at the time, and his reference to scripture was perfect. I grew up with everyone telling me that I was one of those people that could accomplish anything I wanted. Although it was always a compliment, I grew to believe it. The bad part of this was that I did it on my own. I always thought I knew what was best for me, and I’d never turn down a challenge. For the most part, I was very successful in my endeavors, but I started getting myself into areas of life that I had no business entering. I began drinking before I was of age, thinking that it was just another challenge that I could handle. Over the years, it became a problem. When I was of age, beer became a part of life, and I mean a lot of it. There came a time of conviction in church one night, and I admitted that it was a problem, but I could take care of it myself, and I did for a while. After a while, believing that I could shut it off and on whenever I wanted, I would begin drinking, again telling myself that it was OK, but I just needed to control it. I never did control it. I was drinking for one reason only and justifying it. This scenario went on for years, and I eventually gave up beer, but replaced it with wine. Afterall, they drank wine back in Bible times (another justification). For several more years, I drank wine instead of beer, but that was really the only difference with my problem, and yes, it was still a problem. All these years I realized that I wanted to serve Jesus Christ, and I had a ministry with kids that I loved; however, I kept creating this distance between Christ and myself that prevented me from having that personal relationship with Him that I wanted so badly. This distance was created by my drinking that I just didn’t want to give up. The drinking inspired me, it kept me going and getting things accomplished; it gave me confidence, but I eventually realized that it was killing me, also. I believed all of Satan’s lies that I call justifications, and he had me exactly where he wanted me. The drinking was increasing frequently, and either I was going to turn from it and run to Christ, or I was going to die, and possibly take many more with me. God had been working on me for many years. I knew he was there, but that was enough for me. When God decided that it was time for me to make a choice, it was like a supernatural reality that could only come from God. My eyes opened just a little wider to the road that I was traveling, and the potential was ugly. I decided to enter SCF because a friend of mine had gone through one of the courses and mentioned that there was a tremendous amount of accountability. I was ready to stop carrying the world on my own shoulders, and ask Jesus Christ to have FULL control. The first lesson got my attention immediately. My motivation had to come from the cross and not myself. After the first lesson, every lesson became a chapter that continued adding true spiritual joy into my life. We are to be humble servants as Jesus was, and I truly was humbled. My focus is no longer on myself, but on Jesus Christ and the cross. My life is all about serving and pleasing God instead of me now, and the grace I’ve recieved. I used to find it hard to imagine how boring life would be without a drink. Now I’m realizing how much true lasting joy I’ve missed because I was drinking, and all this joy comes from God because He loves us more than our feeble minds could ever understand. Even when times are tough and we sometimes wonder where He is, I know He’s there with me, and through His Son, Jesus Christ, it’s all going to be all right. God is so good. I guess it takes some of us a little longer to realize that, contrary to this world’s belief, none of us are in control: God has always been in control, and since I do a lousy job at it, I’m more than happy to turn the wheel over to Him and let Him drive. Brett

"I was raised in the church; and came to the Lord there. I grew in the Lord, and learned to love the Him and His teachings. I was a leader in the church. Sunday was my favorite day of the week, because I got to worship, attend youth groups, and be with my Christian friends. When I went away to college, I let go of the church and, before I could find a new one, Satan attacked. He attacked me at my weakest points, and tempted me to live a life of sin, which I did. I joined a fraternity and began to let others sway my decisions. Within the first three weeks of school, I started to drink heavily, party hard, tried marajuana, had sex for the first time, and started smoking cigarettes. This lifestyle lasted all the way through my 5-year college career. At some point in that 5-year span, I realized I was disrespecting the Lord living a totally un-Christ-like existence. So, I made a deal with God that I would start going to church, and leave all of this behind when I graduated. I held true to my deal, though I don’t recommend making deals with God. I started attending church again as soon as I got home. I became a worship leader in both the contemporary service and in the Young Adult ministry. However, I also took a job doing promotions at a rock radio station. This required me to be out till all hours of the night in bars, clubs, gentlemen’s establishments, and concerts. Needless to say, the alcohol flowed freely, as did the stereotypical rock-n-roll lifestyle. After about 8 months, I realized I was leading a double life. I knew that I had welched on my deal with God. Sure, I had given up plenty, but I stubbornly refused to give u partying. I asked for help. On February 22, 2003, I was in a single-car, alcohol-related accident I shouldn’t have walked away from. I spent 17 hours in jail and incurred several dollars in fines and court fees. I lost my license, and figured I would lose every shred of respect or any symbolance of a good life I once thought I had. God had other ideas. When I emerged from jail (and believe me, I prayed the whole time), I saw the open arms of Christ in front of me. He embraced me through friends and family and made it very clear that I had one decision to make... Him. Immediately I started going to drug and alcohol counseling. I started the New Wine course through Setting Captives Free, and I spent every day thanking the Lord and asking Him for strength and courage. He responded in a big way. After about a month or so, He called me into youth ministry and got me so excited about the idea of serving Him, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. I moved and began discipling others in His name. I would never have been able to stop drinking or been able to truly give my whole life to Christ, if it hadn’t been for the ministry He gave me through Setting Captives Free. Aside from showing me many great and powerful things in the Word of God, it also helped me to understand the idea of being enslaved by our own flesh. It showed me that we are dead to sin and that Christ will purify any of our iniquities. It showed me that I am not alone in this world or in my situation, and that He alone could save me. My spirit was new and my life was full. I have been spreading the gospel message, using my testimony, and thanking Him each day ever since. It has taken me a long time to finish a 60-day online study, but Setting Captives Free has, indeed, made a life-altering impact on my life. To God be the glory." Sam

