Season 5 - Episode 3A Life of AddictionGuest: Andy WoodIn this episode, we will discuss what a life of Addiction looks like, from the perspective of those actively in addiction. Ryan and Michael sit down with Andy Wood, a close friend of Ryan’s and an Overcomer graduate himself, to help shed light on the lifestyles that are inhabited by those in active addiction and to discuss ways to break through to those in the throes of addiction. We also discuss how in many ways recovery is like running ...
Season 5 - Episode 2Why Rescue Missions Matter?Guest: Brandan ThomasIn this episode Ryan and Michael talk with Brandan Thomas (Director of Leadership, Learning, and Program at CityGate Network) about Why Rescue Missions Matter. We discuss what a Rescue Mission is, who they serve, and why they meet an important need both nationally and locally. Get the Book:Counterfeit Peace by Ryan DuerkGet in Touch:Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteIns...
Season 5 - Episode 1What is Counterfeit Peace?The end of ourselves is a lonely place to be, but it is often where miracles take place. Counterfeit Peace is a story of redemption. Ryan Duerk details the story of his life from childhood, into the ravages of addiction, and ultimately through the front doors of a rescue mission. He describes in intense detail what can happen to a life with no direction.Our Digital Storyteller, Michael Livingston, sits down with Ryan Duerk to discuss why he chose ...
Season 4 Episode 11: Today Ryan Duerk is joined by Lee Anne Cavin, Board Chair and Executive Director of Front Porch Houseing. On This episode Lee Anne and Ryan's focus is on the Power of Community which is the focus of step 12 of the Twelve Steps.Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.Guests Website:Front Porch HousingGet in Touch:Email podcast@miraclehill.org to...
Season 4 Episode 10: Today Ryan Duerk is joined by Steve Vicari, Executive Director of Men's Workforce Development at Homes of Hope, Inc. On This episode Steve and Ryan's focus is on Prayer and Meditation which is the focus of step 11 of the Twelve Steps. Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.Guests Website:Homes of HopeGet in Touch:Email podcas...
Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.Today Ryan is joined by Dave Crooks, Executive Director of Evans Training Center, to discuss the Tenth Step in the Twelve Step Process.About our Evans Training Center:Evans Training Center is a safe place for Prodigal Son's to come home and be restored.ETC serves men who come from a lifestyle of chemical addiction who can't yet thrive in outpatient (AA, NA, CR, office visits) or transitional style (halfw...
Today Ryan is joined by Mike Malone, Senior Program Director of FAVOR Upstate, to discuss the Sixth and Seventh Steps in the Twelve Step Process.Step 6: We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of characterStep 7: We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomingsAbout our Guest:Mike Malone is the Senior Program Director at FAVOR Upstate. FAVOR provides free addiction recovery services to individuals and family members suffering with substance use disorders.Mike has a vast ...
Today Ryan is joined by Jason Cochran, Clinical Director of Canterbury Counseling, to discuss the Fifth Step of the Twelve Steps; Confession. Step 5 of the 12-Step Program is: “Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”On this episode Ryan and Jason discuss the importance and also the challenges to confession.Jason graduated from Columbia International University in 2000 with a Bachelor or Arts in the Humanities. He earned a Master of Divinity an...
Komron Saadati has been with Miracle Hill for 23 years and currently serves as a Counselor at our Overcomer's Center. Today he joins Ryan to discuss the fourth step, taking a moral inventory. Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. (Lamentations 3:40 “let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.”)This fourth step can often be difficult for anyone going through the 12 Step process, but it can also be the beginning to healing. Join us as Komr...
Step 2: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. (aa.org)On this episode Ryan sits down with Sarah to talk through step 2 of The Twelve Steps. Sarah is a graduate of Miracle Hill's Renewal Center. Renewal is Miracle Hill's women's recovery program. Before coming to Miracle Hill Ministries, Sarah had experienced homelessness due to her addition to drugs. With no place else to turn, Sarah entered Miracle Hill's program and found freedom through Christ. On ...
