"The end is more important than the beginning!»

The motto of the service of assistance to drug addicts "Good Samaritan" celebrated" my 15th anniversary.

By tradition, the event took place on the last Sunday of may, in the Church of Evangelical Christians-Baptists on Poklonnaya Gora in St. Petersburg. This community in 2004 supported the idea of Vladimir Yezhov to create a rehabilitation service in the Leningrad region. And on may 26, 2019, those involved in the "Good Samaritan" came here from all over Russia – from Kaliningrad to the Far East.

Among the guests are those who passed the program of getting rid of addiction in the very first years. They have been in remission for over 10 years. Remained far in the past drugs and alcohol, crime, prison. Today they are pastors and deacons of churches, coordinators and leaders of social service, workers, fathers of families.

Their life is a good example for those who have just come to the "Good Samaritan". The first months of the program are the most difficult for the addict. Dependence permeated the entire being of man – mind, soul and body. I so want to quit treatment. Therefore, the annual holiday is a support for those who take the first steps into a healthy life.

On Saturday, May 25, coordinators and Ministers of the "Good Samaritan" gathered for a working meeting. The geography of the regions where the centers are organized is extensive: Moscow, Leningrad, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Voronezh, Vologda, Murmansk, Kaliningrad regions, the Komi Republic. At the end of 2018, the service started in Vladivostok. At the moment, work begins in Cheboksary.

Leaders and assistants listened to the seminar "Firmness and courage". It was conducted by Andrei Belozerov, pastor of the Novosibirsk Bible Church. In the past, the dependent himself, he was one of the pioneers of the movement of rehabilitation centers in his region. It was from Novosibirsk that Petersburg adopted the basic principles of the program.

The solemn meeting in the Church on Poklonnaya hill was led by the head of the "Good Samaritan" in St. Petersburg Alexander Ivanets. He reported that now only in the Northwest region 24 centers of the help work. And graduates continue this service throughout the country. For 15 years, more than 2.5 thousand people crossed the threshold of the centers. Not everyone is cured completely. However, hundreds have broken up with addiction. For example, among the graduates of the RC "Mezhozerny" in remission for more than two years are 42 people, after the center in Volkhov - 46 people.

As Alexander Ivanets said: "Years have shown that we are on the right track. The program works. Now is the time of stability. There is no such powerful flow of drug addicts and alcoholics, what was during surge popularity centers in the early 2000- ' s. Cannot be weaken efforts. We must remain firm in following the established principles."

For 15 years, these principles have saved many from death in drugs and alcohol. The program is free, lasts 8 months. The daily routine includes seminars on healthy lifestyle. The basis of the course is the study of the Bible.

Viktor Sipko, Bishop of the Association of ECB churches in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, made an opening speech. 15 years ago, he was one of the first to support this challenging Ministry. Victor K. said: "Drugs and alcohol it is a cheat. False happiness that turns into emptiness. Only in Jesus Christ can you have real life. God works miracles. It is important only to believe. Without faith, this miracle of deliverance will not be accomplished."

This was confirmed from the stage by the participants of the solemn meeting. 12 years ago Igor Rychenkov from Voronezh passed the program in the Tikhvin center of the Leningrad region. And today, together with his Voronezh colleagues in the Ministry, he congratulated the audience.

Alexander gordeychuk leads the Ministry in Kaliningrad. He came to Vyborg for the program in 2009. Took the difficult path of seeking God, of salvation. But now he has a wife, two children, a rehabilitation service.

Dmitry Glinsky arrived with congratulations from Smolensk. And he came to the good Samaritan 13 years ago. He stressed that the Ministry has reached constancy and stability.

Anatoly Manyukov arrived with his wife from Udomla. He's been using drugs for 19 years. Passed the program 10 years ago, Olga – 8. Now they have a social service in Udomlya and Tver region.

But still, those who passed the program in the "Good Samaritan" see – not all are saved. Therefore, Andrei Belozerov in his sermon said: "Now it is especially important to remember that the end of the road is more important than the beginning. Because it is painful to see how brothers and sisters, who started their Christian path with power and dedication, then abandoned it. Therefore, we must open the Holy Scripture and understand how to go, so that the end of the path would be as good as its beginning."

The service ended with the common prayer of the Ministers and communication over tea.

Andrey Dupre, correspondent.