Articles by Hope Is Alive

The Many Hats of Addiction

Finding Hope Team

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The Many Hats of Addiction

Have you ever found yourself wearing a hat that wasn’t yours? Maybe it didn’t quite fit, felt uncomfortable, or just wasn’t you. You spent the whole day adjusting it, feeling off balance, maybe even overwhelmed.

Now, think about that in the context of loving someone who struggles with addiction. How many “hats” have you picked up that were never yours to wear in the first place?

Let’s Talk About the Hats We Wear

When we love someone caught in addiction, it’s easy to slip into roles we were never meant to carry — roles like secretary, nurse, counselor, banker, shopper, sponsor, investigator, maid, boss, taxi driver… even trying to play the role of God.

How does it feel to wear all of those hats?
Why do we take them on?
Do we truly need to wear them?

Out of Position

If we’re wearing hats that God never gave us, we’re likely missing the one He did.

When we take on roles not designed for us, not only do we end up exhausted and frustrated, but we also prevent others — including our loved ones — from stepping into their God-given roles.

What roles in your life have been neglected or worn thin because you're carrying too much?
What responsibilities are you holding that someone else should be learning to handle?

Reclaiming God-Given Roles

“I am (loved one’s name)’s (your role: mom, son, wife, friend, etc.).”

What does that relationship look like when aligned with God’s vision?
What might shift in your life — and theirs — if you reclaimed the role God intended for you?

Your Role Matters

God chose you for this relationship. He made you their mom. Their wife. Their brother. Their son. That wasn’t an accident.

This week, ask Him for the strength to lay down the roles you were never meant to carry, and the wisdom to step boldly back into the one He created just for you.

“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” 1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

Faith-based support groups for families of addicts.

Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes: A Story of Faith, Family, and Finding Hope

Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes: A Story of Faith, Family, and Finding Hope

We’ve all heard it time and time again: nothing changes if nothing changes. If something doesn’t prompt change, it simply won’t happen. Change doesn’t occur by accident, and it doesn’t come from wishing or waiting. Real change only begins when someone takes action.

The idea of evoking change isn’t new — but sometimes we need a reminder of how change actually works, and what role we play in making it happen. Change is limitless, but it’s rarely instantaneous. And while we can’t control everything, we can choose how we respond, how we grow, and how we move forward.

For families battling the effects of addiction, this kind of change is essential. When a loved one struggles, it can feel like life is stuck on repeat. Moments of heartbreak, confusion, hope, and disappointment happen again and again. It’s easy to feel powerless.

But you aren’t powerless. You have the power to shift the environment, your mindset, and your approach.

That reminder was a great relief to Barry and Gina Copeland.

Living with Addiction

For over 15 years, their family faced the heartbreaking challenge of their son Kyle’s battle with alcoholism. While watching him struggle to gain sobriety, Barry and Gina came to the realization that not only did Kyle need support, but they needed support as well. They were carrying deep pain, fear, and exhaustion, and they could no longer do it alone.

It was at this point in time that they connected with one of Hope is Alive’s support groups, Finding Hope. The road to Finding Hope wasn’t immediate. Like many families, Barry and Gina tried other support groups that didn’t quite click. There were groups where they felt misunderstood, disconnected, or even more discouraged. But then came Hope is Alive’s Finding Hope program, a support group designed specifically for the loved ones of addicts. There, they found not just tools and insight, but comfort. They weren’t alone anymore. There were others who understood the sleepless nights, the unanswered prayers, and the ache of watching someone you love suffer.

“It can be easy to be disappointed in yourself, be disappointed in God… Am I not praying hard enough? Do I not have enough faith? That's what Finding Hope has really brought — that clarity… this is our role in this.” —Gina Copeland

Faith Over Fear

The message of Finding Hope that resonated with Barry and Gina most is simple but powerful: nothing changes if nothing changes. As Gina says in the video, hearing those words and living those words are very different things, but if you cling to your faith and trust in God, you will get through it.

In Finding Hope, Barry and Gina found a new perspective: their role was not to fix Kyle. As much as they longed for his transformation, they realized they couldn’t want change more than he did. What they could do was care for their own hearts, lean more fully into their faith, and trust God with the outcome. That was the change they could make, and it made all the difference.

