The Restoration Ministry is a healing ministry. It is an outreach service to addicted gamblers.

In the minds of most of us the term “addiction” is generally associated with dependence on alcohol or drugs.

Gambling, however, is as pernicious – life-destroying, one might say - as dependence on the above mentioned vices.

The Restoration Ministry began as an outgrowth of Life in the Spirit seminars, in the course of which some men, in giving their lives to Jesus, requested prayer for healing.

Violet prayed that in coming to know the Lord and in recognising God’s power in them, Jesus would turn the lives of those men around and give them the victory over the addiction of gambling. The focus of the Ministry is and has been ever since on the strength of Jesus to transform lives.

The Ministry was formed over 12 years ago and during that period has counselled over 100 gamblers. Counselling sessions are held weekly, in which it is emphasised that God is the power and that coming to know God provides the strength to overcome the temptations and to acknowledge that gambling is a disease.  In the beginning, the Ministry was helped by literature from the international organisation Gamblers Anonymous (GA).

Many proponents of gambling see it and promote it as a form of recreation and entertainment like partying and liming, which it definitely is not. In our counselling sessions, the tragic circumstances which are brought about by what may have begun as simple recreation, are exposed.

Typical examples are:

• Inability to pay mortgages
• Inability to pay children’s schooling
• Resort to money lenders whose pernicious demands are well known
• Loss of homes, cars and the like
• Most of all, break up of families.

The counselling programme of the Restoration Ministry involves adjusting the behavioural pattern of the person while improving them spirituality. Violet has remarked, “in every situation when we follow the Lord and tap into His power, then we see a transformation. There is loss of self-respect but we love you nevertheless and do not pass judgement – which is important for healing and helping restore the dignity of the person”.

Here is a testimony of someone who is being helped by the Ministry.

“My name is Michael and I have a wife and two young children. I nearly lost them to an undetectable disease I have come to learn as Compulsive Gambling. This non-medically diagnosed disease makes you lie, cheat, steal, hurt family members and spend time away from your loved ones.

Many believe that compulsive gambling is strictly a financial dilemma but there are many to prove otherwise. In my case, it was eroding my family life and destroying all values that would keep a family together and growing.  I was going to go away to seek help and with the loving help from family sought to seek help here in Trinidad, which led me to the Emmanuel Community.

I have stopped gambling over six months now thanks to my brothers and fellowship at the Emmanuel Community and a belief in that Jesus Christ is watching over me and guiding me in my road to recovery.

I am rebuilding relationships with my wife and family and slowly making many of the wrongs I have done into positive steps forward that will lead to a more fruitful and fulfilling life.

I still have much to grow and hopefully, with my faith and fellowship, will aid in arresting this disease for life”.

This is but one of several testimonies in which participants have acknowledged that Jesus Christ has transformed their lives and, with their focus on the strength of Jesus, families have been united again.

The co-ordinator of the Restoration Ministry is Wayne Lee who can be contacted at the Community Centre – 628-1586/8181/1064.   Women please note that counsellors are available to offer you their help.

Need more information or have comments? Please feel free to contact us at Emmanuel Community - 628-1064, 628-1586.