My name is Darren Revlett and I’m the director for RU Chapter K1015 in Livermore, KY. I’m a disabled Marine Corps veteran.
RU and veterans struggling with addictions are something near and dear to me.
The reason I was first drawn to RU was that I had a story much like Bro. Curington’s. I spent almost 10 years as a functional alcoholic upon returning home from active duty. Satan used the memories of the trauma I suffered while on active duty to keep me in bondage to sin and succeeded for a while. The truth is though, I was a willing accomplice in this imprisonment.
I grew up in a Christian home with Godly parents that sacrificed to provide me a Christian education. Much like the prodigal, I found a far country and squandered all the opportunity that had been given me in riotous living. The emotional baggage of my service I carried sent me farther down the spiral. I finally reached out for help, but soon found myself surrounded by enablers at every turn. Whether it be the VA, whose solution was always a handful of different pills, or my friends and family who meant well but just didn’t understand what I was going through or know how to help. I was filled with rage and anger. I began drinking and abusing prescription medication even more.
There is Recovery Available!
Well, I’m glad to report this story has a happy ending as I was gloriously saved and set free from the chains of addiction by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! I was introduced to RU a short time later by my pastor, Jonathan Turner, who had carried a burden for this ministry for some time and felt the Lord’s guidance in starting a local chapter. As I began to learn about RU, the Ten Principles and hearing Steve Curington’s amazing testimony, I knew God was at work in my life and that he had used these trials to help conform me to be an instrument of His will in bringing this ministry to our community. I was reminded of II Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
I can’t begin to express what a blessing this ministry has been, from the time I completed my first challenge in the Overcomer booklet, the first entry in the “It’s Personal” Daily Journal until today, the RU curriculum continues to be used by God to help perfect me and keep me “living freely in a bound world” as Steve Curington said. There is a peace that lives within me today that “surpasses all understanding” and the “stinkin’ thinkin’”, as Ben Burks so aptly calls it, has been replaced with meditating on those good things that come from above. I can’t imagine life without RU and our wonderful RU family.
My wife, Christine, serves as secretary of our local RU chapter and we enjoy the support network we have in our RU family and the local church. Unfortunately, though there are way too many brothers and sisters in arms along with civilians that are still struggling to find that happy ending. These heroes need and deserve our help. In RU we all strive to become Psalm 1 Overcomers and as we reach out to these that have sacrificed so much for us I would encourage us to also become “Psalm 142 Caregivers”, and care for their souls.
[Tweet “Estimates tell us that 22 veterans a day commit suicide.”]
Estimates tell us that 22 veterans a day commit suicide and it’s clear that social and government programs, no matter how well intended, are an abject failure.
We know what these individuals need! We have the answer! It’s not in more pills, not in more therapy, not in more handouts but in the victorious life found only in Jesus Christ, which is the heart and soul of the RU message!
