Standards & Expectations

Dying to Live Recovery & Discipleship Ministry — a ministry of Christ's Church of Laurel.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Galatians 2:20, NKJV

Our Mission

Dying to Live Recovery & Discipleship Ministry is a Christ-centered ministry committed to helping men and women pursue lasting recovery, spiritual growth, healthy relationships, personal responsibility, and a life of purpose in Christ.

Our goal is not simply sobriety or providing a place to stay. We believe lasting change is strengthened through relationship, recovery, discipleship, accountability, community, service, and personal responsibility.

When available, residential accommodations are provided as part of participation in the ministry. These accommodations exist to provide a safe, sober, structured, and supportive environment in which participants can practice the principles being developed through the program.

Dying to Live is a recovery and discipleship ministry — not simply a place to live.

"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3, NKJV

Nature of Ministry Participation and Residential Accommodation

Dying to Live is a voluntary Christian recovery and discipleship ministry of Christ's Church of Laurel. Acceptance into the ministry is based on the ministry's assessment of an applicant's willingness and suitability to participate in a structured program of recovery support, discipleship, accountability, service, productive activity, community life, and spiritual growth.

When available, residential accommodation is provided only as an incidental component of active participation in Dying to Live. It is intended to provide a safe, sober, structured, and supportive setting in which participants can practice recovery and discipleship principles.

Dying to Live does not offer a stand-alone room-rental, apartment-rental, or independent housing program. A participant's permission to occupy a ministry residence depends on continuing active participation in the ministry and compliance with essential ministry standards.

The $500 monthly program fee supports the overall recovery, discipleship, accountability, and shared residential operations of the ministry. Payment of that fee does not create an independent right to continued residential accommodation, and it does not replace the participant's responsibility to actively engage in the program.

Nothing in this agreement authorizes Dying to Live to use force, intimidation, lockout, utility interruption, removal or disposal of personal belongings, or any other action prohibited by applicable law. When residential accommodation must end, the ministry will seek to address transition, belongings, safety, and any required legal process in a safe, orderly, and lawful manner.

1. Commitment to Participation

Participation in Dying to Live involves more than following house rules or making a financial contribution. Every participant is expected to actively engage in the recovery and discipleship process.

Participants commit themselves to:

• Pursuing and maintaining sobriety.
• Participating in Christian discipleship and spiritual growth.
• Developing healthy relationships and accountability.
• Participating faithfully in required church and recovery activities.
• Meeting regularly with ministry leadership.
• Finding meaningful opportunities to serve others.
• Maintaining employment or another approved productive activity when able.
• Practicing personal responsibility.
• Respecting fellow participants, ministry leaders, church members, neighbors, and property.
• Contributing positively to the community in which they live.
• Working toward greater stability, maturity, responsibility, and healthy independence.

Payment of the monthly program fee alone does not constitute participation in Dying to Live. Active engagement in the recovery and discipleship process is required.

2. Recovery, Discipleship, Accountability & Service

Dying to Live believes recovery is strengthened through relationships rather than isolation. Participants are expected to remain connected to the ministry, church community, leadership, and one another.

Participants will:

• Attend the Dying to Live Monday Recovery Gathering at 6:00 p.m. unless specifically excused.
• Attend Sunday worship at Christ's Church at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday Bible teaching at 6:00 p.m., unless approved by the Program Director to attend elsewhere.
• Participate in special ministry events when designated as part of the program.
• Participate in regular meetings with ministry leadership for discipleship, accountability, encouragement, and discussion of recovery, spiritual growth, relationships, work, goals, and challenges.
• Be honest with ministry leadership concerning struggles, setbacks, employment, relationships, prescribed medications, and other circumstances that may affect recovery or safety.
• Develop healthy relationships with other participants and members of the church community.
• Identify and participate in an appropriate area of service within the church, ministry, recovery community, or another approved charitable or community organization.
• Demonstrate a willingness to serve others and contribute rather than simply receive.
• Receive correction and accountability with a willingness to grow.

