Faith In Your Recovery Podcast

Without God, I Can Do Nothing.

Ken Mountzouros shares his powerful journey from childhood trauma and alcoholism to incarceration, redemption, and freedom through Jesus Christ.

For years, alcohol was Ken's escape from pain, isolation, and feelings of not belonging. His addiction led to destructive choices and prison. But behind prison walls, Ken discovered something greater than freedom from a physical cell: a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Ken's choices put him in prison, but Jesus gave him the freedom to truly live.

Today, Ken uses his testimony to help others struggling with addiction, alcoholism, trauma, and hopelessness. Through church ministry, Alcoholics Anonymous, recovery outreach, and volunteer work with recovery homes, he shares the hope and healing found in Christ.

The experiences Ken once viewed as his greatest failures have become the very lessons God now uses to help others. If you're struggling with addiction, recovery, incarceration, trauma, or simply searching for hope, I want you to know this: God is not finished with your story.

Subscribe for recovery testimonies, addiction recovery insights, faith-based encouragement, and inspiring stories of God's transforming power.

She survived binge drinking, denial, and devastating loss — and now she’s helping others break free. Colleen Clifford is a commercial fisherwoman, health coach, and mental health advocate who speaks openly about the realities of binge drinking, grief, shame, resilience, and the hidden survival patterns that keep people stuck. Through her writing and speaking, she challenges audiences with one powerful question: “How is it working for you?” Her turning point came after her late husband’s alcohol‑related suicide and her own final dangerous drinking episode. That moment sparked a vow to change — and to help others do the same. Today, Colleen is five years alcohol‑free and known for her signature concept, the 95/5 Factor™, which exposes how denial keeps binge drinkers trapped for years. Through her book Life Beyond the Binge: A Commercial Fisherwoman’s Journey Home, podcast interviews, and speaking engagements, Colleen shares her lived experience with alcohol misuse, mental health, suicide prevention (988), and suicide survival. She brings raw honesty, hope, and practical steps for anyone ready to chart a new course. https://lifebeyondthebinge.com/

Addiction and abuse don't discriminate—and no amount of education, professional success, or life experience makes anyone immune to life's hardest battles. In this episode, we're joined by Lindsey Dollar, the new Women's Director at The Christian Center's The Well. Lindsey is an early-career psychologist with more than 10 years of experience as a trauma-informed therapist. Born and raised in Anderson, Indiana, Lindsey moved to Michigan to pursue her doctorate before returning to Indiana last year with her two children to rebuild stability after leaving an abusive relationship. Although Lindsey has never personally struggled with addiction, growing up in an alcoholic household gave her firsthand insight into how addiction impacts entire families. Her personal experiences and professional background have deepened her understanding of the importance of support, safe spaces, and resources for women and children facing trauma and domestic abuse. Lindsey felt called to serve at The Well because she understands how life-changing family support can be during difficult seasons. Her story reminds us that no one is immune to life's struggles, and no one should have to face them alone. Join us for an honest conversation about addiction recovery, family trauma, domestic abuse, faith, and finding hope and healing through life's hardest battles.

Mental health was something I tried to outrun for years. I could admit to depression and hide self‑harm, but one word felt impossible to say out loud: suicide. Even thinking it felt like choking on the truth I didn’t want to face. For 25 years, I convinced myself my thoughts were “normal,” even as silence and avoidance kept me emotionally stuck. Everything changed the moment I finally said the word. Speaking it out loud meant I couldn’t pretend anymore — and reaching out for help became the first step toward healing. Addiction later became another part of my story, and for a long time I believed it defined me. It didn’t just take my stability and relationships; it stunted my emotional growth. Addiction taught me to escape instead of feel, numb instead of cope. Recovery forced me to face the pain I’d been running from and learn how to process emotions, trauma, and life without a substance. It hasn’t been perfect, but every clean day is a choice to grow. I want anyone struggling to know this: you are not hopeless, and asking for help is not weakness. Sometimes recovery begins with one honest sentence — “I can’t do this alone.” That moment of truth can become the turning point toward healing, emotional maturity, and a future you deserve.

We are blessed to be allowed to bring our podcast into the Jay County Jail to interview those who have experience with addiction and recovery. Join us as we e=hear Brian's experience.

Join us for Ep24 of Jailhouse Recovery as we interview Andy about his experience with addiction and recovery. We were blessed with another opportunity to interview inmates at the Jay County Sheriff's Office.

Join us for Ep23 of Jailhouse Recovery as we interview Leah about her experience with addiction and recovery. We were blessed with another opportunity to interview inmates at the Jay County Sheriff's Office.

Join us for Ep22 of Jailhouse Recovery as we interview Colbi about his experience with addiction and recovery. We were blessed with another opportunity to interview inmates at the Jay County Sheriff's Office.

Join us for Ep21 of Jailhouse Recovery as we interview Zach about his experience with addiction and recovery. We were blessed with the opportunity to interview inmates at the Jay County Sheriff's Office.

