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Nashville Rescue Mission recovery program ‘changed my life,’ graduate says





Joey James was struggling with drug addiction six years ago. Now he’s an aircraft mechanic, a homeowner and a born-again Christian.Tyler Hummel / Main Street Nashville

Joey James was struggling with drug addiction six years ago. Now he’s an aircraft mechanic, a homeowner and a born-again Christian.Tyler Hummel / Main Street Nashville

Joey James was battling drug addiction when he approached the Nashville Rescue Mission six years ago for help. He’s since graduated from its recovery program, earned his GED, become an airplane mechanic and is closing on a new home in Lebanon.

James graduated from Nashville Rescue Mission’s Life Recovery Program on July 29, 2016.

“The program changed my life,” he said. “I was just in a bad way with drugs, self-destructing my life, pretty much kept making bad choices, and the Lord put someone in my path that led me to Nashville.”

James was dealing with a DWI charge six years ago, after he put his car in a ditch, when a family friend approached him about the Nashville Rescue Mission. He was strung out on drugs to the point where he didn’t want his family to see him. He moved from Grandbois, Louisiana, to Nashville to look into the recovery program.

He initially declined the offer for a year and attempted to get sober on his own terms. He returned after relapsing. He took it as a sign from God to get his life in order.

Joey James, right, and a fellow Nashville Rescue Mission program graduate attend the 16th annual turkey fry last month.Courtesy / Joey James

Joey James, right, and a fellow Nashville Rescue Mission program graduate attend the 16th annual turkey fry last month.Courtesy / Joey James

“The year before I had heard about the Rescue Mission and was offered it before, but I decided to go by myself because I didn’t want to give up cigarettes at the time,” James said. “I cleaned up my act and got myself a job on the river and was doing good for about nine months before I gave up and went back down the old road. When I hit that low point, I took it as God guiding me through the year of myself. When that didn’t work, he said, ‘You want to try my own way now?’ I tried my own way, and it didn’t work out.”

James said the seven-month program can be intense. The program involves daily counseling, a work program, life skills education and GED classes. He volunteered in the Rescue Mission’s kitchen to help prepare breakfast and lunch for the shelter’s guests. He remained committed to the program.

“I stayed committed to it the entire time,” he said. “That’s me. I’m the type of person that when I commit to something, I’m going to do it.”

Joey James, right, and a fellow Nashville Rescue Mission graduate attend the 16th annual turkey fry last month.Courtesy / Joey James

Joey James, right, and a fellow Nashville Rescue Mission graduate attend the 16th annual turkey fry last month.Courtesy / Joey James

James was offered a job working for the Rescue Mission after completing the Life Recovery Program. He needed a full-time job to be allowed to stay in the transitory housing that the Rescue Mission provides to graduates.

“Within two weeks, the director of operations asked if I’d ever thought about working at the mission,” James said. “In my mind, it was me giving back what they gave to me. I actually became a kitchen supervisor for my first six months working. Then I got transferred to maintenance for five months before the director came to me again and said a position was open for operations coordinator, being the right hand of the director of operations. I ended up being his right hand for almost 2½ years.”

James attended an 18-month program at Tennessee College of Applied Technology and graduated on Dec. 9, 2020, at the top of his class. He became qualified as a mechanic for airframe and powerplant work on commercial aircraft.

 

 

He works at Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services at Nashville International Airport, where he removes and replaces parts and performs scheduled maintenance.

James still regularly volunteers with the Rescue Mission. He assisted with its 16th annual turkey fry last month.

“I try to help out every holiday or event that I can,” he said. “I worked the turkey fry and helped them Thanksgiving morning to get the meals ready.”

James is close to closing on a new home.

“God has blessed me to buy a new house out in Lebanon,” he said. “I was blessed to find an actual brand-new home. I’m finalizing all the paperwork on it now and hopefully we’ll be able to close it before Christmas.”

James said he looks forward to visiting with his friends from the Rescue Mission this Christmas.

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