Threshold House: A community of hope
Addiction recovery program for men opens
Threshold House in Saint John, N.B., has opened its doors, offering a one-year residence for men in addiction recovery who have experienced the hope of Jesus. The goal – to equip them to share that transformational hope with others who are struggling.
The idea came to Reed Fleming several years ago after having briefly considered retirement. An evangelist with Threshold Ministries (www. ThresholdMinistries.ca) since 1980, Fleming has spent decades helping people with addictions pursue recovery, faith and fresh starts.
The first resident of Threshold House moved into the newly refurbished space, once the headquarters of Threshold Ministries, last December. After two years of construction to convert classrooms into bedrooms, install showers, rework the plumbing and lay a new roof, Fleming’s vision has come to life. There is room for four men to live in the residence, with hopes that down the line the ministry can purchase another house and provide the same opportunity for women.
Working with Christian addiction recovery programs like Teen Challenge and Village for Hope, Fleming says some people graduate from these programs after having found salvation and health, but wind up back in perilous family situations or dangerous neighbourhoods where rent is cheap and drugs are rampant.
In comparison, Threshold House offers a “year of the Lord’s favour” where residents receive safe and secure accommodation while they build a network of community supports through a weekly men’s Bible study group, connecting with a local church and fellowshipping together over food.
A night pastor also resides in the home for further support. “Where people have found help spiritually and physically, we want them to get their feet under them financially,” explains Fleming. “This gives them security of living and locks them into a new life of community where they can become evangelists of hope,” Fleming explains.
As residents complete their year at Threshold House, he is optimistic they’ll become active mentors for new residents moving in. Threshold House is run entirely on donations and invites Canadians to pray alongside them for this ministry of addiction recovery.
“Where people have found help spiritually and physically, we want them to get their feet under them financially.”