Overcoming Addiction and Helping Others Do The Same
WALTER HOVING HOME PRESIDENT
BETH GRECO
Today Beth is the President of Walter Hoving Home, the very place she found healing. Over the years, Beth has been used mightily by God, leading thousands of women to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Her mission in life is to share hope and help women find purpose in their lives.
What was the motivating factor in working for Walter Hoving Home after you faced your addiction there?
A desire to give back and help other women find freedom in the same way that I had experienced.
Overcoming your addiction must have been a challenging road. What encouragement did you find in scripture when circumstances seemed too daunting?
ROMANS 8
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
PSALM 121
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
PHIL 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.a
As humans we all have bad habits that harm us and our loved ones. What is your biggest advice for breaking a cycle, no matter how big or small?
Admit it, ask God to help, replace with good habits, choose to do the next right thing and live in today.
You have a unique leadership role among the women you minster to. What do you find to be the encouraging and challenging aspects of your job?
Most encouraging: seeing the dreams of the women awaken again after years of being dormant or even destroyed. Challenging: Overcoming the addiction mindset especially with the culture of alcohol and drugs we live in; it is difficult to live out a "new identity in Christ" when a lady is bound by shame and guilt.
Do you ever find it hard to separate your work and home life? If so, what have you found to be effective in leaving work with a clear mind?
Very difficult and I try to just be in the present no matter where I am - to give my best in the moment. I remember that there will always be more work but my family needs to be nurtured and loved.
What book is on your bedside table?
Mission Drift.
