Brooke’s story is one of strength, faith, and redemption.

Born in Buffalo, Wyoming, to an alcoholic mother and a hardworking but absent father, Brooke’s early years were marked by chaos and pain. Her mother’s abuse led to Brooke being placed on psychiatric medications at a young age. When her parents divorced - her father choosing faith and her mother rejecting it - Brooke was left in her mother’s custody, and the void within her began to grow.

Searching for love and belonging, Brooke dropped out of high school and became a mother at just 16. By 22, she faced her first felony charge and a life that seemed destined for heartbreak. But in 2001, Brooke’s path changed - she found salvation and began to rebuild.

Her moment of clarity came one day in the back of a police car, when she realized she no longer had to hide who she truly was. From that moment forward, Brooke chose honesty, healing, and faith over fear.

Today, Brooke serves alongside her husband, TJ, at VOA Northern Rockies - using her journey to inspire others to believe that no matter how far you’ve fallen, redemption is always within reach.

TJ’s story is one of pain, perseverance, and redemption.

His journey into addiction began at just 16 years old. With a devout Christian mother and an alcoholic father, TJ struggled to find his place and identity. Years of instability followed - moving from state to state, battling inner conflict, and facing multiple arrests, suicide attempts, and felony charges.

Everything changed after an 18-hour standoff with a federal task force in Colorado - a moment that convinced TJ his life was over. But in jail, a Peer Specialist from VOA Northern Rockies reached out, offering hope and a second chance.

After seven months of persistence, TJ entered the program that would transform his life. Through faith, community, and the Native American prayer practice of sweat lodge, he rediscovered God - and himself.

Today, TJ is married, thriving in recovery, and working full-time with VOA Northern Rockies, helping others find the same hope that once found him.

Meet Jon Fenderson, our Pastoral Care Coordinator at Booth Hall in Gillette, Wyoming—the only faith-based adult re-entry center in the state.

Jon grew up in a Christian home and has a deep heart for discipleship. After serving in a recovery ministry for adolescent boys in Arizona, Jon earned his degree in ministry while working maintenance at a hospital. A family dinner conversation led him to VOA Northern Rockies, and for the past 2½ years, he’s been walking alongside people rebuilding their lives after prison, jail, or parole violations.

At Booth Hall, recovery is more than breaking free from drugs or alcohol—it’s about building a solid foundation or restoring what was lost. Jon personally meets every new resident, reminding them they are not alone.

In this episode, Jon shares powerful, real-life stories of people who’ve overcome addiction with faith as their anchor.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

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.

Dustin Stephen's journey into ministry and service began unexpectedly. Though not originally planning to pursue ministry, a summer internship as a youth pastor sparked a passion. After serving in the military, he returned to Texas and became involved in youth ministry, eventually leading him and his wife on a mission trip to Nicaragua. This trip deeply influenced them, igniting a calling to international missions.

After exploring opportunities, they moved to Haiti, where they served as missionaries for five years, helping lead a large ministry compound. This opportunity aligned almost exactly with a dream Dustin and his wife had privately shared — a testament to their belief in saying “yes” to God’s call.

Dustin later moved to Sheridan, Wyoming, through connections made during their early ministry, and eventually joined VOA Northern Rockies. He currently serves as the Director of Mission, guiding the spiritual culture of the organization, supporting staff and volunteers, and championing faith-based care for those in recovery and need.

Dustin’s focus is on “helping those who help others.” He sees faith and recovery as deeply intertwined journeys centered on identity, healing, and purpose. As the new host of the VOA Recovery Podcast, he looks forward to leading honest, story-driven conversations that inspire hope and transformation.

Lisa, from Riverton, WY, has struggled with addiction since she was 14, along with an eating disorder. She never acknowledged her problems until her 40s. Adopted at birth, she grew up with religious adoptive parents, but met her biological mother, who had a very different lifestyle. Lisa was active in sports and started drinking with friends, influenced by insecurities about her body and fear of being judged, especially seeing her adoptive brother's obesity. Despite her struggles, she had no one to support her. Her drinking led to 10 DUIs and eventually, prison, which she credits with saving her. At her lowest, Lisa felt isolated and trapped in a lonely existence, believing that was just how life was. Her oldest son hasn't spoken to her in 8 years due to her past decisions, a consequence she accepts. After finding the Gathering Place, Lisa gained hope and direction, which helped her achieve 5 years of sobriety today.