The Chronicles of Loving A Heroin Addict: The Lazarus House

Friday, April 14, 2017

The Lazarus House

Today is Day twelve of the April A-Z Blogging Challenge and the day for the letter L. Today I have another special post about The Lazarus House. I recently spoke with Kevin Bowman who is the Director of The Newness of Life Lazarus House which opened here in Martinsburg, WV on April 1, 2017.

The Lazarus house is a men's only sober living house for men in Martinsburg struggling with addiction. Men who are tired of living that life and want to make a change.

This program here in Martinsburg and Kevin's presence is bringing HOPE to our community and reminds us that people do recover from this addiction. They recover and they go on to live and be successful people in our community.

This program, Kevin and Justin Ponton's program Newness of Life here is an answer to a lot of
prayers here in our community. Kevin and The Lazarus House will provide countless resources to better assist the transitioning for men from all walks of life and help restore families. Their mission is to not only provide countless resources to better assist transitioning for men from all walks of life and provide a safe, comfortable, and clean environment to work towards a better way of life; but most importantly they provide a solution. Their belief is that there needs to be a complete transformation, not behavioral modification. The change occurs when the heart is awakened to the belief of a better way of life.

I am very honored today to share the opening of Lazarus House with you and to Kevin Bowman who has allowed me to share his recovery story with my readers today.

My name is Kevin Bowman and I’m 32 years old. My life has taken many twists and turns over the years. If I had to pick just one thing that God has taught me in my life it would be this, Every life has high points and low ones…mountains and valleys. Mountains are for great views, you can stand on the high points and look out on all that God has done in your life, but nothing grows on mountain peaks.

Valleys are hard to traverse, filled with struggles and dangers because that’s where everything grows. Without the valleys that God has led me through I would not be able to appreciate the view from the mountain-top.

At five years old I was adopted by Tom and Loraine Bowman. These two people would instill in me the morals and values that I have today, but most importantly they gave me my first glimpse of a loving God.

I started getting high when I was fifteen. I was overweight and trying everything I could to fit in with my peers. This would be the beginning of the hardest valley I have yet traversed.

I overdosed at sixteen, was incarcerated at seventeen, kicked out of the army at 21, incarcerated at 21, incarcerated at 23, incarcerated at 25…26…and finally at 28. I spent the interim of my stays in the penal system homeless and addicted. I robbed, lied, and manipulated anyone who let me close enough to use them for my own means.

At 28 I was at my absolute lowest point. I was mixing Xanax and alcohol, homeless, and suicidal. I
claimed to not believe in God but I was praying daily for God to allow me to die. On March 4th, 2012 I broke into a house. I was so high that I don’t remember hardly anything from that night but one thing stands out specifically.

On the refrigerator, there was a to-do-list and in the middle of that list circled it said grow closer to God. I was arrested the next day and the police drove by the house I had broken into. I saw the residents on the porch and the woman was bawling her eyes out. For the first time that I could remember I felt guilty…I saw the destruction that my actions had caused this family and I felt absolutely horrible.

I spent 31 months locked up my last time and on September 26th, 2014 I walked out of the front gates of Huttonsville Correctional Center. This time was different. I came to Huntington, WV to Newness Of Life and that’s where I met Justin W. Ponton. That man saved my life, more than that though because he taught me that my past was only a hindrance if I let it be.

I was broken. My entire adult life I spent running from God but when I couldn’t run anymore I found him right there to lift me up. I cried out to God laying on a cell floor wrecked by DTs…He
answered my prayer and removed the desire to use from me. Looking back I can see His loving guidance since that day…the people placed in my path and the doors that have been opened…the only reasonable answer is a loving God.

Many thanks to Kevin for allowing me to post his story and for sharing his special project here today. Another amazing story of recovery and proof that people do recover from substance abuse.

Unfortunately , The Lazarus House is still in need of some minor repairs and some renovation projects. If you are interested in donating a few hours of time, materials and your skills let him know. There is also an application to the city for a special exemptions for the house with a $400 filing fee.

Lazarus House could also use some donations of goods. He tells me they are in need of basic home furnishings such as couches, chairs, tables, microwave, coffee maker, curtains, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, towels, washcloths; basic household supplies.

If you would be interested in helping with these items please feel free to message me. We will also be needing metal frame bunk beds and bed bug resistant mattresses (twin size) with sheets blankets and pillows. If you would like to help with these please contact me for information. And of course please please please keep us in your prayers.

If you would like to make a donation to the Newness of Life Lazarus House or would like to donate some of your time and talents to a great cause please contact Kevin.

To anyone struggling with this addiction and ready to make a change in your life today, please reach out to Kevin today.

Please reach out today by visiting and friending him on his Facebook page Newness of Life The Lazarus House.

