Articles by Hope Is Alive

Helping a Loved One Trapped in Addiction

Finding Hope Team

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Made for More | Bible Reading Plan

How to Stop Enabling an Addict

Enabling Addiction

Learning to Trust God | Bible Reading Plan

Finding Hope Goes International

Finding Hope Goes International

In May of 2025, Amy LaRue, Director of Family Support Groups, opened her inbox to a message from a family in Australia. They shared that they had recently learned about Finding Hope and wanted to know more — what it was, what the ministry stood for, and whether something like this could even exist in their community.

Amy’s very first question to them was: “How did you find us all the way in Australia?”

Up until this point, in-person Finding Hope meetings were restricted to the United States. While Amy wanted to go international, she hadn’t yet had the opportunity to make it happen.

Australia Discovers Finding Hope

Trevor and Cheryl, in their search for support in the recovery world, were encouraged to listen to Ben Fuller’s music. While watching different concerts and performances on YouTube, one video led to another, and eventually, they stumbled across a video from Night of Hope.

In March of 2025, just a couple of months prior, Finding Hope celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a special event called Night of Hope. In the midst of Ben Fuller’s performance, a video compilation of testimonies from people affected by addiction played on the large screen behind the stage.

As the video played, Trevor and Cheryl realized they were watching families who were in the same position as theirs. Finally, they had found other people who loved someone struggling with addiction.

When they looked into Finding Hope, they learned that it was a faith-based support group specifically catering to the loved ones of addicts and alcoholics. They read that meetings provided attendees with education, inspiration, community, and hope. Instantly, they wondered why something like this wasn’t offered through their church.

Finding Hope Takes Root in Australia

After learning more about Finding Hope, Trevor and Cheryl reached out to Amy directly to ask questions and understand what it would take to bring a group to Australia. At that point, they were simply exploring whether this was something that could realistically work in their church.

Amy responded and began walking them through how Finding Hope groups operate. It didn’t take long for Trevor, Cheryl, and their pastor to fully jump on board. Support for families impacted by addiction was limited in their area, and Finding Hope could fill a gap they had long recognized.

Their church has three campuses, and their pastor shared a desire to eventually offer Finding Hope at all three locations. From the beginning, the goal was to create consistent support across their church community.

To make that happen, Trevor and Cheryl completed Finding Hope training and stayed in regular communication with Amy. They joined existing Finding Hope Zoom meetings in the United States to better understand the structure and flow of the groups. It was an easy way for them to see how meetings function in real time.

At the same time, they began identifying others within their church who were interested in helping launch the ministry. They decided, given how new it was, that it would be best to launch Finding Hope at just one campus to start. This approach will allow their team to learn, adjust, and build a strong foundation before expanding to the other two campuses.

The first Finding Hope group in Australia is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, February 10th, with a second daytime meeting to follow on Wednesday, February 18th.

This launch marks Finding Hope’s first international, in-person support group and represents a significant step forward in expanding support to families impacted by addiction beyond the United States.

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

Finding Hope Podcast: Is Addiction a Brain Disease or Choice?

Finding a New Strength

Finding a New Strength

How are you really doing?

For many of us, loving someone in addiction has stretched our hearts in ways we never expected. We carry worry, fear, disappointment, hope, exhaustion, and love all at once. It’s a lot. Because it’s a lot, we tend to answer with, “I’m fine.”

Ignoring the question is easier, right? It’s easier than slowing down long enough to feel the things we’ve pushed aside. It’s easier than admitting we’re overwhelmed. It’s easier than feeling like we are burdening someone else with our troubles.

But the truth is, pretending we’re “fine” doesn’t change anything, and it definitely doesn't heal anything. When we bury our emotions, it’s a temporary fix. They will always show back up — in our stress, our sleep, our relationships, our boundaries, and even our faith.

That’s why God invites us to bring our whole selves to Him, and that’s why we invite you to bring your whole self to Finding Hope.

