October 7, 2025 • 30 mins
Ginger's story has such an incredible ending, God works so many miracles, rebuilds so many relationships, and restores deep joy in Ginger's heart. Praise the Lord for his goodness and mercy!
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Episode Transcript
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Phil Shuler (00:00):
HellO, and welcome to Renew, Restore, Rejoice, the
(00:03):
Safe House Ministries podcast,where we share stories of the
power of God to change livesthrough Safe House Ministries.
Safe House Ministries is basedout of Columbus, Georgia, and we
are a ministry that exists tolove and serve people who have
been affected by addiction,homelessness, and incarceration.
I'm your host, Phil Shuler, theDirector of Development for Safe
House Ministries here inColumbus, Georgia.
(00:24):
Safe House serves over 1, 100people each month as they
transition back into ourcommunity.
Safe House provides an abundanceof services including 213 beds
for homeless individuals andfamilies, case management for
obtaining job skills and longterm employment.
Over 300 hot meals every day,free clothing, and so much more.
One of the most incredibleservices that Safe House
(00:45):
provides is our free 9 12 monthintensive outpatient substance
abuse program, which is statelicensed, CARF accredited, and
has no wait list.
Almost 100 percent ofindividuals staying in our
shelters who follow our threephase program become fully
employed within a few months.
And 68 percent of individualswho stay at least one night with
us End up finding work andmoving into their own home.
(01:07):
Thank you for being with ustoday and listening to our
podcast.
We hope you enjoy this week'sepisode.
Ginger (01:12):
And Jeff ended up getting pulled over.
He was working a landscaping joband he got pulled over at work
for um, like a taillight orsomething.
And he had an old warrant and sothey picked, they picked him up
and he ended up going to jail.
So he calls me again.
I'm still staying at the, at thepeople's house at this time.
I was obviously a lot to dealwith when I was high.
I'm already very hyper, so, um,a little bit of dope.
(01:36):
I was up for days, I mean, justone line and I'm up two, three
days and when everybody elsecould just go, go to bed.
And so the sleep deprivationhitting, um, I'm hallucinating,
I'm spastic, I'm, you know, Iwas a lot to deal with.
Um, and so people didn't reallywant me around.
They just did because of Jeff.
'cause Jeff's always just evenan addiction.
He's just, just Jeff, he's justgreat.
(01:58):
Yeah.
Everybody loves Jeff House.
Um, and uh, so he got picked upand called me and was like, this
is it.
You know, um, he's like, I gotlocked up and you know, I got
probation violation or whatever.
I don't know how long I'm gonnabe in, so I'm calling his
probation officer.
'cause I'm scared to death nowbecause I'm so codependent on
him, like to protect me.
(02:18):
It was just, uh, me and himagainst the world.
And I knew that where we'restaying, it was because of him.
And, I was scared to death.
So you know, I'm calling hisprobation officer.
I'm like, please let him outbefore you know Chris, you know,
blah, blah, blah.
And Wow.
Yeah.
So, um, and then after about aweek,'cause he, I mean he's
solid, been using meth foralmost 30 years, like a needle.
(02:38):
He quit.
He, he, he gave the needle up,about a year before we quit
getting high, which is, which ishuge'cause from what I
understand and what I've seenpeople actually get hooked on
the needle, if that makes sense.
Yeah.
I never really got that, but I,I, I, I've seen it with my own
eyes.
So he just got, he kind of gotjust sick of shooting dope.
So he finally quit that afterthat many years.
(02:58):
And, but then he called me, Iguess it had been two weeks, and
he called me and said.
This is it because this is thefirst time he had had some
clarity and kind of dried outand rested and slept and been
eating.
And he said, this is what we'vebeen praying for.
He was like, I'm done.
We're done.
Phil (03:13):
Wow.
Ginger (03:13):
Yeah.
So it was the biggest blessingof our lives that he got
arrested.
So.
Phil (03:18):
Wow.
Ginger (03:18):
And here I have two little, uh, trash bags of my
little worldly possessions thatI've been stealing clothes outta
the goodwill boxes, you know,and everybody, I'm in room fulls
of people that don't want methere.
Everybody's getting high.
And I had one girlfriend, I loveyou, Kim Clegg, who wasn't, uh,
wasn't getting high, and, um,she was
both (03:37):
just there, but she wasn't getting high.
She, no, she was
Ginger (03:39):
just a friend.
We've been friends for so manyyears.
Um, we used to party and stufftogether, but it never got her
like me.
And she left that stuff alone along time ago.
It was never like a thing forher.
but her, uh, she lived with hermom.
granny who's older, and, uh,granny was like, you know, they
were on a super tight budget,bare, barely getting by.
And of course I can't staythere, but I show up'cause I was
like, this, I have to kick dopeon the outside.
(04:00):
He's inside, like, this is ourchance.
So I just show up and I'm like,I have nowhere to go.
Like, can I stay here?
And, and she was like, she kindalooked around and she was like,
just so every night I would layon the floor on the other side
of her room.
So her mom didn't know that Iwas there.
Yeah.
And I literally kicked, kickeddope at, uh,
both (04:17):
so you were out of the house during day out outta the
houses, out of the drug house inthe evening.
Yeah.
So we would just
Ginger (04:21):
kind of h it was okay to hang out during the day.
Me and her would just, uh, wejust hung out.
But at nighttime I wasn'tsupposed to be like staying
there.
But, um, yeah, Kim Clegg is ahuge part of my testimony and
story.
So from
both (04:32):
that point you had stopped getting high anymore.
Yeah.
Then, and you were trying tojust get clean on the outside
then?
I was just trying
Ginger (04:36):
to get clean when Jeff said, I was like, this is our
chance, you know, uh, we have todo this together or, um, or not.
And, and this is kind of whatwe've been praying for.
And then to hear him.
Being the lead in that.
It's like what I've been prayingfor.
You know what I mean?
You know, man to lead, you know?
and, you know, I would go downand see him and stuff like that.
And, and then, uh, he got out.
So he got, I think he did twomonths, little over two months
(04:56):
in jail.
Um, we both had a little mentalclarity called his mom.
He got sentenced to the, uh, DRCprogram, which I had been in as
well.
and he called his mom.
He said, look, we, I'm nevergonna make it.
If I go back to where I was, youknow, I, I want this, I want
this program.
And, um, you know, I have, Ihave a curfew, I have all these
things I have to do meetings,church, blah, blah, blah.
So, um, and he said, ginger hasnowhere to go.
(05:19):
So his mom, uh, on a tightbudget, my mother-in-law now,
um, let us stay there.
And she said, you can do thismeetings, blah, blah, blah.
So we lived, we did two tothree, uh, NA meetings a day.
So
both (05:32):
you, did you, were you in a, a formal program yourself?
No.
Or you were just going to Themeetings was time.
I was just going
Ginger (05:37):
to the meetings.
I was just.
Doing.
Yeah.
We just completely, you did itwith him?
With him.
We, we, we let every person go.
And there was a, Jeff had areally good friend, our, our
friend that let us stay there,Brian, and they're, they're
still friends today, but, youknow, and he's doing really
good.
But there was just activity, youknow what I mean?
At the house and when you're,when you're, that you just disa
disassociated from all of that.
You have to just, I mean, we,we, we deleted probably 300
(05:59):
people off our Facebook and justa whole new way of life.
We, we, we wanna know how you'renot getting high every day.
I want what you have.
And, and then in the meetings,um, we were wanting to find our
own church home, you know,something just little younger
for us somewhere.
Yeah.
And, uh, we, we were askingsomebody at a NA meeting and
they were like, you've neverheard of the fort church?
(06:20):
And I was like, no, I've neverlived here.
My whole life.
Never heard.
So, um, we, we said, well, we'llgo visit that first.
And we had a list of fourdifferent churches and we
weren't there 20 minutes.
And Jeff was like, we're we'rehome.
Yeah.
So we ended up getting bap uh,baptized together on Easter of,
2019.
Yep.
Wow.
Yeah, we've been ever sincewe're, we're super involved in
(06:40):
the church.
That's just been a, our networkis amazing.
We wouldn't be here, uh, todaywithout, that is awesome.
The support and yeah.
God has orchestrated, uh, anamazing, friend, friend and,
friendships and support andaccountability.
Phil (06:55):
Yeah.
You know,
Ginger (06:55):
I, because we, you need some people in your life that
are telling you, Hey, that's,that's, that's, you're, you're,
you're getting crazy over there.
You're looking, you know,getting outta line over there.
That's not, um, so they helped
both (07:04):
you when you were at risk of going back Yes.
