SOMERSET, Ky. (KT) — The recent account of the salvation and baptism of a man while he was wearing ankle bracelets attracted widespread attention on Kentucky Today as well as social media. That man’s story is made even more impactful when considering what happened before and after his salvation experience.
Kris Mitchell was not identified in the July 9 Kentucky Today story about a baptism connected to an evangelistic event of Barnesburg Baptist Church. In a letter and phone call with Kentucky Today, Mitchell told how he almost died in recent months, then related how his life has dramatically changed since he trusted Jesus Christ as Savior.
Mitchell, now in residing at the Protea Behavioral Health Counseling facility in Somerset, recalled how he almost lost his life before landing in rehab.
“I was found dead in the VFW parking lot in Frankfort,” he said. “They had to shock me back, and then I was in the hospital for three days."
An arrest soon followed.
“My friend had asked me to ride with him to get his driver’s license. On the way there, we got pulled over. There were drugs on him but no drugs on me, but they found a firearm in the vehicle, and they put me in jail because I’m a convicted felon. I was locked up on a Wednesday, and by the next Tuesday someone saw my mug shot and got the ball rolling for me to get into rehab after the 28 days in jail."
Initially at Protea, Mitchell said he “still had that urge” to do drugs.
“Someone told me about the (Barnesburg Baptist) rally and I went,” Mitchell said. “The guy who preached touched me. I’m usually the kind of person who sits back and won’t say anything,” but Mitchell said the gospel message resulted in him stepping out in faith, trusting Christ as Savior and following in baptism—but that necessitated people holding up each leg to keep ankle monitors from getting wet.
“It’s the best decision I have ever made in my life,” Mitchell said. “I was lost before that day. I went from being in active drug addiction for the past 30 years to the Lord working miracles in my life today. My wife is back in my life now, as well as my daughter, who wouldn’t speak to me. I am blessed today, even though I am still in rehab.
“I tried many times to stop using (drugs) and was close got ending my life because I didn’t want to be sick any more. I’ve been in and out of prison most of my adult life because of drug addiction. Even though I’m facing going back to prison for something I did while I was in active drug addiction (firearm charge), I have found peace and happiness in my life. I give my praise to the Lord because I couldn’t do it without Him. He is truly showing me the way. I have peace in my life today and I know no matter what happens to me, He is going to guide me and show me the way. He will not let man put on me more than I can stand.”
Mitchell, 45, said he reads his Bible every day, a stark difference from his pre-conversion life.
“I was in a dark place. I had a brother who had been brutally murdered. I asked if there was a God why He let something like that happen. I was a very violent person, and I was put around violent people. But I learned from my brother’s death. It made me stop and think—if I hurt somebody, I’m not just hurting that person, but the people who love and care about them.”
Mitchell said if he had the Lord in his life many years ago, “my whole outcome would have been different. I was raised in a violent home, and I thought violence was the way. I watched my mom get beat, I grew up in the street and didn’t go home because of the abuse. I wasn’t raised in church—I didn’t know right from wrong. But my life is totally different today—I couldn’t do this (recovery) on my own—the Lord took away the (drug) cravings. He has changed my life.”
Mitchell said rehab at Protea was the result of unusual circumstances.
“I was told they had never seen anybody get in rehab this quick. I didn’t pick it—but they saw how bad I looked and that I needed help. The judge went for it. They are successful here at Protea. They have my back here—they love you here.”
Jen Wolfe, a counselor at Protea, said the firm started four years ago, but “it was about 14 years ago that God put this dream in my heart. We try to provide opportunities for people to do something different in their life, to determine the care they need. It’s working. We use a barrier reduction model—getting things out of the way that prevent them from getting treatment.”
She said Protea has many success stories, and many who go through treatment there go on to lead productive lives.
“I cry because it is so amazing. We are not faith-based driven, but we are faith based in that we really promote that. Clients go to church with us—we don’t force it, but we want them to willingly and humbly go to God.
“Our tagline is ‘Live life in full bloom,’—a flower that can grow and flourish even in adversity. Most of our clients come to us with a lot of adversity—a lot of issues and problems. We allow them to bloom to live their life in full bloom. We desire people to be sober and contributing members of the community. There’s no judgment. We are here to serve. Anybody that comes to us is welcome. We will love them and tell they are worth it and give them loving care until they can do it themselves.”
(Submitted photo)