Rangi's Testamony
To Whom it May Concern:
My name is Rangi and this is a brief outline of how I came to Stepping Stone Ministries. It took me 47 years to get to where I am today.
I came from a loving family with wonderful parents that cared. They taught us right from wrong; what respect meant and many other handy tools that would set us up for a healthy and rewarding future. For me it did. I worked hard, had the white picket fence lifestyle with the wife, kids and two dogs. I had a job that many aspired to, but in my mid 30’s my life went pear shaped and my fortunes became misfortunes. Alcohol became an unwanted companion. It was a real love hate relationship. Each time I pulled myself out of the pit, something would happen and I would fall even further. People were always there to lend a hand; my whanau were no exception, but I had exhausted their kindness, and in the end, they had to let go and let God.
One morning I awoke face down on a rented caravan floor, broken, lost and totally desperate. I did something that morning that I have never done again; at least not with the same conviction. I prayed a broken heart felt prayer, the guts of it went something like this…. “God if you want me…take me, if there’s something you want me to do please show me”. The next day a man whom I had never met, picked me up and brought me to Stepping Stone. To this day I’m still amazed but now I understand why. The moment I came through the gates I automatically knew I was safe, it was a fantastic feeling, almost surreal, but definitely real.
Today 8 months on I’m doing things I thought not possible for me. I’m living with men I wouldn’t normally associate with, men who for one reason or another lost their identities, but have been given another crack at life. I’ve built a bond with these men that puts past lives to the back and makes present and future relationships positive and strong.
Stepping Stone Ministries is a rehabilitation facility, funded on Christian principles. It’s run on love and respect and at times a shoestring budget. The staff and management are God sent. This isn’t a 9 – 5 job, it’s a 24/7 lifestyle of passion and commitment. I’ve seen wonderful things happen. I call them miracles. I’ve seen burnt bridges rebuilt, wilted flowers blossom, hardened hearts soften, the weak become strong and the I don’t care attitudes turn to understanding and discernment. Qualities many of us missed as a result of our upbringing.
This Ministry has saved me from my own self destructive choices. I’ve been blessed with this opportunity at a new chance at life. When Michael Angelo sculptured the Pieta, he saw it before the first chip of marble was removed. What came out was beautiful. Like Michael Angelo and his Pieta, so are many of us. We are all masterpieces of God, and we were, well before we were formed.
So for me Stepping Stone Ministries means new beginnings, renewed spirits, and the promise of a life beyond my wildest dreams. This place works.
Thankyou for this opportunity to express how much this Ministry means to me.
God bless
RANGI
UPDATE: Rangi is doing really well, married and working; he has hope for the future. Awesome.
John's Testamony
Hi my name is John and I’m 54. I’m from Christchurch. I’ve been in active addiction in one form or another since I left home at 15 years old. I’ve been asked to write this testimonial of what Stepping Stone Ministries has done for me.
Well, they gave me time to get clean of drugs. They gave me time to learn to trust, not only other people, but myself as well. They have also allowed me time to find God. A loving God, a forgiving God. This hasn’t been an easy task or a quick one.
I came to Stepping Stone Ministry in March of 2013 and it’s now September 2014, and they are still giving me and helping me find what I need to stay clean and sober.
Now I’m clean from all drugs, I find it’s my head and my bad habits I have to deal with. I have 35 years of living and believing my own bull-shit to deal with now. I’m not alone. I haven’t been kicked out after a three month programme to fend for myself. I’ve had my ups and downs. I even had a relapse, by using synthetic pot. But I wasn’t abandoned. I was given a chance to trust God and come clean to Stepping Stone Ministries and ask for help. I was forgiven, I was loved and I was allowed to carry on learning to live in a safe environment.
I am lucky Stepping Stone Ministries isn’t Government funded and as such doesn’t have to jump through numerous hoops that other treatment centers have to. I am lucky that it is funded by three amazing people. That have faith in a power greater than themselves, namely God.
I have watched these people pour all their love and energy and time and their heart and soul, into helping addicts find a way out. All three could be living a life of leisure and without monetary struggles. These guys are broke and I have seen them go without so they can find a way to help another addict, instead of thinking of themselves.