Join us for Ep20 of Jailhouse Recovery as we interview Fabian about his experience with addiction and recovery. We were blessed with the opportunity to interview inmates at the Jay County Sheriff's Office.

Join Faith In Your Recovery Podcast as we interview inmates from the Jay County Jail about their experience with addiction and recovery!

Join Faith In Your Recovery Podcast as we interview inmates from the Jay County Jail about their experience with addiction and recovery!

My experience with addiction began in a place I never imagined would take me where it did. After being prescribed opioid pain medication, I developed a dependence that eventually progressed to heroin. At the time, I was working in healthcare and attending nursing school — just six months away from graduating — but addiction slowly took everything I had worked so hard to build. I was arrested and ultimately served four years with the Indiana Department of Correction.

During incarceration, I entered a program called Purposeful Incarceration and began the difficult, honest work of rebuilding my life from the inside out. When I came home in 2018, I made a decision: my past would not be the end of my story. Recovery gave me the chance to rebuild relationships, establish a career, become a homeowner, and most importantly, show up fully for my family and my community again.

My journey also opened my eyes to how desperately rural communities need more recovery resources, long‑term support, and trauma‑informed environments. Addiction has touched nearly every part of my life — including the loss of my brother and my father — and those painful experiences became part of the driving force behind founding New Roots Recovery Village, Inc.

Today, I use both my lived experience and the lessons I learned along the way to advocate for people still fighting their way out. New Roots is being built to give women more than a place to stay. We are creating a structured, nature‑based, trauma‑informed recovery community centered on connection, purpose, peer support, and rebuilding a life worth protecting.

I cannot change the chapters behind me, but I can use them to help rewrite someone else’s future. That is what recovery means to me.

— Lauren Abshear

Addiction took me places I never imagined I’d go — but it also became the foundation for the purpose I live today. My recovery wasn’t just about putting down a substance. It was about rebuilding my identity, learning to forgive myself, and discovering that the same failures that nearly destroyed me would one day become my greatest testimony.

Today, I serve as a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in addiction medicine, caring for individuals and families fighting the same battles I once fought. Every patient reminds me that recovery isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s possible for anyone willing to take the next right step.

My mission goes far beyond writing prescriptions. Through my clinical work, my memoir Heroine: Decide & Conquer, and openly sharing my journey, I work to replace shame with hope and stigma with compassion. I want people to understand that addiction is not the end of their story. Healing is real. Purpose can rise from pain. And your past does not disqualify your future.

If sharing my story helps even one person choose life, ask for help, or believe they are worthy of recovery, then every difficult chapter has been redeemed.

This episode of Faith in Your Recovery features Scott Penticuf, a man candidly sharing his decades-long battle with alcoholism, the losses he endured, and the hope he’s found through faith and support at the Christian Center. Scott’s story begins with a difficult childhood in a broken family, where alcohol entered his life at age 10 and became a destructive force. Over the years, his addiction caused tangible losses, including fractured family relationships, multiple homes, and time spent incarcerated. Despite repeated setbacks, Scott’s commitment to sobriety intensified after his most recent release from prison, and his faith in God and the support structure of the Christian Center have empowered him to rebuild his life piece by piece. His journey highlights the power of accountability, perseverance, and spiritual reliance in overcoming addiction. He expresses a heartfelt desire to reconnect with his adult children and to serve others through simple acts like volunteering and, uniquely, driving a Sunday School bus for kids. His story conveys a message of hope—that it is never too late to seek recovery and renewal through faith and community.

Highlights

🙌 Early exposure to alcohol at age 10 initiated decades of struggle with addiction.

🏠 Alcoholism resulted in shattered dreams, lost homes, broken family ties, and repeated incarceration.

🙏 Faith and the Christian Center’s support provided an essential turning point toward lasting sobriety.

💬 Honest self-accountability and willingness to share his story demonstrate personal growth and healing.

❤️ Despite past wounds, Scott holds onto hope to restore relationships with his grown children. 🚍 Unique future aspiration: to drive a Sunday School bus, serving his faith community.

🌟 Emphasis on the message: It’s never too late to change and seek help with God’s guidance.

Additional Reflections

Scott’s story also sheds light on the systemic gaps that addicts often encounter—such as lack of meaningful support after jail releases—and the transformative role of communities and faith-based programs that fill those gaps. It challenges stigma around shelters and recovery centers by showing them as places of hope and personal renaissance, not just last resorts. Moreover, the discussion emphasizes the importance of perseverance despite setbacks, reinforcing that recovery is a continual "battle" but one with attainable victory. His advice to others, stressing “it’s never too late,” combined with practical encouragement to find the right support group or faith path, offers a realistic and compassionate roadmap for those struggling. His candid description of addiction’s mental and emotional tolls, coupled with the ultimate message of hope, makes this conversation a compelling testament to human resilience empowered by faith.

This episode is a heartfelt testament to transformation through struggle, faith, and community support, serving as both a beacon of hope for those battling addiction and a reminder of the enduring power of love, redemption, and purpose.

