October 7, 2024
GARFIELD, Ga. — The New Beginnings in Christ residential recovery home in Garfield offers a 4-month or longer Christian recovery program for men suffering from alcohol and chemical dependency. Founded by Donald and JoAnna Atkinson, the 501(c)3 non-profit accepts voluntary participants and those under court mandate at no cost to the individuals. The ministry developed as the result of Donald’s own 27-year struggle with alcoholism.
“Donald struggled with alcohol addiction from his teenage years. He was truly a wonderful husband and father. He never had a bad side. He just could not seem to quit drinking and stay quit. He got drunk, and I went crazy. That is how we lived,” JoAnna said.
At the age of 39, Donald finally decided it was time. He went to a treatment center for 27 days and came home with, as JoAnna put it, “a made-up mind that drinking was not an option.” For the next 10 years, Donald attended AA meetings, going to 4-5 meetings weekly. The stay in the treatment center cost the Atkinsons $30,000, which many cannot afford. This knowledge led Donald to begin picking up others who wanted to attend AA and take them with him to meetings. There were occasions during that time when he would also find a place for them to stay on the Atkinsons’ farm.
“Then, he started housing them in our backyard and then a double-wide. Campers were eventually donated to us for more living space in our backyard. Donald stuck men in every crack he could find,” JoAnna recalls.
She now sees this as God preparing them for the journey He was going to take them on.
“Donald and I had no idea we were running a rehab. We just thought we were helping guys get sober and find a relationship with Christ. We didn’t have funding for this, so we borrowed money from the bank to feed and house the men,” she said.
After two years of footing the bills, JoAnna finally had a conversation with God that changed the course of things.
“I told Him if He wanted us to keep doing this, we would, but He needed to fund it. And, from that day to this, God has funded it! God has used countless men and women to sow into this ministry. When He delivers you from sin, He expects you to reach back and help the person behind you achieve the same victory,” she said. “We never planned anything. Our motto has always been “Do the next right thing, and do it better.”
NBIC was approved as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2007. Since that time the Atkinsons have expanded and grown the ministry. They purchased a house that sits on the corner of the NBIC property for housing the men and constructed a new church because they had outgrown the old one. Then the ARK was constructed for more housing and a social building was built so families could visit with program participants after church on Sundays.
Also added was a workshop where the men learn woodworking skills. Finally, a double-wide was donated for graduates of the program. Graduates who go out into the community and find jobs may elect to stay in graduate housing and pay rent.
“We did this because we were having repeat offenders. That’s because often they go back to what they came from and relapse,” said JoAnna.
Another option for graduates who want “more” is to continue the program for a longer period. They may stay in the graduate house rent-free but must perform duties for NBIC.
NBIC only accepts applicants who are 25 years of age and older. They must participate in a personal interview and pass a drug screen before acceptance. Those accepted into the program are required to follow a strict set of rules which includes attending church, daily devotion, and regular AA meetings. All participants are required to participate in 40 hours of training weekly, learning job skills and establishing good work ethics. No one with serious medical or mental conditions is accepted.
The women’s 9-month ministry is a recent addition at NBIC and is overseen by the Atkinsons’ daughter, Anna Cowart, and Wendy Durden. The ministry is awaiting approval as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The women are housed away from the NBIC campus but participate in activities of NBIC on the campus.
Homeschooling is also available for children of staff members who reside with their parents at NBIC. Church services are open to program participants, their families, and the general public.
Other NBIC staff includes Pastor Mike Ogden, Senior Pastor; Pastor Jeff Raines, Associate Pastor & Director of Admissions; Wendell Brown, Job Coordinator; Gerald Denton, Intake Manager, and Authorized Representative; Cameron Ray, Homeschool Learning Coach; Chris Reeves, Counselor; Mark Rowland, Fundraising Coordinator; Wayne Hutto, Outside Work Supervisor and Joe Masssen, Woodshop Manager.
Donald passed away in 2021 and JoAnna said it is difficult carrying on without him.
“I am having a hard time learning how to do this without Donald. But, I know that the same God that started this ministry with a dream in Donald’s heart will complete it. I still can’t see the whole picture, but I still see doing the same thing today that we did yesterday, just better,” she said. “God took two messed up people and gave us a purpose in life. Donald and I are not two special people. We just knew that in order to keep what we had found in Christ, we had to give it away.”
NBIC continues to “give away” Donald’s vision. Currently, there are 86 participants in the program with 3,500-4,000 individuals having graduated since its inception. Joanna expressed her appreciation to all the individuals who have given NBIC the opportunity to help them achieve their walk with Christ and recover from addiction.
Staff members are available to clubs, churches, and other organizations that may desire to have them present programs on NBIC. They may be reached by calling Mark Rowland at 912-278-7617 or the office at 478-763-2647. All activities of NBIC are funded through donations and two annual fundraisers. Donald and JoAnna have never drawn salaries from NBIC. Donations to NBIC may be made by Check mailed to P.O. Box 192, Garfield, GA 30425 or by going to nbicrecovery.org and clicking on the donate button.
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This story first appeared in The Millen News.