Service is an important part of the Dying to Live philosophy. We believe God has given every person value, purpose, gifts, and something meaningful to contribute to others.

3. Sobriety, Medication Safety & Testing

Dying to Live is committed to maintaining a sober environment.

Alcohol, illegal drugs, non-prescribed controlled substances, nicotine products, vapes, kratom, synthetic intoxicants, and other intoxicating or mind-altering substances not specifically approved through the ministry's medication-safety process are prohibited.

Participants must disclose prescribed medications to designated ministry leadership when required by the ministry's medication-safety procedures. Medication must be used only as prescribed and stored, transported, and managed according to program safety requirements.

Dying to Live does not direct participants to discontinue prescribed medication. Any concern about prescribed medication must be discussed with the prescribing medical professional. The ministry may require reasonable documentation, secure storage, observed administration, or other safety measures when medication presents a risk of misuse, diversion, impairment, or harm within the residential community.

The possession, use, distribution, sharing, sale, or diversion of alcohol, illegal drugs, non-prescribed controlled substances, prohibited intoxicants, or medication not used as prescribed is prohibited.

Random, scheduled, or reasonable-cause drug and alcohol testing may be conducted. Refusal to submit to a requested test may be treated as a positive result.

A positive test, refusal to test, possession or use of prohibited substances, or another serious safety or recovery violation may result in immediate suspension or termination of ministry participation. Temporary safety measures may be taken while leadership evaluates the situation.

When an initial screening result is non-negative and the result may affect continued participation, the participant may request confirmatory laboratory testing. The ministry will explain the confirmation process, timing, and cost responsibility before testing when reasonably possible. Program leadership may take temporary safety measures while confirmation is pending.

4. Safety, Integrity & Respect for Others

Participants are expected to contribute to an environment of safety, trust, honesty, and mutual respect.

The following are prohibited:

• Theft or unauthorized use of another person's property.
• Taking or consuming food belonging to another participant without permission.
• Violence, threats of violence, intimidation, coercion, or aggressive behavior.
• Harassment, discrimination, or conduct that creates an unsafe environment.
• Intentional destruction or misuse of ministry or participant property.
• Sharing personal entry codes or compromising facility security.
• Entering another participant's bedroom without permission.
• Conduct that substantially interferes with another participant's recovery or safety.
• Possession or use of weapons in a ministry residence unless expressly authorized by the Program Director and permitted by law.

Serious violations involving violence, theft, drugs, threats, weapons, or safety may result in immediate suspension or termination of ministry participation.

5. Christian Conduct & Community Life

Dying to Live is an explicitly Christian ministry. Participants are not expected to be spiritually mature when they enter, but they are expected to respect and participate in the Christian environment and discipleship process.

Participants are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the values taught through the ministry.

Profanity is not permitted in ministry residences, including profanity in music, television, videos, or conversations in common areas.

Christian and faith-based music should be used in common areas. Personal entertainment should be enjoyed through headphones or personal devices when it would disturb or conflict with the shared environment.

Conversations that glorify past drug use, criminal behavior, destructive relationships, or other behavior harmful to recovery — sometimes called "war stories" — are discouraged.

Bars, clubs, casinos, and similar nightlife environments are prohibited while participating in the residential program unless specifically authorized for legitimate employment or another approved purpose.

Social media should be used responsibly. Content or online behavior that undermines recovery, threatens another participant, creates significant conflict, compromises confidentiality, or publicly contradicts essential program expectations may be addressed through the accountability process.

6. Employment, Responsibility & Personal Growth

Participants who are physically and legally able to work are expected to pursue productive employment. Participants should normally obtain employment within three weeks of entering the program unless another arrangement has been approved because of retirement, disability, education, treatment, court requirements, or another legitimate circumstance.

Participants are responsible for keeping ministry leadership informed of their current work schedule. If a participant will be absent from work because of illness or another reason and will remain at the residence during normal working hours, ministry leadership should be notified.

