August 4, 2025 • 37 mins
What does it take to break a generational curse? When your family name carries decades of negative associations and people have written you off before you've even begun, how do you forge a different path?
Meet Trey Abernathy, whose raw and powerful testimony demonstrates that no one is beyond redemption. From age 13, Trey was deep in methamphetamine addiction, eventually spending an astonishing $10,000 weekly on drugs while staying awake for 6-8 days straight. After losing both his father and his young daughter within a span of just a few years, his addiction spiraled to dangerous new depths.
When Trey found himself in jail after multiple arrests and a failed suicide attempt, something unexpected happened. A voice repeating "It's time. Release. Let go" began speaking to him—though he wouldn't recognize it as divine intervention until much later. What followed was a transformation so complete that the same man who once seemed destined for destruction now leads a faith-based recovery program helping others find freedom.
This episode explores how accountability, community, and faith can break even the most entrenched patterns of addiction and generational dysfunction. Trey's journey shows that your past doesn't have to determine your future, and that the narrative around your name can be completely rewritten. For anyone struggling with addiction, trauma, or the weight of expectations, this conversation offers genuine hope and practical wisdom from someone who's walked through the darkness and found his way to light.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning everybody.
How are you doing?
It's Pastor Lee and I pastorthe Church Christ Family
Outreach located in Amelia,virginia, and if you've not yet
come by to visit us, I encourageyou to do so on Thursday nights
at our recharge service at 7 pm, or on Sunday mornings, doors
open at 930.
Service gets going at 10 am.
This is the podcast BeyondSunday, and we've got a special
(00:24):
guest at the table here today.
His name is Trey Abernathy andhe has a testimony that I know
is going to touch every singleone of you listening today.
Trey, good morning brother.
How are you doing?
Blessed brother.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
How are you this morning?
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Oh man, I'm blessed.
I'm so glad that you're here.
I've been praying over thisepisode for a long time.
I've been wanting you to comeinto studio to be able to talk
about it, and so I'm so gladthat you finally made your way
in here.
I believe it's the timing ofGod, you know.
I believe that there's going tobe people that are listening to
this episode, that are going tobe able to share the link with
other people, Because, quitehonestly, maybe most of those
(01:02):
who are listening today have notwalked the walk that you've
walked, but maybe odds are intoday's society.
They know someone who haswalked it and needs to be
encouraged by your testimony, orthey know someone that's
currently walking it and needsto be encouraged by your
testimony.
So you know, I believe that Goduses people's testimonies to
set people free, and so I'mreally excited to get into yours
(01:27):
.
So we're going to dig rightinto it.
Luke, chapter 4, verse 18,.
Jesus says the Spirit of theLord is upon me because he has
anointed me to proclaim the goodnews to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaimliberty to the captives and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who
(01:50):
are oppressed.
And this is what Jesus is stillwilling to do today, Brother
Trey, and this is exactly whatJesus Christ did for you.
He set a captive free and you,just like the rest of us, we
were all captive to the enemyand sin at one time, all of us
on different levels.
You know what we go through inlife and how we get beat up and
(02:13):
knocked around, but this is whatexcites me about having you
here today at the table is thesimple fact that, man, you are a
living, walking, breathingtestimony of a captive being set
free physically, mentally,emotionally and, of course,
spiritually.
Right, so let's dive right intoit.
Brother Trey, from a young age,you struggled with depression.
(02:38):
In your testimony I've read itvery, very good you struggled
with anxiety and you were toldthat you were never going to
amount to anything because ofyour last name.
So you're struggling withdepression, anxiety and lack of
self-worth simply because ofwhat your last name was yes, um,
not not having the bestreputation not being involved in
(03:14):
the greatest decisions?
Yeah, so would you say that thatis as what we say in church and
what we see in the word of God.
You were, you were hung up ingenerational curses.
Amen, yes, sir, yeah.
And because of that, justknowing you and knowing your
testimony, because of that thatkind of that title hung over
your head.
Did you ever believe what thepeople were saying?
(03:37):
Was it a point in your lifewhere you ever believed?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
well, if everybody said I'm not going to amount to
nothing.
I'm probably not.
No, sir, I kind of always fedoff of when somebody tells me I
can't do something.
I'm going to try to prove youwrong, yeah, yeah.
So I always went with that.
I just started out in the wrongdirection with that.
Instead of going to the Lord, Iwent to the worldly side of
(04:01):
things.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
And that led me into the wrong direction in life.
So all in pedal to the worldlyside of things, yeah, and that
led me into the wrong directionin life.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
So all in, pedal to the metal right Far as you could
go in the opposite direction ofthe church.
Yes, sir, Was there now?
I wasn't raised in church.
Were you a child that wasbrought up in the church and you
got out of the church?
Or did you guys not go tochurch?
How was church attendance as achild coming up for Trey
Abernathy?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Um, I probably had been in church three or four
times throughout my childhood.
Um, my, my mom was raised inchurch, even even with my dad.
My dad, could, you know, writetake scripture right out of the
Bible?
Yeah, um, I could not.
I just I never comprehended it.
I never even listened to gothat way, and I had some bad
(04:50):
experiences with churches as ayounger child and it led me away
from that.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Yeah, and sadly, what I have seen as an adult now
through the years, is thatthat's one thing that Satan does
out through the years, is thatthat's one thing that Satan does
.
He will take bad experiencesand use that, highlight that for
people.
That'll be people's reasons tonot go to church because of
experiences.
You know, I just had a grownman tell me the other day.
(05:18):
He was like you know why is thechurch full of imperfect people
?
And I was like man, I've neverknown the church to have perfect
people.
You know what I mean.
And then I told him I said look, man.
I said because this was abeliever.
I said, look, brother.
And he was really juststruggling with some things that
he's going through.
I said, look, brother, here'sthe deal.
I said the beautiful thingabout the church house is that
(05:41):
people with problems can comeinto it looking for hope right,
looking for restoration, lookingfor redemption.
But the enemy doesn't wantpeople to know that.
He just wants people to look atchurch as offended.
You know, I got offended so Idon't go, or so-and-so goes to
that church, and they offendedme, I'm mad at them and I don't
go.
So yeah, I did not know thatyou and I had that part in
(06:03):
common.
I'd only been to church maybetwo, three times tops as a boy
as well, and my mother also grewup in the church and was heavy
in church and then at some pointgot out of it.
So we have that piece of ourtestimonies we've got in common.
The reason I ask if you werebrought up in church is because
(06:23):
1 Peter 5, 7 tells us that wecan cast all of our anxieties on
Christ.
And here's the really coolthing.
The Bible says 1 Peter 5, 7, wecan cast all of our anxieties
on Christ.
Here it is because he cares forus, and I think that that's a
beautiful piece.
So to the listeners, friends,if you're struggling out there,
(06:50):
I want to remind you that JesusChrist cares for you, even if it
feels like no one else does,and he's willing to offer you
His peace.
Amen, trey.
One of the ways, trey, that youcoped with all of the depression
, with all of the anxiety thatyou had going on in life, was
that you shut your feelings down.
You built up walls, and thereason you did this is so that
people couldn't hurt you anylonger, right?
So what would you say to peopleout there right now, trey, who
(07:12):
are struggling, who may be usingthat exact same tactic.
They're shutting doors, they'relocking them, they're building
up walls, they're fightingdepression, they're fighting
anxiety.
They're pushing people out.
What do you think, trey, is themost dangerous thing about
shutting people out of your life.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I feel like if I would have brought a different
crowd of people into my life andnot just shut everyone out and
started listening to more people, maybe I would have run across
the right person to try to leadme in the right direction,
instead of going down that wrongpath.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Now, did you have people early on in your life,
and even as a high schooler, asa young man, when you got
wrapped up heavily into drugs?
Did you have people at thattime trying to give you good
advice to get out, or had you soblocked everybody out, that
those people were no longeraround?
You have people at that timetrying to give you good advice
to to get out, or or or withthose, or had you so blocked
everybody out that those peoplewere no longer around?
