Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. — Habakkuk 2: 2-3

They wrote it down, ran with it... and waited.

The vision which began over 10 years ago finally came to fruition, in God’s perfect timing. After facing many obstacles, Journey Center, a sober living home for men, and longtime goal of Frontline Ministries, opened its doors last month with the goal of transforming lives affected by drug and alcohol addiction.

In 2019, facing citizen opposition and the city commission’s denial of a permit which would have paved the way to open a sober living home at the church campus on West Erwin Avenue, senior pastor Debbie Burpo said they accepted the decision, but forged ahead with the vision.

“I think as we patiently waited through the situation and didn’t give up, the Lord opened up the opportunity,” Burpo said.

Despite the opposition, associate pastor Ron Porter said it was obvious people recognized the need for a recovery center and want to help those struggling with addiction, but didn’t want it in that location.

“We had the vision and the desire, but not the location and God started opening doors and we knew we were going in the right direction,” Porter said.

In October 2020, Burpo said God provid-perfect on five acres southwest of Kingfisher.

With plenty of room outside of town, Porter said the men will be able to grow a garden as well as enjoy other outdoor activities in the serenity of nature.

“We found that being here will provide a much better setup than in town,” Burpo said. “God was in the process the whole time and everything just fell into place.”

Paralleling the men’s restoration, the vacant and neglected three-bedroom, two-bath house was transformed into a place of ministry where men can begin a new life.

Much of the renovation was completed by Frontline church members and local individuals who donated their time and materials as well as money and provisions for the home.

Currently, Journey Center has the capacity to house eight men and a house manager who will provide constant supervision for the residents. Eventually the home will be able to accept 12 men and will have two or three residential staff.

There is a great need for this type of program, Porter said, and six men were accepted into the program before the doors even opened.

House manager Kyle Clevenger, a graduate of My Brother’s Keeper, a faith-based drug and alcohol recovery program, was employed with that program for four years before taking the position at Journey Center.

Having spent much of his career working in different leadership capacities helping individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, Porter will oversee the program.

The program will be patterned off of the Teen Challenge curriculum which Porter said has had proven successful results.

“We are mixing the Teen Challenge curriculum with a faith-based program, including our Frontline way of doing things,” he said.

Under strict guidelines and rules to follow, Porter said, the men who enter the program will undergo an extensive background screening. Only men who test negative for drugs and alcohol and have no criminal record of violence or sexual offenses will be accepted.

The 12-month program will be implemented in phases, Porter said, and in the initial six to eight weeks the men will be separated from everything to focus on themselves.

The men will attend services at Frontline and volunteer, under supervision, at Frontline’s food bank, thrift store and in other community service activities, as well as participate in counseling sessions and other restorative activities, Burpo added.

“One of the goals is to have our gentlemen understand community and relationships, becoming an active part of their community and we do that through serving,” Porter said.

As the program progresses, limited supervised family interaction will be allowed and the men will be involved in a work program which will serve two purposes. The men will develop a trade as well as earn money which will b e kept in an account for each individual to give him a headstart when he completes the program.

“Our ultimate goal is to bring the families into the picture and have them come alongside the men to restore relationships,” Porter added.

A $1,200 entrance fee for the program is required from each resident which helps to offset costs of the program, but also ensures the individuals truly want to transform their lives, Burpo said.

The cost to run the Journey Center program is significant, Porter said, with a minimum cost of $60 a day for each participant, which helps cover food, curriculum, transportation, utilities, staff and other needs.

Although Frontline Ministries is heavily involved with the program and provides financial support, Journey Center is its own nonprofit organization.

One of the goals is to develop a scholarship program, Burpo said, that will help provide funds for individuals who can’t afford the entire initial fee to enter the program.

“We don’t want to turn people away just because they don’t have the money,” Burpo added.

Frontline Ministries has always been on the frontline trying to serve those God puts in front of them, Burpo said.

The Journey Center is just one of many ministries it provides among a host of others. A thrift store, food bank, homeless ministry, 12-step recovery program and soup kitchen are some of the ministries of the church. A family life center is also currently under construction which will open up even more opportunities to serve the community through GED classes, after-school programs and other activities.

Frontline leaders are continually open to new opportunities and are excited about the new Journey Center which they say will serve a very big need in the community.

“We want people to see there are those in Kingfisher who need help,” Porter said. “It’s your neighbor, friend, cousin, husband...and we want to see people’s lives changed.”

They are already considering how a similar facility for women can be opened in the community, but as with everything they do, they are careful to listen to God’s voice for the right place and timing.

“We love and respect our community and want to be a blessing,” Burpo said.

“We are excited and want to share our vision.”