I’ve learnt a lot from these people. I do volunteer work 4 days a week and I try not to think of how to please myself, as much as I did in active addiction.
At the end of this month I’m going to start looking for paid work. Yet 18 months ago I was thinking about how to kill myself or how grateful I’d be if I found out I had cancer.
Thank you Stepping Stone Ministry and Thank You God.
JOHN
UPDATE: John is going really well, he is living independently and working full time to date. He continues to be an inspiration to the others and visits the Ministry most weeks for a catch up.
Jamie's Testamony
Hi my name is Jamie and I am now 30 years of age. I was born in Palmerston North and moved to Tauranga when I was 11 years old.
For the last 18 years I have had major addiction issues and life issues. On 16 April 2013 I moved into Stepping Stone Ministries. I finally had enough of the life I was living.
I would like to give a big thanks to Ministry for helping me turn my life around. I have been clean and sober for about a year and a half now. During my time there it felt like I’d been given a second chance in life. I gained all the skills I need to fit back into society.
Currently I am living at the Ministries transition house. I am doing part time work for a rubber stamp company, voluntary work for Restore, and will be committing myself to finding full time employment at the end of this month.
JAMIE
UPDATE: Jamie is still pushing forward and has successfully completing studies with the hope of employment in the near future, he is living independently and remains positive.
Vinay's Testamony
Hey there,
Twelve years ago I nearly lost my life. I ended up with a Traumatic brain injury and profound hearing loss. It’s been an up and down hill since then. People who are my so called friends deserted me in an instant. I didn’t know what was happening because my brain was severely damaged. I have been living in rehabilitation clinics since then. My memory loss is a major hurdle. But thankfully when I saw my mum I knew she was my mum!! Then I saw dad and recognized him straight away. Along came my sister with her baby girl in her hand. Slowly my mind confirmed that the baby is my niece. Time is moving and slowly my mind is getting better. But as a fact I became like a child. As a child grows they learn new things meaning every step I took was learning like the child does. Because of difficult incidences I came to Stepping Stone Ministries. Since the day I have been here, I have been learning the purpose of life. In the past I was living the way I wanted, I didn’t take into account there is a higher power in relation to my livelihood. God is three in one.
FATHER, HOLY SPIRIT, and begotten son Jesus Christ. Doing bible study has taught me the true way of life. The basic philosophy is “stick to the scriptures”. It truly states the words of God. It is 100% correct. I say that because we say “action speaks louder than words”. I have taken action with God’s word in practice and the result is equal to what it mentions in the scriptures. In knowing that God is gracious I have been baptized in water and the Pastor at church baptized me with the Holy Spirit.
I feel the power and strength which God has given me. It’s not finished yet, because baptism with the spiritual fire can only be done by Lord Jesus Christ. To achieve that, I plan to stick to the righteous path that the Lord Jesus Christ made for me. It can be tricky because the number one deceiver, Satan, is there to seduce us into temptation. God is there for all of us, it’s our actions that count more because the most important relationship on earth is for every human being with God only.
“Patience is a Virtue.”
So, for coming to stay at Stepping Stone, I have learnt the true way of life. God doesn’t make our destiny. He has given all of us freedom to make choices to fulfill our destiny.
I hope I can get my hearing back. I rely on God the Father, Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. My heart and soul is with Christ. He died for our/my sin. I won’t stop my scripture study. I trust and love God.
In the name of Christ, Amen.
VINAY
UPDATE: Vinay is still with us but making plans to move back to Auckland and commence some studies, he has a very supportive family.
Kevin's Testamony
Before I was accepted in to the Stepping Stone Ministry programme I was in a main stream jail at Spring Hill. I was there for drug & fire arm offences. On my last chance I was told that any further reoffending, I could expect life imprisonment. In jail my daily routine was lining up for my meals, staying out of trouble, trying not to pick on guys that could play chess better than me, reading books and learning how to draw. While I was there a friend gave me some paper work about a place called Stepping Stone Ministry. I read through all the information I had. I decided that it was too tough for me. The rules & requirements were beyond me. Jail seemed easier. Well 6 more months went by, wasting away my life. Then I asked for the paperwork again. This time I was committed. I had to change and make a difference in my life. Obviously I had some hard work to do. Stepping Stone was there if I was prepared to do the work. I filled out the forms & went through an interview process. I was accepted & paroled from jail, into the care of Stepping Stone. They picked me up & my new life had begun.
