I have shared a short version of my testimony here before, but as a recap for those who did not read that blog, I was radically set free from a 15 year drug addiction in 2008. A couple of weeks into my clean time, I applied to go to Restor8ion House in Arizona. This program had been started the year before by Patricia King, where they would take in one girl at a time from troubled backgrounds and just love her to life. I was accepted in March of 2009 and then moved from Texas to Arizona. After completing my 9 month program, I went straight to work for XP Ministries and have lived here in Arizona for the past 8 years. The years I have spent here have been nothing less than miraculous! God has truly blessed me in every way.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…” – Ephesians 3:20 KJV

As amazing as my time here in Arizona has been, I always knew I would eventually move back home to be closer to my daughters and other family members who live there. I have prayed into it for years and waited on God’s timing. My husband and I both felt at the end of 2016 that it was time to start knocking on some doors and see what God would open for us. Then in January, he got a call and was able to get a job transfer to a small town in Texas. I was so excited to finally hear this news! I have so wanted to live close to my grown up daughters and my little granddaughter as we are raising our twin babies we now have!

As we started to do some research on the town we are moving to, we were horrified to find that it has one of the highest crime rates in the United States! It is also a prison town. Then as we started searching for a place to live, there was little to nothing in the way of quality housing! Literally everything available to us was in bad neighborhoods, and just really worn down.

As fear started to creep in, I could hear the Lord say clearly, “This is the door I have opened for your family. Will I not protect you? Will you trust me?” And of course, my answer was “Yes Lord! I will trust you! I know you have a plan for us there!”

God then began to speak to me about the mission He has for me there. Yes, the crime rate is high and the town is drug infested, but I have been called to help set the captives free in this area after being delivered from drug addiction myself. “Walk it Out”, the book I wrote on freedom from addiction has went into prisons all over the country, and this is also a prison town. The Lord told me not only does he want my book going into this prison, but he wants me to go in and minister personally to these prisoners. I also received a vision of starting some kind of halfway house to help prisoners transition back into society and learn to live a Christ centered life just as I did in Restor8ion House 8 years ago!

Also, as I thought of all of the many people who give up their everyday comforts to go minister in third world countries, sometimes barely having a tent to sleep in, how could I balk at having to live in a house that is “not quite as nice at the one we are moving from”? It’s really nothing compared to what so many others have sacrificed, and especially to what Jesus sacrificed for all of us!

I am super excited about this new mission and next phase of life. Though I have ministered to many through my book over these past few years, I have also been very sheltered and protected, but the Lord showed me a vision of a butterfly coming out of its cocoon. He said this is the stage you are in right now. It is time to spread your wings and fly!

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” – Matthew 10:8 NIV

Thank you Lord for all you have done for me, for all of the many blessings you have poured out upon me. Lead me in this next season and help me to shine your light for others to see so they too may experience the freedom only You can give.

Written by: Ginger Brown