Recovery Patients

The shelter in place orders have had a big impact on facilities that help people overcome drug and alcohol addiction.

Shelter in place orders have had a big impact on facilities that help people overcome drug and alcohol addiction.

Wcbi's allie martin tells us about a monroe county ministry that was forced to suspend its treatment program to keep residents and the public safe.

Things are unusually quiet at the headquarters of broken lives ministry.

Before the middle of march, there were 90 men living on site.

Residents at the faith based program attend daily bible studies and are required to find a job.

They are taken to and from work by ministry staff everyday.

But once concerns about the coronavirus began to increase, tough decisions had to be made that would impact the men and the ministry.

"if they had a place to go , go back home, they could go home, whoever they were living with, was ok, if not they could stay here, but would be quarantined."

For shane scribner and ministry board members, the potential for a resident to contract the virus while on a job site, and bring covid 19 back into the facility, was too much of a risk.

Thirteen men are living at the ministry, taking part in bible studies and church services, with no visitors or guests from the outside.

Pastor gary dawson has helped lead bible studies and worship services, and has also kept in touch with many of those who moved out temporarily.

"i've been hearing from them, text me, had two or three come by the house, they miss it and they are eager when we open back up, to come back in and finish the program."

Pastor dawson says the ministry will be ready to pick up where it left off, when the time is right.

"we are just going to keep loving people, we got an epidemic of sorts with drug addiction, there 's more people die from drug addiction than with coronavirus every year.

We are in an industry to help people and we have a great gospel and great savior to share with people."

In nettleton, allie martin, wcbi news more than 7 thousand men have gone through the program at broken lives ministry .

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