5/8/08
Little Star PH Church develops healing ministry
By Cathy Gilbert

Manning Times File Photo

Living Free Ministry facilitators are Rev. Morris Smith, Phyllis Underwood, Eddie Underwood, Jennifer Casselman, Charles Shorter, Kathy Saint, Pat Felder and Steve Felder.

In 1958, David Wilkerson formed Teen Challenge, a program to help youth who were dealing with addictions. The story of that program was told in the book and the movie “The Cross and the Switchblade,” now seen by over 50 million people in over 30 languages in 150 countries, accord to World Film Crusade.

The Teen Challenge ministry is one of the oldest of its type in the world and has served an estimated 186 million kids, 12 and older since its inception 50 years ago.

An adult ministry, “Living Free” has been developed for adults and Clarendon County’s Little Star Pentecostal Holiness Church has taken a leap of faith to bring that ministry to the citizens of this area. Living Free is a sister program to the Teen Challenge program.

Following an intense training late last year, the eight facilitators have begun aiding nearly 40 adults with their life controlling problems.

“We are seeking to help others not just with a change of behavior, but a change of heart,” said Charles Shorter, lead facilitator. “We try to address not only physical and emotional needs, but the spiritual needs as well.”

While many addiction programs base their instruction on a “higher power,” the Living Free Ministry teaches participants how both the scriptures, the Holy Spirit and the people of God can help them to break free from the hold of addiction.

Shorter said that the ministry is ready to address any form of addiction, whether it be alcohol, drugs or any kind of life controlling behavior.

“We provide an environment of hope, support and accountability to help our participants find their way, through the truth of God, to find release from their addictions,” Shorter added. “When is a thief no longer a thief? When he stops stealing or when he begins to seek honest work as a means of sharing with others? We want to take those who are living in the darkness of addiction into the light of God.”

The lay facilitators are trained not only to give advice but to provide honest feedback and help others see the blind areas in their lives that have been hidden by walls of defense or denial, according to Little Star pastor Rev. Morris Smith.

“Our focus is to help heal by not only tearing down those walls, but encouraging new strength and defenses through Jesus Christ,” he said.

Each of the facilitators walks strong in their faith, but understands that everyone is faced with life’s challenges.

“We all know that we can take our own experiences and share how the Lord has worked in our lives and then in turn, help others to turn their lives around,” said Jennifer Casselman, another of the ministry’s facilitators.

“We are about building personal relations and trust,” said Eddie Underwood, also a facilitator. “We want to give people the space and assurance to empty themselves out and to open up to why they are addicted, what they are hiding from and how they can release those issues.”

There are currently four groups working in the Living Free ministry at Little Star. Each is led by a man and a woman facilitator and facilitators are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All sessions are held in the strictest confidence. If you are interested in the Living Free Ministry as a way to deal with additions in your life, call Little Star Pentecostal Holiness Church at 473-3074. You will be directed to a cell phone number that is monitored by a trained facilitator at all times.