In 2000 I was invited to serve as a Bible teacher in a newly opened drug and alcohol rehab centre called Izhod (Exodus) in Krasnodar, southern Russia. My previous apprehension evaporated when I visited and saw first hand the powerful work of transformation that God was crafting in the lives of each resident. It was a great joy to help these ex-addicts apply God’s word and learn a healthy, moral way of life.

I first heard about ISAAC through Jill Kingston who came to visit our centre in November 2000. Two years later ISAAC facilitated its first nationwide conference, for about 300 rehabilitation leaders from all over Russia, which we participated in.

ISAAC leaders guided my next placement to Kiev where I became an ISAAC representative based at the All-Ukrainian Christian Rehabilitation Centres Association (ACRCA). This broadened my exposure to a variety of styles methods and wider challenges.

One of the main principles of ISAAC is to help drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres become stronger and more effective through promoting local partnership with other Christian programs. I am strongly convinced that unity based on mutual love and respect rather than uniformity reflects the heart and character of God and as a result brings practical blessing.

Now I am still based in Kiev but focus on facilitating partnerships in other regions around the CIS. Partnerships develop gradually with the help of personal contact, visits and residential conferences that enable leaders to come together from different programmes to share experience and the challenges they face, away from the daily pressures of the centre. As relationships grow strategies are developed to over come the challenges related to each setting. I am also working with a local team who aim to mobilise the church in Ukraine to respond to the needs of AIDS sufferers and provide local HIV prevention.

Over the last six years of working with ISAAC I have been privileged to visit about 60 rehabilitation centres in the CIS, participate in 20 drug rehab-training conferences and in the Madrid and Red Sea ISAAC Congresses. Each programme is a testimony to the powerful love of God that gives hope to hurting people.

One of the main principles of ISAAC is to help drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres become stronger and more effective through promoting local partnership with other Christian programs.

Alison Giblett