Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC
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Page 2 - Rutherford Weekly 828-248-1408 www.rutherfordweekly.com Thursday, December 28-January 3, 2024 Outdoor Truths................................9 Classified Ads.........................22-23 Rutherford County Weather...........17 Fast Way Oil Kids Corner...............14 Community Calendar......................6 Business & Services Directory........7 Obituaries................................18-20 Local Churches.............................15 I n s i d e T h i s W e e k I n s i d e T h i s W e e k "I've come too far. I'll never go back." Katie Phipps graduates from Hope Network Katie Phipps is a new graduate of Hope Network and of all the things in her 42 years of living, this just might be one of her greatest accomplishments and proudest moments. Hope Network is a program to help women transition from addiction to sobriety. It isn't easy getting off drugs, but after 13 years on meth, Katie is sober, has a job, a car and a new apartment. She is living a better life. Katie is one of many Hope Network success stories. "It was 2008 when someone I thought of as a friend offered me meth. I lost myself, my home, my family, my children, multiple jobs and was incarcerated several times during those years. But God, He is a God of second chances and He is restoring what was lost in the battle." Katie is sharing her story hoping other women who are addicted to drugs can fi nd help their way to Hope Network that teaches the 12- step life recovery and through the SALT curriculum which is Bible based in seven areas of life training. She completed every requirement necessary to graduate in November, following the rules of the 12-step recovery program, believing in herself and seeking God. Katie tells women that from the moment they come into Hope Network, they will be accepted. "You are surrounded with kind, loving people who most of them have been through the same things you have and have experienced addiction, loss, tragedy and trauma on some level and are all working towards a better life and are hungry for Jesus," she said. "For years, many of us thought no one cared or no one loved us," she said. "We had lost ourselves and believed the lies of the enemy, that we didn't deserve better, that we would never change. . .That we would never be able to get back what was lost. But that's not true," Katie said. Upon joining Hope Network she immediately became part of a family and for the fi rst time in a long time, or maybe ever, she felt like she belonged. "We have help with job searching, budgeting and counseling," she said. Katie, as well as others in the program, attend the Element Church. Hope Network was started by Element Church, but is now a separate nonprofi t organization. "Hope Network offers help and hope to the hopeless. They support you, they encourage you and I'm blessed to have had the opportunity and am forever grateful to Ashley Nichols and Hope Network for giving me a chance. And it's amazing to see the lives of ladies transformed as they seek God and work towards a better life for themselves," Katie said. Today Katie has moved into her own apartment after signing a lease last month, has a job and she bought a car. Just a few weeks after joining Hope Network, she got a job at Everest Textiles in Forest City and has been there ever since. She celebrated her one year anniversary with the manufacturing plant on Dec. 18. The mother of three children, her Christmas wish was to spend time with them and her family. She has been away from them since being in the Hope Network and eventually she believes she'll have them back in her life soon. She does see the children from time to time. Daughter Rhiannon, 8, was a dancer in the Dream Weavers "The Nutcracker" and Katie was in the audience with her older daughter. "It blesses my heart to see her up on that stage," she said. Katie tried to get off meth many times, but discovered she couldn't. "I tried to quit many times but I couldn't do it alone," she said. "It's all about God," she said. She learned she couldn't do this alone. For the fi rst six months in the program, Katie lived with 12 other women in transition at one of the Hope Network properties. When she entered the next phase, she moved into another property where she became more independent and helped with bills. Katie said she'll never go back to addiction. "I've come too far," she said "Give your life to Jesus. He'll help you. There are people at Hope Network who will help you. Reach out to them," she said. She spent Christmas with her children, went to Christmas Eve church services and is now spending time with family. I am living a better life," she said. Crystal's Story Addicted to drugs half of her life, Crystal is on a better path For nearly half of her young life, Crystal Sams has been addicted to drugs. The 29-year-old mother of three young children is working toward sobriety through Hope Network. Spending 30 days at Out of Ashes and then joining Hope Network, she vows she will never do drugs again. Her goals for 2024, and she believes they will happen, are to complete her high school education, be reunited with her children, further her education past high school and get on her feet again. "It will be different," she said. Once Crystal is clean for one year, she plans to advance to Peer Support where she will be able to work with women who "have been where I have been," she said. She also plans to continue with the Hope Network classes and curriculum. A few weeks ago Crystal said she gave her life to Jesus and was baptized at Element Church. "I am hoping to become a member as I continue my road to recovery," she continued. Crystal has not been able to obtain employment, yet, but she is trying. "I am not the person they think I am," she said of her attempts to get work. "I have a bad background that is causing me not to get a job," she said. "But I can work. I can do anything." "I was raised right. I was raised in church. I knew right from wrong," she said. 'I had a good childhood, but I started to use drugs to cope when I was about 15. I did not complete high school," she said. She was 15 years old when her parents divorced and pretty much left her alone to care for her little brother. Pregnant four times in her life, one baby didn't survive, Crystal said she never used drugs when she was pregnant. Her grandparents were her support system. Crystal was incarcerated at the Rutherford County Detention Facility when one day she was listening to music and heard Micah Tyler sing, "Different" and she said the Lord spoke to her through the song. "I repented. I threw my hands up and I said out loud, 'I am done with this,'." After her latest incarceration at the jail, she went to Hope Network where she lives with 13 other women who are enrolled in the program. "I had lost myself and now I'm trying to fi nd myself again." "Hope Network is the best place I've ever lived," she said. Crystal is still in Phase 1 of the program and in Phase 2, she hopes to move out to a home where she can be more independent, as Katie and others in the second phase. She is grateful for Element Church. "They are very helpful and it's all about recovery. They help all of us in addiction. They accept you as you are," she said. While in the Rutherford County jail, Kris Landry, director of Abounding Grace Ministries, was also a strong supporter and advocate for Crystal. "She had my back. She has come to me and never given up on me," Crystal said. "Now Ashley (Nichols) is doing that. They have my back." Her young children are with her grandparents. As she continues to recover, she'll be able to see them and her grandparents. Article Provided By: Jean Gordon. Photos Contributed. Women finding sobriety and a future through Hope and Recovery Katie Phipps with her daughters Rhiannon, 8, a dancer in the Nutcracker at the Foundation Performing Arts Guild, presented by DreamWeavers, and Zoe, 16. Katie Phipps. Crystal Sams. Crystal Sams with her best friend, Elise Toney, also in recovery, in front of Element Church. MAYSE MFG. CO., INC. www.maysemfg.com www.maysemfg.com ©Community First Media Community First Media Forest City 828-247-1871 2410 US 221S; Hwy 74 bypass to exit 178 (Hwy 221), south 1 mi on right. Corner of Hwy 221 & Shiloh Rd. M-F 8am-5pm • Sat 8am-12pm Storage Buildings, Gazebos, Carports, Garden Flags, Man Cave Decor, Concrete Statuary, Concrete Steps, & Poly Outdoor Furniture! We are a We are a Big Green Egg Distributor Big Green Egg Distributor. . 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