Sandy Golding: A very public cry for help leads to a new life  

“I’m a heroin addict and I need help.” Imagine standing in front of your church congregation, including your mom and dad and saying these words. That’s the incredible step Sandy Golding took a few weeks before joining LifeChange, an addiction recovery community in the summer of 2001.

Now, more than four years later, Sandy and five others are graduating from the LifeChange program. This is the largest graduating class of Union Gospel Mission’s LifeChange program since it’s inception in the early ‘90s. This long-term and Christ centered program takes on men and women, who like Sandy, have been addicted and abusing drugs or alcohol for decades. In LifeChange, they live and work at the Mission and work at the Mission’s Thrift store, as well as take academic classes, Bible study and really work on issues that fueled their addictions.

After Sandy’s dramatic admission at her church, Clackamas Valley Baptist, the congregation rallied around her. They gave her parents the information about LifeChange, and they prayed for her. They stuck by her as she worked on recovery in LifeChange over four years.

Looking back, Sandy says, “What I feel now is gratitude. All these people cared about me, prayed for me, and asked my parents about me and when I was visiting and came to church I always felt so welcome.”

Sandy’s drug use began at age 13 when she tried marijuana and used “crosstops” a pill form stimulant also known as “speed.” Sandy, like a lot of young teens, used initially to fit in and mask insecurities. Eventually, drug use became a way of life for Sandy and the people she spent time with. She readily admits it was also a form of selfishness.

“I was focused on what I wanted. In my addiction I was so selfish and didn’t care what I did to others. I lied and did all kinds of things to get the drugs I wanted and eventually needed.”

Heroin became a trap for Sandy. She needed it everyday to “feel well.” The withdrawal from the heroin addiction was physically painful. She recalls it was “like the worst flu you could ever imagine.”

LifeChange was tough for Sandy. She experienced several deaths of those close to her, including her husband. Additionally, LifeChange forced her to look at her past behaviors and delve into her issues.

But her hard work has paid off and she is a very different woman today.

“I feel free from shame, and I don’t have to hide anymore. I know I have value and I feel like I have sparkle in my eyes now.”

Sandy hopes to pursue a career in criminal justice and is planning to take classes in the criminal justice field with an emphasis on helping teens.

“I’ve always been fascinated with criminal justice, but my addiction kept me away from pursuing that dream. I would really like to help young people through the criminal justice field.”

What is LifeChange?

LifeChange is a community. Each member of LifeChange lives and works together at the Mission. The cornerstone of LifeChange is faith in the transforming power of Jesus Christ. LifeChange is a peer-based, each resident helps each other to identify issues and grow in their recovery. LifeChange is self-governed, as residents work together to make decisions as a community. LifeChange is long-term, and goal– oriented. Most residents spend two to four years to complete LifeChange.

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