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The Refinery Mission aims to help men on the road to recovery
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OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) -- The folks at The Refinery Mission have spent more than three decades helping men struggling with addiction and even homelessness find their strength and their faith on the road to recovery.
Program Director Steven Barnes says the organization has spent over 30 years bringing in over 100 men on the road to a new life and brought them through much needed programs like employment preparedness, budgeting and saving, and most importantly daily devotionals along with church services twice a week.
"We provide emergency housing for men that are getting out of behavior clinics, rehabs, correction facilities, and those that have just fallen on hard times," Barnes said.
Barnes said their program allows the men they bring in to find the truest version of themselves.
"What we want men to do is work on their relationship with God," he said. "We want them to work on who they are now in Christ. And with that, we always tell them that God will open up opportunities for them to gain employment." Ultimately, that's our goal, is to refine a man to become a productive member of society in Christ."
Fueling his passion to help men in need, Barnes says he participated in the program in 2015. That journey allowed him to see his life evolve from living under a bridge in Dallas, to helping men in similar situations find their way.
"So that's probably why I'm so passionate about what I get to do today is that I've been through the program and because of that, I know what the program and what the mission stands for and what we can do for a man if he's willing and ready for change," he said. "So once he admits to to that, it's amazing what God can do and the opportunity that they can have through here."
And with plans to build a new multi-purpose facility on their campus, adding a new chapel 60 more beds for those looking to enter the program, Barnes says there is no slowing down their mission to make a difference.