“…whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” John 8:36
Stacie Aycock blamed her husband Allen for most of the troubles in their marriage. She thought if she could free herself of him and start her life over fresh then everything would get better. After entering an alcohol and drug addiction recovery program called Ladies Living Free, a nine-month Christ-centered program designed to heal people spiritually, emotionally and physically, Stacie realized that her problems were not just her husband’s issues. They were her problems, too.
She discovered that it wasn’t her husband’s fault that she was resentful, filled with shame and guilt, and carrying around a load of hurt from her past. It wasn’t his fault that she abused alcohol to relieve the burdens she had carried around all of those years. She also discovered that there was hope for a better life, a restored relationship with her family, and freedom through the pages of God’s word.
“I had hurt everyone I loved,” Stacie says. “I thought I would never be better than my past actions. But today I don’t find my identity in being an alcoholic. I keep my feet planted in God’s word and try to live a transparent life.”
Ashley Miller’s journey from addiction to recovery began at birth. Born to a mother who was addicted to pills, Ashley started her life with an addiction, as well. In fact, both of her parents were addicts. She started using drugs at the age of 11 or 12. She had her first drug overdose at the age of 14. She married Eric when she was 19, a young man who also had an addiction, and drugs became the foundation of their relationship. The couple didn’t know how to function or how to cope with the challenges of raising their two children. So drugs became their outlet.
Ashley and her husband were in and out of jail over the next 12 years. Eric tried to sober up on his own, but had no long term success. Then at the age of 31 Ashley was ordered by the court to enroll in Ladies Living Free.
Her first thought about the volunteers who administered the program was that these people could never understand her.
“When I first got into the program I thought it was just a bunch of bible thumpers,” Ashley says. “Then God turned my heart of stone into a heart of flesh. I was manipulated by my own memories. I allowed my past to control me. We are products of our past, but we do not have to prisoners of it. Today I’m using my story as a doorway to bring hope to others. I was convinced God loved me when I was able to forgive myself.”
Inspired by Ashley’s newfound joy and peacefulness, Eric chose to enter Lifeline Ministries’ men’s program. Today, the Millers are working together to build a healthy and Christ-centered home for their children, for whom they again have custody.
Stacie had a relatively normal childhood, but she never believed it was okay to admit she had problems. She always tried to keep up appearances so that no one could see that she had problems.
Ashley ultimately lost both of her parents and a sister to pill addiction.
Though their stories are different, the common thread that binds these women together is the freedom they have found from their addictions and their shared love of Christ.
Today, both women serve through Lifeline Ministries and Ladies Living Free. Stacie graduated from the program in 2012, Ashley in 2013. Because of the seeds planted in their lives, their husbands are now passionate about seeing lives changed and are heavily involved in the ministry with their wives.
These stories of recovery are inspiring, yet not necessarily unusual. The program accepts about 35 to 40 men and 20 women every three months. Of those intakes, about 71% will graduate from the program and of those graduates about 50% will stay sober for a year or more out of the program.
“You can’t go through this program without discovering that you’re worth more…that there’s something else out there besides ‘me,’” Paducah Lifeline Director, Darrell Orazine says.
Executive Director Terrye Peeler was set free from addiction 17 years ago and offers a spirit of hope and encouragement to the people the program serves.
“When you are broken and truly want to get help you can change,” she says.
Because housing and resources are limited, the ministry is not equipped to serve all who apply to their drug and alcohol recovery programs. Today, they are raising funds to expand housing and to improve the utilities on the property. For more information about the program or to donate to Paducah Lifeline or Ladies Living Free’s building campaign, call Terrye at 270.994.5089 or visit paducahlifelineministries.com.
