Tanner Chester was a young man who had struggled with a lifelong addiction he thought would consume him for the rest of his life. His addiction to drugs started in his hometown of Stuttgart and was ruining not just his life, but also those who loved and cared about him.
“My pop was done with me. That was the first time I had seen him cry,” said Tanner. “My mom was done with me, my fiancé was done with me and I had my kids taken from me.”
Methamphetamine, pills and marijuana had consumed Tanner’s life.
Another man shared a similar story.
“I got to the point in my life where I didn’t have a will to live and didn’t know how to get out of it,” said Todd Mulloy. “I didn’t know God. I had never read the bible and I was ok with who I had become which was a bad person.”
Hope was not lost for these men.
John 3:16 Ministries has been the saving grace for these men as well as many others who have entered the ministry as an addict and graduated the program a changed man.
John 3:16 Ministries was established in May of 2003. It is a spiritual boot camp for men with drug and alcohol addictions located in Charlotte, Arkansas. It’s a refuge for men to come and heal mentally, physically and spiritually.
Brian Tuggle is a 17-year director of the ministry who says they don’t offer treatment. Instead, they offer the cure which is Jesus Christ.
“Nobody comes in there shouting hallelujah,” said Brian. “There are some terrible things going on in their lives.”
“There is no cost to any man suffering from an addiction to enter the program,” added Todd Mulloy, a former 6-month resident and 7-month instructor who started a transitional home in Fayetteville. “Jesus Christ has already paid the price.”
Tanner has been a resident of John 3:16 for 5 months, and his “Pop” that he spoke of says Tanner is now a different person.
“He’s not the same guy we left up there months ago,” said Tommy Hoskyn, Tanner’s grandfather. “It doesn’t even look like him. He is different inside and out.”
So what changed?
Tanner’s belief. He as well as the other men in the program who have hit rock bottom believed that Jesus Christ could heal them out of their addiction. Those men were willing to commit at least 6 months at the ministry to receive their healing.
“By me being obedient to Jesus and listening to these guys and allowing them to correct me, Jesus gave me everything back,” said Tanner.
Tanner’s lifelong addiction may have started in his hometown of Stuttgart, Arkansas but now it is ending at John 3:16 Ministries.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with what they are doing up there. It takes a while but they are changing people and bringing them to Christ,” said Tommy. “You can’t buy yourself out of a drug addiction. I don’t care how much money you got.”
The residents of John 3:16 are introduced to a different lifestyle of routine and consistency. For the first three months, residents attend Bible classes twice a week learning how to achieve and continue deliverance from drugs and alcohol.
They put in a 6-day workweek within various ministries. The ministries include catering, screen-printing, carpentry, body shop and mechanic shop. Their campus includes a Multi-Purpose Building, County Faith Houses, a cafeteria, a rec room, cabins, shops and a House of Prayer.
“Each day starts with a morning group bible study and each resident attends bible class 2 days a week for the first 3 months,” said Todd. “We find them jobs and we help them continue their relationships with their family and we transition them back in the world.”
Sporting red shirts, these men can be seen in neighboring communities striping parking lots, building wheelchair ramps and landscaping.
“I’m almost 50 years old. They teach you how to do stuff I have never done before,” said Jeramy Putt of Stuttgart. “I’ve never done nothing but worked on the road, steelwork, got high and been in prison. I didn’t know how to be a man.”
John 3:16 Ministries is a 501c3 non-profit organization. They do not receive state or federal funding. The ministry is made possible by donations and the services they provide.
From 21-years old and up John 3:16 Ministries has baptized 187 men. 157 men became born again and 1,279 men were delivered from drug and alcohol abuse.
Even though there are some transitional homes available for the men after they graduate the program, many have families to go back too.
“Some guys got to go home because they have families and it’s tough, said Brian. “As long as a man stays in God’s will he won’t fail, no matter where he goes.”
To learn more about John 3:16 Ministries or to become a monthly supporter call 870-799-2525 or visit john316thecure.com.
John 3:16 is a cure!!
Such a blessed place!!
So very thankful for John 3:16 for helping to restore our family.
Praising God daily for the work that John 3:16 does!!
Praise the Lord! I have tears in my eyes. I either know or know of most of these guys and their families. So glad they are brave enough to share their stories. I pray it brings HOPE and HEALING to other addicts and their families.
Thank God there is such a program to help people who have an addiction problem.??? I hope the problem will continue to grown and have the public support.