God didn’t allow a bullet to kill him….meet our new Board Member
Greenhouse Project is all about transforming lives and helping them grow in difficult places. People do not choose where they were born or what their circumstances were growing up. We are here to show God’s love to them in the midst of their hardship and walk alongside them.
Our newest Board Member is no stranger to hardship. We are excited to introduce Charles Lee Knuckles as our newest Board Member to you - our friends, family, prayer partners, and sponsors.
Please keep reading to hear Charles’ incredible story of addiction, hopelessness, poverty, and hopelessness, and how God transformed his life into one where he now helps others in those circumstances.
Early Years and Addiction
Charles was orphaned at only two years old and raised in an especially bad area in Philly. His life was full of depression and dependency on drugs. At one point he was living in an abandoned building. The people around us play such a big role in choices we make.
“When I was out doing drugs, the people around me always had negative suggestions.”
A significant event occurred one day after buying drugs. Someone shot him in the back of his head and he doesn’t even know why.
“I woke up in the hospital. I was so addicted. It seemed like drugs were my only source of relief. When I looked across the ER I saw my bloody clothes.”
The bullet remained in his head for 25 years and only recently was removed earlier this year.
Even a bullet didn’t stop his addiction at that time. Addictions are so powerful and hard to break the cycles. “I walked out of the hospital to get high. Drugs helped me not to feel like a loser, to help me not feel the pain. It was not the way out.”
Charles even tried to hang himself on one occasion. He said, “This is the amazing God that we serve. I don't remember what happened. I don't remember how the rope got away from my neck.”
It is the grace of God that didn’t allow a bullet or attempted suicide to end Charles’ life. God had so much more in store for him.
Recovery
Finally one day he went to a Christian Ministry named Cityteam where I (Pastor John) met him. Charles begged Cityteam to take him in. “I wasn't a Christian. I didn't know much about God or much about Christ. I didn't believe God had a heart for my neighborhood. I didn't think God had a heart for me.”
The group was asking for people to volunteer to clean the bathrooms and Charles volunteered unexpectedly. “A week into cleaning the bathroom on my hands and knees, I realized I was cleaning the most disgusting things out of the bathroom. God was cleaning the most disgusting things out of my heart. God was touching areas that had not been cleaned before”
About a week after going into a recovery program he gave his life to God.
“I never smoked another cigarette. I never had another relapse.”
Reaching out to others
Charles graduated from the recovery program and set out to not only thrive but to help others, specifically men in addiction, to thrive as well. “One of the things I heard the loudest as a resident in a Christian recovery center was “help others” and I have been doing that.”
Charles became an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ICADC) and Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor-CA, (LAADC-CA).
“As a licensed therapist. I have used all the therapeutic modalities in my practice but the ones that work, that really work, are actually Christ centered. Whenever I get a chance I always point my clients to Jesus. Jesus will do things that therapy can't do.” That is the total transformation we are all about at Greenhouse Project.
Charles strongly encourages people to read their Bibles and be involved in a local church. “Your thought life is always the life that leads you. What you're hearing the most, what you're seeing the most, what you're talking about the most. Without the holy spirit I would be lost.
“It's all about Jesus, without Jesus there is nothing."
Charles is happily married to a wonderful wife who is also involved in ministry.
In addition to various volunteer work, he has contributed to recovery in many ways. Over the years he was a director of a men’s recovery center for twelve years, founded a non-profit mostly consisting of recovery graduates, was on the board of the recovery center he went through for five years.
“My mantra has always been “Rescue a man and you rescue a family, rescue a family and you rescue a neighborhood.”
Looking forward with Greenhouse Project
Charles is coming to Greenhouse with decades of experience helping people with addiction. I’ve known him for over twenty years. He said “when [you] asked me to join the board I was excited and thrilled.”
When we asked Charles what what something he would want the friends and supporters of Greenhouse to know about himself, he said “I believe in [Greenhouse Project] strongly. That's why I accepted the position of Board Member. I wish it was around when I was homeless.”
We look forward to hearing from Charles as he shares creative input on preventing relapse and draws from his vast knowledge and experience on topics so relevant to Greenhouse Project and our ministry in Chester.
His expertise and wisdom will be an asset to Greenhouse Project as we continue to help people in their recovery journey. Charles is motivated to serve and said "anything I can contribute, I will contribute. I volunteer in as many areas as I can, but my specialty is still recovery.”
What a perfect fit for our ministry!
Please join us in welcoming Charles to our board. We are thankful and blessed to have him come alongside us.
If you would like to partner with us too there are many opportunities to serve with us.