We live in societies where the number of people with addictions is increasing. At Teen Challenge Croatia, we have seen an increasing need to serve through non-residential programmes rather than residential rehabilitation centres.
Because many people cannot go to rehabilitation centres, they can receive renewal through day programmes, which we offer through our Coffee House ministry.
The Coffee House is a place where people with addictions can get coffee, tea and refreshment. It is also a place where they can get advice and encouragement for the next step in their recovery journey. Our team in Split strives to support them this way.
We also run a programme for parents of addicted people. The parents come to us because they are also in need of help. They need freedom from codependent relationships. We have started a group especially for them, known as our Concerned Persons Group.
Our non-residential programme is called Living Free, and it is made up of insight groups. These are small groups of people who want either to get free or stay free from life-controlling problems, or who desire to learn more about the potential we all have for developing them.
A life-controlling problem is defined as anything that controls a person’s life. Many terms have been used to describe them: a dependency, compulsive behaviour or an addiction. The easiest problems to identify are harmful habits like drug or alcohol abuse, eating disorders, sexual addictions, gambling and smoking. But life-controlling problems also include harmful feelings—like anger and fear.
It is encouraging to see how the participants of the group progress week after week, by opening their hearts and finding solutions to their problems. Praise God for what He is doing through these ministries and please pray for our team—Gordana, Hrvoje, Nediljko, Mijo and my wife, Jagoda.
By Ico Matulić, Pastor of Korčula Evangelical Protestant Church & Director of Teen Challenge Croatia
