The Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee of the South Carolina Baptist Convention awarded Mr. Winn Freeman, founder of Wisdom in Living Life Ministry, with the 2012 E. A. McDowell Award. Wisdom in Living Life is a Christ-centered, Bible-based, addiction ministry that exists to educate, equip, and empower God’s people to effectively reach those individuals and families who are imprisoned by the sins of drug and alcohol addiction. He founded the ministry in 2000.
In 1988, Winn was living in California, a heroin addict and a drunk, headed for jail. Having gone through secular addiction programs, he remained addicted until coming to Christ in a police car.
Freeman’s idea for Wisdom in living Life Ministry began while in California. He found himself in churches, seeking to escape the grip of heroin and alcohol. He discovered that ministers and church members didn’t know how to help. Freeman found the one true key to cure addiction was clear in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV), “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Since that time, Freeman found meaning to life and made Christian addiction ministry his focus. He believes addiction is in our hearts rather than our bodies and that genuine freedom can only be found in Christ. Inspired by God, he developed the Beyond Recovery campus in Travelers Rest. He sold many of his possessions and devoted much of his personal finances to develop a 45-acre complex for recovering addicts. When completed, this facility will have fully operational living/training space for men in the addiction program.
Freeman has gone on faith, making personal sacrifices to minister to those trapped by addiction. He partners with South Carolina Baptist churches and teaches the principles on which his ministry is based.
“For these efforts, the Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee recognizes Winn Freeman for making an impact for Christ.”
The prestigious E. A. McDowell Award is presented to only one outstanding Christian each year.
After receiving the award, Freeman said that he was honored, awed, encouraged, strengthened and thankful that he was called to minister.
“To God be the glory,” he said. “I was reminded that God is not done with me.
The E. A. McDowell Award recognizes one whose whole life is being exemplified in all aspects-work, volunteer, home, and church. The award should focus on recognizing Christian involvement in the public domain of politics, government and community affairs. South Carolina Baptists give no other recognition to people in this particular arena.
