Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2012 Issue | Page 28

OPEN DOORS IN BOWLING GREEN
EMILY CHERRY
When the Caroline County Recovery Community Center first
approached St. Asaph’s, Bowling Green about hosting their
group of recovering addicts, members of the church were a
bit hesitant to open their doors at first, explained the Rev.
Bambi Willis, vicar. A program of the McShin Foundation,
the program provides full-service recovery resources – from
social services and job placement assistance to a 12-step
support program. The program relies on a model of peer
support, and many of the participants are directed there as
an alternative to jail after being convicted of crimes.

The recovery program was looking for a place to host
their annual picnic. Deciding to open their doors to the group
was a tough decision, explained Willis. “This was a struggle
for us as a vestry,” she said. “We sort of wanted to keep our
distance from these strangers.” But, she added, “At the end
of the day, we didn’t, and that was glorious.”

In April, St. Asaph’s hosted the program’s first annual
graduation. Graduates must complete the program with 12
months of drug-free testing. Caroline County Commonwealth
Attorney Tony Spencer was present to award the graduates.

And after deciding to open those doors, they’ve
become known in the community for their welcome. “It
was by the grace of God that the vestry said, ‘Yes, let’s do
this,’” said Willis. “There have been just tremendous fruits
born out of this,” including raising the church’s visibility in
the community.

Tim Cox, editor of the Caroline Progress, published the
following op-ed following the graduation ceremony.
THE EDITOR’S CORNER:
A GOOD NIGHT IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

The Caroline County Recovery Community Center held
its inaugural graduation event last week.

It was a notable, touching event for a number of
reasons. One was the venue, St. Asaph’s Episcopal Church.

Now, for the uninitiated, the center operates a program
for people who are diverted by the courts. If you break the
law, you might be a candidate for the program if you have a
problem with drugs or alcohol.

It was these people whom St. Asaph’s welcomed with
open arms, and rightly so. After all, how many times are
we told in the good book that the savior of the world came
for sinners, associated with sinners, and so on? Hats off to
St. Asaph’s for showing grace and mercy and extending
fellowship to the center’s clients.

It was notable, too, to see the people who participate
in the center’s program. They are young, they are old, and
they are in between. They are black, they are white. They are
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VIRGINIA EPISCOPALIAN / Summer 2012

The church building at St. Asaph’s, Bowling Green.

men, and they are women. In short, anybody and everybody
– someone in your family or a neighbor.

That was a point made by David Mineta, deputy director
of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Mineta’s boss is the nation’s so-called “drug czar,” and the
drug czar’s boss is President Barack Obama.

Mineta is the deputy director of demand reduction;
his focus is on promoting drug prevention and drug
treatment programs as well as the agency’s new emphasis
on recovery programs.

He recalled on occasion when he an opportunity to give
the president a quick verbal briefing on his efforts.

As recounted by Mineta, the president said, “That
sounds really good. I know someone in recovery.”

That’s the point, he added. Virtually everyone knows
someone who has battled drug or alcohol addiction. In fact,
over 23 million Americans are in recovery from alcohol or
drug abuse, according to Mineta.

They were well represented that night in St. Asaph’s.
The little sanctuary was just about filled, about 70 people in
attendance. Commonwealth’s Attorney Tony Spencer asked
those people enrolled in the program to stand; about 50
people stood up.

It was notable for another reason. John Shinholser,
whose Richmond-based McShin Foundation sponsors the
center, observed that each person represents $37 per day
that Caroline would have to pay to keep them incarcerated if
they were in jail.

Do the math. That’s nearly $2,000 a day, $60,000 per
month. It’s not chump change.

As Spencer told the gathering, “This program saves
lives. It increases public safety. It saves taxpayer dollars.”

It was good to be in the house of the Lord that night. t