To the darkness, yes.
Those new friends helped youkind of stay the course.
Ginger (07:10):
Absolutely.
Um, and then I was we found anapartment on our own.
Um, and of course, Jeff and Iare both felons, so you had to
have like twice the, twice therent, twice the, all this stuff.
But the biggest thing, oh wow.
We saved up.
But the biggest thing is that noone would give us a chance.
Because of you have to do abackground check.
So we, I getting, getting upset'cause I, my whole goal was I'm
getting my son back, I'm gettingmy son back, you know?
(07:32):
Yeah.
Um, um, from, from his dad wherewe would share custody, but he,
you know, I want him in myhouse.
So, um, we were riding through,my mom and dad were taking me,
uh, to look at apartments andwe, uh, had, had just been
turned down for three, we rodethrough Spring Creek Village,
which is off Veterans Parkway,right over there by North Side.
And there was a girl that was,um, like a younger girl, um,
(07:55):
right.
She was around my age, maybeabout five or six years younger.
And she was cleaning outapartment and just in a truck
and was in and out of thisapartment.
So for some reason, I mean, itwas like the Lord just
highlighted to her and I justyelled at my mom.
I was like, stop the car.
Stop the car.
Mom was like, what?
I said, I'm gonna go talk toher.
So I just got out and I justtook a breath and I said, look,
I said, I'm a, I'm a good mom.
(08:15):
I'm in recovery and I need achance to get my son back.
My, my boyfriend and I are bothfelons.
No one will give us a chance,and we desperately need this.
Like, you know, I'm crying andstuff.
And she just stopped and washanging on my every word and, I
said, do you have to do abackground check here?
And she said, yes.
And I said, we have, you know,the, the double deposit, we have
the rent.
(08:35):
And I was like, you have myword.
We will never be one day late onthe rent.
We just need someone to give usa shot.
And, um, and I said, you have tohave a background check here.
And she said, yes.
And I mean, I just tears comingdown my eyes and I looked down
and then she said, um, well, youknow, my aunt, it manages the,
uh, the property.
And she said, um, lucky for you.
(08:57):
She's at the beach untilTuesday.
She said, be in, be in theoffice first thing in the
morning.
And she said, I'll run itthrough.
I mean, I leapt on her, likejumped in her arms.
Yeah.
I was like, oh my God, thankyou.
So, um, yeah, it was justamazing.
And so Jeff and I moved in.
I got, I was able to getJackson's, um, we had everything
we own was given to us byfriends and family.
(09:17):
We still have a lot of thatstuff.
It's very special to me.
Um, and I fussed and fussed overgetting Jackson's room ready and
all his superhero stuff.
And, um, you know, I've beenjust praying for this day for,
for so many year, for almostseven years at that time.
And, uh, and he, I, so I calledhis dad.
I was like, it's ready.
(09:37):
Can you, can you bring him?
Of course, you know, he hadlost, lost belief in me and I,
all the empty promises, I'mgonna get you back and all that.
And he was for a long time,obviously very angry at me and
he was just kind ofself-preservation.
He was just not allowing himselfto just believe it anymore.
He is like, you always say that,and he was real cold to me and
stuff, which was really hard,but rightly so.
(09:58):
and his dad came and dropped himoff and he kinda, I just, I, I
mean, mental image of him justwalking in and he's kind of
looking around'cause it was anice apartment.
and he's looking around and thenI had his door shut and I had
like, a little superhero,superhero stuff.
and I had some like Marvel signon his door.
And, um, he, he opens thebedroom door, he like pauses for
a minute.
I was like, that's your room.
(10:18):
And he, um, opens the door andhe's like, I can just see his
little head.
He's looking around like this.
And then he just, he stops andhe turns around and he said, you
did, sorry.
I knew I was gonna cry.
He said, uh, you did real goodmom.
It, everything looks great.
And he just like, dove on thebed with a big smile and
giggled.
(10:39):
And I didn't want him because hewas very, um, cringey all the
time.
You know, he is in junior high.
Uh, I mean, uh, just startingat, at Northside, I'm sorry.
that's why we picked thatapartment because I wanted him
to go to Northside.
He was starting high school.
Phil (10:50):
Yeah.
Ginger (10:50):
And so I said, thanks buddy.
And so I didn't want him to seeme.
'cause he is like, you're soemotional.
So I went in the bathroom andlike put my hands over my mouth
and like crumpled in a heap andlike, God.
And I just were just, I mean, Iwas just praising him.
I had both hands in the air andI'm like, thank you Lord.
Thank you Lord.
You know?
just, it's just unbelievable.
(11:11):
And j he has, the Lord hashealed the rela the hurts and
mine and Jackson's relationship.
Like every now and again, I'lltry to bring up stuff.
He was like, mom, that's, that'snot who you are.
That's so, you know, that's soover with.
I love you.
He is like, I don't, you know,uh, it's, he was like, um, and
God bless my parents.
It goes back to my parentsagain.
That has so much to do with thembecause Jackson even told me, he
(11:33):
said, you know, the whole timeyou and dad were in addiction
and I was with Mimi and bigdude, he said, uh, I always knew
how loved I was.
I knew that you and dad loved meso much.
And he was like, Mimi And bigdude used to tell me all the
time.
Your mom loves you so much.
Your mom is just sick.
They could always differentiatethe attic from their daughter.
And they, um, god blessed andwere able to do that for my son.
(11:56):
and then got him into counselingthat whole time.
So he was with a great, uh, agreat therapist for great
rapport with, um, uh, Dr.
Kevin.
And, uh, so that made a hugeimpact.
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah.
Very blessed in that aspect.
Yep.
Wow.
both (12:11):
Yep.
And he's 20 now.
He's 20,
Ginger (12:13):
yes.
And he's, so from that
both (12:14):
point, did you kind of share custody with Robbie or,
yeah, so we've
Ginger (12:17):
always, So talk about mending a relationship.
So I mean, like I told you, theugliness was horrible between
Robbie and I for, uh, stay awayorder.
We didn't speak for like almosttwo years.
We couldn't go around each otherand stuff.
And then, god, uh, throughJackson, you know, God started
really heal, healing us.
Um.
Uh, our relationship and weco-parent.
Great.
(12:37):
Uh, like I said, he introducedme to Jeff, so he actually, when
we got clean, he got Jeff thejob at Pratt Whitney.
So they work together at Prattand Whitney.
Wow.
Um, I still give Robbie haircutsall the time.
He cuts our grass.
He, he has a riding lawnmowerand he loves to cut grass.
He, he's like, you want me tocut your grass?
I'll come over.
Yeah.
So he comes over and cuts grass.
We all watch, uh, footballtogether.
(12:58):
Like, if I cook a big dinner,I'll tell Robbie, come over and,
you know, eat with us.
And, um, this Sunday actuallywe're going to Atlanta.
Me, Jeff, Jackson and his dadRobbie, are all going, um, to a
Chavelle concert.
My son loves Chavelle, he lovesrock music.
So we're all four gonna, uh, youknow, go together.
And that's a huge blessing, notjust for Robbie and I, but
especially for Jackson.
Wow.
You know?
(13:18):
Yeah.
So God is that, I mean, no waywe could have tried to do any of
this on our own.
We tried, you know, but it isnothing but God.
nothing but God.
both (13:29):
It really is a miraculous transformation,
Ginger (13:31):
miraculous transformation in so many areas
of, of, of my life.
Yeah.
both (13:35):
Wow.
Yeah.
So when does your storyintersect with Safe House
Ministries?
Ginger (13:41):
So I actually met, um, Neil Richardson, the, I think it
was either the second or thelast time I was in jail.
my parents had called, ofcourse, they're worried about me
and I'm in there, you know, um,for stealing from them and
stuff.
And so I guess they had reachedout to, to the chaplain and, uh,
were worried about me.
So he, here comes this guy, youknow, and I've, I'm coming off
(14:03):
of drugs and I'm not wanting tohear anything anybody's gotta
say.
And you, you step it throughthese one metal door and you're
in like this little small podand the other door.
So he steps in.
I'm like not looking around.
And he is like, well, yourparents are real worried about
you.
And I'm like, oh, yeah, yeah.
You know, that kind of thing.
And um, so he's trying to talkto me and I'm, I'm not paying
him any attention and lookingaround and, and then he starts
sharing about, he was like,well, you know, when I was on
(14:25):
cocaine all those years, and Iwas like, huh, I'm sorry, what'd
you say?
Wait, this, that you're thechaplain.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm like, okay.