Periods of unemployment should be used productively. Participants may be expected to search for employment, volunteer, serve through the church or community, participate in approved training, attend treatment or appointments, or complete other productive activities.

Loss of employment does not automatically result in dismissal. However, a pattern of refusing to work, seek employment, serve, or accept reasonable responsibility may result in corrective action or program review.

The purpose of employment is greater than making a financial contribution. Employment helps develop responsibility, stability, stewardship, discipline, confidence, and preparation for healthy independent living.

7. Program Fee & Financial Responsibility

Participants approved for ministry residential accommodation are expected to pay a $500 monthly program fee, expected by the 5th day of each month unless ministry leadership approves another arrangement in advance.

This fee helps support shared recovery structure, Christian discipleship, accountability, residential ministry operations, utilities, facilities, administration, and other expenses associated with active participation.

The fee is not payment for a stand-alone rental unit, leasehold interest, or independent housing arrangement. It is one component of the participant's commitment to the full Dying to Live ministry program.

Food, toiletries, personal transportation, clothing, and other individual expenses remain the participant's responsibility unless otherwise provided.

Participants experiencing legitimate financial difficulty should communicate with ministry leadership before the expected payment date. Leadership may approve a temporary payment arrangement, grace period, service contribution, or other alternative when appropriate.

New participants may receive a grace period of up to four weeks when approved by the Program Director.

Failure to communicate, repeated failure to meet an agreed financial commitment, or unwillingness to work toward financial responsibility may result in a program review and possible termination of ministry participation.

Payments previously made are generally non-refundable following voluntary departure or termination, except where required by law or otherwise approved in writing by ministry leadership.

8. Residential Community Expectations

Residential accommodations are provided to support recovery and discipleship. Every participant shares responsibility for maintaining a safe, clean, peaceful, and respectful environment.

Participants are expected to:

• Complete assigned household responsibilities.
• Clean up after themselves.
• Keep bedrooms and common areas reasonably clean.
• Follow established schedules for laundry, cleaning, and facility responsibilities.
• Respect other participants' personal space and belongings.
• Keep exterior doors locked as directed.
• Ensure required security systems are activated.
• Follow reasonable instructions from the designated House Leader concerning daily household operations.
• Obtain approval before rearranging or removing furniture or other ministry property.
• Properly care for ministry property and report damage promptly.

A House Leader may establish reasonable schedules and responsibilities necessary for the orderly operation of each residence.

Participants should normally address household scheduling or interpersonal concerns first with the House Leader, then the appropriate House Supervisor, before bringing routine matters to the Program Director.

9. Inspections & Accountability

Ministry residences may be inspected regularly for cleanliness, safety, prohibited substances, property condition, and compliance with ministry expectations. Weekly inspections will normally occur on Fridays.

Minor violations will ordinarily be handled through progressive accountability:

• First occurrence: Correction, discussion, and opportunity to remedy the problem.
• Second occurrence: Written corrective action and additional accountability.
• Third occurrence: Program review and possible probation.
• Continued or serious noncompliance: Possible suspension or termination of ministry participation.

Program leadership is not required to use progressive corrective action when conduct involves drugs, alcohol, violence, theft, serious threats, deliberate property damage, weapons, or another substantial safety or recovery concern.

Participants may be financially responsible for actual damage, loss, extraordinary cleaning, or other costs caused by their actions, as permitted by law.

10. Curfew & Schedule

Unless otherwise approved:

• Sunday through Thursday: 9:30 p.m.–6:00 a.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 10:30 p.m.–6:00 a.m.

Participants whose legitimate employment schedules require different hours must provide their current schedule to ministry leadership.

Participants who expect to be late because of work, emergencies, or other legitimate circumstances should communicate with the appropriate leader in advance whenever reasonably possible.

Repeated disregard for curfew or failure to communicate may result in corrective action.

11. Relationships & Personal Conduct

Dying to Live recognizes that early recovery requires intentional focus and healthy boundaries. Dating while participating in the program is strongly discouraged, particularly during early recovery.

