Substance abuse will always play a role in Ashley Miller’s life—and that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s helping her make Paducah a better place.
Miller’s life started in the midst of addiction. She was born to a mother who abused pills, and she began using drugs herself at age 11. At age 14, she experienced her first overdose. Then, as a young woman, she married another addict, and the couple drifted in and out of jail for 12 years.
Today, Miller’s relationship with drugs has changed completely, and she spends her days helping others in Western Kentucky break free from them. She wants to help make the region better.
“I take great pride in helping our community,” she says. “When lives are changed, communities are transformed.”
In 2014, Miller graduated from the Ladies Living Free rehabilitation program, and in January 2020, she took over as the executive director of that organization and its partner, Paducah Lifeline Ministries. Now, Miller and a staff of caring workers and volunteers offer a helping hand to those consumed by addiction.
Paducah Lifeline Ministries and Ladies Living Free help men and women break the cycle of addiction through a nine-month recovery program. According to a recent press release, the two organizations have served more than 945 people with a 62 percent success rate for graduates after one year.
One of Miller’s first accomplishments as executive director is guiding the organization toward a more cohesive vision, held together under one name: Lifeline Recovery Center.
“Lifeline has suffered from an identity crisis for years,” she explains. “We always had one board and one mission for men and women, but people were confused about our two names. The new name better explains who we are and what we do—helping people recover—and it comes at the right time to grow community awareness and support.”
The re-branding is also ushering in a few other changes. The Lifeline Recovery Center board of directors is welcoming four new members: Ken Hunt, Todd Trimble, Mike Zimmerman, and new Board Chair, Steve Powless.
Miller has also taken over a more significant development: a major construction project that will boost Lifeline’s capacity. Currently, the center only has the space to serve 20 percent of those who apply, so the executive director and the board are upgrading and expanding facilities and ramping up services. They want to give as many people as possible the chance to overcome addiction and build new lives.
Of course, they can’t complete this expansion alone.
“To achieve those goals, we are focused on program development, staff training, community awareness, long-term financial stability, and strategic partnerships,” Miller says. “We are working to grow philanthropic support, and we believe people will be more generous as they learn of our success in providing Christ-centered solutions to addiction.”
Lifeline Recovery Center has already completed a 2,400 square-foot dormitory, funded mostly by donations from members of the board of directors and friends of the ministry. Miller says even more exciting projects will be announced soon. Anyone who would like to become a part of this effort to expand the ministry and help more people recover their lives can donate at www.lifelinerecoverycenter.org/donate, text “GIVE” to 270-279-8262, or mail gifts to:
Lifeline Recovery Center
P.O. Box 7652
Paducah, KY 42002
Miller will happily partner with those willing to support the mission of the organization. She wants to encourage others to put in the work it takes to better their neighborhoods and communities, help others, and maybe break free from their own addictions.
That’s one of the reasons why she’s happy in her new role.
“It’s my greatest honor and privilege to now be guiding this organization that changed the course of my life,” she says. “I hope my journey inspires others.”
That inspiration, Miller hopes, will help improve life in Western Kentucky.