So now, you know, but instantly,and that's what, like peer
support is like lived experiencenow, you know, you're not just
some guy that's studied it outof a book trying to tell me
about, you know, this, thisdude's lived it, you know, he
knows like, uh, we can speak thesame language here.
(14:45):
So I was very receptive and youknow, he gave me a Bible and we,
we talked for a while and stuff.
So, after I got clean in, uh,2019, of course I had many more
years of using after that.
But that was, um, our firstintroduction.
I wanna say it was like 2015 iswhen I met Chap in the jail.
and then, when I got, In 2019, Iactually got hired on, John Haw
(15:06):
got me a job at, in 2020 with,connections through New
Horizons, to be a, a, arecovery, coach.
And I was so excited about that'cause I was like, you know, I
can use my lived experience.
And I was just on fire for that.
And um, and then, uh, COVID hitand the pandemic hit and shut
everything down.
So they kept pushing back my,my, my hire date, kept pushing
(15:27):
it back.
And then finally I was like,look, I have to get a job.
Like we need money.
So, um, a girlfriend of mine,Cameron was working at Safe
House Ministries and was like,Hey, we've got a position open
for case management.
and I was like, I'm on it, youknow?
And she was like, chap, shesaid, I brought your name up to
Chap.
And Chap was like, yeah, I know.
Yeah, that's great.
Send her on.
So interviewed and got the joband I started as case manager
(15:49):
for the men's shelter, which atthat time was the Grace House.
And um, I just absolutely lovedit, you know?
it was such a blessing to.
To do that and had a, had agreat rapport, uh, rapport and,
and then just kind of movedaround, you know, here and
there.
things like the schedule anddifferent things like that just
weren't really working out.
And uh, you know, I was feelingoverwhelmed trying to catch up
(16:09):
with notes and it still run myhousehold and dogs and kid and,
you know, all that.
So Neil, um, you know, I'mcrying'cause I'm like, I don't
wanna leave Safe House, youknow, and he's like, calm down,
you know, he is.
He's like, settle down, let'sjust pray about it and we'll,
we'll talk tomorrow.
You know?
So, uh, he said, I might havesomething else for you.
So he, uh, called the next dayand, and um, you know, had the,
(16:31):
what is it called?
housing, like housing manager orwhatever.
Yeah.
Connections manager.
I'm sorry, I just wanna totallyblank.
Um, or I could work in the labwith.
McCoy.
Phil (16:39):
Yeah.
Ginger (16:39):
Doing drug tests and I was like, I'd rather, you know,
'cause of course I have a hugerapport with the, you know, with
the clients and I was like, Iwanna be, you know, with them
where I can better serve them.
So I did that.
Yeah.
And I loved it.
both (16:50):
So that's when you became like the mm-hmm.
The supervisor for theconnections team?
Ginger (16:53):
Yeah.
Yeah.
both (16:54):
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Ginger (16:55):
I, I loved it.
Um,
both (16:57):
and what were you overseeing at that point?
Ginger (16:59):
I was, um, kind of overseeing just the day to day
coming in of the, when theywould come in, making sure they
were getting scanned correctly.
Um, the shower program, youknow, uh, checking things out.
I, I, I did a lot with theclothing closet, um, with Ms.
Peggy the most.
Uh, uh, a amazing volunteerthat's ever been.
Yeah, she's great.
Um.
And, uh, so that, and then, um,drew and I at the time were
(17:22):
doing, um, like housing andstuff, and then I would also do
some stuff with Trinity House.
And, you know, it was a lot, youknow, you know, there was high
activity at the Yeah.
At the Safe house.
But I, you know, I loved it, butat that time I had not been on
my, A DHD medicine.
And I think looking back when Istarted studying for my CPS
exam, I, you know, I told mymom, I'm like, I'm gonna need
(17:43):
to, to get back on my medicine.
And, and, uh, you know, I'vetold Jamie Lee, I was like, you
know, it would've been, I, Iwould've been able to better
handle.
I think things, if I had beenback on my medicine, but it was
still just the most amazing, um,experience.
And uh, you know, I just, I'm, Ijust wholeheartedly love the
safe house and how many livesthey change.
(18:04):
And, um, just that, like, likeNeil has always said, it's the,
the last door that's alwaysopen.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
They don't, yeah.
That's what I love.
You don't have to look a certainway.
You don't have to be a certainway.
You don't have to.
Not be on mental health meds,you know, or, or that kind of
thing to get in.
Yeah.
It's just, you just have to beready and, and willing and, and
(18:27):
come on, and we're gonna love onyou and we're gonna, shine the
light of the Lord and, and, andconnect you with resources and
really change your life.
I, i love it.
That's
both (18:35):
awesome.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You're not currently an employeeanymore of Safe House, but you
are on the board, right?
Yes.
Ginger (18:42):
That was a huge blessing, um, because I was,
that was really hard for me.
I mean, I cried for weeks afterI left the Safe, safe House
because, I just, you know, thatmany years spending with, in
relation with, with the clientsand stuff like that, and,
Jackson always tells me when wego downtown, he was like, you're
just famous with all the, thehomeless people.
You know, they're like, missGinger, you know, I'm running,
you know, hugs and stuff, buthonestly, the Lord put a calling
(19:04):
on my life to the, uh, to thehomeless when I was like 19.
I worked at 12th Street, uh,deli and Catering.
Phil (19:10):
Yeah.
Ginger (19:10):
And at that time back then there was, uh, you never
came downtown.
There was no, it's not like itis now or uptown.
And that was the first time I'dever seen someone homeless and
they were like, digging in thedumpster.
Well, that was not okay with me.
You know, it just, so, uh, mymom laughs, um, over the, the
period of the next four months.
It was during the winter, so Iwould go in and take pans of
(19:30):
food and like, uh, right in thebox, God loves you.
Um, you know, don't give up.
Things like that.
And I would leave hot food outthere and, um.
And then I would go home andtake all my mom's blankets.
She was like, where are all myblankets going?
And, and, and to this day, stilljackets too.
Jeff has certain jackets he'llhide from me'cause I like, keep
them in my car and I'll justpull over and, you know, it's
just a great way to say hey.
(19:51):
Like, you're, you're, you'rethought about, you're cared
about, you're loved.
God loves you.
I love you.
You know, um, people need tohear that.
And people need, uh, my dadlaughed, but hugs will change
the world.
You know, there's so, so manypeople that don't get any human
contact.
A lot of elderly people that areshut in, homeless people are
looked over.
Yeah.
Um, and that you need humantouch.
(20:11):
You need to know that you'recared about.
So I, I'll be quick to give you,you know, whatever's going on.
I'm gonna give you a hug, giveyou a jacket, tell you you're
loved, you know, so, um, yeah.
both (20:20):
Wow.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
well, we're glad you're on theboard now for Safe House.
Me too.
Ginger (20:25):
That's an ama That was an amazing honor.
Yeah.
I, I'm grateful for Jamie Leefor, for suggest suggesting
that.
both (20:31):
You have just an amazing story.
Like, um, I appreciate yousharing just all the years and
what you went through and whereyou are now.
Phil (20:42):
Yep.
both (20:42):
think about all that you've been through and if you
would just pull out a few keylessons that you could share
that others would really benefitfrom hearing and just receiving.
Ginger (20:56):
Okay.
Um, and definitely the first onewould be get out of your own
way.
that was a big one for me.
Um, I would, you can be your ownworst enemy, um, and you can
really block what God has foryou in your life, um, by trying
to do things your way, um, onyour time, um, things like that.
So once I really, surrendered.
(21:17):
Like truly surrendered.
Like I could say, you know,foxhole prayers and, oh, if you
just get me outta this, or I,you know, this, that, the other,
um, but truly surrendered, like,I am nothing without you.
I cannot do this.
I cannot make it.
Um, I, you know, I just, I needyou and, and, you know, asking
for forgiveness for all my sinsand giving that, all that guilt
(21:40):
and shame over, um, to him, um,that was super freeing.
You know, and, another lessonthat I shared earlier is, is
it's painful.
but own your own mess there.
There's power in that.
There's power in taking some ofthe stigma, you know, away or
the shame, for the things youyou've done.
You don't have to keep beatingyourself up about it.
(22:01):
But it's like when, you know,uh.
S secrets aren't good, you know,and sometimes I know for myself
we can be, we can lie.
The lies we tell ourselves arebeyond what we'd tell anybody
else.
You know?
Um, so just really getting realwith yourself and, and owning,
owning the mess.