Speaker 2 (08:09):
No, sir, I had blocked everybody out of my life
.
I was not willing to listen toanything or any anybody that had
to say anything positive yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Yeah, because, whatever they and I'm guessing,
correct me if I'm wrong, but I'mguessing you block those people
out because they're not sellingwhat you want, right?
Amen?
I mean everything that they'retrying to give you you're not
trying to take.
I was not having any part of it.
Yeah Well, after shuttingpeople out, after building up
walls, you turned to drugs.
(08:39):
How old were you when you firststarted using, and what was the
first drug?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
How old were you when you first started using and
what was the first drug?
I started using drugs right atage 13, and methamphetamines was
my drug of choice throughout mywhole life, throughout your
entire life.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yes, sir, so is that what you started on?
Yes, sir, okay, so straight tothe heavy stuff.
Yes, sir, straight to the heavystuff.
So the drugs.
According to your testimony,trey, the drugs are doing two
things.
You felt like the king of theworld, right, absolutely.
And they're making you.
They're also, while feelinglike the king of the world,
they're making you numb to allof life's problems, right, not
(09:20):
just Trey Abernathy's problems,but all the problems around you.
But then something happens,right Later on in life, you
share in your testimony thatyour best friend, who was your
dad, he passed away.
How old were you when he passedso?
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I was 32, 33.
And how old was your dad?
My dad was 60, 65, 33.
And how old was your dad?
My dad was 65, 66.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Yeah, and you guys had a good relationship.
I mean you say he was your bestfriend in life.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Yes, so even when I got married, my dad was listed
as my dad, but also my bestfriend, and from day one, I
don't have probably a singlememory in life without my dad,
but also my best friend.
Yeah, and from day one, I Idon't have a probably a single
memory in life without my dad init.
Yeah, yeah, he was always in it.
Yeah, um, not necessarily inthe best ways, um, but yes, my
(10:17):
dad was in every memory that Iever have in my life.
So, your dad, passes.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
And then, two years later, you say it's the most
difficult, terrible, worst dayof your life.
What happens next?
Yes, two, two years later, yourdaughter, two and a half years,
she passes yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
So when I thought the worst day of my life would ever
be would was when my dad passedaway and then, two and a half
years later, you know, I lost atwo and a half year old daughter
and that was tremendous.
I mean, that was.
That's a parent's worstnightmare.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Yeah, and share with the listeners at that time in
your life.
How do you cope with that?
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Oh, I mean I was at the point of that time I was
probably staying up six, seven,eight days at a time on drugs,
no sleep.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
No sleep Six, seven, eight days straight.
No sleep.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yes sir, that was the best way.
And then the drugs wereblocking everything out, and
then I would crash and sleep fora couple days.
So that was blocking everythingout, and then I'd wake up and
just repeat the cycle.
It kept everything blocked outof my life.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, and then share, share this piece.
Your, your, your, your, yourwife, right?
How is?
How is she handling all this?
She, she's just lost a daughter, you know, and she's two years
prior to that.
You know.
Your dad's gone, right, so how?
(11:46):
And then also, obviously, yourwife knows what you're going
through, right, how is shehandling this?
Because somewhere out therethere's a very real chance that
there's a spouse right nowlistening who their spouse is
currently fighting an addiction.
Give some advice.
Who was your wife to you then?
Was, was she that solid rockfor you?
Was, was she fighting for you?
(12:07):
Uh, what was her role duringthis particular time?
Was, what did that look like?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
yes.
So my wife has always been mysolid rock, um for years on end.
We've been together for um alittle over 20 years.
We've been married for comingup on 15.
And for me she knew about thedrugs at a young age but thought
they had stopped, so she justkind of took it.
(12:35):
As you know, he's coping.
He's going through a lot in hislife.
He lost his best friend, he'slost a daughter, just like I
have, and she had just lost herfather, also just prior to my
dad.
So we were going through all ofthis together and it kind of
(12:58):
all just seemed to go together,yeah, and the depression and
anxiety and the tension wasgrowing fast.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Was there ever a point where you thought this, my
problem, could possibly end mymarriage?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
No, um, no, I don't.
Yeah, there was a point, butthat's later.
Down the road, at this point,you know, I felt like we were.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
We were pretty close, yeah yeah, um, I know that you
say in, in in your testimonythat the uh, when, when, when
your daughter passed the drugaddiction just kicked into
overdrive.
You, you told me, brother trey,one one time how much money you
spend a week on drugs and Iabout fell over.
Now I called me ignorant, right, I mean I had, I had no idea
(13:52):
that that someone could takethat amount.
But but share, share with thelisteners what, what at your at
your worst point, uh,financially, what that, what
that looked like for you and theamount of drugs that you were
taking.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So yeah, by the time my daughter had passed away, I
was up to the about 12 to 14days straight and I was.
I was probably about nine to$10,000 at this point a week
into drugs.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah, I mean, to me I would say that's, that's
unheard of.
But I'm sure someone out theremay be able to say man, I'm, I'm
, I'm, I'm doing more than that.
Yes, sir, you know.
But but he and and, and Iremember one day I asked you, it
was in our small group I askedyou man, how did, how did you
afford that?
Right?
And you, who's got that kind ofmoney?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Right, yes, so that's kind of part of you know.
I started dealing pretty heavyin my teenage years and that
kind of led into it.
You know you have to deal drugsto be able to afford that kind
of amount of drugs.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
So you're dealing to make the money in order to take
that money and then spend itright on on on more drugs.
Uh, you end up purposefully,because of all the pain you've
gone through with your dad andnow especially with your little
girl, you end up purposefullyoverdosing uh, trying to commit
suicide, correct?
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yes, sir, and it's fairly unheard of of anybody
ever overdosing onmethamphetamines, ever
overdosing on methamphetamines,and you know I remember bits and
pieces of it now.
But looking back, you know Itook two and a half ounces of
crystal meth at one time andwhat I couldn't get I just
shoved in my body and in lessthan a couple hours of waking up
(15:41):
in the hospital I was rightback to heaven, you know,
probably a kilo sitting in mylap, ready to rock all over
again.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Wow, wow, and I know that you didn't realize it at
the time, but really that's Godhaving a plan for Trey Avernett.
Amen, brother, you know what Imean.
That's God saving your boy'sdaddy, right, your current
daughter right, who's still herewith us you know her daddy, you
know.
(16:10):
And that's also God saving yourwife, her husband, right and so
, and even much more than that,god is still using you right now
in ministry through a liferecovery program, which we'll
get into that in just a moment,and how God's using you now.
But you say in your testimonythat back then you didn't
(16:31):
realize why am I still here?
You know you're not realizingthat God has a plan for Trey.
Yeah, no.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
I couldn't even imagine, like why am I still
here?
Why can't I just be gone?
Why can't I ease this painRight?
Speaker 1 (16:43):
because up until then , that's what the drugs are
doing You're using to keep fromhaving to feel what's going on
here in reality.
Yes, yeah, so you had mentioned, too, that you were blocking
people out, and a lot of whatyou were going through was
because you didn't have theright circle, and that's one
(17:11):
thing that I preach at church.
A lot is that your circle doesmatter.
Touch upon the piece of thatwhere how much of your life has
changed now that your circle haschanged?
Because you know now I lookaround, Trey, when I see you at
Bible study or see you at achurch event or see you at
church, and there's a whole newcircle that you have placed
around yourself.
How has life changed for yousince you've got a new circle of
friends?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
My life day to day now is just amazing.
Amen.
It doesn't matter what I'mgoing through, big or small, If
it's something that seems likeit's the end of the world.
I have a group of people that Ican pick the phone up now and
shoot a text to or a phone call,and it's going to be answered
immediately and it's going to be.
(17:50):
It's going to be responded towith prayer and love and care
and it.
You know, it's never been likethat for me.
It was.
You know, it was always let'shigh, yeah, and it's not like
that anymore.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
And the beautiful, and I'm proud of you, man, and I
know it's God doing the work inyou.
The thing the really cool thingis, though we have to accept
that work and want that work totake place and manifest.
