MERIDIAN -- Seventeen men and women walked across the stage at Ten Mile Christian Church on Friday, and into a life free from addiction.
They were recognized for completing the Boise Rescue Mission Ministries' New Life Program. The Mission has offered the New Life Program since 1996, giving people across the Treasure Valley the tools they need to beat their addictions and go on to live full lives.
"I had absolutely no faith in myself. I didn't believe I deserved any happiness, I didn't believe that I could amount to anything positive. I didn't think I deserved to learn how to be a good mom," the 2018 New Life graduation speaker, Jocelyn Woods, told KTVB. "I was raised in a pretty dysfunctional family, I watched my dad be a drug addict for most of my life. I was abused as a child. And so just what I knew became my norm and [I] became a drug addict."
Woods went to the Boise Rescue Mission in 2016, and joined the recovery program in March 2017.
"It was really hard because of the fact that I thought I could do it on my own," Woods added. "It took putting my daughter in some situations that I normally wouldn't. Also, avoiding family who was my biggest support at that time and not wanting to be around my family."
Today, she says thanks to the ministry and her peers - who she now calls her sisters - Jocelyn says she knows she and her daughter deserve happiness.
"I've learned who I am as a person," Woods said. "It's so important because without the Boise Rescue Mission who knows where I would be right now; more than likely I would not have my daughter and I probably would not be alive."
These past 12 to 24 months were an incredible challenge for those enrolled in the residential recovery program as they worked to end their addictions through discipleship, accountability, and a Bible-based curriculum.
"It's a very intensive program; in fact, probably 25-30 percent of people who start the program drop out because it's very intensive and you really have to work hard to get through it. And for some people that means one year and for others it means 18 months or it could even be two years," Boise Rescue Mission President & CEO Rev. Bill Roscoe said.
"But you have an academic part of the program where you're working on your GED or continuing education, of course drug and alcohol recovery curriculum, Bible studies because we're a Christian program, job skills, life skills, computer skills, all of those things are wrapped up in it."
Roscoe says however long it takes someone to complete the program, the mission and its staff are by their side.
"What happens is they go on and have life. And the good news is 85 percent of men and ladies who graduate from this program are still clean and sober a year after and many years after," Roscoe said. "I'm sure the faith component to our program has a lot to do with that because most people in our programs will make a connection with God in a serious way and they'll become a part of a faith community here in the valley."
Rev. Roscoe says the need is strong and growing, as so many search for freedom.
The New Life Program is completely free for participants and paid for by our generous community. Learn more about the program and the Boise Rescue Mission here.