It is estimated that 100,000+ individuals died from drug overdose last year* and 95,000+ individuals die of alcohol related causes last year that is 534 people a day that die, devastating and affecting families and loved ones.

Recovery works and there are many paths to recovery.

The Wake is a 9 month production of a 40+ life in long term Recovery,

this is John’s story of recovery.

Singer, songwriter and Ordained Minister John Lippard knows all too well the wreckage that addiction causes on a life and a family.  It started at the age of 13 when he was given a guitar for Christmas, he couldn’t put it down.  By the age of 18 he was playing in clubs and bars in West Texas, any gig he could get he was there playing.  He was “living the dream” of a musician in the 60’s and 70’s “drugs, sex and rock n roll.”

In 1982 the drug addiction had taken its toll, it was a vicious cycle it took more and more to get the high he first experience, there were more periods of emptiness, hopelessness and desperation.  Out of that desperation (and a Mother’s prayers) he turned back to his roots as a child…church.  It was when he re-dedicated his life to Christ that peace and hope filled the emptiness and despair.

When he walked back into church the Pastor said “you have a calling on your life to minister.”  Today John is an Ordained Minister and has served as Sr. Pastor for 15 years, 10 years at Potter’s House in Lewisburg, TN, a Recovery Church.

John and his wife Bridget have served as Sr. Pastors in Texas and Tennessee. John and Bridget are Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with the State of Tennessee. They founded My Recovery Media Group, “My Recovery Road.”

*CDC WONDER