Substance Abuse and Addictions

An Amazing Journey from Death to Life (Richard Williams – 5/24/19 – NCS New Canaan)

May 24, 2019 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

With great humility and vulnerability, Richard Williams shares his amazing journey “from selfishness to servanthood . . . from death to life”. After talking about growing up in a loving home of 13 children with a mother who cared for everyone and a father who learned to read at 54, Williams explains how the desire to “succeed” and “fit in” as a college graduate in a professional career led him to years of drug addiction that eventually destroyed his “successful life” and even his relationships with his family.

He then tells us about the amazing journey back to “life” that began when he arrived at Pivot Ministries in Bridgeport, CT. Richard transparently shares his 12-year transformation from a new Pivot student whose life was “all about me” to the Executive Director of the ministry–a position that is “all about the well-being of others”.

God Gave Me A New Heart (In More Ways Than One) (Gerardo Lambert – 3/8/19 – NCS New Canaan)

March 8, 2019 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

With remarkable humility, Gerardo Lambert shares for the first time publicly “the truth”–the incredible FULL story of how God pulled him out of darkness and gave him a second chance.

Gerardo vulnerably talks about his first marriage (with three daughters) and becoming lost in the world of fashion modeling–endless parties, drugs and alcohol in order to “fit in”. He talks about the pleas from his mother to seek God and his repeated dismissals of her pleas. He then takes us through the decision to run away from that life and transition to becoming a fitness trainer and amateur bodybuilder, all while ( unbeknownst to him) his heart was deteriorating and growing to the size of a football.

Gerardo shares the excruciating journey from a fit and healthy fashion model, trainer and amateur bodybuilder in his 20’s to suddenly: being unable to lift weights; having a defibrillator implanted; being upgraded to a pacemaker; suffering multiple heart attacks and life-saving shocks from the devices; flat-lining; being put into an induced coma for 3 months waiting for a new heart (in which he lost 1/2 his body weight as well as most muscle function); getting a new heart accompanied by a miraculous encounter with God; and, finally, being inspired to develop a fitness routine he calls “BodyShock”. It is the encounter with God that Gerardo has kept to himself for a decade for fear it would be met with ridicule and disbelief. Gerardo finally shares what he refers to as “the truth”.

A God of Second Chances (Rev. Albert Ray Dancy – 10/19/18 – NCS New Canaan)

October 19, 2018 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

Rev. Albert Ray Dancy shares with tremendous vulnerability a life story that proves beyond any doubt that we worship a God of second chances. Dancy tells how he went from a prisoner serving time for armed robbery to a prison chaplain. He transparently notes that while his role had changed, his heart had not been transformed. For the heart change to occur, Dancy had to experience a “dark night of the soul” in which he lost everything–including his home, marriage and children. He explains how he felt like a “beast”. Although he was back in prison, God sent hope through a prophetic word and then miraculously restored him to his marriage (which had been dissolved for seven years), his children and his home.

Finding Freedom (Don Nava – 6/15/18 – NCS New Canaan)

June 15, 2018 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

Coach Nava shares the supernatural journey that took him from being a fitness coach to becoming a Kingdom coach. Don explores Biblical truth about evil and describes the extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit that lives within those who have committed their lives to Jesus. He also explains the debilitating impact of childhood wounds and how we can find freedom from those wounds.

Freedom through Friendship (Jack Deere – 3/3/07 – NCS National Retreat 2007)

November 17, 2017 by NCS New Canaan Leave a Comment

This is a memorable talk given by Jack Deere at the 2007 NCS National Retreat, held March 3-5, 2007 at Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA. In this talk, Jack introduces what some have affectionately referred to as the “tree of shame”. After explaining the various ways we get on the tree, Jack shares the only way off.

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