Timothy Initiative exists to serve broken men whose lives have fallen apart due to addiction, homelessness, or some other major life challenge. We help men find recovery and new life in Christ through Recovery, Work Therapy, Community, and Discipleship. Here men are given the chance to be the person God has made them to be; the father, husband, son, or brother that their families need.
Our Approach
To truly break the grip of addiction, we at the Timothy Initiative commit ourselves to unconventionally following Jesus in a radical lifestyle of community. Our model centers on Community, Discipleship in Christ, Recovery, and Work Therapy.
DISCIPLESHIP
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Those suffering from brokenness struggle to find healing and hope in light of their shortcomings and encounters with abuse in its various forms. The beginning of the discipleship process centers on our identity as a “new Creation.” Initiative men enter in to authentic and life-altering relationship with Jesus through prayer, studying Scripture, journaling, worship, mentorship, and service. These disciplines are the heart of our approach to discipleship. We practice these things individually, but we focus on them in the context of community.
COMMUNITY
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:4-5)
We believe that lasting recovery only happens within a community. The battle to overcome years of destructive behavior is not fought alone. We live together, eat together, and work together; we celebrate victory and mourn loss together; we fall together, but, together, we rise again; we stand united behind a common goal: to become devoted followers of Jesus. By fostering an environment of accountability and encouragement, our community is a source of life and way to Jesus-not just a roof over someone’s head. Here's what happens:
“Every day they continued to meet together...They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2: 46-47)
RECOVERY
“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)
Our mission centers on seeing restoration in men seeking recovery from addiction, homelessness, depression, and incarceration by providing a comprehensive approach to addressing every need of a man: spiritual, physical, mental, and relational. Recovery is a process of learning new patterns of living – a return to health from sickness. As men work towards restoration, they complete the 12 Spiritual Steps, commit to studying scripture and spiritual books, establish a daily routine, engage in scheduled one-on-one interactions with Timothy Initiative leaders, participate in work therapy, and community activities.
WORK THERAPY
“…let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” (Ephesians 4:28)
God created us to participate in His creation by working and He blesses us with dignity when we answer that calling. Work teaches trust and responsibility. As an extension of our community, it strengthens bonds and helps us break free from the bondage of selfishness; working together reinforces our relationship as one body, striving toward one common goal. Finally, our work develops skills for future employment.