Jesus Loves Addicts

106: Stop Praying For Me - Part 2 (w/ Lauren McDonald)

In this episode Lauren McDonald joins the Jesus Loves Addicts podcast to tell a candid, hope-filled account of a decade-long fall into meth addiction, homelessness, and an abusive relationship — and the moment she cried out to God behind closed doors. Hosts and guests discuss scripture (including Psalm 55 and 2 Kings 6), the power of persistent prayer, and the role of tough love from family in recovery. You’ll hear Lauren’s arrest and jail-to-faith turning point, how God’s word met her in the dorms, the painful choices her mother faced, and the concrete restoration that followed: getting her son back, steady church life, marriage, and now ministry work helping other women and inmates find freedom in Christ. Expect honest conversation about rewards and challenges in recovery, stigma, spiritual warfare, and practical next steps for those seeking help — and a frank reminder that no one is beyond mercy.

105. Stop Praying For Me - Part 1 (w/ Lauren McDonald)

In this episode, Lauren McDonald and her mother join the Jesus Loves Addicts podcast to tell a raw, two-perspective account of addiction, family, and faith. Lauren recounts a decade-long slide from social drinking and experimentation in high school to homelessness and meth addiction, the role of peer pressure and compromises, and the moment God met her in a jail cell. Topics include early warning signs, the slow fade into harder drugs, the strain on parent-child relationships, co-occurring behaviors like gambling, and the practical tensions of enabling versus protecting a child. Guests discuss conviction, the importance of intentional recovery, accountability, and how Christ and community (including resources like Home of Grace) played a part in restoration. Listeners can expect an honest conversation about failure and hope: how addiction affects families, what recovery can look like, and the message that—even in the darkest places—redemption is possible.

104. Don't Tell Nobody (w/ Pastors Bryan and Angela Jones)

In this episode Pastor Bryan and Angela Jones share their raw, honest testimony about childhood trauma, family alcoholism, and long careers of self‑medicating through drugs and alcohol before encountering Christ. They describe painful early experiences—including molestation and neglect—how shame and secrecy fueled addiction, and the turning points that led them back to faith. The conversation covers recovery pathways like Teen Challenge, the challenges and rewards of sobriety, marital resilience, and the couple’s surprising call into ministry. Bryan and Angela explain how God transformed their pain into purpose, building a church that reaches addicts, bikers, and the overlooked. Hosts and guests reflect on stigma, submission, grace, and practical hope for listeners facing addiction or brokenness, while highlighting Christ‑centered recovery resources such as the Home of Grace and the power of community to restore lives.

103. Shoving it Down (w/ James Rutledge)

Guest James Rutledge shares an unflinching account of 20+ years trapped in addiction to marijuana, alcohol, meth, crack, bath salts, prescription pills and pornography, and how those habits destroyed his marriage, trust, and peace despite outward success. The episode covers Jamie’s childhood struggles with shame and isolation, early exposure to porn, escalating substance use, relapse cycles, multiple rehabs, a suicide attempt, and the turning point that led him to a life-changing relationship with Jesus and long-term recovery at Home of Grace. Listeners will hear practical themes about accountability, community, faith-based recovery, relapse triggers, hope after loss, and how Jamie now serves others through ministry, Celebrate Recovery, and peer support. This episode is for anyone affected by addiction or seeking a faith-centered path to restoration.

102. Life With No Order (w/ Tiffany Clayton)

Guest Tiffany Clayton shares a raw, hopeful memoir of addiction beginning in seventh grade and spanning two decades — from prescription pills and Xanax to IV meth, homelessness, jail, and losing custody of her children. The episode covers childhood trauma, family addiction, domestic abuse, the death of her mother, and the moment she hit rock bottom. Tiffany describes entering long-term treatment at the Home of Grace, wrestling with anger toward God, and how faith, community support, and honest recovery work led to nearly five years of sobriety. Key moments include regaining custody, forgiving her family, rebuilding life as a single mom, working at her church daycare, and taking mission trips to Belize with her daughters. Listeners can expect candid discussion of relapse, stigma, the challenges and rewards of recovery, the role of Christ in overcoming weakness, and practical hope for anyone affected by addiction or seeking a faith-centered path to restoration.