My mentor is Bill, and he has been a refreshing helper in my breaking free from alcohol. Alcohol controlled my life for many years. I am 29 years old, and began drinking when I was a pre-teen. Alcohol helped me escape the world. I began to rely on this escape throughout my years of drinking. Most of the time I drank beer and enjoyed it until one day, after a golf tourney, there was a keg sitting there offering me as much free beer as I wanted. I looked at it and GOD gave me the nudge I needed to look at my abuse. This thought came into my mind, "You already know you can sit here and drink it." Then GOD sent me on a search for Setting Captives Free because I knew that I could drink it. I found Setting Captives Free through a Baptist church website that offered free sermons. I looked at it several times over a period of time, and then the unthinkable happened - my brother was killed, and I spent the next 3 weeks soaking up as much beer as I could. I found myself in a drunken stuper staring at the Setting Captives Free movie, and then signed up. GOD led me to Setting Captives Free, and he has renewed and restored my spirit and joy in JESUS. I have enjoyed nearly 4 months of freedom and stay diligent in the fight against the great temptor. REJOICE IN JESUS. Tony

I was addicted to cigarettes at 13. At 14, I began drinking, and smoking marijuana. By 15, I had started a 23-year habit of drinking every weekend and every other chance I got. It was not unusual for me to take a sick day to nurse a hangover or a vacation day to get an early start on a long weekend of heavy drinking. For me, a perfect vacation was being drunk every day for two weeks. As much as I hated the hangovers, I had this idea that I couldn’t survive a week without at least one solid drunk on the weekend. I used alcohol to escape from life (so I thought) and a hangover to hide behind on Monday. Over time, the abuse on my body and mind started to take its toll. I suffered from excessive fatigue, anxiety, and depression. I planned my life around hangovers and avoiding situations where I might have to deal with anxiety. I’d complain about being so heavily in debt, then turn around and blow a sickening amount of money on alcohol. I was getting out of control, feeling horrible when not drunk. I began to have fleeting thoughts about suicide as my only means to escape my hell. Even though I wasn’t educated in the Word, I believed in God and would pray once and a while - especially when I was hung over or stoned. During the last few years, God must have gotten tired of my desperate cries for help, and He began to put it in my heart to stop reading those New Age books and read His Word. Just over a year ago, I gave in and read the book of Matthew. When I got to the end where they dragged Christ out to be flogged, the Holy Spirit entered my soul and I was moved beyond tears. This was the beginning of my glimmer of hope. Over the next year, I kept drinking and getting worse. I read the Bible once and a while, had many talks with a devoted Christian at work, watched the Miracle Station, prayed, and, believe it or not, on rare occasions, I went to church. One evening, I was watching Lifeline on the Miracle Channel and was inspired to call and make a donation. The counselor at the Miracle Channel asked how me how she could pray for me. Before I knew it, I mentioned that I was struggling with alcoholism. After she spoke the most beautiful prayer that I had ever heard (I was deeply moved) she recommended Setting Captives Free. A few weeks later, being totally disgusted with myself and in desperation, I committed to the New Wine program. I knew Christ would set me free. After a little bit of a rocky start, I slowly began to surrender my will to Christ and changes began to happen. I have been sober for 42 days, and I know now what it means to be a re-born Christian. The old me died on the cross with Jesus. I am now new, full of joy, filled with the Holy Spirit, and sanctified before God in Jesus’ name. I hope to help others to find freedom from sin, alcoholism, and other strangleholds through the grace of God, for His Glory. I would like to extend a special heart-felt "thank you" to my wife for not abandoning me, to my mentor, Bryan Reif, for all his prayers, guidance and encouragement, and to Mike Cleveland for the divinely inspired New Wine lessons and for sharing his testimony. Most of all, my thanks to God and Christ, my Lord, are best said through this little prayer from www.verseoftheday.com written by Phil Ware: "Through the precious name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, my Lord, I thank and praise you, God Most High. Your love has given the sacrifice for my sin and Your power has given me the assurance of my resurrection from the dead. Your Son’s willingness to spend a lifetime with us has given me a Great High Priest who intercedes with empathy for my struggles. His example lets me know of Your great love. Thank you, O God! Thank you for being so gracious and giving me such a wonderful Savior. Amen." Daren