From Hopeless to Hopeful: Ashley's Journey to Freedom, Found in Christ and Nurtured by Living Free
Growing up in a good home by worldly standards, yet without a strong Christian foundation, Ashley always felt something was missing. This void contributed to her experimentation with drugs and alcohol at just 14, a path that quickly spiraled into addiction. Despite outward appearances – dance team captain and athlete – Ashley battled inner turmoil, depression, and a deep sense of not belonging. Substances became her coping mechanism, masking the pain within.
Her addiction intensified, leading to risky behaviors, compromising her values, legal troubles, and a life dominated by the relentless pursuit of a high. She found herself in the adult entertainment industry doing whatever she had to do to support her addiction.
Then came the opportunity of motherhood, but even that couldn't break the cycle. The pull of addiction was too strong, leading to more neglect, lost jobs, and the trust of family and friends. Ashley then shared that her biggest regret soon brought her to her bottom. Her most immense remorse of this season in her life was missing the opportunity to say “goodbye” to her grandfather. Even though she knew he only had a short time to live, because of her drug-induced state, she never made it to his bedside to say “goodbye” and to tell him one last time how much she loved him.
Ashley's turning point came soon after when she recognized the depth of her brokenness and cried out to God for help. Treatment programs, therapy, and even Narcotics Anonymous offered temporary relief, but the void remained. Ashley vehemently states that her turning point was not just sobriety; it was encountering Christ.
Through faith, Ashley found the missing piece. The shame and guilt began to lift as she embraced the forgiveness and love offered through Jesus. Her relationship with Christ provided a foundation for rebuilding her life, but she struggled to find a spiritual home and family to connect with for encouragement and discipleship in her newfound faith. In that floundering season, she continued to cry out to God and visit churches, refusing to give up.
Eventually, Ashley learned about Lighting the Way Ministries and the Living Free resources they offered. Ashley and her husband, James, found something profoundly different in Living Free. While other programs offered support, Living Free provided the spiritual foundation Ashley desperately needed. The mentorship, the community, and the focus on applying biblical principles to her life were instrumental in her healing process. It was here, through Living Free, that her faith indeed took root and blossomed.
Ashley shared that day in Lincoln, “The Living Free groups differed from any other recovery groups I tried. I learned how relevant the Bible was and how to apply it to my life. I have grown so much in my relationship with Christ, and I have learned who I am and how important my identity in Christ is.”
The Living Free groups offered by Lighting The Way strengthened her personal relationship with Christ and provided a strong foundation for her marriage. Jo-Ann Russell and her husband, Andrew, became more than mentors; they became family, walking alongside Ashley and James through counseling, legal issues, getting plugged into a local church, and the complex process of facing the truth about their addictions.
Now married for seven years with four children, Ashley's story is a beacon of hope. It reminds us that true freedom and healing are possible through Christ, and ministries like Living Free can play a vital role in nurturing that transformation. Ashley now serves as a mentor in the ministry that mentored her. And she is also in the process of facilitating her fifth Living Free group. Living Free provides a proven system of discipleship to help people find their purpose and their place in the body of Christ!
The day I heard Ashley speak, she opened and closed her presentation with her life verse, Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things are new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17. Ashley's transformation is a powerful testament to the power of God's grace, but also to the power of Christ-centered community and discipleship offered by Living Free. Her journey underscores the crucial need for such ministries, providing not just support but the spiritual bedrock upon which lasting change is built.