The thing that I want ourlisteners to understand, too, is
, when we get born again and weare delivered from that old
lifestyle, whatever that oldlifestyle looks like, it's not
(18:26):
that we give up on our oldcircle.
It's just that we can't go backto that old circle and
participate in the things, thefoolishness and the nonsense
that they're doing that used tohold us down.
So what I say is that anybodyfrom my old circle that wants to
come join my new circle,they're welcome to come.
Amen.
From my old circle that wantsto come join my new circle,
they're welcome to come, amen.
You know, I just can't end upback in that old circle because
(18:47):
I don't want.
I don't want the fruit, I don'twant the outcome of what that
old circle produces.
Have you since, since, sinceyou have been delivered from
addiction have you ever hadanybody from the old circle that
you used to run with?
Has anybody ever reached out toyou?
Anybody from the old lifestylereached out to you and said Trey
, how'd you do it?
You know what's going on.
What's it like on that side ofthe fence.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Oh yeah, absolutely.
I have some boys that you knowI used to run with, that come to
church every Sunday, Thursdays.
Amen, it's a blessing, becausenobody ever thought that Trey
Abernathy would have ever, everbeen released from drugs and
(19:30):
alcohol.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, yeah Again.
Because of so many priorgenerations.
Yes, right, do you know, trey?
Do you know how manygenerations back?
Addiction runs in the family.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
A very, very, very long line.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
I don't know exactly.
I know, you know, way back tomy granddaddies.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Gotcha.
Yeah, so people have thatreputation of Abernathy.
You know you spoke about thatin the very beginning, in the
intro of this podcast, and yetnow these folks are looking at a
chain that's been broken.
It's a curse, a generationalcurse that has been broken in
the name of the Lord, and yourlife now produces more fruit
(20:11):
beautiful, good, righteous, holy, godly fruit.
The really cool thing about agenerational curse being broken
is now that line has been brokenand because you, t trey, have
stepped up and been obedient tothe call of god, it gives
something for your boys and yourdaughter to um have a new,
fresh start.
(20:31):
Amen to to not to not haveanyone tell them well, you're an
abernathy, so you'll neverright.
Or your last name is this, soyou'll never.
Or trey's your dad, so you'llnever.
You're gonna be just like yourdad, right.
Well, now you're gonna be justlike your dad is a good thing.
Praise God, amen.
So that's exciting.
I know, I know there was a longtime that you were able to
function while on the drugs.
(20:52):
Let's touch on that for amoment.
You, you, you were, you wereable to function on on the
addiction and you were able tohide it from people.
Is how you share in yourtestimony.
But there came a time when youcould no longer hide it.
You ended up quitting your job,right?
You feel like you're losingyour family.
You feel like you're losingyour house.
You're hit with multiplerestraining orders.
(21:13):
There's a rehabilitation stintin there, you're running from
the police and there's multiplearrests and jail time.
Yes, sir, during this time injail you hear a voice speaking
to you and at the time I thinkin your testimony it says you
didn't know at the time it wasthe voice of God.
No, I had no idea.
What was that voice saying toTrey Abernathy in jail?
(21:36):
It's time.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's time, it's time Release, let go.
You know, just like a repeat ofthe same, just short sentences.
You know, just let go, release.
It's time, just over and over.
And.
And you know, looking back nowlike it's no doubt that it was
the good Lord yeah, yeah, givingyou instruction, right, yeah,
(22:01):
you direction give me a wholechill.
yeah, thinking about it, youknow being in that jail cell
just hearing voices.
You're in jail with 98, 100other men and all of this noise
is going on and you can justhear it plain as day.
It's just like it goescompletely quiet.
Yeah, like you were to cut thismic off and you hear it release
(22:23):
, let go.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
And it just kept pecking at you.
Yes, sir, Just kept speaking toyou.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Hey man, that's powerful stuff, brother, very
powerful and, like I said at thetime, I had no idea.
Yeah, I had no idea, yeah, yeah, or I didn't want to believe it
.
You know, I didn't.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Yeah, yeah.
But then when you start to walkwith the Lord, you realize who
that voice was speaking to you.
Amen, because the normal TreyAbernathy wanted more drugs and
at one time wanted to die.
So that's not Trey's conscioustalking to Trey, right, that's
an outside source.
That's God Almighty.
1 Corinthians 10.13 says thisno temptation has overtaken you.
(23:03):
That is not common to man.
God is faithful and he will notlet you be tempted beyond your
ability.
But with the temptation he willalso provide the way of escape
that you may be able to endureit.
And I believe that that voicewas your way of escape.
You know, our way of escape isJesus Christ.
It's an open door in God and Ipersonally, after hearing your
(23:24):
testimony, I believe that thatwas the voice of the Lord
offering you that way of escape.
Who knows what would havehappened, brother Trey, if you
didn't take it?
No, no doubt you know.
I mean, we don't even know ifyou'd still be living.
I think that's a fairassessment, right?
Yes, sir, absolutely so.
You get out of jail, and this iswhen things start getting
really, really good for TreyAbernathy.
You get out of jail and someoneinvites you to one of our
(23:47):
Thursday night recharge servicesat CFO Church and for those
that don't know, a rechargeservice is like a midweek church
service.
We come in there, there'sprayer, there's praise and
worship, there's the preachingand teaching of God's word.
It's like a normal churchservice, just on a Thursday
night.
But somebody invites you.
Who was it?
You don't have to give a name.
But was it a family member?
Was it a friend that invitedyou?
(24:08):
Was it family friend?
And what did that conversationlook like?
Speaker 2 (24:12):
It is one of my top friends that was there for me
through my addiction.
That has been through the exactsame addiction that I have.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
And I'm assuming, I'm assuming they come to church,
they come to CFO.
Yes, sir, okay, so, so so theyinvite you.
Was that a phone call?
Is it a face to face that theystop by the house and say, look
man, it's time to get real, youknow?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
So he just he never really pushed it on me.
He said you know I go to thischurch and it has been amazing
to me, and you know we haverecharge on Thursday nights.
You know, sundays we have men'sBible study.
He just kept explaining it tome.
Yeah, he was like you know, ifyou ever want to go, just let me
know.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
That's awesome.
So he's not beating you overthe head with a Bible.
Yes, sir, he's just like hey,my life has been changed.
I want you to come check thisout, right?
Yes, sir, praise God.
So how long after coming, trey,was it until you got saved?
Do you remember?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
So it was only three or four weeks before I got saved
yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
So it didn't take long?
No, sir, it didn't take long,not at all.
So hey, as we're talking, thisquestion hits me how long did it
take to see immediatedifference in the two circles?
Like, so you walk into church?
Because I think some peoplethat struggle with addiction, or
struggle with sin, or strugglewith feeling like they're not
(25:38):
good enough to enter into achurch, right, they feel like,
well, I could never go in there,the roof's going to fall down
on me, right?
Well, the good news is the roofain't falling down on nobody.
That's where God wants you isin the church, right?
So when you came into church,did you feel judged?
Did you feel love?
Did you feel nervous?
Did you feel peace in thepresence, like what was going
through when you first walked inthe room for the first time?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
So when I first walked in the CFO church, I knew
that I was going to be judged.
I had been judged all of mylife.
That's just what I knew wasgoing to happen.
I'm going to walk in here.
I've been hearing this voice.
I've been hearing about it.
I walked in a CFO.
Not at any point in time have Iever been judged for my last
(26:20):
name or the decisions that I hadmade to this.
And I tell everybody that Iinvite the CFO church that to me
that is one of my top tiersthat I absolutely love.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Well, that puts a smile on my face because, as the
pastor there, we really dotruly say we're family.
Yes, and guess what?
Family makes mistakes.
Yes, sir, you know, family'sgoing to let one another down,
but we're not going to judge oneanother.
We're going to love one anotherbecause, at the end of the day,
the Bible says for all havesinned and fallen short of the
glory of God.
You know, and the truth is, weneed one another to shoulder one
(26:56):
another's burdens and to do ittogether, you know, and that's
what true family does.
