I met the Lord and in that moment I was set free – Thom's storyI met the Lord and in that moment I was set free – Thom's story
Real Recovery
Thom shares how teenage experimentation with alcohol, weed and meth became daily addiction, and how a very specific encounter with James 4:8 in church marked the end of his drug use. Now a pastor and Celebrate Recovery leader, he talks about freedom in Christ, ongoing guardrails and why community matters for anyone struggling with addiction.
49:37•25 Oct 2026
Set Free in a Moment: Thom’s Journey from Meth Addiction to Ministry
Episode Overview
- Addiction can begin with seemingly small choices—like cigarettes or trying to look cool—and quickly become an all‑consuming lifestyle.
- Meth initially felt like it “made now better,” but led to financial ruin, broken relationships and a life built on lies.
- A single Bible verse, “Draw near to God and he’ll draw near to you,” became a turning point that Thom could not ignore.
- Thom reports that when he surrendered to Christ, he experienced immediate freedom from drugs and committed to be in church whenever the doors were open.
- Even decades later, he stresses the importance of guardrails, accountability and community through church and Celebrate Recovery to stay free.
“I not only met the Lord in that moment, I was set free in that moment.”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head‑on against addiction? Thom’s story on Real Recovery answers that with a raw mix of honesty, humour and solid faith. This episode follows Thom from small‑town Missouri, where summer work at a resort introduced him to cigarettes, alcohol and weed at just 12, through to daily meth use by his mid‑teens and the total loss of control that followed. Bill Arnold and George B.
Fraser keep things light without ever making light of the damage addiction causes. You’ll hear Thom describe how meth “made now better” and seemed like the greatest thing ever, even as friendships collapsed, finances disappeared, and lies to his family became routine. His account hits hard for anyone who knows how fast “just one try” can turn into years of daily use. The turning point comes in a very specific, Bible‑anchored moment.
A simple keyring engraved with “Draw near to God and he’ll draw near to you” gets stuck in Thom’s mind. After weeks of trying to drown that verse out, he walks into church and the pastor unexpectedly says, “Turn with me to James Chapter four, verse eight.” Thom says, “I not only met the Lord in that moment, I was set free in that moment,” and he reports that his drug use ended that day.
Now a pastor and Celebrate Recovery leader, Thom talks about guardrails, accountability and why he still treats sobriety as something he protects daily, even 27 years on. The episode also touches on grief, parenting, shame, and the power of community—whether that’s church, 12‑step rooms or Celebrate Recovery.
If you’re wondering whether faith has anything to offer your recovery, or you’re a Christian who still feels stuck, this story might challenge you to ask: what small decision today could change the next decade of your life?
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