How The Refuge Began (Full Episode)

How The Refuge Began (Full Episode)

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between host Wes Thompson and his father, Tom Thompson, traces how one man’s rock bottom led to a recovery community that has lasted for decades. Tom shares candidly about growing up with a father dependent on alcohol, repeating some of those same patterns himself, and the moment an AA sponsor showed up with both coffee and a Bible.

From there, you’ll hear how mentoring other men, men’s groups in his living room, and the Promise Keepers movement all shaped the early DNA of The Refuge in rural Vinton County, Ohio. This episode is especially helpful if you’re curious about faith-based recovery but wary of religious baggage. Tom explains what “faith-based” means to him now: a simple trust that “there is a God, I’m not him,” rooted in Jesus’ mission in Luke 4:18 and the two great commandments.

He contrasts mere sobriety with deep change, noting that, “Just because you take away the substance doesn’t mean you’re more likeable or your relationships are better.” You’ll also hear why community is treated as non‑negotiable. Tom talks about the courage he sees in men who arrive with no veneer left to hide behind, and how their honesty has often outpaced his own.

Grace and dignity come up again and again: every man is treated as a son of God, not a label or a case file. The tone is warm, honest, and gently humorous at times, yet it never minimises the reality of death, relapse, and disappointment.

If you’re looking for a story that wrestles with the tension between church expectations, real‑life addiction, and the slow, relational work of transformation, this conversation might give you fresh hope for your own journey or for someone you love. What might change if recovery meant learning to be loved, rather than just learning to stop?