Like, okay, this is because ofthis, you know, nobody, it's not
(22:21):
because of my childhood, this,that, or the other.
This happened to me.
I'm, I'm driving this ship hereand, and I've made some poor
choices and I own that and Iwant forgiveness and I wanna
change.
And then you're getting thesolution, you know?
Phil (22:35):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Ginger (22:36):
So those are probably the biggest things.
But, um, also, I, I don't wanna,leave without saying where I
work now.
Yeah,
Phil (22:42):
yeah,
Ginger (22:43):
yeah.
So I, I ended up getting mycertified peer specialist, so
I'm a CPS, uh, mh for mentalhealth.
I'll soon be getting my, uh,also for addiction.
Um, my cares, um, gonna be doingthat, so I'm really excited
about that.
But I work for Georgia MentalHealth Consumer Network.
Um, we're based out of, uh,we're in the home office is in
Tucker, um, up by Atlanta.
(23:03):
And, um, we have, respitecenters and all types of
services all over the state ofGeorgia.
And peer support, respitecenters, um, all kinds of stuff.
Yeah.
We, we just do a whole lot andit's been such a blessing.
I just celebrated a year thatI've been with them.
Phil (23:19):
Wow.
Ginger (23:20):
Yeah.
And, uh, I, I just, I love it.
I get to use my lived experienceand, and, uh, shine the hope of
recovery, mental health,recovery and addiction, uh,
substance abuse recovery.
Yeah.
Um, they so often go hand inhand.
Yes, they do.
They do.
Absolutely.
And so I have peers that I seeat West Central Regional
Hospital here in Columbus, andthen I have some peers that are
(23:41):
in the community.
Which is a huge blessing.
So the goal is we start workingwith peers while they're in the
hospital.
And once someone gets out of thehospital, then they're just kind
of on their own.
They go to maybe a group home isusually the next step.
And then, you know, from there,but as peer, uh, peer
specialists, we're able tofollow them into the community
so we can make thoseconnections, we can help with
(24:03):
resources.
We keep, you know, kind ofwhatever goals they wanna work
on.
Um, so that's really specialabout peer support.
Yeah, and I get as much fromthem as they do from me, so I
just, I love it.
That's awesome.
Phil (24:14):
Yeah.
both (24:14):
Yeah.
That's really awesome, man.
anything else you want to addhere, uh, before we leave?
Ginger (24:20):
Well, my goodness, I've talked your ears off, so
both (24:23):
it's been so good.
Ginger (24:24):
Oh, good.
Thank you, Phil.
Thank you, Phil.
Glory to God.
Um, it's,
both (24:26):
uh, I've said it many times, but, um, I mean, I may
have some proximity by bias,but, uh, but I think this is one
of the, my favorite just storiesto have heard and just.
Thank you.
Wow.
What a great testimony mean.
It really is
Ginger (24:40):
in all areas of my life and it's just, God is just
amazing to me when I catchmyself, you know, complaining
about, I have so much laundry todo.
Oh, this house is a mess.
I mean, I just stop cold.
I'm like, I get to do laundry.
You know what I mean?
I'm not diving in a goodwill boxand God is so, so, uh, that's a
blessing.
But when I tell people, um, thatI'm grateful for what I went
through, I'm grateful for the,the 20 year addiction because it
(25:04):
made me who I am today.
And it has made me so gratefulfor, I think things the smallest
of things that people take forgranted.
Phil (25:12):
Yeah.
You know,
Ginger (25:13):
Jeff and I even, it sounds weird, but we get excited
about, not excited, but we'rehappy to pay bills.
I know that sounds really weird.
But like, just being like, oh,boom.
You know, put that on autopay.
We got a car payment.
Boom.
You know, that's a blessing.
Like when you, yeah.
Just all those things are areally big deal and, and it, and
it feels good to be a part ofthat and, and a contributing
(25:33):
member of society, like filingtaxes, you know, just all those
things when you've been justrunning in the darkness for 20,
30 years, it's, it's, it's goodto be here.
Yeah.
God is good.
both (25:43):
It really where you were mm-hmm.
Really affects your perspective.
It does.
Uh, and that, that's, that's avaluable thing to, to have.
It is, it is so many people thathave not experienced that
darkness.
Ginger (25:56):
Right.
both (25:57):
There's so unhappy and complaining about their lives.
Right.
That they have no idea.
No idea.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It just reminds me of just someof the missions trips I've
taken.
I would go in, uh, DominicanRepublic and we were just going
through some dirt roads andhighways through the sugarcane
fields, and there was thislittle shack over in the
distance, and I saw.
(26:18):
What probably couldn't have beena little girl that was older
than maybe eight, nine yearsold.
Wow.
And she was, had her littlebrother standing right in front
of her and he was in a bucket.
And he might've been 2, 3, 4years old.
She was just giving'em a bath inthe bucket.
Yeah.
But when you meet the kids andyou meet the people, they're so
happy.
Yes.
They're so joyful.
(26:40):
And just their perspective.
Right.
You know, and then we leave themission field, come back to
America and, and everybody haseverything literally
Ginger (26:47):
Right.
both (26:48):
And they're just Yeah.
Grumpy and complaining.
Mm-hmm.
And just, it's, it's true.
But it's that perspective.
Ginger (26:54):
It really is.
It really is.
And, and that, and, you know,um, another lesson is just kind
of bloom where.
Where you are.
You know, this didn't all happenovernight for Jeff and I, you
know, we, we bought the hou we,we own a home now, but we bought
the house that my mom grew upin.
Like that, just to even hear mesay that.
Like, who, what?
Look at God.
That's just crazy.
(27:15):
but yeah.
So, uh, but it was, it was somehard, hard days, you know?
Um, working hard, just doing thenext right thing.
I still to this day say that Ican't tell you how many times a
day if a situation comes up.
It's like a, a cadence in myhead next Right thing.
Do the next right thing.
'cause that's, that's what gotus through each minute by minute
when we were first getting inrecovery and it worked and it
(27:37):
works today.
Yeah.
You know, so just, um, butwherever you are, you can, you
can make things happen Right.
Where you're at, you know?
Wow.
Yeah.
That's because God is good.
That
both (27:48):
is awesome.
Yeah.
Praise the Lord.
Ginger (27:50):
Yeah.
both (27:50):
any other comments or any other
Ginger (27:51):
No.
You better cut me off, Phil.
Right.
Sit here and gave all day.
Thank you.
both (27:55):
You mind if I close this in?
Word of prayer?
Please
Ginger (27:56):
do.
Thank
both (27:57):
you.
Father, thank you so much forjust your greatness and your
love and your goodness.
Thank you that you're incontrol, Lord, that you love us.
As Romans says, you love us,even you loved us even while we
were your enemies.
Yes.
(28:17):
Even in the midst of the thingsthat we have done that are so
deeply hurtful to your heart,you love us through those things
beyond those things.
Thank you for the miracle you'vedone in, in, uh, in Jeff's life
for the miracle you've done inGinger's life, for just the
amazing things that you havedone in Jackson's life and with
(28:40):
Ginger's parents and so manyothers.
Lord, there's so many.
Connected stories of amazinglives that Ginger has just
touched on all around her andher story is so amazing itself.
I, I pray that you would justuse these podcast episodes and
that you would use Ginger storyto make a profound impact in the
(29:02):
lives of those that would hearit, and that if there's any that
are struggling in darknessthemselves, Lord, whether it's
homelessness, whether it's drugaddiction, or whether it's just.
Maybe even depression of, of anykind.
Lord, use the message of thesepodcasts and this story to, to
reach them, Lord, and to showthem your love.
(29:25):
I pray that you would just dogreat things in Ginger's life
and Jeff's life as they continueforward, that you would just
continue to bless their livesgreater than they could ever
imagine, and use them to be sucha positive influence on the
lives of so many more.
We pray these things in Jesus'name.
Amen.
Ginger (29:43):
Amen.
Phil Shuler (29:45):
We look forward to being with you again next week
as we share another testimonyabout the power and the goodness
of God to change lives throughSafe House Ministries.
if you are someone listening tothis podcast that loves to hear
these stories of the greatthings that God is doing in
changing people's lives for thebetter, and if you would like to
be a part of that work, pleasereach out to us You can reach us
(30:08):
at 2101 Hamilton Road, Columbus,Georgia, 31,904.
You can call us at seven oh sixthree two two.
3 7, 7 3, or you can email us atinfo@safehouse-ministries.com.
Microphone (Samson Q2U Mi (30:23):
Thank you so much for being with us
this week for the renew restoreand rejoice podcast of safe
house ministries, we pray thatGod will bless you this week.