Watch the video above to see how Barry and Gina’s story is a powerful reminder that hope, healing, and peace are possible for families of addicts.

Faith Stronger Than Addiction | Bible Reading Plan

Hope is Alive’s Alumni Association Funds a Night Out

Fun in Sobriety: Hope is Alive’s Alumni Association Funds a Night Out

This past March, Hope is Alive alumni from nearly every market stepped away from their usual routines to simply have fun together.

Instead of a traditional meeting format, alumni gathered for a coordinated “Fun Night” across the country. The goal was simple: create space for connection and laughter.

Each market brought its own unique flavor to the evening:

Greenville, NC: A group steak dinner
Crystal Coast, NC: Axe throwing
Tulsa, OK: Pickleball
Oklahoma City and Weatherford, OK: Bowling
Wichita, KS & Kansas City, MO: Topgolf
DFW, TX: Go-kart racing

Food and activities were fully covered by the Alumni Association, allowing attendees to simply show up, enjoy themselves, and participate at whatever level they felt comfortable, whether that meant diving into competition or just catching up with friends.

Many alumni shared that they needed a night like this, and that it was a lot more fun than they expected. There was no formal agenda, no structured programming — just fun in sobriety. And of course, there was some friendly competition mixed in.

From pickleball in Tulsa to bowling in Oklahoma City and Weatherford to Topgolf in Wichita and Kansas City, the competitive side definitely came out. And it wasn’t just the guys! The women showed up and showed out, too. Whether they knew how to play or not, everyone jumped in, laughed a lot, and made the most of it.

Brie Enterline, an alumnus since 2024, shared, “I love alumni outings because I get to be around my people and have fun! I get to see everyone's personalities and how they grow from one month to the next!”

And she’s not alone in this sentiment! There are countless alumni who look forward to these outings.

For a lot of people, it’s something different than what they expected recovery to look like. Nights like this challenge the idea that life in sobriety is boring or limited. Instead, it shows that it can actually be FUN.

It also gives alumni a chance to build deeper, and sometimes brand new, relationships. The same people they once sat next to in meetings or walked through the program with are now their teammates, their competition, or the ones keeping everyone laughing between turns. And beyond that, it brings together alumni from every season of Hope is Alive — those who graduated the program eight years ago and those who graduated six months ago.

“My favorite part of this past alumni outing was all the camaraderie and seeing everybody reconnect with the HIA family,” shared Dylan Wishon, an alumnus since 2025.

The Alumni Association’s investment in nights like these is an investment in the alumni and their joy, their relationships, their sobriety, and their continued success. And if there’s one thing this night made clear, it’s that life after Hope is Alive is nothing like the life they left behind.

Jesus is Always the Answer to Sobriety

Addiction Doesn't Take Away God's Love

Hope is Alive in Greenville

Hope is Alive in Greenville

Hope is the foundation for radical life change. There’s no doubt about it. Before habits change, before healing begins, before a new future feels possible, hope has to take root.

Hope is an expectation, a desire, and a trust that the work being done today will have an impact on tomorrow. It’s the force that keeps us moving forward, especially when the road ahead of us isn’t paved.

The Road to Recovery

‍”If you give all you’ve got to this program, you won’t recognize your life when you graduate.”

This is Hope is Alive’s promise to residents in their program, and they don’t take it lightly. After all, Hope is Alive’s mission is to radically change the lives of drug addicts, alcoholics, and those who love them. It isn’t easy. It requires commitment, persistence, and a willingness to do things differently than before.

Our program doesn’t offer quick fixes or surface-level change. It’s designed to transform residents from the inside out: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Every day is intentionally structured to help residents develop a strong foundation for long-term recovery. We don't just teach residents what to avoid — we teach them what to pursue: character, integrity, responsibility, and connection.

Greenville graduate Mike Alsip knows better than anyone the power behind these lessons.

“Hope is Alive gave me the toolkit to rebuild my life,” he shared. “In just three years, my family and friendships have been fully restored.”

You will not find the Hope is Alive curriculum anywhere else in the world. The life-changing work residents do in our three-phase program was specially designed for Hope is Alive’s approach to recovery. We call it recovery done differently for a reason.

