Miracles from the Hill Podcast

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 (halfway house) programs. But instead, require 24/7 supervision in a residential environment and full-time mentorship for an extended period of time.ETC focuses on helping men to build meaningful relationships with Christ, themselves, and others as well as helping them build the character, integrity, skillsets, and spiritual and emotional wherewithal needed to thrive in post-program recovery.Guests Website:Evans Training CenterGet in Touch:Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 array of experience in various service industries and an educational background in communications and psychology.  He has been an active member of the Greenville recovery community since 2009.  Mike brings compassion, enthusiasm and an extensive amount of recovery knowledge to the position. At FAVOR his responsibilities include: ensuring the delivery of quality programs at the center, individual recovery coaching, assistance with training and education, and coordination of volunteers.  Mike is an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast and he will use these avenues to engage participants who struggle with reaching out for help.Guests Website:Favor UpstateGet in Touch:Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2011. He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and a Board Certified Christian Counselor by the Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counselors. Finally, Jason is a State Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) issued by the State of South Carolina Board of Examiners for Counselors, Therapists & Psychoeducational Specialists. Jason’s interests and specialties are Children and Families: parenting, adolescents, fostering and adoption; Addiction, Sexual Abuse: children and adults who were abused as children; life-transitions, work-related issues, pre-marital and marital counseling. Jason was also a counselor at Miracle Hill before moving on to Canterbury Counseling.Get in Touch:Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Guests Website:Canterbury CounselingMiracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 Komron recounts his own story of redemption and how to implement the fourth step in one's life.Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 this episode, Sarah shares her experiences while working through recovery and how submitting to Christ as the Power greater than herself restored her mind and spirit to sanity, leading her to true recovery. Today, Sarah is married to Bruce and together they have two children. Sarah works on Miracle Hill's stewardship team and continues to encourage others with her story.“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 these types of meetings. Miracle Hill Ministries uses an adapted version of The Twelve Steps in our recovery programs. This adapted version of The Twelve Steps puts Jesus at the center of recovery, helping guests think through their story with Christ as the focal point.Throughout this season, Ryan will sit down with various people on the podcast and talk through the steps in-depth. For listeners, this is a great resource to better understand the journey of Miracle Hill Ministry guests who are a part of our recovery programs as well as contemplating areas in our own lives that may need greater freedom and cleansing.  This episode is a conversation between Ryan and Brad which broadly discusses the nature of addiction. Brad is the director of Overcomer's, Miracle Hill's men's addiction-recovery facility to launch season 4.Below are The Twelve Steps taken from Alcoholics Anonymous website. (Linked here.)1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.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.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.“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men, it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 Miracle Hill need to raise money for foster care?Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 reunite siblings with each other and help create pathways for relationship, even in the middle of a crisis. Helping children and teens stay connected to their family of origins (when that connection is safe and permittable) can help reduce the negative impact of a very tumultuous situation. Don't miss the important dialogue covered on this episode. Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 rings true for any reader, regardless of age. So..."who is your invisible neighbor?" Jesus said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matt. 22:39b)Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 scholarships, and other avenues that help a teen transition to independent, successful living. However, it can be hard for a teenager to choose to stay within a system that feels binding to them; often, these teens can't wait to be "free."Yet, the relationships that many of these teens are able to build with foster parents, case workers, and other social workers, can help create stability within their lives and encourage them to stay within the Foster Care system and tap into the plethora of resources that can help aid them as they enter adulthood. Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 identifying this population and offering resources to help these students be successful. When a child or teen is experiencing homelessness, getting good grades and paying attention in class is not their first priority. However, school in general can be a great asset to these students because it can be a constant their life. It is Irene's heart that students experiencing homelessness within the Greenville County School District are identified and cared for to the best of everyone's ability.  Yet, there are many barriers for these students to overcome. Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 dates, visitations, and general ups and downs, Heather began to wonder if God would place Daisy in their home permanently. Heather listened for God's voice and ultimately rested in His timing. She kept herself from trying to "get involved" in the decision. Today, Heather testifies that God's way is best, and that He works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform...Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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 time," she thought, "I'm going to stay clean." However, once again, Gina couldn't shake the drugs. When Gina gave birth a second time she again lost custody her daughter, Grace. Gina was determined to follow through the process, get clean. and get her two children back. Yet, she lacked support. But for Gina, support eventually came from an unlikely source...Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

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...Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