So, fast forward, you get saved, you're now a born again
Christian, you're walking withJesus Christ, you've got
relationship with them, you'redrug-free, you're sober and
(27:17):
you're attending church everyweek.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Now, right, tell the listeners how attending church
faithfully helps you remainstrong and helps you stay clean
so for me, when I I've alwaysbeen that person that I always
like face-to-faceaccountabilities yeah, even when
I was in my drug addiction,dealing drugs, I was a
(27:41):
face-to-face person.
So for me, walking into churchevery Sunday, every Thursday,
bible studies, my accountabilitygroups that I am, that helps me
realize that I am in the rightplace and following God, just
relieves all of that pain andthat pressure that I used to
(28:02):
turn to drugs and alcohol for.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, you mentioned accountability and I totally
agree with you.
There's something about beingin a room with like-minded
individuals that helps us stayout of trouble.
Yes, you know it.
Uh, I kinda, I kinda see itlike this is a crazy analogy and
if, if you don't hunt, you maynot get this, but for those who
hunt, you'll probably get it.
I love being in the woodswatching the dogs run, you know,
(28:26):
and one dog can pick up a scentand just go bananas over it,
just just start barking andyelping and going crazy, hooting
and hollering and and he'llstart running.
That He'll start running thescent on that deer.
Well, the other dogs in thewoods hear him light hot, you
know and and they all come findhim and they'll join up.
Oftentimes they might not evensmell what he's smelling right
(28:49):
away, but they know he's doinghis job.
So, hey, if he's into it, I'minto it.
Right, and it's that packmentality that family gets going
and I see oftentimes asbrothers and sisters in Christ.
You know we're there to say,hey, this is my strength and
this is what the Lord's doing inmy life right now.
And if anybody wants to comejoin me, the more the merrier.
(29:16):
But we're going to have a blaston this ride.
You know, if my old circlewants to now come be part of my
new circle and we're goingforward in Christ, then let's go
do that together.
But everybody's invited.
So yeah, I love that word thatyou bring up accountability.
There's accountability and,let's be honest, we all need
accountability Absolutely.
And can I just say it's not theperson that's struggling with
alcohol or pornography or drugaddiction or infidelity.
(29:40):
We all need accountability, iffor nothing else, just to make
sure we're still living andloving for the Lord Jesus Christ
every day of our lives.
And so that's important.
So if you're listening todayand you don't have a circle
where you're plugged in, if youdon't have a group of people
that you can text, if you don'thave someone that you can call
on a regular basis, you need toget into church.
Or if you're already in church,you need to begin to look
(30:02):
around and find somebody thatyou can plug into with and be
accountable with.
It's so important.
Even when Jesus sent out thedisciples Trey, he sent them out
in twos.
So it's important.
Second Corinthians 5.17 saystherefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away.
Behold, the new has come.
(30:23):
So let's talk about that for amoment briefly.
The old passing away, the newhas come.
You've received such a new youlife that you're helping lead a
class at church called LifeRecovery.
How many people back in the daywould have ever seen Trey
Abernathy teaching a class aboutbeing clean and sober brother?
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Never.
That is an absolutely amazingthing.
And you talk about, you know,the past groups and stuff, and
when they do approach me they'relike, man, I hear you're
leading a life recovery program.
What's that about?
Yeah, and you know I get toshare that time with them and
it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
So yeah, isn't it something, man?
Like how God will takesomething from the ashes brother
Trey, like how God will takesomething from the ashes Brother
Trey and he will use it all forhis good?
Why don't you, for a quickmoment, take a couple minutes,
if you will please, brother, andjust share with the people what
life recovery is all about?
And I just want to say, if youlive in and near this area in
(31:25):
Amelia, you're welcome to cometo our life recovery class.
It's free of charge, rightafter church on Sunday morning.
So you come to church, get tochurch service right after
service our life recovery classthey meet together, they eat for
they'll have a little mealright there at the church and
then they break out into thelife recovery class just to take
a couple of moments, trey, andshare what life recovery is all
(31:48):
about.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
So we do, we always, we.
We get together and um we get,we get to eat and um it's kind
of about that accountabilityYou're in that accountability
group and um we go through a 12step program um for life
recovery, Christian based faithbased, yes, christian faith, and
(32:09):
there are throughout the 12steps.
there are different steps foreach step, so there's about six
different groups.
Through each section of the 12steps.
We get together, we get to prayover these, we get to talk
(32:32):
about early trauma life.
We get to talk about trauma orthings that are happening day to
day with us even now, as we aresaved by God, and we get to be
there to help others go throughsituations that we have been
(32:53):
through.
And there's a group of peoplethere.
Just because you're there, youmay be there for drugs or
alcohol or anxiety or depression.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
There's people there that have been through that and
have been relieved from God forthat and they're all there to
help, yeah, and whether it evenbe the individual that has been
abused or been on addiction,sometimes their spouse comes
with them too, right, and it'spart of the class, because the
spouse had to walk through thatalong with that person.
(33:31):
So they need some healing aswell.
And I think it's important thatwe also mention the fact that
it's not just for alcoholics anddrug addicts.
It's for people, as youmentioned, who may have been
through trauma as a child.
It doesn't have to be justrecently, but sometimes people
go through things as a child andit's still affecting them as a
grown adult now.
You know, that's what I loveabout the life recovery class.
(33:52):
It's for any and everyone who'sstruggling and just want help,
and they want help through themethod of accountability as well
To walk through this thing withother people, to be reminded
that they're not alone, brotherTrey, they're not alone, and
they've got people like yourselfthat have been there, done that
and is willing to say hey, I'mnot going to get up on a high
horse here.
I remember who I was and I knowwhere God bought me from, and
(34:15):
I'm willing to walk you throughthis valley in your life as well
.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Yes, I by far don't have all of the answers to
life's trauma that everybody hasbeen through, but I can tell
you I know somebody that does.
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
I know somebody that does God.
Does Amen, brother Amen, and wecan find the answer to
everything we go through in lifein the word of God.
That's why I love that the LifeRecovery Program y'all are
doing is faith-based and it'sloaded with scripture, loaded,
because it's the word of Godthat sets us free, because it's
the word of God that sets usfree.
Amen.
In closing, trey, I want toread this verse Isaiah 43, 18
(34:53):
through 19, says Remember notthe former things, nor consider
the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing.
Now it springs forth, do younot perceive it?
I will make a way in thewilderness and rivers in the
desert, and I love that.
You know God is saying I willmake a way in the wilderness and
(35:14):
I will make rivers in thedesert.
And isn't that what God hasdone in the life of Trey
Abernathy?
Amen, yes, he has.
We start this podcast out withtalking about how the name Trey
Abernathy had this title andpeople thought it was doom and
despair.
You know, they thought nothinggood was coming from that title.
But we in this podcast, givingGod glory knowing that Trey
(35:34):
Abernathy has a brand new title.
You know that name.
Although it's still the sametwo names, it's really a brand
new name because it hasdifferent meaning.
Now you know it's got differenthope, it's got the love of
Christ, it's got the love ofJesus, it's got the love of God
and the spirit of God in yourlife.
You know, and so I can testify,that I have seen a change in
you just from when I first metyou, and it is God taking you
(35:57):
from faith to faith and glory toglory.
And so I just want to say thankyou, brother, for for being
willing to be real, share withthe people on this episode and
let them know that, hey, if Godsaved you, he can save anybody.
Amen.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
He can save anybody.
Yes, he can.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Father, we thank you for this opportunity to be here
today.
I thank you that Brother Trey'stestimony shed some light for
people today.
I thank you, god.
It's so powerful, this thingcalled generational curses.
It can hold so many people back.
It is a very powerful thing,but the truth is that the power
(36:34):
of God is far greater than anygenerational curse.
So, father, I pray in the nameof the blood of Jesus for anyone
out there that's listeningright now that may feel like
they're not good enough.
They'll never amount to much oranything.
That was told that they'd neverget anywhere in life.
