Recovering addict now a youth pastor and singer

When Anthony Hattingh realised that he could not carry on the way he did, he knew he needed to make a change. Today he is a recovering addict turned Youth Pastor and singer.

On Saturday, 6 March, Anthony performed at the Wings of Inspiration Elderly Care Centre’s first anniversary celebrations, as he was also a resident of the Wings of Inspiration Sober House.

Anthony, now 33, and his friends first started experimenting but quickly were caught up in a vicious cycle of drug and alcohol addiction that would become his life for 14 years.

“At the time I thought it would only be a phase, but before I knew it, I was totally addicted.” He explained that he used almost everything imaginable, but steered clear of heroin, adding that his biggest addiction was alcohol.

Drugs and alcohol soon started to become my escape from what was going on in my life.”

He said he was very unhappy and did not feel good enough or worthy of anything. He felt as if he was dead. He could see the sun on his skin but couldn’t feel its warmth; he could see the wind blowing but couldn’t feel the breeze.

“At that point I had lost everything – my family, my job and the roof over my head.”

Anthony even spent nine months in prison for drug-related charges. Not long after his release he was back on the streets and started using and drinking again, staring death in the face.

After deciding to turn his life around he was in and out of multiple rehabilitation centres before ending up at the Wings of Inspiration Sober House.

“Anthea and Kirsten who are the founders of Wings of Inspiration gave me a chance to get back onto my feet and to slowly be integrated into a ‘normal life’ where we learned to cope and work on our recovery.”

Being in a safe environment like a rehabilitation centre, and trying to cope and live a sober life are two different things because real recovery only starts after rehab, which is, according to Anthony, the difficult part.

At Wings you were taught how to live the sober life, the right way, but recovery is a journey. The principles of living a sober life that they taught me and where I find myself now help me on this journey every day.”

He believes he was created with a purpose and being a drug addict and a destructive alcoholic was not it. He has made the decision to never bow down before drugs or alcohol ever again. He could not carry on like that because living a life that is destructive to his family and friends was completely missing what the Kingdom of God is about.

“I couldn’t deal with the disappointment of knowing I was throwing away the life I was blessed with.”

He has been sober and clean from drugs for three years and one month, and is currently a youth pastor at Alberto Methodist Church. Last year in November he launched his first album called Promised Land.

I love teaching the youth and sharing my testimony through music.”

He added he has been blessed with a good voice, and will use his talents so everyone will know that there is hope and life after addiction.