Work and Recovery: New Life from a Garden Plot
Today’s blog post is from our Minister of Music/College Ministry leader, Andrew Crawford.
Most of you know me as the Music minister here at FBC Fairdale, but I spend most of my time working as the Director of the Life Change:Recovery program at Re:Center Ministries. Re:Center Ministries is an organization that works with homeless and hurting people in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area. The Life Change program at Re:Center is a 3-15 month program that targets the root causes of addiction, chronic homelessness, and life dominating sins from a gospel centered approach. Beginning in the early spring, Re:Center Ministries launched a new job skills and work therapy portion of its programing in partnership with FBC Fairdale. The men in the Life Change program have the opportunity to tend to a 1 acre garden located in the field behind the church. During this time, we teach job skills, a practical theology of work, and work as a form of therapy.
The Bible provides a clear mandate for human beings to engage in work. In Genesis 2, God created Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden “to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). This commandment not only provides a basis for human beings to engage in productive labor but also gives insight into the fundamental purpose of work.
Through our work, we have the opportunity to exercise our creativity, stewardship, and service to others, all of which are blessings from God and outworkings of the Christian life. Additionally, the Bible teaches that work is not only a means of creativity and stewardship, but also a way to honor God. Colossians 3:23-24 states, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” This verse teaches us that our work should be done with excellence and with a heart of service, as we are ultimately working for God and not for human masters.
Ultimately, as Christians everything we do, whether in word or deed, flows from our salvation in Christ and the good works that he has prepared for us in Him(Ephesians 2:10). Our work should be a reflection of the ultimate work that Christ has done in salvation.
In the life of an addict, work is often used as a short sighted means to a destructive end. In the recovery process, it is important to reframe that perspective of work, and instill the disciplines of work ethic, patience, and preparation that are necessary in gardening. Moreover, gardening/farming is one of the most rewarding forms of work, as the laborer is able to see the progress of their work, and enjoy the fruits of their labor. As a church, please pray for the lives of the men in Re:Center’s Life Change program. Please also pray for the men in our church who preach chapel at Re:Center twice per month, and for Josh Wamble, who teaches a class at Re:Center every week. The mission of Re:Center Ministries is to reconcile homeless and hurting men and women to God through the power of Jesus Christ, and that is accomplished in partnership with the local church.
You can follow @recenterfarmgarden on Instagram to see the most recent updates.