Your Finding Hope community wants to meet you right where you are. Our meetings are spaces where you don’t have to pretend, perform, or hold everything together. You get to show up exactly as you are — tired, hopeful, hurting, strong, unsure — and you will be welcomed with open arms.

When you sit in a room with people who understand this journey, you begin to realize you’re not crazy, you’re not overreacting, and you’re not alone. You’re a human being carrying a heavy load that God never intended for you to carry by yourself.

This year, instead of powering through, I encourage you to be honest with yourself, those around you, and God.

How are you really doing?

Maybe you need rest. Maybe you need boundaries. Maybe you need to let go of guilt. Maybe you need to trust God with the parts of your story you cannot control. Whatever it is, bring it to God and bring it to your next Finding Hope meeting.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Here’s to a new year and a new strength. We’re with you, and God is too.

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

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HIA Welcomes 13 Graduates to Alumni Association

HIA Welcomes 13 Graduates to Alumni Association

This season, we had the incredible honor of celebrating another group of graduates who have completed their Hope is Alive program journey!

Our Alumni Association welcomed an astounding 13 new members last month, bringing the total count up to 304 alumni!

Our Promise to Residents

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

This is our promise to residents in our program. And we don’t take it lightly.

The Hope is Alive recovery program is designed to radically change the lives of drug addicts and alcoholics. 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.

“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.’ 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.’” —Ally Lang

The Future of Our Graduates

Any HIA alumnus will tell you that graduating from the program is only the beginning. While they’ve come a long way, they know their best days are still ahead.

Today, HIA 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.

Here’s what some of our recent graduates are most looking forward to in this next chapter of their lives:

“Right now, my main focus is finishing up work on my RV, taking a trip this summer, and getting back to recording music. I’m in a much better place than I was two years ago, and I’m more focused and positive about the future.” —Charlie Roberts, Wichita

“Being guided by Jesus Christ has shaped how I lead — through service, integrity, and love. I’m excited to step into this next season, using my gifts to serve others and build meaningful community.” —Amy Wheeler, Kansas City

“Now that I've graduated, I’m committed to walking in faith by staying connected to Hope is Alive through fellowship and service, helping others find sobriety, and growing alongside my church, my community, and my friends — all while finding joy in the journey.” —Chase O'Shields, OKC

“After graduating from Hope is Alive, I am looking forward to mentoring guys still in the program and being of service to them through sponsoring them in AA and CODA. I will also be involved in men's ministry through Band of Brothers here in Tulsa. What I'm most excited about is getting to cook for my family again and having family meals nearly every day. Getting readjusted to family life will be challenging, but I am looking forward to seeing where God takes us moving forward with Him as our center focus!” —James Wylie, Tulsa

Long-term sobriety is sustained through a connection with the addiction community, and our Alumni Association provides just that.

Is Your Self-Talk Driving Your Day?

Is Your Self-Talk Driving Your Day?

Did you know the average person has 60,000 thoughts a day, and nearly 75% of them can be negative? These thoughts form the basis of our self-talk. Is your inner dialogue lifting you up or holding you back?

A pattern of negative self-talk traps us in fear, increasing our stress and anxiety levels. You may experience more health issues, including higher blood pressure, stomach issues, and more muscle tension. What negative thoughts are hindering your life today?

On the other hand, when we live in a positive self-talk pattern, it boosts our motivation, optimism, and confidence. It’s a powerful internal shift that can reduce health issues. Positive self-talk floods your brain with endorphins, helping you relax and remain alert and centered.

How can we begin to shift from negative to positive self-talk?

One powerful tool is creating a personal declaration — a statement you say aloud each day that firmly defines who you are. This declaration should be rooted in God's view of you and His promises in Scripture. Who are you in God’s eyes, and what does scripture say? What truth has God empowered you to live out today?

These declarations often start with an affirmation statement you can repeat anytime you notice negative self-talk or anxiety creeping in. For example: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, full of hope, peace, and joy.”