Father, I pray that they wouldbe encouraged by Trey
Abernathy's testimony that whohe was is not who he is now and
(36:59):
he is continuing to be built upin the faith through Jesus
Christ.
So, father, I pray that allthose out there today that want
to be set free that they wouldunderstand that we are set free
through Jesus.
In Jesus' name and blood.
Amen, amen and amen.
Folks, we thank you for tuningin.
Please share this link, sharethis episode with some people
(37:22):
that it could bring them hopeand encouragement.
And until next time, we'll seeyou on Beyond Sunday.
God bless.
Good morning everybody.
How are you doing?
It's Pastor Lee and I pastorthe Church Christ Family
Outreach located in Amelia,virginia, and if you've not yet
come by to visit us, I encourageyou to do so on Thursday nights
at our recharge service at 7 pm, or on Sunday mornings, doors
open at 930.
Service gets going at 10 am.
This is the podcast BeyondSunday, and we've got a special
(00:24):
guest at the table here today.
His name is Trey Abernathy andhe has a testimony that I know
is going to touch every singleone of you listening today.
Trey, good morning brother.
How are you doing?
Blessed brother.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
How are you this morning?
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Oh man, I'm blessed.
I'm so glad that you're here.
I've been praying over thisepisode for a long time.
I've been wanting you to comeinto studio to be able to talk
about it, and so I'm so gladthat you finally made your way
in here.
I believe it's the timing ofGod, you know.
I believe that there's going tobe people that are listening to
this episode, that are going tobe able to share the link with
other people, Because, quitehonestly, maybe most of those
(01:02):
who are listening today have notwalked the walk that you've
walked, but maybe odds are intoday's society.
They know someone who haswalked it and needs to be
encouraged by your testimony, orthey know someone that's
currently walking it and needsto be encouraged by your
testimony.
So you know, I believe that Goduses people's testimonies to
set people free, and so I'mreally excited to get into yours
(01:27):
.
So we're going to dig rightinto it.
Luke, chapter 4, verse 18,.
Jesus says the Spirit of theLord is upon me because he has
anointed me to proclaim the goodnews to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaimliberty to the captives and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who
(01:50):
are oppressed.
And this is what Jesus is stillwilling to do today, Brother
Trey, and this is exactly whatJesus Christ did for you.
He set a captive free and you,just like the rest of us, we
were all captive to the enemyand sin at one time, all of us
on different levels.
You know what we go through inlife and how we get beat up and
(02:13):
knocked around, but this is whatexcites me about having you
here today at the table is thesimple fact that, man, you are a
living, walking, breathingtestimony of a captive being set
free physically, mentally,emotionally and, of course,
spiritually.
Right, so let's dive right intoit.
Brother Trey, from a young age,you struggled with depression.
(02:38):
In your testimony I've read itvery, very good you struggled
with anxiety and you were toldthat you were never going to
amount to anything because ofyour last name.
So you're struggling withdepression, anxiety and lack of
self-worth simply because ofwhat your last name was yes, um,
not not having the bestreputation not being involved in
(03:14):
the greatest decisions?
Yeah, so would you say that thatis as what we say in church and
what we see in the word of God.
You were, you were hung up ingenerational curses.
Amen, yes, sir, yeah.
And because of that, justknowing you and knowing your
testimony, because of that thatkind of that title hung over
your head.
Did you ever believe what thepeople were saying?
(03:37):
Was it a point in your lifewhere you ever believed?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
well, if everybody said I'm not going to amount to
nothing.
I'm probably not.
No, sir, I kind of always fedoff of when somebody tells me I
can't do something.
I'm going to try to prove youwrong, yeah, yeah.
So I always went with that.
I just started out in the wrongdirection with that.
Instead of going to the Lord, Iwent to the worldly side of
(04:01):
things.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
And that led me into the wrong direction in life.
So all in pedal to the worldlyside of things, yeah, and that
led me into the wrong directionin life.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
So all in, pedal to the metal right Far as you could
go in the opposite direction ofthe church.
Yes, sir, Was there now?
I wasn't raised in church.
Were you a child that wasbrought up in the church and you
got out of the church?
Or did you guys not go tochurch?
How was church attendance as achild coming up for Trey
Abernathy?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Um, I probably had been in church three or four
times throughout my childhood.
Um, my, my mom was raised inchurch, even even with my dad.
My dad, could, you know, writetake scripture right out of the
Bible?
Yeah, um, I could not.
I just I never comprehended it.
I never even listened to gothat way, and I had some bad
(04:50):
experiences with churches as ayounger child and it led me away
from that.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Yeah, and sadly, what I have seen as an adult now
through the years, is thatthat's one thing that Satan does
out through the years, is thatthat's one thing that Satan does
.
He will take bad experiencesand use that, highlight that for
people.
That'll be people's reasons tonot go to church because of
experiences.
You know, I just had a grownman tell me the other day.
(05:18):
He was like you know why is thechurch full of imperfect people
?
And I was like man, I've neverknown the church to have perfect
people.
You know what I mean.
And then I told him I said look, man.
I said because this was abeliever.
I said, look, brother.
And he was really juststruggling with some things that
he's going through.
I said, look, brother, here'sthe deal.
I said the beautiful thingabout the church house is that
(05:41):
people with problems can comeinto it looking for hope right,
looking for restoration, lookingfor redemption.
But the enemy doesn't wantpeople to know that.
He just wants people to look atchurch as offended.
You know, I got offended so Idon't go, or so-and-so goes to
that church, and they offendedme, I'm mad at them and I don't
go.
So yeah, I did not know thatyou and I had that part in
(06:03):
common.
I'd only been to church maybetwo, three times tops as a boy
as well, and my mother also grewup in the church and was heavy
in church and then at some pointgot out of it.
So we have that piece of ourtestimonies we've got in common.
The reason I ask if you werebrought up in church is because
(06:23):
1 Peter 5, 7 tells us that wecan cast all of our anxieties on
Christ.
And here's the really coolthing.
The Bible says 1 Peter 5, 7, wecan cast all of our anxieties
on Christ.
Here it is because he cares forus, and I think that that's a
beautiful piece.
So to the listeners, friends,if you're struggling out there,
(06:50):
I want to remind you that JesusChrist cares for you, even if it
feels like no one else does,and he's willing to offer you
His peace.
Amen, trey.
One of the ways, trey, that youcoped with all of the depression
, with all of the anxiety thatyou had going on in life, was
that you shut your feelings down.
You built up walls, and thereason you did this is so that
people couldn't hurt you anylonger, right?
So what would you say to peopleout there right now, trey, who
(07:12):
are struggling, who may be usingthat exact same tactic.
They're shutting doors, they'relocking them, they're building
up walls, they're fightingdepression, they're fighting
anxiety.
They're pushing people out.
What do you think, trey, is themost dangerous thing about
shutting people out of your life.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I feel like if I would have brought a different
crowd of people into my life andnot just shut everyone out and
started listening to more people, maybe I would have run across
the right person to try to leadme in the right direction,
instead of going down that wrongpath.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Now, did you have people early on in your life,
and even as a high schooler, asa young man, when you got
wrapped up heavily into drugs?
Did you have people at thattime trying to give you good
advice to get out, or had you soblocked everybody out, that
those people were no longeraround?
You have people at that timetrying to give you good advice
to to get out, or or or withthose, or had you so blocked
everybody out that those peoplewere no longer around?
Speaker 2 (08:09):
No, sir, I had blocked everybody out of my life
.
I was not willing to listen toanything or any anybody that had
to say anything positive yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Yeah, because, whatever they and I'm guessing,
correct me if I'm wrong, but I'mguessing you block those people
out because they're not sellingwhat you want, right?
Amen?
I mean everything that they'retrying to give you you're not
trying to take.
I was not having any part of it.
Yeah Well, after shuttingpeople out, after building up
walls, you turned to drugs.
(08:39):
How old were you when you firststarted using, and what was the
first drug?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
How old were you when you first started using and
what was the first drug?