And we look forward to havingyou back with us again next week
for a new episode.
HellO, and welcome to Renew, Restore, Rejoice, the
(00:03):
Safe House Ministries podcast,where we share stories of the
power of God to change livesthrough Safe House Ministries.
Safe House Ministries is basedout of Columbus, Georgia, and we
are a ministry that exists tolove and serve people who have
been affected by addiction,homelessness, and incarceration.
I'm your host, Phil Shuler, theDirector of Development for Safe
House Ministries here inColumbus, Georgia.
(00:24):
Safe House serves over 1, 100people each month as they
transition back into ourcommunity.
Safe House provides an abundanceof services including 213 beds
for homeless individuals andfamilies, case management for
obtaining job skills and longterm employment.
Over 300 hot meals every day,free clothing, and so much more.
One of the most incredibleservices that Safe House
(00:45):
provides is our free 9 12 monthintensive outpatient substance
abuse program, which is statelicensed, CARF accredited, and
has no wait list.
Almost 100 percent ofindividuals staying in our
shelters who follow our threephase program become fully
employed within a few months.
And 68 percent of individualswho stay at least one night with
us End up finding work andmoving into their own home.
(01:07):
Thank you for being with ustoday and listening to our
podcast.
We hope you enjoy this week'sepisode.
Ginger (01:12):
And Jeff ended up getting pulled over.
He was working a landscaping joband he got pulled over at work
for um, like a taillight orsomething.
And he had an old warrant and sothey picked, they picked him up
and he ended up going to jail.
So he calls me again.
I'm still staying at the, at thepeople's house at this time.
I was obviously a lot to dealwith when I was high.
I'm already very hyper, so, um,a little bit of dope.
(01:36):
I was up for days, I mean, justone line and I'm up two, three
days and when everybody elsecould just go, go to bed.
And so the sleep deprivationhitting, um, I'm hallucinating,
I'm spastic, I'm, you know, Iwas a lot to deal with.
Um, and so people didn't reallywant me around.
They just did because of Jeff.
'cause Jeff's always just evenan addiction.
He's just, just Jeff, he's justgreat.
(01:58):
Yeah.
Everybody loves Jeff House.
Um, and uh, so he got picked upand called me and was like, this
is it.
You know, um, he's like, I gotlocked up and you know, I got
probation violation or whatever.
I don't know how long I'm gonnabe in, so I'm calling his
probation officer.
'cause I'm scared to death nowbecause I'm so codependent on
him, like to protect me.
(02:18):
It was just, uh, me and himagainst the world.
And I knew that where we'restaying, it was because of him.
And, I was scared to death.
So you know, I'm calling hisprobation officer.
I'm like, please let him outbefore you know Chris, you know,
blah, blah, blah.
And Wow.
Yeah.
So, um, and then after about aweek,'cause he, I mean he's
solid, been using meth foralmost 30 years, like a needle.
(02:38):
He quit.
He, he, he gave the needle up,about a year before we quit
getting high, which is, which ishuge'cause from what I
understand and what I've seenpeople actually get hooked on
the needle, if that makes sense.
Yeah.
I never really got that, but I,I, I, I've seen it with my own
eyes.
So he just got, he kind of gotjust sick of shooting dope.
So he finally quit that afterthat many years.
(02:58):
And, but then he called me, Iguess it had been two weeks, and
he called me and said.
This is it because this is thefirst time he had had some
clarity and kind of dried outand rested and slept and been
eating.
And he said, this is what we'vebeen praying for.
He was like, I'm done.
We're done.
Phil (03:13):
Wow.
Ginger (03:13):
Yeah.
So it was the biggest blessingof our lives that he got
arrested.
So.
Phil (03:18):
Wow.
Ginger (03:18):
And here I have two little, uh, trash bags of my
little worldly possessions thatI've been stealing clothes outta
the goodwill boxes, you know,and everybody, I'm in room fulls
of people that don't want methere.
Everybody's getting high.
And I had one girlfriend, I loveyou, Kim Clegg, who wasn't, uh,
wasn't getting high, and, um,she was
both (03:37):
just there, but she wasn't getting high.
She, no, she was
Ginger (03:39):
just a friend.
We've been friends for so manyyears.
Um, we used to party and stufftogether, but it never got her
like me.
And she left that stuff alone along time ago.
It was never like a thing forher.
but her, uh, she lived with hermom.
granny who's older, and, uh,granny was like, you know, they
were on a super tight budget,bare, barely getting by.
And of course I can't staythere, but I show up'cause I was
like, this, I have to kick dopeon the outside.
(04:00):
He's inside, like, this is ourchance.
So I just show up and I'm like,I have nowhere to go.
Like, can I stay here?
And, and she was like, she kindalooked around and she was like,
just so every night I would layon the floor on the other side
of her room.
So her mom didn't know that Iwas there.
Yeah.
And I literally kicked, kickeddope at, uh,
both (04:17):
so you were out of the house during day out outta the
houses, out of the drug house inthe evening.
Yeah.
So we would just
Ginger (04:21):
kind of h it was okay to hang out during the day.
Me and her would just, uh, wejust hung out.
But at nighttime I wasn'tsupposed to be like staying
there.
But, um, yeah, Kim Clegg is ahuge part of my testimony and
story.
So from
both (04:32):
that point you had stopped getting high anymore.
Yeah.
Then, and you were trying tojust get clean on the outside
then?
I was just trying
Ginger (04:36):
to get clean when Jeff said, I was like, this is our
chance, you know, uh, we have todo this together or, um, or not.
And, and this is kind of whatwe've been praying for.
And then to hear him.
Being the lead in that.
It's like what I've been prayingfor.
You know what I mean?
You know, man to lead, you know?
and, you know, I would go downand see him and stuff like that.
And, and then, uh, he got out.
So he got, I think he did twomonths, little over two months
(04:56):
in jail.
Um, we both had a little mentalclarity called his mom.
He got sentenced to the, uh, DRCprogram, which I had been in as
well.
and he called his mom.
He said, look, we, I'm nevergonna make it.
If I go back to where I was, youknow, I, I want this, I want
this program.
And, um, you know, I have, Ihave a curfew, I have all these
things I have to do meetings,church, blah, blah, blah.
So, um, and he said, ginger hasnowhere to go.
(05:19):
So his mom, uh, on a tightbudget, my mother-in-law now,
um, let us stay there.
And she said, you can do thismeetings, blah, blah, blah.
So we lived, we did two tothree, uh, NA meetings a day.
So
both (05:32):
you, did you, were you in a, a formal program yourself?
No.
Or you were just going to Themeetings was time.
I was just going
Ginger (05:37):
to the meetings.
I was just.
Doing.
Yeah.
We just completely, you did itwith him?
With him.
We, we, we let every person go.
And there was a, Jeff had areally good friend, our, our
friend that let us stay there,Brian, and they're, they're
still friends today, but, youknow, and he's doing really
good.
But there was just activity, youknow what I mean?
At the house and when you're,when you're, that you just disa
disassociated from all of that.
You have to just, I mean, we,we, we deleted probably 300
(05:59):
people off our Facebook and justa whole new way of life.
We, we, we wanna know how you'renot getting high every day.
I want what you have.
And, and then in the meetings,um, we were wanting to find our
own church home, you know,something just little younger
for us somewhere.
Yeah.
And, uh, we, we were askingsomebody at a NA meeting and
they were like, you've neverheard of the fort church?
(06:20):
And I was like, no, I've neverlived here.
My whole life.
Never heard.
So, um, we, we said, well, we'llgo visit that first.
And we had a list of fourdifferent churches and we
weren't there 20 minutes.
And Jeff was like, we're we'rehome.
Yeah.
So we ended up getting bap uh,baptized together on Easter of,
2019.
Yep.
Wow.
Yeah, we've been ever sincewe're, we're super involved in
(06:40):
the church.
That's just been a, our networkis amazing.
We wouldn't be here, uh, todaywithout, that is awesome.
The support and yeah.
God has orchestrated, uh, anamazing, friend, friend and,
friendships and support andaccountability.
Phil (06:55):
Yeah.
You know,
Ginger (06:55):
I, because we, you need some people in your life that
are telling you, Hey, that's,that's, that's, you're, you're,
you're getting crazy over there.
You're looking, you know,getting outta line over there.
That's not, um, so they helped
both (07:04):
you when you were at risk of going back Yes.
To the darkness, yes.
Those new friends helped youkind of stay the course.
Ginger (07:10):
Absolutely.