You may also wish to contact him by calling him at (304) 412-0668 or by email @

kbowman.newnessoflife@gmail.com

Please visit their webpage at www.newness-of-life.org/

So, what do you think about this story? About the Lazarus House? Leave a comment.
I hope that you return tomorrow to read another post about an amazing person and
organization making a difference here in Martinsburg with a post about Martinsburg Renew.
You guys are amazing!

Post Credits
Story given by Kevin Bowman
pics in post belong to Kevin Bowman, Newness of Life and Lazarus House
video from youtube
Letter pic Blogging A-Z

© 2017 Gossip Girl

No comments:

What Are Our Issues In Berkeley County/Martinsburg WV? We have no clear solutions!!!!

Besides this heroin epidemic?
We really have no clear solutions to the problem or so it seems on this side of the addiction...

1- The high numbers of Overdose and Preventable Death Our numbers of OD's and OD causing death continue to rise.
Drug use and the disorders that go along with it are still going untreated.

Our town officials and the local media need to stop using the catch phrase, "Dispelling Rumors" when referring to this heroin epidemic here! What rumors? There is no place for the word rumors in the discussion about this heroin epidemic. The numbers we have is data and statistics!!!!

2-We have No Drug Treatment Here We need treatment on demand. When someone is suffering a heart attack or a stroke they go to the hospital. That person will get triaged in the ER, tests are run, they will go to the ICU for further medical care. They are under constant medical supervision 24/7 and will get the best of all medical care. When someone is suffering from heroin addiction and they go to the hospital they get Narcan, often laughed at and put down, called a junkie and later released back to the streets where the cycle of drug abuse continues. When a person is suffering from a heroin addiction they shouldn't have to say they are suicidal and going to kill themselves to get access to a treatment facility. It should be available to them when they need it!

Something is clearly wrong with that!

3-We continue Criminalizing Those Who Are Addicted
We have a judicial system in this country that continues handcuffs instead of help! The intent is that the spiraling addict will "get it together" without any treatment induces harm, it cost money, causes recidivism and is no way solving the real problem.

4-We have No Harm Reduction- No Needle Exchange

5-No Community Awareness but plenty of NIMBY: Not In My Backyard
Mentality

6. Drugged Driving: Drug Driving Is Becoming A Huge Problem in all of WV. The numbers are only increasing. Driving while intoxicated (Alcohol) used to be the biggest problem on the roadways. Now you don't know who may be on the roads under the influence of powerful drugs like heroin.

7. Not only does the "Heroin Highway" go through this town but, Martinsburg's (WV) new nickname is Little Baltimore

8. This epidemic affects everyone. We need more Awareness here. Community Awareness, Youth Awareness and Parent Awareness. We must make people face the reality that the prejudice and injustice in literally killing people and that is data proven!

9. STOP The Stigma relating to heroin abuse. If we had Community Awareness we wouldn't have the stigma here.

10. We need to end the discriminatory practice and policies that often discriminate people with substance abuse problems and those who abuse with a criminal record excluding them from finding suitable jobs, their rights and opportunities. Many of these policies even those who have recovered.

11. We need a Strategic Public Health Awareness Campaign here.

12. More Awareness Is Needed to the problem which involves everyone on the same page, at the same table and in the same room to come up with solutions.

13. We need more youth awareness in our community.

14. More Parental Awareness Needed

15. We need to STOP the silence about this heroin epidemic here. We need to SPEAK the truth about heroin and this epidemic and we need to START the conversation!

It Will Take The Entire Village

If you are not part of the solution, then you are the problem.

In the beginning of all of this- the heroin, the epidemic- many years ago they said cigarettes was non addictive. Then in the late 80's came OxyContin. We were told that too was non addictive. Now weed is being marketed as, non addictive. Haven't we learned yet that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results? When will we ever learn?

Some Positive Initiatives Happening in our Community..

The Recovery Resource Center opened. It's located at 400 W. Stephen St in Martinsburg. Kevin Knowles is the Recovery Services Coordinator.

The #wvdayofhope

On Dec. 6, 2016 Martinsburg City Zoning Approved the Detox Center which will be located on Wilson St. in Martinsburg.

Important Upcoming Events

Mark You Calendars:

If your group has an event coming up, please let me know!

Update on Narcan Classes:

Classes will not be held every Friday now. They will now be held the first Friday of the month (starting May 6th) at the Martinsburg health department at 3:00. Whoever wants to attend needs to call the health department and sign up.

The third Friday of the month (starting May 20th) there will be on at 6:00 at Callahan Counseling Services 1020 Winchester Ave. There is no need to sign up for this one.

Callahan Counseling is located at 1020 Winchester Ave in Martinsburg, WV. This class starts at 6 PM. Visit Narcan Training of the Eastern Panhandle for more information

If interested in taking the Narcan Classes please sign up. Lately there has not been a lot of attendance. If this continues it is likely the local classes will stop.

Every Sunday Evening Nar-Anon meeting @ 6PM The group meets at Trinity UM Church on Martin St. in Martinsburg

Find a NA or Recovery Meeting Here in Martinsburg