Joy Copeland was born in Orange County, California, and raised in Texas as the youngest of four daughters. Often feeling out of place, she leaned into humor to stand out and embraced the identity of the “good kid,” hoping it would earn her belonging. Her faith began early—baptized at six and raised around Christianity—but over time, that faith became transactional: “If I’m good, God will give me what I want.”

Music became her safe haven. She excelled at the oboe and earned a college scholarship, but once in college, Joy's life began to unravel. She turned to drinking, drugs, and relationships to fill a growing void, all while her mental health declined. After a terrifying rollover accident and hearing the haunting words, “It would’ve been better if you were dead,” Joy realized how far she’d strayed from her path.

Her turning point came from an unexpected invitation to a Bible study. A church sign that read “Come as you are” caught her eye—and her heart. Through that church, Celebrate Recovery, and a loving community, she slowly rebuilt her relationship with God and found freedom from shame. The women in recovery reminded her: “That’s not who you are—that’s what you did.”

Now serving as the Pastoral Care Coordinator at VOA Northern Rockies, Joy walks alongside others on their recovery journeys. From music scholarships to worship on the chapel keyboard, Joy's story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes God doesn’t kill your dreams—He just rewrites them into something better.

In this powerful episode, we hear from Allen Durham, Business Development team member at VOA Northern Rockies, as he shares his deeply personal journey through addiction, recovery, and faith.

Allen began drinking and using drugs at a young age—it was all around him. What started as fun quickly turned into a 17-year battle that led him through four treatment programs. The final one, at VOA Northern Rockies, came at the recommendation of a prosecuting attorney—and it became the turning point.

Raised in church by a faithful mother, Allen drifted far from God during his darkest moments. “I didn’t have hope, love, or faith,” he says. But while sitting alone in a trailer, God met him. That moment changed everything. “Christ touched my soul,” he recalls.

Recovery wasn’t easy. Learning to be honest with himself and connect with others took time and daily discipline. Allen shares that what makes a person isn't how far they fall—it's how they rise again. And he continues rising, one day at a time.

He reflects on:

• The lifelong nature of recovery and transformation
• The importance of surrendering your whole life, not just parts of it
• Why community and environment matter—“Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future”
• How God uses our weaknesses as strength
• Finding hope, purpose, and practical wisdom in faith, especially in the book of James

💬 “If you feel like you’re too broken to change—there is hope for you. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it. If you do it as easy, your life will be hard. If you do it as hard, your life will be easy.”

In this episode, we sit down with Samantha Satchell, Lead Clinician at our Buffalo Clinic in Wyoming, to explore a topic that touches every part of our lives: trust.

Trust forms the foundation of how we connect—with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us. When it's strong, it acts as a compass. When it's broken, the ripple effects can shake every area of our lives—personally, professionally, and spiritually.

Samantha walks us through how trust begins in infancy and continues to shape our relationships and decisions. In the world of recovery, trust can be one of the most difficult—but essential—things to rebuild. Many individuals in recovery are learning to shift their trust from harmful patterns to healthy ones, which takes time, honesty, and self-reflection.

We talk about:

• How broken trust affects our perceptions and motivations
• Why trust has no set timeline for rebuilding
• How to own your mistakes and take steps toward restoration
• The role of vulnerability and boundaries in trust
• How faith and truth help anchor us through the uncertainty

Samantha shares her own experiences, tools she’s found helpful—including therapy, spiritual practices, and mindfulness—and the importance of trusting the right people, one step at a time.