In today’s episode, I share my journey through trauma, addiction, obesity, and ultimately redemption through Jesus. If you or someone you love is battling addiction, this story will give you hope, strength, and a reminder that God still restores what feels broken. I was raised by ministers, but my life took a turn I never expected. In 1994, I was stabbed 13 times, and the trauma left me battling severe PTSD. For years, I drank to escape the pain, and my life spiraled until I reached nearly 400 pounds.

But God wasn’t finished with me. Becoming a dad changed everything. I fought my way back and eventually lost 175 pounds. Five years ago, I moved to a small town where God placed a pastor in my life who became my best friend — and ultimately led me back to Jesus. Two years ago, I met the love of my life at church — a strong, faith filled woman of God who has been sober for 16 years. Today, with me now 4 years sober, we’re creating a gentle children’s book series to help kids and families who love someone struggling with addiction.

My mission is simple: To bring hope, healing, and Jesus into the homes of families battling addiction — and to remind kids that they are loved, seen, and never alone.

👇 If this story encouraged you, please like, comment, and subscribe.

👇 Learn more about our children’s book series for families facing addiction.

I survived fourteen overdoses, a fentanyl addiction, and the darkest years of my life — and now I’m turning my pain into purpose. I grew up with addiction in my home, but I never imagined substance use disorder would become part of my own story. After years of untreated mental health struggles and the trauma of my 17 year old daughter nearly being murdered, I fell into a nearly six year fentanyl addiction. I used intravenously, overdosed around fourteen times, and was Narcaned more times than I can count. Eventually, the anger and exhaustion hit me so hard that I finally realized I wanted help — and I wanted to live.

Recovery took multiple detoxes, rehab stays, and legal consequences. But one obstacle followed me every time: finding someone to care for my dog while I was in treatment. I couldn’t focus on healing because I was terrified of losing her. That struggle became my mission. Today, I’m rebuilding my life and launching Pawsitive Recovery Pet Care Inc., a nonprofit that keeps people’s pets safe while they receive life saving treatment for substance use and mental health. No one should have to choose between getting help and protecting their fur baby. This is my testimony — my survival story — and the heart behind the nonprofit that grew out of my darkest moments.

Recovery is real. Hope is real. And your story isn’t over.

I should’ve died an addict… but Jesus met me in a jail cell and gave me a life I never thought I’d have. For more than 30 years, addiction owned every part of my life. Meth, heroin, and fentanyl dragged me into places I never thought I’d go — homelessness, jail cells, overdoses, and a level of loneliness that convinced me I was beyond saving. Every promise I made to quit was broken. I truly believed I would die an addict.

Everything changed on March 11, 2021, inside a holding cell at the Rankin County Jail. In my darkest moment, Jesus Christ met me and completely transformed my life. God didn’t help me manage addiction — He delivered me from it. Today, through Black Sheep Recovery Warfare, I share my story to remind people that no one is too far gone. If He could save me after three decades of addiction, He can save anyone willing to surrender.

I never thought my story was worth telling. My addiction didn’t start with anything dramatic — just dabbling, partying, trying to fit in, trying to escape feelings I didn’t understand. I thought I was alone; I was different. The only one like me. I had plenty of chances to walk away, but I kept numbing myself and building an identity in the drug world. Before I knew it, I was addicted — trapped in an underground life that pulled me further from reality. What I thought I wanted became the very thing destroying me.

I grew up bullied, never fitting in, so when the darkness accepted me, I embraced it. That’s when it got truly evil. I wasn’t the sweet kid my family raised anymore. I was hardened, angry, spiritually controlled by the life I chose. For almost 20 years, I lived in a battle of good versus evil, light versus darkness. These drugs don’t just take your time — they take your soul. But you can overcome it. And you don’t have to do it alone.

Find your people. Find your crew. Your breakthrough is out there.

I didn’t turn to addiction because I was weak — I turned to it because I was hurting and didn’t know how else to survive.

My addiction wasn’t just about substances. It was about trying to escape pain I never had the tools to understand. What started as a way to numb childhood trauma, instability, and emotional chaos slowly became survival mode. The relief didn’t last. Addiction took my peace, my relationships, my identity, and my ability to imagine a future. I lost trust in myself and lived in cycles of shame, regret, and isolation, constantly trying to outrun something living inside my own mind.

My recovery began when I finally faced the truth of the damage and became willing to try something different — even when I wasn’t sure it would work. Healing has been slow and intentional: learning accountability, confronting the trauma I used to avoid, choosing support over isolation, and leaning into faith when control wasn’t possible.

I’m not the same woman I was in active addiction. I’m still healing, still growing, and still learning — but today I’m building a life rooted in clarity, stability, purpose, and surrender instead of escape. In June 2025, I published my debut memoir The Girl Who Named the Fire: A Memoir of Fire, Survival, and Becoming, and my second book, A Hundred Dollar Bill and a Blue Pill: From Dope Sick to Hope Filled, is already on its way — both written to help others find hope, healing, and redemption.