Experience is a good teacher, but it's what you do with it that determines whether it can teach others. One man's experience with drugs and alcohol in Kentucky has been used by God to shine a light in the darkness of addiction to hundreds of people in Alabama.
Drive down 18th street in Bessemer and you happen upon a city with in a city- a place where the rubber meets the road of life for people struggling with addiction. It's called the Foundry Rescue and Recovery Mission.
“People who come here learn there really is hope for the hopeless," says Pastor Bill Heintz.
This is a typical Thursday night worship service- up front is Pastor Bill Heintz, the executive director of The Foundry doing the most important part of his job- showing others a way out of addiction. The message he shares comes from his own experience.
"30 years ago I was a drug addict and I think my previous life before being saved took me down a path that now I can relate with a lot of other people and try to help them."
Pastor Bill and his wife Michelle came to Bessemer 13 years ago to run the Bessemer Rescue Mission at the time it was a couple of buildings with a handful of people:
"God had these big plans, we went from a little $200,000 a year ministry that's grown to over $5 million now. We''ve got about 15 to 20 vehicles, about 20 buildings..."
But it's the more than 250 people they minister to in those buildings where Pastor Bill sees evidence of God's work.
Like this Super Thrift store where salvaged items are restored and presented a new just like the lives of those who come to The Foundry.
"The only way The Foundry has become the size that it is, is because there's a God in heaven who sees a lot of distressed hurting people where families are being destroyed dreams are being shattered."
What these people are experiencing at The Foundry will be life changing for many of them perhaps like Pastor Bill it's something they too will use to help lift others out of addiction.
"I've been on both sides of the fence now and there is no comparison between what you used to do when you're getting high on drugs and what you can experience getting high on The Lord"
It's a high filled with hope, promise and a future.
"The whole reason for The Foundry for the growth and the success is not because of Bill it's because of him."