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our human condition and our lives have become unmanageable.On this episode Ryan sits down with Ken Kelly to talk through Step 1 of The Twelve Steps.Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook
Welcome to Season 4 of Miracles from the Hill Podcast: a survey of The Twelve Steps. In this season, we will take a closer look at The Twelve Steps and how Miracle Hill Ministries incorporates this resource into our recovery programs. When people think about "The Twelve Steps" they may associate this resource with Alcoholics Anonymous or another similar recovery group. While these steps have their history in AA, The Twelve Steps is a resource that can be broadened beyond just the scope of the...
Brenda Parks, VP of Miracle Hill Children's Ministries joins Ryan again for this special Q&A episode. Here is a sampling of questions covered on this episode: What happens to children who have special needs and are experiencing homelessness? What is insecure attachment and how does that play out with children experiencing homelessness?How does DSS and Miracle Hill address the issue of people with "ulterior motives"?What should I do if I see a child in homelessness?Why does ...
Ryan is joined by David White, founder and CEO of Fostering Great Ideas; view their website here.As the saying goes, "blood is thicker than water." So what happens when sibling groups enter the foster care system?The reality is, many sibling groups become separated from each other when they are removed from their homes. This separation only adds to the trauma the children are experiencing. That's why Fostering Great Ideas facilitates a program called Sib-Link. The goal of Sib-Link is to reuni...
On this episode, Sandy and Ryan discuss a new endeavor for Miracle Hill Ministries: a children's book! Sandy has authored "Isabelle's Invisible Neighbor," a children's book that helps educate the younger members of our society on the reality of homelessness. Through this conversation, Sandy explains the story behind this book and shares how God worked in her heart to grow a love for the underprivileged and hurting in the Upstate. Although this book is geared towards children, its message ring...
Kelly is Miracle Hill's educational advocate for teens in foster care with Miracle Hill. Kelly understands the vast landscape of resources available to teens and young adults in the Foster Care system. Her job is to help identify which resources would be helpful to these teens and guide them through the process of utilizing the resources. For a teen and young adult that chooses to stay in Foster Care, DSS offers many resources including basic training (like budgeting), college tuition scholar...
Greenville County Public Schools defines homelessness as "a lack of permanent housing resulting from extreme poverty, or, in the case of unaccompanied youth, the lack of a safe and stable living environment."Irene is the Homeless Education Liaison & McKinney-Vento Project Coordinator with Greenville County Schools. On this episode, she sits down with Ryan and discusses in-depth the resources provided for children experiencing homelessness in the school district, including strategies for i...
Heather and her husband said yes to God's tug on their hearts to foster. When they opened their home to a little baby girl named Daisy, they were overjoyed. Yet, Heather was keenly aware that there was a biological mother who lost her little girl on the other side of Daisy. As Heather cared for Daisy, she supported the idea of Daisy and her mother, Gina, being reunified, but Gina couldn't shake her addiction, causing the reality of reunification to become less clear. In the turmoil of court d...
Gina struggled with alcohol abuse from an early age. Eventually, her life spiraled out of control and she began using hard drugs. When she found out she was pregnant with her first child, Daisy, she had hope. But her pregnancy couldn't save her. During Daisy's delivery, Gina tested positive for illegal substances, causing Daisy to enter SCDSS custody. Gina longed to be a good mother, but struggled to shake her addiction. Shortly after losing Daisy, Gina was unexpectedly pregnant again. "This ...
Evelyn has a big heart. When she heard that a little baby girl needed a home, she and her husband decided to take the leap of faith and open their doors. When Grace was born she was in bad shape. Her mother, Gina, used drugs throughout her pregnancy, resulting in a lot of medical concerns for Grace. Evelyn remembers going into the hospital to meet Grace and seeing Gina. Before Gina could see her, Evelyn ducked out of the way. Evelyn didn't want anything to do with Gina.But God had other plans...