I started using drugs right atage 13, and methamphetamines was
my drug of choice throughout mywhole life, throughout your
entire life.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yes, sir, so is that what you started on?
Yes, sir, okay, so straight tothe heavy stuff.
Yes, sir, straight to the heavystuff.
So the drugs.
According to your testimony,trey, the drugs are doing two
things.
You felt like the king of theworld, right, absolutely.
And they're making you.
They're also, while feelinglike the king of the world,
they're making you numb to allof life's problems, right, not
(09:20):
just Trey Abernathy's problems,but all the problems around you.
But then something happens,right Later on in life, you
share in your testimony thatyour best friend, who was your
dad, he passed away.
How old were you when he passedso?
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I was 32, 33.
And how old was your dad?
My dad was 60, 65, 33.
And how old was your dad?
My dad was 65, 66.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Yeah, and you guys had a good relationship.
I mean you say he was your bestfriend in life.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Yes, so even when I got married, my dad was listed
as my dad, but also my bestfriend, and from day one, I
don't have probably a singlememory in life without my dad,
but also my best friend.
Yeah, and from day one, I Idon't have a probably a single
memory in life without my dad init.
Yeah, yeah, he was always in it.
Yeah, um, not necessarily inthe best ways, um, but yes, my
(10:17):
dad was in every memory that Iever have in my life.
So, your dad, passes.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
And then, two years later, you say it's the most
difficult, terrible, worst dayof your life.
What happens next?
Yes, two, two years later, yourdaughter, two and a half years,
she passes yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
So when I thought the worst day of my life would ever
be would was when my dad passedaway and then, two and a half
years later, you know, I lost atwo and a half year old daughter
and that was tremendous.
I mean, that was.
That's a parent's worstnightmare.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
Yeah, and share with the listeners at that time in
your life.
How do you cope with that?
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Oh, I mean I was at the point of that time I was
probably staying up six, seven,eight days at a time on drugs,
no sleep.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
No sleep Six, seven, eight days straight.
No sleep.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yes sir, that was the best way.
And then the drugs wereblocking everything out, and
then I would crash and sleep fora couple days.
So that was blocking everythingout, and then I'd wake up and
just repeat the cycle.
It kept everything blocked outof my life.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, and then share, share this piece.
Your, your, your, your, yourwife, right?
How is?
How is she handling all this?
She, she's just lost a daughter, you know, and she's two years
prior to that.
You know.
Your dad's gone, right, so how?
(11:46):
And then also, obviously, yourwife knows what you're going
through, right, how is shehandling this?
Because somewhere out therethere's a very real chance that
there's a spouse right nowlistening who their spouse is
currently fighting an addiction.
Give some advice.
Who was your wife to you then?
Was, was she that solid rockfor you?
Was, was she fighting for you?
(12:07):
Uh, what was her role duringthis particular time?
Was, what did that look like?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
yes.
So my wife has always been mysolid rock, um for years on end.
We've been together for um alittle over 20 years.
We've been married for comingup on 15.
And for me she knew about thedrugs at a young age but thought
they had stopped, so she justkind of took it.
(12:35):
As you know, he's coping.
He's going through a lot in hislife.
He lost his best friend, he'slost a daughter, just like I
have, and she had just lost herfather, also just prior to my
dad.
So we were going through all ofthis together and it kind of
(12:58):
all just seemed to go together,yeah, and the depression and
anxiety and the tension wasgrowing fast.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Was there ever a point where you thought this, my
problem, could possibly end mymarriage?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
No, um, no, I don't.
Yeah, there was a point, butthat's later.
Down the road, at this point,you know, I felt like we were.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
We were pretty close, yeah yeah, um, I know that you
say in, in in your testimonythat the uh, when, when, when
your daughter passed the drugaddiction just kicked into
overdrive.
You, you told me, brother trey,one one time how much money you
spend a week on drugs and Iabout fell over.
Now I called me ignorant, right, I mean I had, I had no idea
(13:52):
that that someone could takethat amount.
But but share, share with thelisteners what, what at your at
your worst point, uh,financially, what that, what
that looked like for you and theamount of drugs that you were
taking.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
So yeah, by the time my daughter had passed away, I
was up to the about 12 to 14days straight and I was.
I was probably about nine to$10,000 at this point a week
into drugs.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah, I mean, to me I would say that's, that's
unheard of.
But I'm sure someone out theremay be able to say man, I'm, I'm
, I'm, I'm doing more than that.
Yes, sir, you know.
But but he and and, and Iremember one day I asked you, it
was in our small group I askedyou man, how did, how did you
afford that?
Right?
And you, who's got that kind ofmoney?
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Right, yes, so that's kind of part of you know.
I started dealing pretty heavyin my teenage years and that
kind of led into it.
You know you have to deal drugsto be able to afford that kind
of amount of drugs.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
So you're dealing to make the money in order to take
that money and then spend itright on on on more drugs.
Uh, you end up purposefully,because of all the pain you've
gone through with your dad andnow especially with your little
girl, you end up purposefullyoverdosing uh, trying to commit
suicide, correct?
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Yes, sir, and it's fairly unheard of of anybody
ever overdosing onmethamphetamines, ever
overdosing on methamphetamines,and you know I remember bits and
pieces of it now.
But looking back, you know Itook two and a half ounces of
crystal meth at one time andwhat I couldn't get I just
shoved in my body and in lessthan a couple hours of waking up
(15:41):
in the hospital I was rightback to heaven, you know,
probably a kilo sitting in mylap, ready to rock all over
again.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Wow, wow, and I know that you didn't realize it at
the time, but really that's Godhaving a plan for Trey Avernett.
Amen, brother, you know what Imean.
That's God saving your boy'sdaddy, right, your current
daughter right, who's still herewith us you know her daddy, you
know.
(16:10):
And that's also God saving yourwife, her husband, right and so
, and even much more than that,god is still using you right now
in ministry through a liferecovery program, which we'll
get into that in just a moment,and how God's using you now.
But you say in your testimonythat back then you didn't
(16:31):
realize why am I still here?
You know you're not realizingthat God has a plan for Trey.
Yeah, no.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
I couldn't even imagine, like why am I still
here?
Why can't I just be gone?
Why can't I ease this painRight?
Speaker 1 (16:43):
because up until then , that's what the drugs are
doing You're using to keep fromhaving to feel what's going on
here in reality.
Yes, yeah, so you had mentioned, too, that you were blocking
people out, and a lot of whatyou were going through was
because you didn't have theright circle, and that's one
(17:11):
thing that I preach at church.
A lot is that your circle doesmatter.
Touch upon the piece of thatwhere how much of your life has
changed now that your circle haschanged?
Because you know now I lookaround, Trey, when I see you at
Bible study or see you at achurch event or see you at
church, and there's a whole newcircle that you have placed
around yourself.
How has life changed for yousince you've got a new circle of
friends?
Speaker 2 (17:28):
My life day to day now is just amazing.
Amen.
It doesn't matter what I'mgoing through, big or small, If
it's something that seems likeit's the end of the world.
I have a group of people that Ican pick the phone up now and
shoot a text to or a phone call,and it's going to be answered
immediately and it's going to be.
(17:50):
It's going to be responded towith prayer and love and care
and it.
You know, it's never been likethat for me.
It was.
You know, it was always let'shigh, yeah, and it's not like
that anymore.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
And the beautiful, and I'm proud of you, man, and I
know it's God doing the work inyou.
The thing the really cool thingis, though we have to accept
that work and want that work totake place and manifest.
The thing that I want ourlisteners to understand, too, is
, when we get born again and weare delivered from that old
lifestyle, whatever that oldlifestyle looks like, it's not
(18:26):
that we give up on our oldcircle.
It's just that we can't go backto that old circle and
participate in the things, thefoolishness and the nonsense
that they're doing that used tohold us down.
So what I say is that anybodyfrom my old circle that wants to
come join my new circle,they're welcome to come.
Amen.
From my old circle that wantsto come join my new circle,
they're welcome to come, amen.
You know, I just can't end upback in that old circle because
(18:47):
I don't want.
