Gresom Grace is on a mission to spread freedom wherever he can. He arrived in America from Nepal seven months ago and now teaches in our Changed Life Recovery Program (CLRP).
Gresom is from a country that has written its opposition to Christianity into its constitution. Less than one percent of Nepalese call themselves Christian, and they are frequently persecuted. While the faith of believers in Nepal is strong, Gresom describes many Nepalese nonbelievers as being in bondage to oppression: “I see that people want to be free, but they don’t know about the power of God.”
In 2020, Gresom married an American missionary named Katelyn. When they came to the US last fall, he was excited to be among people who embraced freedom. However, he soon found that Americans often inaccurately define freedom as “the ability to do what they want.” From his perspective, that’s just another type of bondage.
Because of you, the CLRP exists to teach men to be free. Gresom was excited to join CLRP veteran teacher Dick Ortner, and together, they instruct men in the ways of freedom. Gresom explains this surprising principle: “The greatest freedom is when you are bound. Jesus didn’t just take away your yoke; he gave you his. Being one with Christ is being bound with Christ. We are truly free when we are bound to Christ.” The principle is illustrated in 1 Peter 2:16: “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”
CLRP Director Carlton Hill explains, “Recovery is sobriety, but Jesus is freedom.”
“Addiction is a symptom of a person’s bondage. I’ve known many people who have gotten sober, but the rest of their behavior hasn’t changed. We want to help men get free.”
Gresom’s passion for freedom drew him to be a teacher at the Mission. Carlton says, “When Gresom came to America, he didn’t recognize Christianity how it’s practiced. He teaches real Christianity; you can hear the passion in his voice.”
The CLRP teaches men freedom that goes beyond release from their addiction. Carlton says, “I want men to have the freedom to be confident to make healthy choices, to have freedom from negative thoughts. To have freedom from shame and guilt; to make a mistake, admit the mistake, and not shut down.”
The mother of one of our CLRP graduates recently stated, “I thank God for this Mission … because this is the first time in 30 years that my son has finished a program.” You are helping to set men free every day.
