Success Stories
Mark D. Ferraiuolo
Outreach to Old Firehouse soup kitchen
I was prompted to come here kind of on a spiritual level. I played guitar in a band and got into all the drugs and drinking that go along with that lifestyle. Then my wife of 13 years left me and the drinking took over. I gave up all work and just drank as much as I could until the money was gone. I purposely violated my restraining order and got myself thrown in jail to dry up. I filled out a request form to see the prison chaplain, who happened to be Vann Ellison, five years before he started at St. Matthew's. He showed me a book called The Serenity Bible, which is a biblically-based 12- step recovery plan. When I got out of prison I was in Project Recovery but chose instead to go to a friend's home in Palm River Estates. When I got there something told me to turn around and ride the 13 miles back to St. Matthew's House. They had a bed for me when I got here, and I stayed eight months. I only had four months to complete a six month probation program and as God would have it, I finished in 12 weeks instead of six months. During that time I was at the Family Health Clinic and the doctor noticed the carpel tunnel syndrome I'd had since 1978. They suggested I see the orthopedic surgeon they had, but I said I had no money. They told me not to worry. I ended up having surgery to correct it and it only cost me $8 for my initial visit. Also, my right hand was crippled to where my thumb and forefinger didn't work. At that time I started going to a Bible study where I learned how to pray and ask for healing from our Heavenly Father. My prayer was that if He ever did heal this hand, if I ever would pick up a guitar again and play it, I'd play it in praise and worship of Him. I've been playing six years with the praise team at our church, and it's been eight years since I've had a drink; over eight years, full of the Lord Jesus.