What Brought Me to His Way
My name is David Hargett. I am so thankful to be here this evening and honored to be asked to speak and briefly share with you how God is working through so many individuals in the support of men struggling with addiction. I have 5 minutes so hold on… this will be fast.
It was September of 1989. I was 22 years old and had just started working as a new engineer at Redstone Arsenal. While I was at work one day I received a phone call from my mother. She stated my brother, Robert who was 15 months older than me, my best friend, and the best man at my wedding, had shot himself and for me to quickly come to Florence. A couple of days later, Robert passed away. You see, off and on Robert had struggled with drugs for several years. From that day forward I struggled with blame and the thoughts of, “I wish I would have done more.”
Many years pass and I meet Bill Neiland. Bill gets me involved in building a website for His Way (at that time called The Way). Knowing the struggles of my brother I was excited to help, and I could see how His Way was providing refuge and building up these men in the name of Jesus Christ. Even though building a website was not as intimate as building relationships, it was a way where I could become involved in helping these men and a door was opened.
Project Rescue and “A New Day” Study
Fast forward to October 2016. I received a phone call from Ronnie Crocker, the director of Project Rescue in Decatur, AL. Ronnie stated they were looking for a congregation that would be interested in allowing the men of Project Rescue to come and be a part of their Wednesday night Bible study each week. My first question to him was what do you mean by “allowing them to come?” My first thought was absolutely they can come, at any time.
I knew at that moment God was opening another door, and it is one I had wanted to be a part of for many years because of my brother Robert. I sat down with the shepherds at Madison Church of Christ and presented to them this opportunity about starting a class each Wednesday night for those struggling with addictions. I told them it would be called A New Day. Each week we would be studying a story from God’s word, and we would be encouraging and loving individuals who at this moment in their lives need someone to shake their hand, hug them, pick them up, and help them see the love of Jesus Christ. I told them it would not be a “normal class,” one with someone standing up front in a typical classroom setting teaching others. But it would be “in a circle” where each man and woman who attended would know we are ALL the same in the eyes of God. It would be where no one judges anyone but everyone encourages and builds one another up. It would be where relationships are built… to where over time individuals would feel comfortable confessing and sharing their struggles with one another.
So what happened? The class has been meeting now for over 3 ½ years. Each week Madison sends a bus to Project Rescue, picks up the men, and brings them to the building where we meet. It has allowed many Christians to build relationships with these men, take them fishing, have them over to eat, and mentor them one-on-one. It has offered the Lord’s Church the opportunity to bring many other addicts and those struggling with sin in their lives to come and be a part of the fellowship, be encouraged, and be loved.
Thank You, His Way Supporters!
Thank you to His Way for your dreams, for providing for so many who are struggling at this time in their lives, and for what you have meant to so many individuals—not only in the Madison County area but now in your vision of establishing another His Way residence in the Atlanta area. Praise God!
Lastly, I will challenge every individual in the audience tonight to give. For those who have given and continue to give, thank you! To teach. To those who have taught and continue to teach, thank you. To sponsor/mentor. To those who have sponsored/mentored and continue to sponsor/mentor, thank you. And a challenge to love. Those who have loved and continue to love, thank you!
As a body of believers in Jesus Christ I pray we continue to expand this ministry, open the classrooms at your place of worship and welcome in those who are struggling with addictions. Let them know Jesus Christ is the answer and help them during a challenging time in their lives.
I love you Robert, and to God Be the Glory!
Learn more about His Way’s vision to advance Christ-centered recovery as a rallying point that unifies mission-oriented churches and Christians through sharing materials and resources, providing training and proved recovery models, and planting new programs and ministries around the world.