You don't want to miss this miniseries, titled "Grace: A Complicated Journey."  The next three episodes will chronicle the complex story of three women: Evelyn, Gina, and Heather. These women's stories intersect into one narrative, connected by the same two children, Daisy and Grace. This one story brings the threads of addiction, foster care, adoption, reunification, and reconciliation into one beautifully, complicated tapestry of grace - knit together by God Himself.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

On this episode, Ryan sits down with Diane Turner, a trauma-informed Care-Coordinator at Miracle Hill Ministries. Diane dives into the weeds of trauma and how children who experience a variety of traumas are thus impacted. There are many tools used by SCDSS, case workers, care coordinators, and other social workers to help define and recognize trauma. One example of these tools is the ACE test, which stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences test (click here to learn more). The point of testing for and understanding trauma is not to assign negative labels to an individual, but to better understand what resources would be most pertinent for their healing process. The pairing and offering of resources to children in Foster Care is part of Diane's job and something she's very passionate about. Trauma affects one's spiritual, physical, and mental health. Trauma often causes the brain to be stuck in "survival mode," which traditionally makes it difficult for a person to connect and trust with others and live a vibrant life. Experiencing some level of trauma is a reality for any child who has lived in homelessness or is taken into the Foster Care system. However, there is always hope. Children are resilient, and when officered the right care, children are able to live happy, whole lives. Other resources: The Body Keeps the Score, click here.Reframing Foster Care, click here.SC Foster Parent Association, click here. National Child Abuse Prevention, click here.Email podcast@miraclehill.org to get in touch with us. Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

Although children in Foster Care are often though of as "experiencing homelessness" to some degree, there are also children who live in emergency shelters with a parent or guardian. At Miracle Hill Ministries, we provide emergency shelter options for women with children in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Cherokee counties. Samantha Littlejohn oversees the women and children in Miracle Hill's Cherokee County Rescue mission, and she sits down with Ryan to share her perspective on some of the experiences of children in care at Miracle Hill. What are some of the reasons a mom would enter emergency shelter with her child or children? Samantha shares that many women are fleeing abusive relationships, struggle with mental illness, lack parenting skills, and/or are fighting substance abuse. There are many contributing factors to why someone needs help and enters emergency shelter living. At Miracle Hill Ministries, it is important that we offer the love and support of Christ to each of our guest, including any child in care. Samantha shares on this episode what that often looks like and how shelter living with children presents unique challenges for a caretaker and a child to overcome.Email podcast@miraclehill.org to reach out to us.  Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

On this episode, Ryan is joined by Jocelyn Gibson, the Placement Services Director at SC Department of Social Services.In the discussion of the experience of homelessness with children, it is important to understand the role of SCDSS. DSS offers many resources, in conjunction with Foster Care, that work towards reunification and stability within a family of origin, whenever possible. SCDSS's Placement Services is often what people initially think of when they consider DSS. However, there are many other avenues through which the Department of Social Services offers assistance, including adult protection, prevention, child care services, and family support services. Miracle Hill Ministries is thankful for the partnership we share with SCDSS. If you'd like to know more about SCDSS, visit their website here. To report suspected child abuse or neglect, contact the SCDSS 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-888-CARE4US.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook 

On this first episode of "Season 3: The Experience of Children and Homelessness," Ryan sits down with Miracle Hill’s VP of Children’s Ministries, Brenda Parks. Brenda’s career has touched children in foster care for many years. In her current role, Brenda supervises Miracle Hill’s Children's Ministry division, which includes the Foster Care Community in Pumpkintown. Brenda shares the ups and downs of what she sees on a daily basis. On one hand, Miracle Hill is blessed to work with a multitude of wonderful foster parents who make daily sacrifices to care for the most vulnerable in our society. But on the other hand, there are not enough families for the children in foster care in South Carolina. For example, the need for individuals willing to open their homes to sibling groups or teens is great. Brenda shares that Miracle Hill team members have sadly needed to split up sibling groups simply because there is no one available to take them in. At Miracle Hill Ministries, we are excited for the ways that God is working in the Upstate community to be the hands and feet of Christ to these children, but we are also burdened. We hope to see more people answering the call to foster care. If you’re curious about the ins-and-outs of Miracle Hill’s Children's Ministry Program, or maybe you feel a slight tug on your heart, and you wonder if it could be God, then listen to this episode with open hands. Foster care is not for everyone. But maybe it’s for you. “But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”Luke 18:16 ESVReach out to us with questions or comments: podcast@miraclehill.org.Miracle Hill Ministries:WebsiteInstagramFacebook