Um, and then I was we found anapartment on our own.
Um, and of course, Jeff and Iare both felons, so you had to
have like twice the, twice therent, twice the, all this stuff.
But the biggest thing, oh wow.
We saved up.
But the biggest thing is that noone would give us a chance.
Because of you have to do abackground check.
So we, I getting, getting upset'cause I, my whole goal was I'm
getting my son back, I'm gettingmy son back, you know?
(07:32):
Yeah.
Um, um, from, from his dad wherewe would share custody, but he,
you know, I want him in myhouse.
So, um, we were riding through,my mom and dad were taking me,
uh, to look at apartments andwe, uh, had, had just been
turned down for three, we rodethrough Spring Creek Village,
which is off Veterans Parkway,right over there by North Side.
And there was a girl that was,um, like a younger girl, um,
(07:55):
right.
She was around my age, maybeabout five or six years younger.
And she was cleaning outapartment and just in a truck
and was in and out of thisapartment.
So for some reason, I mean, itwas like the Lord just
highlighted to her and I justyelled at my mom.
I was like, stop the car.
Stop the car.
Mom was like, what?
I said, I'm gonna go talk toher.
So I just got out and I justtook a breath and I said, look,
I said, I'm a, I'm a good mom.
(08:15):
I'm in recovery and I need achance to get my son back.
My, my boyfriend and I are bothfelons.
No one will give us a chance,and we desperately need this.
Like, you know, I'm crying andstuff.
And she just stopped and washanging on my every word and, I
said, do you have to do abackground check here?
And she said, yes.
And I said, we have, you know,the, the double deposit, we have
the rent.
(08:35):
And I was like, you have myword.
We will never be one day late onthe rent.
We just need someone to give usa shot.
And, um, and I said, you have tohave a background check here.
And she said, yes.
And I mean, I just tears comingdown my eyes and I looked down
and then she said, um, well, youknow, my aunt, it manages the,
uh, the property.
And she said, um, lucky for you.
(08:57):
She's at the beach untilTuesday.
She said, be in, be in theoffice first thing in the
morning.
And she said, I'll run itthrough.
I mean, I leapt on her, likejumped in her arms.
Yeah.
I was like, oh my God, thankyou.
So, um, yeah, it was justamazing.
And so Jeff and I moved in.
I got, I was able to getJackson's, um, we had everything
we own was given to us byfriends and family.
(09:17):
We still have a lot of thatstuff.
It's very special to me.
Um, and I fussed and fussed overgetting Jackson's room ready and
all his superhero stuff.
And, um, you know, I've beenjust praying for this day for,
for so many year, for almostseven years at that time.
And, uh, and he, I, so I calledhis dad.
I was like, it's ready.
(09:37):
Can you, can you bring him?
Of course, you know, he hadlost, lost belief in me and I,
all the empty promises, I'mgonna get you back and all that.
And he was for a long time,obviously very angry at me and
he was just kind ofself-preservation.
He was just not allowing himselfto just believe it anymore.
He is like, you always say that,and he was real cold to me and
stuff, which was really hard,but rightly so.
(09:58):
and his dad came and dropped himoff and he kinda, I just, I, I
mean, mental image of him justwalking in and he's kind of
looking around'cause it was anice apartment.
and he's looking around and thenI had his door shut and I had
like, a little superhero,superhero stuff.
and I had some like Marvel signon his door.
And, um, he, he opens thebedroom door, he like pauses for
a minute.
I was like, that's your room.
(10:18):
And he, um, opens the door andhe's like, I can just see his
little head.
He's looking around like this.
And then he just, he stops andhe turns around and he said, you
did, sorry.
I knew I was gonna cry.
He said, uh, you did real goodmom.
It, everything looks great.
And he just like, dove on thebed with a big smile and
giggled.
(10:39):
And I didn't want him because hewas very, um, cringey all the
time.
You know, he is in junior high.
Uh, I mean, uh, just startingat, at Northside, I'm sorry.
that's why we picked thatapartment because I wanted him
to go to Northside.
He was starting high school.
Phil (10:50):
Yeah.
Ginger (10:50):
And so I said, thanks buddy.
And so I didn't want him to seeme.
'cause he is like, you're soemotional.
So I went in the bathroom andlike put my hands over my mouth
and like crumpled in a heap andlike, God.
And I just were just, I mean, Iwas just praising him.
I had both hands in the air andI'm like, thank you Lord.
Thank you Lord.
You know?
just, it's just unbelievable.
(11:11):
And j he has, the Lord hashealed the rela the hurts and
mine and Jackson's relationship.
Like every now and again, I'lltry to bring up stuff.
He was like, mom, that's, that'snot who you are.
That's so, you know, that's soover with.
I love you.
He is like, I don't, you know,uh, it's, he was like, um, and
God bless my parents.
It goes back to my parentsagain.
That has so much to do with thembecause Jackson even told me, he
(11:33):
said, you know, the whole timeyou and dad were in addiction
and I was with Mimi and bigdude, he said, uh, I always knew
how loved I was.
I knew that you and dad loved meso much.
And he was like, Mimi And bigdude used to tell me all the
time.
Your mom loves you so much.
Your mom is just sick.
They could always differentiatethe attic from their daughter.
And they, um, god blessed andwere able to do that for my son.
(11:56):
and then got him into counselingthat whole time.
So he was with a great, uh, agreat therapist for great
rapport with, um, uh, Dr.
Kevin.
And, uh, so that made a hugeimpact.
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah.
Very blessed in that aspect.
Yep.
Wow.
both (12:11):
Yep.
And he's 20 now.
He's 20,
Ginger (12:13):
yes.
And he's, so from that
both (12:14):
point, did you kind of share custody with Robbie or,
yeah, so we've
Ginger (12:17):
always, So talk about mending a relationship.
So I mean, like I told you, theugliness was horrible between
Robbie and I for, uh, stay awayorder.
We didn't speak for like almosttwo years.
We couldn't go around each otherand stuff.
And then, god, uh, throughJackson, you know, God started
really heal, healing us.
Um.
Uh, our relationship and weco-parent.
Great.
(12:37):
Uh, like I said, he introducedme to Jeff, so he actually, when
we got clean, he got Jeff thejob at Pratt Whitney.
So they work together at Prattand Whitney.
Wow.
Um, I still give Robbie haircutsall the time.
He cuts our grass.
He, he has a riding lawnmowerand he loves to cut grass.
He, he's like, you want me tocut your grass?
I'll come over.
Yeah.
So he comes over and cuts grass.
We all watch, uh, footballtogether.
(12:58):
Like, if I cook a big dinner,I'll tell Robbie, come over and,
you know, eat with us.
And, um, this Sunday actuallywe're going to Atlanta.
Me, Jeff, Jackson and his dadRobbie, are all going, um, to a
Chavelle concert.
My son loves Chavelle, he lovesrock music.
So we're all four gonna, uh, youknow, go together.
And that's a huge blessing, notjust for Robbie and I, but
especially for Jackson.
Wow.
You know?
(13:18):
Yeah.
So God is that, I mean, no waywe could have tried to do any of
this on our own.
We tried, you know, but it isnothing but God.
nothing but God.
both (13:29):
It really is a miraculous transformation,
Ginger (13:31):
miraculous transformation in so many areas
of, of, of my life.
Yeah.
both (13:35):
Wow.
Yeah.
So when does your storyintersect with Safe House
Ministries?
Ginger (13:41):
So I actually met, um, Neil Richardson, the, I think it
was either the second or thelast time I was in jail.
my parents had called, ofcourse, they're worried about me
and I'm in there, you know, um,for stealing from them and
stuff.
And so I guess they had reachedout to, to the chaplain and, uh,
were worried about me.
So he, here comes this guy, youknow, and I've, I'm coming off
(14:03):
of drugs and I'm not wanting tohear anything anybody's gotta
say.
And you, you step it throughthese one metal door and you're
in like this little small podand the other door.
So he steps in.
I'm like not looking around.
And he is like, well, yourparents are real worried about
you.
And I'm like, oh, yeah, yeah.
You know, that kind of thing.
And um, so he's trying to talkto me and I'm, I'm not paying
him any attention and lookingaround and, and then he starts
sharing about, he was like,well, you know, when I was on
(14:25):
cocaine all those years, and Iwas like, huh, I'm sorry, what'd
you say?
Wait, this, that you're thechaplain.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm like, okay.
So now, you know, but instantly,and that's what, like peer
support is like lived experiencenow, you know, you're not just
some guy that's studied it outof a book trying to tell me
about, you know, this, thisdude's lived it, you know, he
knows like, uh, we can speak thesame language here.