We are very lucky to have a place like Stepping Stone here for people who need this place. This place is special & is different from other places like it. It is on a large property about 20kms from Tauranga. I was given a week to settle in. Everyone there is expected to make a commitment to make a change & to enter into a programme of learning that is made up of 6 modules, as well as house work, personal hygiene & work, that helps the place run smoothly.
What makes Stepping Stone different is that it is Christian based & is backed up by GraceWay Church in Hamilton and Life Church in Tauranga. Each day I was taught a new way of living, a new way of thinking. I learned to apply Christian values & thinking in my life, through education & discovering for myself how these values could make a difference in my life.
I saw the power of prayer with my own eyes (Yes it works). At church the people I met were all so nice. These were real people, nothing like the people I used to know. I wanted to become like them & so the process carries on (& still does to this day). I have also seen healing from the power of prayer
As I worked my way through the modules I learned to apply what I learned from the bible as Christian values into my life. After I finished module 6, I was helped to get ready to face the world again. For me I could hardly wait. I wanted this chance to prove to myself I could do this the right way. I found a place to stay & got a job in a butcher shop
As time went on I needed another place to stay. Stepping Stone was there for me in an instant, till I found some where else. Clinton & Tania who manage Stepping Stone, & the staff they have, are like family to me now. They stand by the people they help. They will do whatever needs to be done. Clinton with a smile & Tania’s wisdom to tackle any problem.
So to this day, nearly one & a half years later, I have a good job, a place to stay & am drug free. I am staying out of trouble. Praise the Lord, Thank you for saving me.
KEVIN
UPDATE: Kevin remains drug free and has been working full time and doing really well. He continues to have a heart to help others.
Wi Jack's Testamony
My name is Wijack. I am 53 years of age.
I applied to come to Stepping Stones Ministries in May 2014. At the time I was on remand in Mount Eden prison. I made an application and was accepted. My reasons for coming to Stepping Stones Ministries was that I have lived the last 35 years as a drug addict, and I had to support my addiction through crime. I have tried a number of times to address my addictions and have never been successful. I completed a drug course in 2003 at Rolleston Prison and graduated. I spent the next 10 years trying to live a drug free, productive life, but still ended up turning back to my past lifestyle. When the opportunity came up to attend Stepping Stone Ministries, I thought “nothing else has worked so I will give this a go.”
I found it difficult at first, living in a community situation but slowly through reading the bible and developing real life skills, I have seen a major change in my attitude and thinking.
I have learnt to break down my faults and try and address them. This involved finding out from my past what led me to my addiction and out of control lifestyle. By having God in my life, I have found it much easier to deal with my problems. Knowing that He will always be there and loves me, I know I can rely on him. This is an introduction into living as a righteous life and being a positive influence in my loved one’s life. This is the only future that will be successful for me and I am grateful that through God, Stepping Stones Ministries has given me this chance.
I have a lifetimes’ journey ahead, but I am starting to build a platform to rebuild the rest of my life.
WIJACK
UPDATE: We have lost touch with Wi Jack but hope he is still walking a healthy and whole life.
Joels Parent's Testamony
To Whom It May Concern
We have been trying for years to get help for our son who has struggled with self image problems, making right choices and generally functioning in society. As Christians ourselves we came across a Christian-based rehab programme called Stepping Stone Ministries. We explained it to our son, who agreed to participate. He was released by the court to stay there and be counselled on a weekly basis. His progress has been excellent and we have seen a positive change in him. He attends church with the group and we have seen the confidence gained by him.
We are thankful to Tania, Clint and Wiki who work closely with him.
Yours sincerely
Terry & Irene Burke