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.

Jason Enstad has lived in Cheyenne, WY for 18 years and is a registered nurse, having previously worked as an EMT. While in nursing school, he worked at multiple detox facilities. Although he started in the ICU, Jason realized it wasn't his true calling. He later took a nursing job at the jail and became more involved in ministry through his church’s men's group, where he helped feed homeless people. One of the most challenging parts of his work was seeing individuals he helped on Sunday end up back in jail by Monday. Drawing from his experience, Jason believes it's important to read people, be attentive to their body language, and show that others care. He acknowledges that often, you plant seeds for others to nurture. Currently enrolled in a seminary master's program, Jason finds the most difficult aspect of his career to be broken relationships, particularly with family and God.

Sarah Langley, originally from Tuscan, Arizona, and later moving to Sheridan, Wyoming, had a childhood filled with anxiety and fear. Growing up in a strict Baptist home, she was taught that alcohol was forbidden, but she first tried it in her younger years with friends and quickly developed a desire for more. Despite her early experiences, Sarah didn't rely on alcohol until later in life, after college, when she entered the food and beverage industry.

Her addiction escalated during this time, although she didn't initially identify as an alcoholic, believing that she could quit drinking for months at a time. However, a pattern of broken promises and a series of "God help me" prayers left her feeling spiritually lost, believing she wouldn't be forgiven. Her father had spoken openly with her about drugs during her childhood, but it wasn’t until after attending rehab in 2015 that Sarah began to understand her struggles. Though sober for eight months after rehab, she relapsed when she began tasting wine for her restaurant.

It wasn't until she attended a 12-step meeting during a visit to her parents that she found true belonging, feeling connected to others through their vulnerability. This was a turning point for Sarah, as she finally felt she was in the right place. Today, Sarah is sober, meditates daily, and no longer experiences anxiety, having found peace and clarity in her life.