As we continue this new year, let's commit to shifting our self-talk from negative to positive. Write and read your personal declaration each morning, and hold your affirmation statement throughout the day.

I love what Craig Groeshel says: “If we’re going to do everything God has called us to do in our families, churches, and communities, we must replace negative thoughts with God’s truth.

What truth are you choosing today?

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today

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Putnam City Baptist Church Helps Families Find Hope

Putnam City Baptist Church Helps Families Find Hope

When their son, Michael, died from his addiction, Mike and Tanya Dorris thought their lives would no longer be intertwined with substance abuse.

“I thought, ‘We’re done with this now. We’re ready to move on in our lives and do something else,’” Tanya remembered.

But God wasn’t finished using the Dorris family to change lives. Two months after Michael’s death,Tanya attended an event featuring Lance Lang, HIA Founder and CEO, as a speaker.

“God drew us into his ministry,” Tanya said. “We fell in love with Lance and what he was doing. God was really working on our hearts, and we didn’t even know it.”

Mike and Tanya started volunteering with Hope is Alive, but they still felt they could do something more. About a year and a half after their first encounter with Lance, they landed on their new God-given mission: helping other families who loved addicts and alcoholics.

“For 10 years we struggled withwhat to do with Michael,” Mike said. “Everything we tried didn’t work. It was very hard on our marriage, our youngest son, and his new wife. Addiction affects the entire family.”

“So, we wanted to develop a support group where people could learn together about addiction, as well as find hope and healing,” Tanya said.

As members of Putnam City Baptist Church, Mike and Tanya brought it before their pastor, Bill Hulse, to see how the church could participate.

“From the very beginning, it was a great need for so many families that were dealing with addiction and the hurt,” Hulse said. “So, it was a no-brainer.”

“The church supported us 100 percent,” Tanya said.

The church prayed over the ministry, provided a room, and members showed up in support. The first Finding Hope group met on February 9, 2015, with more than 30 people.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” Mike remembered.

For the past 10 years, Mike and Tanya have led the group with support from HIA and their church. Dozens of parents, spouses, and grandparents have come and gone — many finding hope and healing, whether their loved one did or not. Today, the group typically meets with 10–18 people on the first and third Monday of every month.

And the partnership with Finding Hope goes both ways. Not only does Putnam City Baptist Church provide a safe space for men and women to meet, but the support group has also created new opportunities and perspectives for the church over the past decade.

“Addiction is not only a physiological issue, but also a spiritual issue,” Hulse said. “I think the church should always be at the forefront of helping people in times of hurt and struggles.”

“I think it’s opened up the eyes of the congregation about addiction, and people can talk about it more freely,” Tanya said. “Before, it was ‘keep it all inside and don’t say anything.’ Now, people know there’s somebody they can go talk to and try to find help.”

Pastor Hulse encourages other churches and couples considering hosting a Finding Hope group to take the leap.

“This is a ministry that every church needs,” Hulse said. “Every congregation has people who are dealing with this struggle in the culture we live in today, and we need to equip the saints to do the ministry God calls us to do, within our own families, but also within the church family and our community.”

Mike and Tanya couldn’t agree more.

“You can’t go wrong, you just need to open your arms and doors to people — non-Christians or Christians,” Mike said. “They all have the same issue.”

“And don’t be discouraged if you do that, whether you have one person or 10 people,” Tanya said. “If only one shows up, there’s a reason only one shows up.”

Since they started the first group in 2015, one group has grown to more than 60 across the country, serving more than 10,000 men and women over the years. Mike and Tanya both wish they’d had a Finding Hope group to attend when their son was battling addiction.

“But then again,” Tanya said, “if Michael were here, we might not have had this class either, right? God knew what was going to happen.”

“We’re truly blessed,” Mike said. “We always told our son that if he got through this, he was going to have a wonderful testimony. Little did we know the testimony would be ours.”

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For more information, visit:

FindingHope.Today

HopeAfterLoss.Today