“I wrote a program that works all the way back from ‘I am a raging drug addict and alcoholic’ to ‘this is who God created me to be,’” Ally Lang, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Hope is Alive, shared. “Most places just tell you to stop drinking and using. We say, ‘Let’s create a life so good you never want to escape from it again.’”

The Road After Recovery

Today, Hope is Alive alumni are thriving in careers ranging from real estate and entrepreneurship to ministry and nonprofit leadership. Success looks different for each graduate, but they all leave the program dreaming bigger, setting new goals, and embracing opportunities they once thought were out of reach.

For Greenville graduate Christian Briley, Hope is Alive provided the foundation he needed to build a better future.

“Before coming to Hope is Alive, I didn’t know what true community felt like,” Christian shared. “Having so many men and women of God care for me and pour into my life has been a game-changer. It allowed me to see a deeper picture of the love of Christ.”

That sense of community doesn’t stop at the doors of Hope is Alive. The Greenville community plays an active role in the recovery journey of residents, offering mentorship, prayer, employment opportunities, and unwavering support. Together, they help create an environment where residents are empowered to grow and thrive.

For fellow Greenville graduate Dylan Clem, the greatest impact Hope is Alive had — aside from sobriety — was the quality of the relationships he now has.

“Hope is Alive funneled countless community members and supporters into my life,” Dylan said. “Those relationships wiped away my shame and guilt and allowed me to love myself for the first time in over a decade.”

In Greenville, residents don’t enter the program, graduate, and then disappear. Instead, they leave with relationships already in place — people who know their story, expect growth, and continue to walk with them as they integrate back into “normal” life. This continuity is a critical part of why long-term recovery is possible.

Hope is Alive

Hope is alive in Greenville, and lives are being transformed every single day because of it.

You can see it in the residents learning how to show up, follow through, and take responsibility for their lives. You can see it in the moms who now sleep through the night. You can see it in the children who have a parent back in their lives. And you can see it in the supporters who choose to step in and help make long-term recovery possible.

Hope is Alive because of the belief that no one is ever too far gone. No story is beyond redemption.

This is why Hope is Alive exists. The program doesn’t exist just to help people get sober but also to help them discover purpose. To help them become the men and women they were always created to be. To help families heal, communities grow stronger, and cycles of addiction finally come to an end.

Suppressed Feelings: Addiction's Impact

Suppressed Feelings: Addiction's Impact

Have you ever been told your feelings don’t matter, so you learned to shove them down?

When your husband drinks or your child uses substances, it's easy to feel like your feelings don't matter. So, you shove them down and push onward even though it's more harmful than helpful. You feel powerless to addiction, and just want to avoid the pain it brings. But avoiding and healing are two different things.

At Finding Hope, we say, “You must feel to heal.”

But what does that really mean, especially when it feels like it might hurt too much to even go there?

It is important to truly feel our emotions because awareness is what allows us to grow, heal, and respond in healthier ways. When we are able to recognize and understand what we’re feeling, we can navigate conflicts more effectively because we aren’t reacting out of confusion or hurt.

Processing emotions, rather than avoiding them, helps us move through difficult experiences instead of getting stuck in them. Over time, this builds a deeper sense of self-awareness and gives us greater control, not over whether we feel, but over how we respond.

When we ignore or deny our emotions, they don’t disappear — they often surface in ways that can harm both ourselves and the people around us. Feeling our emotions without judgment allows us to address the root of our pain rather than projecting it onto others or punishing ourselves. True healing begins when we acknowledge what we feel and give ourselves the space to process it with honesty and compassion.

Maybe it’s the first time in a long time, but try to feel. Maybe you need to squeeze that cactus and just cry. Maybe you need to scream into a pillow. Maybe you need to just say “It’s ok to feel.” Whatever you’ve been pushing down, you don’t have to carry it alone anymore. Allow yourself to feel… and let the healing begin.

If you're looking for a support group for wives of drug addicts or alcoholics, or for a support group for moms of alcoholics or drug addicts, join a Finding Hope Family Support Group near you.

We offer recovery for family of alcoholics. We offer recovery for family of addicts. We offer faith-based support groups.

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

20/20 VISION | Bible Reading Plan

Finding Hope Podcast: Refilling Your Wellness Tank

Your Loved One's Sober, Now What?

