by Dr. George Kalaras
“For the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed.” – Joshua 24:17
I think about all the effort that someone who is in bondage to drugs and alcohol might make to get their hands on the substance. I think about the words they use to manipulate others into helping them or to giving them money for drugs. The hours spent scheming for the next “fix.” The places they have travelled on foot, by bike, or by car to get that fix. Logistics were never ever an obstacle for any of them in getting their next fix. How wonderful would it be if they took all that energy and time that they fed into something negative and they turned it around and used it for a bigger and better tomorrow? Not only for themselves, but for all those who come after them who are also willing to allow God to free them from the bondage of drugs and alcohol. I know this is a possibility because it happened to me. When I say “they” I mean “us,” because I was once included in this population. I was addicted to cocaine and alcohol for 19 years and my appetite for them was insatiable.
I believe wholeheartedly that if you allow Christ to empty you of all the hurts and pains of your past, you will have the potential to lead others to places you could never have imagined. Leadership begins with personal transformation, therefore, one must experience spiritual awareness that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. The basis for understanding leadership is the written Word of God. The most important factor in today’s leadership is the learning that takes place within the relationships between the leader and their followers. Jesus chose the twelve first to be “with Him.” In John 10:14 Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me.” It is only when leaders surrender to the Holy Spirit that they become teachable, because it is only He who penetrates the heart and makes people humble. He causes leaders to rely wholly on the mercy of God in Christ so that they do not feel threatened if their views are challenged. The man who knows himself through Christ understands his worth, and therefore has nothing to lose when his ego is bruised. The Holy Spirit enhances the exciting experience of growth when pride is put aside.
My wife Angela and I humbly accepted the Directors positions for Transformation Life Center (TLC) to oversee both the men’s and women’s discipleship programs in New York. We truly believe God has been moving and pruning in His perfect timing so that TLC has the best impact for those struggling with addictions. So these men and women can have a place to go for healing and restoration and then a solid aftercare to help them transition back into life with complete freedom to fully recover from life controlling issues.
My experience has been that men and women who struggle with drugs and alcohol are gifted in many ways, but because of their addiction they do not have the ability to utilize those gifts, let alone believe in themselves enough to do so. Once leaders are empowered from a Christ-centered perspective, the sky is the limit to where they can take themselves and their followers.
We hope that you can join us in celebrating the abundant new opportunity Angela and I have with TLC. It is all for God’s glory and we know without a doubt that TLC is His ministry that He will use to show others who He is and who they are in him.
Thank you so much for your continued faithfulness to TLC. There is so much in store for its future.