How The Refuge Began (Episode 2)
How The Refuge Began (Episode 2)

Relational Recovery

A founder shares how his own journey from sobriety to a sense of freedom led to the birth of The Refuge, blending Christian faith, honesty and community. The conversation outlines how a biblical mission, changing methods and a focus on brokenness shaped their approach to addiction recovery.

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7:19•12 May 2026

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From Sobriety to Freedom: How The Refuge Ministry First Took Shape

Episode Overview

Freedom in recovery is described as deeper than simple sobriety, rooted in inner change rather than just stopping a behaviour.
Honest, relational community and confession are presented as central to healing and spiritual growth.
The Refuge grew from one person’s experience of God’s work in his own life, rather than from a critique of existing addiction services.
Addiction is framed as a point of brokenness that can make people more open to change and to receiving help.
The mission of The Refuge stays rooted in Luke 4:18, while methods adapt to each person’s unique journey with God.

“I wasn’t just sober anymore. I was actually getting free. There’s a difference.”

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This conversation on Relational Recovery takes you right into the heart of how The Refuge Ministry first came to life, through honest struggle, reluctant obedience, and a deep sense of call. Host Wes Thompson and co-host Austin Bill sit with a man who describes moving from simple sobriety to something richer: “I wasn’t just sober anymore. I was actually getting free.

There’s a difference.” His story centres on how personal healing, shared in a small group of men committed to authenticity and confession, slowly grew into a passion to help others. Rather than criticising existing addiction services, he explains that The Refuge grew from gratitude and experience: “These guys are me. I’ve never seen these guys as the poor broken.

I’ve looked at them and said, hey, dude, if he can do it for me, he can do it for you.” He talks about addiction as a strange kind of opportunity, describing how reaching the “sick and tired of being sick and tired” stage, even feeling close to suicidal, can be the point where real change starts. You’ll hear how The Refuge was shaped by Luke 4:18 and Jesus’s mission to “heal the brokenhearted” and “set the captives free”.

The approach began with a strong church flavour, then gradually widened as he realised “God’s bigger than just organised” religion and works in different ways for different people. The mission stayed the same, but the methods shifted as they recognised that each person’s journey with God is unique. Anyone wrestling with addiction, faith, or both will find this episode a relatable mix of raw honesty, Christian spirituality, and practical reflection on what “freedom” might look like in real life.

It might even prompt you to ask: where could honesty, community and faith move you from just being sober to actually being free?

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