Your Loved One's Sober, Now What?

You have prayed. You have cried. You have hoped for this moment. Maybe your loved one is finally sober, or maybe you are still waiting and believing for that day to come. Either way, it is important to understand what sobriety really means and what you can expect moving forward.

Early on, I believed treatment would “fix” my husband. But I quickly learned that his addiction is a brain disease that he would have to fight every single day, and that treatment wasn’t a “fix it solution”, but a journey and road to recovery for both of us.

Once your loved one seeks recovery, it is important to have those tough conversations. Some questions to ask are:

“How can I support you?"
“How can I check in with you?"
“What does your recovery plan look like?"
“If I feel like you are slipping, how can I approach you about it."

Having these tough conversations, and being willing to listen and not give advice, can help both of you rebuild trust and have a plan for when you might be triggered or suspect a relapse.

Triggers will happen, and communicating those as well as your boundaries is important for your own recovery. If I feel_____(scared, unsafe, anxious, etc), then I will_____ (leave, lock the door by 9:00, turn my phone on do not disturb). Example: It makes me nervous when I see your truck in our drive before the end of the work day. Can you let me know if you will be home early from work?

Overall, it is very important to stay connected to our Finding Hope community rather than wonder whether your loved one is sober or not. This community needs you and you need them. We all understand the ups and downs of loving someone in recovery.

Here is what other Finding Hope members have learned after their loved one found sobriety:

“This is another process that takes time. They are dealing with a lot and things won’t be easy or quick. We don’t have to feel bad for not trusting them yet, just because they got sober. To encourage, but not micromanage. To love, but not be blind. To not walk on eggshells when we see something going against our knowledge base, just out of fear of us triggering their relapse.”

“Just be happy. Yes, sobriety could be for only a time, but don’t ruin it with ‘what ifs.’ If they sense your anxiety about the bottom falling out, you are not showing your faith in them and their ability to remain sober or with what God’s power can do.”

“I needed to heal from the addiction just as much as my alcoholic needed to get sober. It affects more than just the alcoholic, and while he was working on him, I waited until he was sober to begin to work on myself. I wished I had begun the work long before, while he was still in active addiction.“

Remember: You cannot make them sober, and you cannot keep them sober. Continue surrendering them to God daily. Celebrate today. Hope is choosing to trust God with tomorrow.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

Building Stability After Rehab

Building Stability After Rehab

Completing rehab is a major accomplishment — but what comes next?

For many individuals, the most vulnerable time in recovery is life after rehab. Without structure and support, old habits are a major risk of relapse. That’s why transitional housing for recovery plays such a critical role in long-term sobriety.

Why Transitional Housing Matters in Long-Term Addiction Recovery

Recovery is not a 30-day process. It’s a lifelong journey. While inpatient programs provide intensive care, transitional housing helps individuals apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings.

A structured sober living program offers:

Stable, substance-free housing
Clear guidelines and expectations
Peer accountability
Relapse prevention support
Built-in recovery community

This combination dramatically increases the likelihood of long-term addiction recovery. But not all sober living homes near you provide the same level of structure. At Hope is Alive, our program is intentionally designed to promote responsibility and independence over time.

Residents participate in:

Daily routines and curfews
Employment or education goals
House meetings and peer accountability
Ongoing recovery support services
Community engagement

Structure creates stability. Stability builds confidence. Confidence strengthens recovery.

Recovery Done Differently: Hope is Alive

One of the most powerful elements of sober living is the built-in addiction recovery community. Living alongside others who understand the challenges of recovery can make a huge difference in long-term sobriety.

That’s why Hope is Alive creates an environment where friendships can thrive, residents can give back through mentorship, and everyone can learn and grow together through shared experiences, accountability, and positive peer influence.

Hope is Alive also gives residents a community beyond addiction recovery by connecting them to local churches. This connection provides opportunities for spiritual growth, healthy relationships, and a sense of belonging that extends outside the home.

As a faith-based recovery home, Hope is Alive emphasizes identity and purpose. For them, sobriety is about so much more than avoiding substances. Recovery is an opportunity to become the person you were created to be.

Recovery isn’t just about getting clean; it’s about building a life worth living.