Church helps women overcome addiction
The Victory Outreach Church in Boksburg North, under the leadership of Pastor Danny Carrera, recently opened a new women’s recovery home in Reiger Park.
On the day of the launch, Pick n Pay Hypermarket donated fruit, vegetables, cake flour, canned food and washing powder to the home, which is situated at 1126 William Street.
The home provides a residential Christian environment for the women with a purpose to reclaim, redeem and restore lives that have been destroyed or disrupted by drugs, alcohol and other substance abuse.
The Victory Outreach recovery home is a registered NGO.
In February last year the outreach opened a men’s recovery home, also in Reiger Park, where about 25 men from around Ekurhuleni were taken in for the 12-month drug-free rehab programme.
Addict
Victory Outreach Church has many branches around the country with their main church based in the United States of America.
Danny and his wife Ilene hail from Los Angeles. Danny said: “For our ministry to have these recovery homes it’s very pleasing and very dear to my heart because I know what it feels like to be an addict.
“I also went through what they went through so it’s easier for me to show them the way because I was once there.”
The recovery home is a free service which is supported by donations from the public.
Danny highlighted that some of the 25 men who started the programme in February last year are set to graduate.
“Some of these men find their calling during their rehabilitation period. We always wanted to open a recovery home for women but didn’t have premises until a member of our church offered us her home to use as a recovery centre.
“There are eight women on the programme, two staff members and a director at this home,” he said.
Changing lives
Ilene said it’s always nice to see that their recovery home is changing many lives that were bound by drugs.
“We establish three essential values in their lives – a commitment to Christ, family restoration and a positive work ethic,” she said.
Liezel Roberts, who was also a recovering addict based at the Cape Town recovery home, said these women will get help and will change to what she was.
Roberts, who is one of the staff members in the home said the recovery home taught her how to pray and preach,
Graduate Previn Ellis, who lives at the men’s recovery home, said his life has changed for the better after being in the men’s recovery home.
“I am no longer an addict, I love the Lord with all of my heart now and I am serving in His house,” he said.
To assist the two recovery homes in any way or find out more about Victory Outreach, contact Danny on 082 329 4952 or visit www.vocapetown.org
