Life Change receives donation from Community Foundation
Shown above, left to right, front row, are: Devon Forsythe, Mindi Artherton and Skyler Bowman, Cassville Community Foundation (CCF) board members; Valarie Hutchens, donor; Derek Cornelius, director of Life Change Ministry; Laura Holycross, board member; back row: Rachael Freeman, CCF board member; Jeff Fugitt, pastor of Cassville United Methodist Church; Chad Johnson, CCF board member; and Phil Hutchens, donor.
September 22, 2021
Sheila Harris
There’s a new ministry in Cassville, one Phil and Valarie Hutchens felt led to support with a $10,000 donation through their Cassville Community Foundation family endowment account.
Life Change Ministry is not an addiction-recovery program. Rather, it’s designed for anyone who wants to learn how to maintain a different direction for his or her life, whether an addiction was involved or not.
The program is operated under the auspices of Cassville First United Methodist Church and is directed by Derek Cornelius, a former addict himself, who designed the year-long program with the help of a pastor in Springfield. Life Change involves the formation of new daily and weekly habits - including meetings, journaling, classes in financial management and volunteering in the community. After 30 days, participants can meet weekly with a mentor.
Cornelius, now 35, says he was addicted to prescription opioid drugs for about five years when he was in his early 20s.
“After resorting to selling them to support my own habit, I landed in jail,” he said. “I figured out quickly that it wasn’t how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I hated the world, life and everything around me.
“After I got out of jail, I returned to my parents’ house,” Cornelius said, “and with their support, I became involved with a faith-based recovery program at a church in Springfield. That’s where I designed the Life Change program, which I’ve been sharing with recovering addicts for the past four years.”
That church is also where he met Jeff Fugitt, the pastor of Cassville United Methodist Church.
“We’d had people inquiring about recovery programs at our church here in Cassville,” Fugitt said, “so I contacted Derek several months ago to see if he’d be willing to come down and start a program here.”
Cornelius, who lives in Bolivar, was willing. He now spends three days a week (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) in Cassville, when he stays in a room at His House in Shell Knob.
The fledgling Cassville ministry he directs meets Sundays at 6 p.m. and Tuesdays at noon in space at Show Me Plaza at 404 State Hwy. 248, Cassville. Childcare is available.
“We always have a meal,” Cornelius said, “then, depending on the day, either life-planning classes, an inspirational message and small group discussions.
“We have social activities, too,” he said. “Some of those involve helping people in the community.”
Cornelius emphasized that although the program is affiliated with a church, a person doesn’t have to be church-affiliated to be a part of it.
“I won’t preach at you,” he said.
Phil and Valarie Hutchens, who donated to the foundation on behalf of Life Change, feel strongly about helping people in the area who struggle with addiction.
“We have to offer people a choice, a way out,” Phil Hutchens said.
“Jesus doesn’t tell anyone ‘three strikes and you’re out,’” Valarie Hutchens said. “He pursues you no matter where you’re at in life.”
Life Change Ministry offers one more option to those in the community who may be struggling.
For more information, call Derek Cornelius at 417-846-8590 or the church at 417-847-2328. Cornelius can be reached by email at [email protected]. A Facebook group page can be also be found under the name “Life Change.”
Sheila Harris
There’s a new ministry in Cassville, one Phil and Valarie Hutchens felt led to support with a $10,000 donation through their Cassville Community Foundation family endowment account.
Life Change Ministry is not an addiction-recovery program. Rather, it’s designed for anyone who wants to learn how to maintain a different direction for his or her life, whether an addiction was involved or not.
The program is operated under the auspices of Cassville First United Methodist Church and is directed by Derek Cornelius, a former addict himself, who designed the year-long program with the help of a pastor in Springfield. Life Change involves the formation of new daily and weekly habits - including meetings, journaling, classes in financial management and volunteering in the community. After 30 days, participants can meet weekly with a mentor.
Cornelius, now 35, says he was addicted to prescription opioid drugs for about five years when he was in his early 20s.
“After resorting to selling them to support my own habit, I landed in jail,” he said. “I figured out quickly that it wasn’t how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I hated the world, life and everything around me.
“After I got out of jail, I returned to my parents’ house,” Cornelius said, “and with their support, I became involved with a faith-based recovery program at a church in Springfield. That’s where I designed the Life Change program, which I’ve been sharing with recovering addicts for the past four years.”
That church is also where he met Jeff Fugitt, the pastor of Cassville United Methodist Church.
“We’d had people inquiring about recovery programs at our church here in Cassville,” Fugitt said, “so I contacted Derek several months ago to see if he’d be willing to come down and start a program here.”
Cornelius, who lives in Bolivar, was willing. He now spends three days a week (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) in Cassville, when he stays in a room at His House in Shell Knob.
The fledgling Cassville ministry he directs meets Sundays at 6 p.m. and Tuesdays at noon in space at Show Me Plaza at 404 State Hwy. 248, Cassville. Childcare is available.
“We always have a meal,” Cornelius said, “then, depending on the day, either life-planning classes, an inspirational message and small group discussions.
“We have social activities, too,” he said. “Some of those involve helping people in the community.”
Cornelius emphasized that although the program is affiliated with a church, a person doesn’t have to be church-affiliated to be a part of it.
“I won’t preach at you,” he said.
Phil and Valarie Hutchens, who donated to the foundation on behalf of Life Change, feel strongly about helping people in the area who struggle with addiction.
“We have to offer people a choice, a way out,” Phil Hutchens said.
“Jesus doesn’t tell anyone ‘three strikes and you’re out,’” Valarie Hutchens said. “He pursues you no matter where you’re at in life.”
Life Change Ministry offers one more option to those in the community who may be struggling.
For more information, call Derek Cornelius at 417-846-8590 or the church at 417-847-2328. Cornelius can be reached by email at [email protected]. A Facebook group page can be also be found under the name “Life Change.”
