#101 - Through The Gate (Pastor Steve Covington and Dr. Shaw)

Pastor Steve Covington of Through the Gate Women's Residential Program joins Dr. Mark E. Shaw on The Addiction Connection's first Podcast of the year. Steve is a Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselor with The Addiction Connection. 3:20 How did Through the Gate begin their women's program? 6:23 How did Mark Shaw and Steve meet? 8:50 - 14:30 How are the church and the residential program interconnected? 15:00 Who does Through the Gate serve? Does Through the Gate serve women out of prison, or women who are headed to prison, or on probation? What about the homeless? 17:20 What curriculum does Through the Gate use for the women in the residential program? How much does it cost? How long is the program? 20:10 - 23:20  How do you serve women who are co-dependent? How do you serve women with shame? What kind of teaching do the women receive? 25:30 "This is intense discipleship for 8 months. There's no distraction from a job.. that's kinda the approach we've done and we've stuck with." - Pastor Steve Covington 27:50 "I remember early on, one of my goals was that one day "Through the Gate" would be run by graduates of Through the Gate... from my Development Director to the House Manager, to the office manager, to the staff we have in the cleaning business that we run (that supplies income to our program) – it's all run by now graduates of our program. I love that. It's not required to be here but it's just beautiful to see women who Christ has changed their heart... now discipling the next group that comes through!" 28:45 Where are some of the other graduates now? 29:20 Steve talks about his wife Janet's role. 32:40 Steve talks about why you should be involved with The Addiction Connection. 34:40 "That's why TAC (The Addiction Connection) exists -- is to mobilize the church... The reason I came up with like the "Next Steps: Be TRANSFORMED" curriculum was to give churches a curriculum that they could use for addictions that would be consistent with the message that they preach on Sunday morning... you know, consistent with the Gospel and the Word of God." -Dr. Shaw 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (ESV) Are you looking for other recommended programs with a genuinely biblical approach to helping those who struggle with addictions? Visit TAC's website here. https://www.theaddictionconnection.org/residential-programs/