Dusty Brackett
We are repeatedly asked, “What is the success rate at Crossroads Rescue Mission?”
The question itself is fair, but it raises other questions that must be answered first to define the parameters of the answer to the initial question.
First, what do you mean by “success”? Well, before we can determine if we are successful we must understand what failure is. What is the problem over which we wish to be successful? Here is where CRM differs from many rehabilitation agencies. We do not see drugs or alcohol or sexual perversion as the problem. We see these as the symptoms of the problem. Our society wastes millions of dollars dealing with the symptoms while ignoring the root. The root of “addiction,” the socially acceptable ones as well as the socially unacceptable ones, is a prideful, selfish heart. The only hope any man has of breaking the chains of a selfish heart is through the power of the cross of Christ. No system of self reliance will free a man from this master. He may stop drinking or using drugs but the prideful heart has not been dealt with; it will still dominate his life in other areas, wrecking and ruining relationships. The 1 step program of “draw nigh to God and He will draw night to you,” is a man’s only hope. As a man humbles himself through the grace given to him by the Lord, recognizes his hopeless condition and in repentance yields to God, God will transform his life.
What is the catalyst that God uses to produce this transforming freedom? The Scriptures tell us that the “truth will make us free.” Ah, freedom! But the carnal heart asks with Pilate, “What is truth?” Christ answered this question in His high priestly prayer of John 17 when He stated, “Thy word is truth.” It is through the Word of God that a man is brought to the realization of the condition of his prideful heart. It is through the Word of God that he comes to realize the sufficiency of the finished work of Christ. It is through the Word of God that he is brought into a right relationship with God. As that man continually grows in his humility and submission towards God, he will experience a greater and greater life of liberty from his selfish, prideful heart. This will lead him into a deeper and deeper relationship with God on a personal level and his life will become so satisfied with God that the void that he tried to fill with alcohol, drugs, and women is now satisfied with the Divine Presence. Living lives free of drugs and alcohol is a by product of a humble submitted heart. It is the work of God through the finished work of Christ.
This leads us to state that it is not rehabilitation that a man needs but Regeneration, a personal Relationship with God, then Restoration to the man, husband, and father he was created to be.
Therefore if failure is defined by selfish pride, then success is living a life of selfless humility. It is far more than being free from drugs. One sure sign of the Holy Spirit’s work in a man’s life is his growing concern for his family and fellow residents at the mission. In this sense we are all a work in progress and will never achieve complete success until we stand before the throne of God without spot or wrinkle.
If a resident of CRM follows the Word of God our success rate is 100%! It works every time. When a man comes to God on God’s terms he never leaves empty handed. The best we can hope to do for a man is to introduce him to the truth of the Word and encourage his progress in the Word, but ultimately he determines how far he is willing to go.
So what is the success rate of CRM. Candidly, I do not know. With some men we have been very successful, by contemporary standards. With others we have failed miserably because they have gone through our program and returned to a life of addiction. Others have wandered for some time and then returned to embrace what they have cast aside. God is ever working and we see this as a process of growth as God deals with the men where they are to bring them to where they need to be.
God does not judge us by the values of success that the world uses. He rewards faithfulness. So maybe folks should be asking us, “How faithful is Crossroads Rescue Mission to God’s purposes in the lives of the men there?” And that is a sobering question.
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