Sexual relationships outside the ministry's Christian standards are inconsistent with the discipleship expectations of the program.

Romantic or sexual visitors are not permitted inside ministry residences.

Any visitation permitted at a ministry residence must comply with visitation policies established by program leadership and must protect the safety, privacy, and recovery environment of all participants.

12. Visitors & Overnight Absences

Visitors are not permitted inside ministry residences without prior approval from program leadership.

Approved visits may include children, siblings, parents, or other appropriate family members when consistent with the safety, privacy, and structure of the particular residence.

Participants may normally request one approved weekend overnight absence per month, generally from Friday through Sunday.

Participants requesting an overnight absence must provide:

• The name of the person with whom they will be staying.
• The address where they will be staying.
• A reliable telephone number.
• Any other information reasonably requested for accountability and safety.

Overnight absences are privileges and may be limited or suspended when necessary for recovery, accountability, safety, or program compliance. Any deviation from approved arrangements should be communicated to ministry leadership promptly.

13. Program Review, Suspension & Termination

The purpose of correction within Dying to Live is restoration, growth, responsibility, and protection of the recovery community.

Program leadership may place a participant on corrective action, probation, additional accountability, temporary suspension, or terminate ministry participation when the participant demonstrates an unwillingness or inability to comply with essential ministry expectations.

Serious circumstances may result in immediate suspension or termination, including:

• Drug or alcohol use, possession, distribution, or diversion.
• Refusal of required testing.
• Violence or credible threats of violence.
• Theft.
• Serious or intentional property damage.
• Weapons or conduct that places others at substantial risk.
• Repeated or deliberate disregard of essential ministry expectations.

Termination of ministry participation may end a person's eligibility for ministry-provided residential accommodation. The Program Director or designated leadership will communicate transition expectations, establish a safe and reasonable process for collecting belongings, and determine whether referral assistance, emergency services, legal consultation, or another response is appropriate.

The ministry will not use force, threats, self-help lockout, removal of a participant's property, or any other action prohibited by law. If a participant refuses to leave after eligibility for residential accommodation has ended, Dying to Live will seek legal guidance and follow the lawful process applicable to the circumstances.

Except when immediate action is necessary for safety, a participant receiving written corrective action, probation, suspension, or a non-emergency termination decision may submit a written request for review to the Program Director within three business days. A request for review does not automatically postpone a safety-related decision, suspension, or temporary restriction.

Participants who are dismissed must ordinarily wait at least 30 days before requesting readmission. Readmission is not guaranteed and will depend upon circumstances, demonstrated change, available space, safety, and the judgment of ministry leadership.

Participants sanctioned by Drug Court or another supervising authority and required to serve a period of incarceration will ordinarily be considered inactive or removed from the program unless the Program Director approves another arrangement.

14. What Participants Can Expect From Dying to Live

Dying to Live will seek to provide a Christ-centered environment marked by dignity, honesty, reasonable consistency, prayer, encouragement, accountability, and respect.

The ministry will seek to communicate expectations clearly, address concerns in a timely manner, protect the safety of the community, and make reasonable efforts to connect participants with appropriate community, pastoral, recovery, medical, or emergency resources when needs exceed the ministry's capacity.

Dying to Live is not a detoxification center, medical provider, licensed treatment facility, emergency shelter, or substitute for emergency medical or mental-health care. In an emergency, call 911.

15. A Community of Recovery

Dying to Live is built upon the belief that lasting recovery involves more than stopping destructive behavior. We want participants to develop a new way of living characterized by faith, honesty, responsibility, healthy relationships, service, accountability, work, generosity, and connection to a Christian community.

Every participant enters the ministry with different needs, experiences, strengths, and challenges. Ministry leadership may establish reasonable individualized expectations, goals, accountability measures, and discipleship plans consistent with the mission and standards of Dying to Live.

Our goal is not simply to help someone stay sober or provide somewhere to stay. Our goal is to walk with people as they build a life worth living in Christ.

"For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3, NKJV