Meet Matt: Walking in Freedom at Greenhouse Recovery
On Sundays at Greenhouse Fellowship, as we’ve been taking a deep dive, verse-by-verse, into the first book of Corinthians. It’s been incredible, and so timely.
Our fellowship is learning that true freedom isn’t doing whatever we want but rather laying down our desires to be fulfilled in what God has for us.
HINT: His way is better!
The Corinthians struggled with idolatry, pride, and division — sound familiar?
Yet we’ve been reminded that even our struggles are invitations to depend on God and be transformed into the likeness of Christ. That’s where true freedom is found, by daily putting on the mind of Christ and walking in a manner worthy of the Gospel.
Freedom is when we can actually call all of our desires into submission to Christ.
Nowhere is that freedom more visible than in the lives of the men God is raising up through Greenhouse Recovery.
I can hardly begin to tell you how incredible this season has been. Every week we’re seeing men set free by the power of Jesus Christ. This isn’t just on Sundays at church, or Monday night’s Freedom Group Meetings, but all throughout the week. It’s happening one conversation, one counseling session, one heart at a time.
Let me tell you about Matt Turvey.
Matt came to Greenhouse Recovery straight from prison. From day one, I could tell there was something different about him. He came to me one day and said, “Pastor John, I took your advice and read the entire Recovery Bible.” I thought, this guy means business. He gave his life to Jesus, got baptized, and everything changed.
Matt describes Greenhouse Recovery, “I was shepherded and loved until I could love myself.”
He came from a painful past that was marked by family brokenness, abuse, and a deep longing for meaning and belonging. “I chased feelings and tried to fill the emptiness with something that would make me feel whole. From taking pills to selling them, I always took things to the extreme. Stealing stuff. In and out of jail. I knew things had to change. I came to Greenhouse Recovery and I was really serious. Pastor John welcomed me with open arms.”
More than finding a home at Greenhouse, Matt found a family.
Today, Matt’s not only walking in freedom — he’s helping other men find it too. Matt is now our full-time intake officer, the first face new residents see when they arrive at Greenhouse Recovery. He’s leading, teaching, serving, and reminding everyone who walks through our doors that they matter. Matt said: “Now I get to help other guys not make the same mistakes I made.”
But how is transformation like this possible? Romans 10 tells us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” We’re honored to be able to offer to these guys Christ-centered counseling — 376 hours of one-on-one counseling last year! — which provides a critical pathway of accountability, responsibility and ownership.
More than 100 men have come through our program this year alone, and our team has logged hundreds — soon to be thousands — of hours in one-on-one counseling.
These sessions take tremendous dedication, lots of time and planning, and the ability to be present. We don’t rush. We check our own drama at the door.
For our team, having the right mindset — one that is centered on Christ, full of mercy and compassion, and stayed on his Word and His love — is vital. The right mindset promotes connection, and connection promotes healing. The key is listening. These guys know that if you listen, you care.
And while lasting transformation may start in these counseling sessions, it can’t stop there. That’s why we “do life together” — from running errands to sharing meals to being together for holidays.
Every interaction communicates, “You matter. You belong. You’re family.”
And that’s what we strive for every day: everyone who walks through the doors at Greenhouse Recovery — no matter how broken — finds a place to belong.
Pray with us today:
Thank God for pouring out His spirit on Greenhouse Recovery, Greenhouse Fellowship, our neighbors, and staff
Lift up Matt Turvey for continued growth and a deepened faith as the Lord establishes his steps
Pray that seeds sown in counseling hours and recovery meetings would multiply for God’s glory