(14:45):
So I was very receptive and youknow, he gave me a Bible and we,
we talked for a while and stuff.
So, after I got clean in, uh,2019, of course I had many more
years of using after that.
But that was, um, our firstintroduction.
I wanna say it was like 2015 iswhen I met Chap in the jail.
and then, when I got, In 2019, Iactually got hired on, John Haw
(15:06):
got me a job at, in 2020 with,connections through New
Horizons, to be a, a, arecovery, coach.
And I was so excited about that'cause I was like, you know, I
can use my lived experience.
And I was just on fire for that.
And um, and then, uh, COVID hitand the pandemic hit and shut
everything down.
So they kept pushing back my,my, my hire date, kept pushing
(15:27):
it back.
And then finally I was like,look, I have to get a job.
Like we need money.
So, um, a girlfriend of mine,Cameron was working at Safe
House Ministries and was like,Hey, we've got a position open
for case management.
and I was like, I'm on it, youknow?
And she was like, chap, shesaid, I brought your name up to
Chap.
And Chap was like, yeah, I know.
Yeah, that's great.
Send her on.
So interviewed and got the joband I started as case manager
(15:49):
for the men's shelter, which atthat time was the Grace House.
And um, I just absolutely lovedit, you know?
it was such a blessing to.
To do that and had a, had agreat rapport, uh, rapport and,
and then just kind of movedaround, you know, here and
there.
things like the schedule anddifferent things like that just
weren't really working out.
And uh, you know, I was feelingoverwhelmed trying to catch up
(16:09):
with notes and it still run myhousehold and dogs and kid and,
you know, all that.
So Neil, um, you know, I'mcrying'cause I'm like, I don't
wanna leave Safe House, youknow, and he's like, calm down,
you know, he is.
He's like, settle down, let'sjust pray about it and we'll,
we'll talk tomorrow.
You know?
So, uh, he said, I might havesomething else for you.
So he, uh, called the next dayand, and um, you know, had the,
(16:31):
what is it called?
housing, like housing manager orwhatever.
Yeah.
Connections manager.
I'm sorry, I just wanna totallyblank.
Um, or I could work in the labwith.
McCoy.
Phil (16:39):
Yeah.
Ginger (16:39):
Doing drug tests and I was like, I'd rather, you know,
'cause of course I have a hugerapport with the, you know, with
the clients and I was like, Iwanna be, you know, with them
where I can better serve them.
So I did that.
Yeah.
And I loved it.
both (16:50):
So that's when you became like the mm-hmm.
The supervisor for theconnections team?
Ginger (16:53):
Yeah.
Yeah.
both (16:54):
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Ginger (16:55):
I, I loved it.
Um,
both (16:57):
and what were you overseeing at that point?
Ginger (16:59):
I was, um, kind of overseeing just the day to day
coming in of the, when theywould come in, making sure they
were getting scanned correctly.
Um, the shower program, youknow, uh, checking things out.
I, I, I did a lot with theclothing closet, um, with Ms.
Peggy the most.
Uh, uh, a amazing volunteerthat's ever been.
Yeah, she's great.
Um.
And, uh, so that, and then, um,drew and I at the time were
(17:22):
doing, um, like housing andstuff, and then I would also do
some stuff with Trinity House.
And, you know, it was a lot, youknow, you know, there was high
activity at the Yeah.
At the Safe house.
But I, you know, I loved it, butat that time I had not been on
my, A DHD medicine.
And I think looking back when Istarted studying for my CPS
exam, I, you know, I told mymom, I'm like, I'm gonna need
(17:43):
to, to get back on my medicine.
And, and, uh, you know, I'vetold Jamie Lee, I was like, you
know, it would've been, I, Iwould've been able to better
handle.
I think things, if I had beenback on my medicine, but it was
still just the most amazing, um,experience.
And uh, you know, I just, I'm, Ijust wholeheartedly love the
safe house and how many livesthey change.
(18:04):
And, um, just that, like, likeNeil has always said, it's the,
the last door that's alwaysopen.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
They don't, yeah.
That's what I love.
You don't have to look a certainway.
You don't have to be a certainway.
You don't have to.
Not be on mental health meds,you know, or, or that kind of
thing to get in.
Yeah.
It's just, you just have to beready and, and willing and, and
(18:27):
come on, and we're gonna love onyou and we're gonna, shine the
light of the Lord and, and, andconnect you with resources and
really change your life.
I, i love it.
That's
both (18:35):
awesome.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You're not currently an employeeanymore of Safe House, but you
are on the board, right?
Yes.
Ginger (18:42):
That was a huge blessing, um, because I was,
that was really hard for me.
I mean, I cried for weeks afterI left the Safe, safe House
because, I just, you know, thatmany years spending with, in
relation with, with the clientsand stuff like that, and,
Jackson always tells me when wego downtown, he was like, you're
just famous with all the, thehomeless people.
You know, they're like, missGinger, you know, I'm running,
you know, hugs and stuff, buthonestly, the Lord put a calling
(19:04):
on my life to the, uh, to thehomeless when I was like 19.
I worked at 12th Street, uh,deli and Catering.
Phil (19:10):
Yeah.
Ginger (19:10):
And at that time back then there was, uh, you never
came downtown.
There was no, it's not like itis now or uptown.
And that was the first time I'dever seen someone homeless and
they were like, digging in thedumpster.
Well, that was not okay with me.
You know, it just, so, uh, mymom laughs, um, over the, the
period of the next four months.
It was during the winter, so Iwould go in and take pans of
(19:30):
food and like, uh, right in thebox, God loves you.
Um, you know, don't give up.
Things like that.
And I would leave hot food outthere and, um.
And then I would go home andtake all my mom's blankets.
She was like, where are all myblankets going?
And, and, and to this day, stilljackets too.
Jeff has certain jackets he'llhide from me'cause I like, keep
them in my car and I'll justpull over and, you know, it's
just a great way to say hey.
(19:51):
Like, you're, you're, you'rethought about, you're cared
about, you're loved.
God loves you.
I love you.
You know, um, people need tohear that.
And people need, uh, my dadlaughed, but hugs will change
the world.
You know, there's so, so manypeople that don't get any human
contact.
A lot of elderly people that areshut in, homeless people are
looked over.
Yeah.
Um, and that you need humantouch.
(20:11):
You need to know that you'recared about.
So I, I'll be quick to give you,you know, whatever's going on.
I'm gonna give you a hug, giveyou a jacket, tell you you're
loved, you know, so, um, yeah.
both (20:20):
Wow.
Yeah.
That's awesome.
well, we're glad you're on theboard now for Safe House.
Me too.
Ginger (20:25):
That's an ama That was an amazing honor.
Yeah.
I, I'm grateful for Jamie Leefor, for suggest suggesting
that.
both (20:31):
You have just an amazing story.
Like, um, I appreciate yousharing just all the years and
what you went through and whereyou are now.
Phil (20:42):
Yep.
both (20:42):
think about all that you've been through and if you
would just pull out a few keylessons that you could share
that others would really benefitfrom hearing and just receiving.
Ginger (20:56):
Okay.
Um, and definitely the first onewould be get out of your own
way.
that was a big one for me.
Um, I would, you can be your ownworst enemy, um, and you can
really block what God has foryou in your life, um, by trying
to do things your way, um, onyour time, um, things like that.
So once I really, surrendered.
(21:17):
Like truly surrendered.
Like I could say, you know,foxhole prayers and, oh, if you
just get me outta this, or I,you know, this, that, the other,
um, but truly surrendered, like,I am nothing without you.
I cannot do this.
I cannot make it.
Um, I, you know, I just, I needyou and, and, you know, asking
for forgiveness for all my sinsand giving that, all that guilt
(21:40):
and shame over, um, to him, um,that was super freeing.
You know, and, another lessonthat I shared earlier is, is
it's painful.
but own your own mess there.
There's power in that.
There's power in taking some ofthe stigma, you know, away or
the shame, for the things youyou've done.
You don't have to keep beatingyourself up about it.
(22:01):
But it's like when, you know,uh.
S secrets aren't good, you know,and sometimes I know for myself
we can be, we can lie.
The lies we tell ourselves arebeyond what we'd tell anybody
else.
You know?
Um, so just really getting realwith yourself and, and owning,
owning the mess.
Like, okay, this is because ofthis, you know, nobody, it's not
(22:21):
because of my childhood, this,that, or the other.
This happened to me.
