Video: A Lowndes County Ministry Is Changing Lives One Man At A Time

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LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Alone… on drugs… and needing a place to stay?

Men in Lowndes County have found refuge in a ministry.

It’s changing lives and growing to help others.

Stanton Corely has been at Living Water Refuge for three years. When he arrived, Corely’s life was spiraling out of control.

“I was at a place where I was broken and I was in drug addiction. I was addicted to drugs and moved in with my pastor’s son for a couple of weeks and he had an alluring relationship with Jesus Christ that I always wanted, but had never experience before,” says Stanton Corely.

Hugh Huttoe opened the Lowndes County ministry in 2004, after pastoring for 25 years. The refuge is a place for men to find shelter, find a way to battle their addictions, and find a new spirit.

“It’s not a religious journey here it’s about a relationship and the program, I hate to use the word program, I hate to use the word program, but the program is set up under a family environment,” says Pastor Hugh Huttoe.

Living Water Refuge is now in the old Columbus Shrine’s Club, with space to serve more men.

There are steps each participant must take, because starting a new life begins each day.

“I’ve been taught and shown how to be more selfless and how to be a functional member of society. That is to have a job and be sober but most importantly have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ,” says Corely.

The ministry helps the men help themselves at first, but they soon learn the value of giving back.

“It’s not this place that has done it, it’s God that has used this place to do it. I’ve seen the impact that this whole entire ministry has on the community of Columbus and I wanted to be a part of that,” says Corely.

Huttoe says no matter who walks through the door, Living Water Refuge is willing to help and to listen.

For more information on the program contact Pastor Hugh Huttoe at 662-295-6843 or by email at livingwaterrefuge@aol.com