I don't want the fruit, I don'twant the outcome of what that
old circle produces.
Have you since, since, sinceyou have been delivered from
addiction have you ever hadanybody from the old circle that
you used to run with?
Has anybody ever reached out toyou?
Anybody from the old lifestylereached out to you and said Trey
, how'd you do it?
You know what's going on.
What's it like on that side ofthe fence.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Oh yeah, absolutely.
I have some boys that you knowI used to run with, that come to
church every Sunday, Thursdays.
Amen, it's a blessing, becausenobody ever thought that Trey
Abernathy would have ever, everbeen released from drugs and
(19:30):
alcohol.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, yeah Again.
Because of so many priorgenerations.
Yes, right, do you know, trey?
Do you know how manygenerations back?
Addiction runs in the family.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
A very, very, very long line.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
I don't know exactly.
I know, you know, way back tomy granddaddies.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Gotcha.
Yeah, so people have thatreputation of Abernathy.
You know you spoke about thatin the very beginning, in the
intro of this podcast, and yetnow these folks are looking at a
chain that's been broken.
It's a curse, a generationalcurse that has been broken in
the name of the Lord, and yourlife now produces more fruit
(20:11):
beautiful, good, righteous, holy, godly fruit.
The really cool thing about agenerational curse being broken
is now that line has been brokenand because you, t trey, have
stepped up and been obedient tothe call of god, it gives
something for your boys and yourdaughter to um have a new,
fresh start.
(20:31):
Amen to to not to not haveanyone tell them well, you're an
abernathy, so you'll neverright.
Or your last name is this, soyou'll never.
Or trey's your dad, so you'llnever.
You're gonna be just like yourdad, right.
Well, now you're gonna be justlike your dad is a good thing.
Praise God, amen.
So that's exciting.
I know, I know there was a longtime that you were able to
function while on the drugs.
(20:52):
Let's touch on that for amoment.
You, you, you were, you wereable to function on on the
addiction and you were able tohide it from people.
Is how you share in yourtestimony.
But there came a time when youcould no longer hide it.
You ended up quitting your job,right?
You feel like you're losingyour family.
You feel like you're losingyour house.
You're hit with multiplerestraining orders.
(21:13):
There's a rehabilitation stintin there, you're running from
the police and there's multiplearrests and jail time.
Yes, sir, during this time injail you hear a voice speaking
to you and at the time I thinkin your testimony it says you
didn't know at the time it wasthe voice of God.
No, I had no idea.
What was that voice saying toTrey Abernathy in jail?
(21:36):
It's time.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's time, it's time Release, let go.
You know, just like a repeat ofthe same, just short sentences.
You know, just let go, release.
It's time, just over and over.
And.
And you know, looking back nowlike it's no doubt that it was
the good Lord yeah, yeah, givingyou instruction, right, yeah,
(22:01):
you direction give me a wholechill.
yeah, thinking about it, youknow being in that jail cell
just hearing voices.
You're in jail with 98, 100other men and all of this noise
is going on and you can justhear it plain as day.
It's just like it goescompletely quiet.
Yeah, like you were to cut thismic off and you hear it release
(22:23):
, let go.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
And it just kept pecking at you.
Yes, sir, Just kept speaking toyou.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
Hey man, that's powerful stuff, brother, very
powerful and, like I said at thetime, I had no idea.
Yeah, I had no idea, yeah, yeah, or I didn't want to believe it
.
You know, I didn't.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Yeah, yeah.
But then when you start to walkwith the Lord, you realize who
that voice was speaking to you.
Amen, because the normal TreyAbernathy wanted more drugs and
at one time wanted to die.
So that's not Trey's conscioustalking to Trey, right, that's
an outside source.
That's God Almighty.
1 Corinthians 10.13 says thisno temptation has overtaken you.
(23:03):
That is not common to man.
God is faithful and he will notlet you be tempted beyond your
ability.
But with the temptation he willalso provide the way of escape
that you may be able to endureit.
And I believe that that voicewas your way of escape.
You know, our way of escape isJesus Christ.
It's an open door in God and Ipersonally, after hearing your
(23:24):
testimony, I believe that thatwas the voice of the Lord
offering you that way of escape.
Who knows what would havehappened, brother Trey, if you
didn't take it?
No, no doubt you know.
I mean, we don't even know ifyou'd still be living.
I think that's a fairassessment, right?
Yes, sir, absolutely so.
You get out of jail, and this iswhen things start getting
really, really good for TreyAbernathy.
You get out of jail and someoneinvites you to one of our
(23:47):
Thursday night recharge servicesat CFO Church and for those
that don't know, a rechargeservice is like a midweek church
service.
We come in there, there'sprayer, there's praise and
worship, there's the preachingand teaching of God's word.
It's like a normal churchservice, just on a Thursday
night.
But somebody invites you.
Who was it?
You don't have to give a name.
But was it a family member?
Was it a friend that invitedyou?
(24:08):
Was it family friend?
And what did that conversationlook like?
Speaker 2 (24:12):
It is one of my top friends that was there for me
through my addiction.
That has been through the exactsame addiction that I have.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
And I'm assuming, I'm assuming they come to church,
they come to CFO.
Yes, sir, okay, so, so so theyinvite you.
Was that a phone call?
Is it a face to face that theystop by the house and say, look
man, it's time to get real, youknow?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
So he just he never really pushed it on me.
He said you know I go to thischurch and it has been amazing
to me, and you know we haverecharge on Thursday nights.
You know, sundays we have men'sBible study.
He just kept explaining it tome.
Yeah, he was like you know, ifyou ever want to go, just let me
know.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
That's awesome.
So he's not beating you overthe head with a Bible.
Yes, sir, he's just like hey,my life has been changed.
I want you to come check thisout, right?
Yes, sir, praise God.
So how long after coming, trey,was it until you got saved?
Do you remember?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
So it was only three or four weeks before I got saved
yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
So it didn't take long?
No, sir, it didn't take long,not at all.
So hey, as we're talking, thisquestion hits me how long did it
take to see immediatedifference in the two circles?
Like, so you walk into church?
Because I think some peoplethat struggle with addiction, or
struggle with sin, or strugglewith feeling like they're not
(25:38):
good enough to enter into achurch, right, they feel like,
well, I could never go in there,the roof's going to fall down
on me, right?
Well, the good news is the roofain't falling down on nobody.
That's where God wants you isin the church, right?
So when you came into church,did you feel judged?
Did you feel love?
Did you feel nervous?
Did you feel peace in thepresence, like what was going
through when you first walked inthe room for the first time?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
So when I first walked in the CFO church, I knew
that I was going to be judged.
I had been judged all of mylife.
That's just what I knew wasgoing to happen.
I'm going to walk in here.
I've been hearing this voice.
I've been hearing about it.
I walked in a CFO.
Not at any point in time have Iever been judged for my last
(26:20):
name or the decisions that I hadmade to this.
And I tell everybody that Iinvite the CFO church that to me
that is one of my top tiersthat I absolutely love.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
Well, that puts a smile on my face because, as the
pastor there, we really dotruly say we're family.
Yes, and guess what?
Family makes mistakes.
Yes, sir, you know, family'sgoing to let one another down,
but we're not going to judge oneanother.
We're going to love one anotherbecause, at the end of the day,
the Bible says for all havesinned and fallen short of the
glory of God.
You know, and the truth is, weneed one another to shoulder one
(26:56):
another's burdens and to do ittogether, you know, and that's
what true family does.
So, fast forward, you get saved, you're now a born again
Christian, you're walking withJesus Christ, you've got
relationship with them, you'redrug-free, you're sober and
(27:17):
you're attending church everyweek.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Now, right, tell the listeners how attending church
faithfully helps you remainstrong and helps you stay clean
so for me, when I I've alwaysbeen that person that I always
like face-to-faceaccountabilities yeah, even when
I was in my drug addiction,dealing drugs, I was a
(27:41):
face-to-face person.
