OUR STORY
Our Why
The idea for the Hedge House began with a “Why”. Our experience has taught us that God usually makes sure you understand the “Why” before He gives you the “What”. We believe that an understanding of “Why” we do what we do leads us to understand that our faith in implementing the “What” must lie within the transformative power of the Holy Spirit rather than our own works and glory.
I have spent many years being affected by substance abuse in my family and friends. I have seen addiction destroy human beings and ravage their families. The cycle can be so difficult to break that sobriety alone is not the answer, it is just the first step.
The experiences with addiction in my own family led me to reach out and work with others who were trapped in this cycle. I had to learn to operate with the compassion and love of Christ toward his creation. I knew that the gospel commissioned me to try to reach those in need and connect them with the Savior.
Who We Help
The “What” came after many years of trying to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit, and many trials in my own life that taught me humility, compassion, trust in Jesus, and to fully rely on the grace that was given me. After spending time with women in recovery, I recognized that many came out of rehab with varying degrees of sober time, but very little ideahow to live sober in the real world. These women had strained family relationships, shaky support systems and limited options – often no home to return to, no transportation, no driver’s license, little education or job experience, and an abundance of debt. The obstacles they must face to become successful in life are almost insurmountable.
The choices that they had made in life had led to this, but what I learned from them was that the choice to get sober and make a radical life change required unbelievable courage and strength, and it should not be faced alone. That choice did not only involve becoming a productive member of society through education, jobs, and responsibilities; it also involved facing things that were traumatic, shameful, unspeakable, and completely rewiring their brain to view the world in a totally new way and fighting for their future selves.
Sobriety is a fight, but it is more than a fight against substance abuse. It is more than just “clean time”. It is a fight to gain a life that prevents relapse. It is a fight to move from self-hatred and deep shame toward a life of self-worth and self-love. It is a fight to change your entire perspective on life and learn to trust yourself and others, to live in peace rather than survival mode. It is a fight against your own mind, learning to identify and manage emotions that have been numbed for years. It is a fight to become employable, to learn work ethic, to face failure, to recognize that your paycheck may be garnished for fines and child support, to learn that you might not be able to get a bank account, to be able to afford a home, utilities, food to eat and necessities. It is a fight to rebuild familial ties that you have helped destroy or get your children back. It is a fight to overcome your reputation and your past. And it is a fight that must occur in the middle of trying to heal from the trauma that the lifestyle of addiction or abuse created.
Hedge House believes these women should not fight alone. In fact, they cannot fight alone. They need a strong hedge of support around them. They need a family. They need trustworthy friends and counsel. They need community support and recovery connections. And above all, they need to be connected to Jesus. Building up a hedge and standing in the gaps where they fall short is essential to their full recovery and restoration, and this is what Hedge House aims to be.
-R. Bailey, Founder and Director of Hedge House
The Hedge
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
The first line of defense in the Hedge is a relationship with Jesus and a connection to a body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 5:17 tells us “Therefore, anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” The first step to a new life is to commit yourself to Jesus Christ and leave your old life behind.
“Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in an abundance of counselors there is victory.”
The second line of defense in the Hedge is Godly counsel and instruction. Proverbs 28:26 says, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” A vital part of changing old thoughts, behavior, and habits means learning that our own minds and understanding need to be retrained to recognize destructive patterns and approach life armed with Godly wisdom and instruction. Proverbs again advises us to “Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her for she is your life” — our very life depends on the counsel and instruction of godly mentorship.
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
The third line of defense in the Hedge is the connection and counsel of new friends. New friendships allow us to sharpen one another, “as iron sharpens iron”, and hold one another accountable. Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” Having friends that understand your struggles but are willing to help and encourage you when you fail is a treasure. Trying to begin a new life with old friends won’t work — “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33), however, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20). We must learn to love and pray for those in the lifestyle left behind, but recognize that in our choice to pursue sobriety, new friendships must replace ones detrimental to our growth.
“Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
The Hedge depends on the unity of ourselves with Christ, Godly wisdom and instruction, and the support and encouragement of like-minded relationships. Learning to submit our will to Christ as our head, receive wisdom from biblical principles through Godly mentorship, and surrounding ourselves with those who share the same goal and are committed to supporting us will create a hedge of prayer and protection around our present and future selves. If we are connected to The Vine, the branches of the hedge will surround us and uphold us throughout our recovery journey.
From the Hedge to the Hedge House
Ezekiel 22:30 says that God “looked for a man who would make up the hedge and stand in the gap before [Him] for the land”, but He found no one. We at Hedge House believe that God is still searching for those who are willing to build up the hedge and stand in the gap before Him, and that He is calling for us to step into roles to intercede and act on behalf of those who are in need.
Isaiah 59:16 tells us that God “saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor, therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained him.”
Jesus came as a mediator between God and mankind; He became our intercessor on the cross. He gave his life for our salvation, and that salvation has been purchased for every person. As the body of Christ, it is our job to introduce people to the Cross. We begin in faith and prayer, but we are led to work. Our actions are the result of prayer.
James chapter 2:14-18 says “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
“Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”
The world is hurting, and reacting from that hurt, and we at Hedge House believe that it is our God-ordained responsibility to meet the physical needs of the hurting as we show them the love, grace, and mercy of Christ that will ultimately meet their emotional needs and provide healing and wholeness. Jesus shed His blood on the cross for the salvation of the world, but He is still searching for someone willing to take up that cross and imitate him by laying aside ourselves for others. Jesus and the body of Christ—the Church, must be joined in perfect union for the Gospel message to be achieved. What begins in faith and prayer must always end in works.