I'm, I'm driving this ship hereand, and I've made some poor
choices and I own that and Iwant forgiveness and I wanna
change.
And then you're getting thesolution, you know?
Phil (22:35):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Ginger (22:36):
So those are probably the biggest things.
But, um, also, I, I don't wanna,leave without saying where I
work now.
Yeah,
Phil (22:42):
yeah,
Ginger (22:43):
yeah.
So I, I ended up getting mycertified peer specialist, so
I'm a CPS, uh, mh for mentalhealth.
I'll soon be getting my, uh,also for addiction.
Um, my cares, um, gonna be doingthat, so I'm really excited
about that.
But I work for Georgia MentalHealth Consumer Network.
Um, we're based out of, uh,we're in the home office is in
Tucker, um, up by Atlanta.
(23:03):
And, um, we have, respitecenters and all types of
services all over the state ofGeorgia.
And peer support, respitecenters, um, all kinds of stuff.
Yeah.
We, we just do a whole lot andit's been such a blessing.
I just celebrated a year thatI've been with them.
Phil (23:19):
Wow.
Ginger (23:20):
Yeah.
And, uh, I, I just, I love it.
I get to use my lived experienceand, and, uh, shine the hope of
recovery, mental health,recovery and addiction, uh,
substance abuse recovery.
Yeah.
Um, they so often go hand inhand.
Yes, they do.
They do.
Absolutely.
And so I have peers that I seeat West Central Regional
Hospital here in Columbus, andthen I have some peers that are
(23:41):
in the community.
Which is a huge blessing.
So the goal is we start workingwith peers while they're in the
hospital.
And once someone gets out of thehospital, then they're just kind
of on their own.
They go to maybe a group home isusually the next step.
And then, you know, from there,but as peer, uh, peer
specialists, we're able tofollow them into the community
so we can make thoseconnections, we can help with
(24:03):
resources.
We keep, you know, kind ofwhatever goals they wanna work
on.
Um, so that's really specialabout peer support.
Yeah, and I get as much fromthem as they do from me, so I
just, I love it.
That's awesome.
Phil (24:14):
Yeah.
both (24:14):
Yeah.
That's really awesome, man.
anything else you want to addhere, uh, before we leave?
Ginger (24:20):
Well, my goodness, I've talked your ears off, so
both (24:23):
it's been so good.
Ginger (24:24):
Oh, good.
Thank you, Phil.
Thank you, Phil.
Glory to God.
Um, it's,
both (24:26):
uh, I've said it many times, but, um, I mean, I may
have some proximity by bias,but, uh, but I think this is one
of the, my favorite just storiesto have heard and just.
Thank you.
Wow.
What a great testimony mean.
It really is
Ginger (24:40):
in all areas of my life and it's just, God is just
amazing to me when I catchmyself, you know, complaining
about, I have so much laundry todo.
Oh, this house is a mess.
I mean, I just stop cold.
I'm like, I get to do laundry.
You know what I mean?
I'm not diving in a goodwill boxand God is so, so, uh, that's a
blessing.
But when I tell people, um, thatI'm grateful for what I went
through, I'm grateful for the,the 20 year addiction because it
(25:04):
made me who I am today.
And it has made me so gratefulfor, I think things the smallest
of things that people take forgranted.
Phil (25:12):
Yeah.
You know,
Ginger (25:13):
Jeff and I even, it sounds weird, but we get excited
about, not excited, but we'rehappy to pay bills.
I know that sounds really weird.
But like, just being like, oh,boom.
You know, put that on autopay.
We got a car payment.
Boom.
You know, that's a blessing.
Like when you, yeah.
Just all those things are areally big deal and, and it, and
it feels good to be a part ofthat and, and a contributing
(25:33):
member of society, like filingtaxes, you know, just all those
things when you've been justrunning in the darkness for 20,
30 years, it's, it's, it's goodto be here.
Yeah.
God is good.
both (25:43):
It really where you were mm-hmm.
Really affects your perspective.
It does.
Uh, and that, that's, that's avaluable thing to, to have.
It is, it is so many people thathave not experienced that
darkness.
Ginger (25:56):
Right.
both (25:57):
There's so unhappy and complaining about their lives.
Right.
That they have no idea.
No idea.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It just reminds me of just someof the missions trips I've
taken.
I would go in, uh, DominicanRepublic and we were just going
through some dirt roads andhighways through the sugarcane
fields, and there was thislittle shack over in the
distance, and I saw.
(26:18):
What probably couldn't have beena little girl that was older
than maybe eight, nine yearsold.
Wow.
And she was, had her littlebrother standing right in front
of her and he was in a bucket.
And he might've been 2, 3, 4years old.
She was just giving'em a bath inthe bucket.
Yeah.
But when you meet the kids andyou meet the people, they're so
happy.
Yes.
They're so joyful.
(26:40):
And just their perspective.
Right.
You know, and then we leave themission field, come back to
America and, and everybody haseverything literally
Ginger (26:47):
Right.
both (26:48):
And they're just Yeah.
Grumpy and complaining.
Mm-hmm.
And just, it's, it's true.
But it's that perspective.
Ginger (26:54):
It really is.
It really is.
And, and that, and, you know,um, another lesson is just kind
of bloom where.
Where you are.
You know, this didn't all happenovernight for Jeff and I, you
know, we, we bought the hou we,we own a home now, but we bought
the house that my mom grew upin.
Like that, just to even hear mesay that.
Like, who, what?
Look at God.
That's just crazy.
(27:15):
but yeah.
So, uh, but it was, it was somehard, hard days, you know?
Um, working hard, just doing thenext right thing.
I still to this day say that Ican't tell you how many times a
day if a situation comes up.
It's like a, a cadence in myhead next Right thing.
Do the next right thing.
'cause that's, that's what gotus through each minute by minute
when we were first getting inrecovery and it worked and it
(27:37):
works today.
Yeah.
You know, so just, um, butwherever you are, you can, you
can make things happen Right.
Where you're at, you know?
Wow.
Yeah.
That's because God is good.
That
both (27:48):
is awesome.
Yeah.
Praise the Lord.
Ginger (27:50):
Yeah.
both (27:50):
any other comments or any other
Ginger (27:51):
No.
You better cut me off, Phil.
Right.
Sit here and gave all day.
Thank you.
both (27:55):
You mind if I close this in?
Word of prayer?
Please
Ginger (27:56):
do.
Thank
both (27:57):
you.
Father, thank you so much forjust your greatness and your
love and your goodness.
Thank you that you're incontrol, Lord, that you love us.
As Romans says, you love us,even you loved us even while we
were your enemies.
Yes.
(28:17):
Even in the midst of the thingsthat we have done that are so
deeply hurtful to your heart,you love us through those things
beyond those things.
Thank you for the miracle you'vedone in, in, uh, in Jeff's life
for the miracle you've done inGinger's life, for just the
amazing things that you havedone in Jackson's life and with
(28:40):
Ginger's parents and so manyothers.
Lord, there's so many.
Connected stories of amazinglives that Ginger has just
touched on all around her andher story is so amazing itself.
I, I pray that you would justuse these podcast episodes and
that you would use Ginger storyto make a profound impact in the
(29:02):
lives of those that would hearit, and that if there's any that
are struggling in darknessthemselves, Lord, whether it's
homelessness, whether it's drugaddiction, or whether it's just.
Maybe even depression of, of anykind.
Lord, use the message of thesepodcasts and this story to, to
reach them, Lord, and to showthem your love.
(29:25):
I pray that you would just dogreat things in Ginger's life
and Jeff's life as they continueforward, that you would just
continue to bless their livesgreater than they could ever
imagine, and use them to be sucha positive influence on the
lives of so many more.
We pray these things in Jesus'name.
Amen.
Ginger (29:43):
Amen.
Phil Shuler (29:45):
We look forward to being with you again next week
as we share another testimonyabout the power and the goodness
of God to change lives throughSafe House Ministries.
if you are someone listening tothis podcast that loves to hear
these stories of the greatthings that God is doing in
changing people's lives for thebetter, and if you would like to
be a part of that work, pleasereach out to us You can reach us
(30:08):
at 2101 Hamilton Road, Columbus,Georgia, 31,904.
You can call us at seven oh sixthree two two.
3 7, 7 3, or you can email us atinfo@safehouse-ministries.com.
Microphone (Samson Q2U Mi (30:23):
Thank you so much for being with us
this week for the renew restoreand rejoice podcast of safe
house ministries, we pray thatGod will bless you this week.
And we look forward to havingyou back with us again next week
for a new episode.
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