So for me, walking into churchevery Sunday, every Thursday,
bible studies, my accountabilitygroups that I am, that helps me
realize that I am in the rightplace and following God, just
relieves all of that pain andthat pressure that I used to
(28:02):
turn to drugs and alcohol for.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, you mentioned accountability and I totally
agree with you.
There's something about beingin a room with like-minded
individuals that helps us stayout of trouble.
Yes, you know it.
Uh, I kinda, I kinda see itlike this is a crazy analogy and
if, if you don't hunt, you maynot get this, but for those who
hunt, you'll probably get it.
I love being in the woodswatching the dogs run, you know,
(28:26):
and one dog can pick up a scentand just go bananas over it,
just just start barking andyelping and going crazy, hooting
and hollering and and he'llstart running.
That He'll start running thescent on that deer.
Well, the other dogs in thewoods hear him light hot, you
know and and they all come findhim and they'll join up.
Oftentimes they might not evensmell what he's smelling right
(28:49):
away, but they know he's doinghis job.
So, hey, if he's into it, I'minto it.
Right, and it's that packmentality that family gets going
and I see oftentimes asbrothers and sisters in Christ.
You know we're there to say,hey, this is my strength and
this is what the Lord's doing inmy life right now.
And if anybody wants to comejoin me, the more the merrier.
(29:16):
But we're going to have a blaston this ride.
You know, if my old circlewants to now come be part of my
new circle and we're goingforward in Christ, then let's go
do that together.
But everybody's invited.
So yeah, I love that word thatyou bring up accountability.
There's accountability and,let's be honest, we all need
accountability Absolutely.
And can I just say it's not theperson that's struggling with
alcohol or pornography or drugaddiction or infidelity.
(29:40):
We all need accountability, iffor nothing else, just to make
sure we're still living andloving for the Lord Jesus Christ
every day of our lives.
And so that's important.
So if you're listening todayand you don't have a circle
where you're plugged in, if youdon't have a group of people
that you can text, if you don'thave someone that you can call
on a regular basis, you need toget into church.
Or if you're already in church,you need to begin to look
(30:02):
around and find somebody thatyou can plug into with and be
accountable with.
It's so important.
Even when Jesus sent out thedisciples Trey, he sent them out
in twos.
So it's important.
Second Corinthians 5.17 saystherefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away.
Behold, the new has come.
(30:23):
So let's talk about that for amoment briefly.
The old passing away, the newhas come.
You've received such a new youlife that you're helping lead a
class at church called LifeRecovery.
How many people back in the daywould have ever seen Trey
Abernathy teaching a class aboutbeing clean and sober brother?
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Never.
That is an absolutely amazingthing.
And you talk about, you know,the past groups and stuff, and
when they do approach me they'relike, man, I hear you're
leading a life recovery program.
What's that about?
Yeah, and you know I get toshare that time with them and
it's amazing.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
So yeah, isn't it something, man?
Like how God will takesomething from the ashes brother
Trey, like how God will takesomething from the ashes Brother
Trey and he will use it all forhis good?
Why don't you, for a quickmoment, take a couple minutes,
if you will please, brother, andjust share with the people what
life recovery is all about?
And I just want to say, if youlive in and near this area in
(31:25):
Amelia, you're welcome to cometo our life recovery class.
It's free of charge, rightafter church on Sunday morning.
So you come to church, get tochurch service right after
service our life recovery classthey meet together, they eat for
they'll have a little mealright there at the church and
then they break out into thelife recovery class just to take
a couple of moments, trey, andshare what life recovery is all
(31:48):
about.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
So we do, we always, we.
We get together and um we get,we get to eat and um it's kind
of about that accountabilityYou're in that accountability
group and um we go through a 12step program um for life
recovery, Christian based faithbased, yes, christian faith, and
(32:09):
there are throughout the 12steps.
there are different steps foreach step, so there's about six
different groups.
Through each section of the 12steps.
We get together, we get to prayover these, we get to talk
(32:32):
about early trauma life.
We get to talk about trauma orthings that are happening day to
day with us even now, as we aresaved by God, and we get to be
there to help others go throughsituations that we have been
(32:53):
through.
And there's a group of peoplethere.
Just because you're there, youmay be there for drugs or
alcohol or anxiety or depression.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
There's people there that have been through that and
have been relieved from God forthat and they're all there to
help, yeah, and whether it evenbe the individual that has been
abused or been on addiction,sometimes their spouse comes
with them too, right, and it'spart of the class, because the
spouse had to walk through thatalong with that person.
(33:31):
So they need some healing aswell.
And I think it's important thatwe also mention the fact that
it's not just for alcoholics anddrug addicts.
It's for people, as youmentioned, who may have been
through trauma as a child.
It doesn't have to be justrecently, but sometimes people
go through things as a child andit's still affecting them as a
grown adult now.
You know, that's what I loveabout the life recovery class.
(33:52):
It's for any and everyone who'sstruggling and just want help,
and they want help through themethod of accountability as well
To walk through this thing withother people, to be reminded
that they're not alone, brotherTrey, they're not alone, and
they've got people like yourselfthat have been there, done that
and is willing to say hey, I'mnot going to get up on a high
horse here.
I remember who I was and I knowwhere God bought me from, and
(34:15):
I'm willing to walk you throughthis valley in your life as well
.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Yes, I by far don't have all of the answers to
life's trauma that everybody hasbeen through, but I can tell
you I know somebody that does.
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
I know somebody that does God.
Does Amen, brother Amen, and wecan find the answer to
everything we go through in lifein the word of God.
That's why I love that the LifeRecovery Program y'all are
doing is faith-based and it'sloaded with scripture, loaded,
because it's the word of Godthat sets us free, because it's
the word of God that sets usfree.
Amen.
In closing, trey, I want toread this verse Isaiah 43, 18
(34:53):
through 19, says Remember notthe former things, nor consider
the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing.
Now it springs forth, do younot perceive it?
I will make a way in thewilderness and rivers in the
desert, and I love that.
You know God is saying I willmake a way in the wilderness and
(35:14):
I will make rivers in thedesert.
And isn't that what God hasdone in the life of Trey
Abernathy?
Amen, yes, he has.
We start this podcast out withtalking about how the name Trey
Abernathy had this title andpeople thought it was doom and
despair.
You know, they thought nothinggood was coming from that title.
But we in this podcast, givingGod glory knowing that Trey
(35:34):
Abernathy has a brand new title.
You know that name.
Although it's still the sametwo names, it's really a brand
new name because it hasdifferent meaning.
Now you know it's got differenthope, it's got the love of
Christ, it's got the love ofJesus, it's got the love of God
and the spirit of God in yourlife.
You know, and so I can testify,that I have seen a change in
you just from when I first metyou, and it is God taking you
(35:57):
from faith to faith and glory toglory.
And so I just want to say thankyou, brother, for for being
willing to be real, share withthe people on this episode and
let them know that, hey, if Godsaved you, he can save anybody.
Amen.
Speaker 2 (36:11):
He can save anybody.
Yes, he can.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Father, we thank you for this opportunity to be here
today.
I thank you that Brother Trey'stestimony shed some light for
people today.
I thank you, god.
It's so powerful, this thingcalled generational curses.
It can hold so many people back.
It is a very powerful thing,but the truth is that the power
(36:34):
of God is far greater than anygenerational curse.
So, father, I pray in the nameof the blood of Jesus for anyone
out there that's listeningright now that may feel like
they're not good enough.
They'll never amount to much oranything.
That was told that they'd neverget anywhere in life.
Father, I pray that they wouldbe encouraged by Trey
Abernathy's testimony that whohe was is not who he is now and
(36:59):
he is continuing to be built upin the faith through Jesus
Christ.
So, father, I pray that allthose out there today that want
to be set free that they wouldunderstand that we are set free
through Jesus.
In Jesus' name and blood.
Amen, amen and amen.
Folks, we thank you for tuningin.
Please share this link, sharethis episode with some people
(37:22):
that it could bring them hopeand encouragement.
And until next time, we'll seeyou on Beyond Sunday.
God bless.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.