Rockland — LIFE, or Living in Freedom Everyday Ministries, open its doors in Rockland, at 22 Lindsey St., the first week in February.

Tanja and Jake Barbour started the journey to LIFE Ministries watching a webinar online, Freedom in Christ, two years ago. This was a Christ-centered addiction recovery program.

LIFE Ministry is much more than just a center for recovery from addiction. It is a community center for creating faith, hope, love, forgiveness, peace, and joy in people’s lives, families’ lives and the community through a relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a ministry of Celebration Life Family Church and have partnered with Free To Be Me Counseling Services and Pen Bay Ministries.

LIFE Ministry is for the lonely person who is crying out for help and cannot find a way to stop abusing substances. It is for the mother or father who watches her son or daughter struggling with getting clean and sober. It is for the person living in depression that is seeking happiness and a productive life. It is for the family, friends and co-workers that need assistance dealing with the trauma of painful situations. It is for the person beating themselves up over and over for not being able to lose weight or keep it off. It is for the person that knows there is more in life and they have been searching with no avail. It is for those who are empty, completely depleted.

The LIFE house on Lindsey Street is freshly painted inside with firenze, sage and safari, creating a homey atmosphere that welcomes the public Mondays through Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Every day the house is filled with smells from turkey, meat, vegetables and spices in the soup of the day. Soup is served for the four hours with breads and desserts (free). The conversations around the lunch table are fun, healing and fill the heart and soul with love.

The Barbours bring a wealth of business and social service experiences. Tanja has spent her career in the Midcoast region with New Hope for Women, Pen Bay Medical Center and Mid Coast Mental Health in all aspects of social services. Jake has operated Jake Barbour Inc. (JBI) for the past 10 years and in the field of construction for the past 25 years, in addition to several other businesses in the area. He recently dedicated his life to the Lord and is eager to help others find freedom through him.

“We all live life and experience hurts from people, situations and circumstances. These soul wounds manifest in sickness, addiction and/or mental health issues. What we experience in our sickness, addictions and mental health issues are simply negative symptoms of soul wounds. LIFE Ministry provides a safe environment to heal the wounds that prevent peace in our lives. There is healing and help available to those looking for recovery. We believe in Christ healing power, His love, His promises, His forgiveness, His Glory," Tanja said in a news release.

LIFE House offers individual substance abuse counseling, a variety of men and women’s groups and studies, individual mentorship, Bible studies, discipleship and several other functions to assist individuals and groups to recover together.

They also provide an apartment for women, and partner with Pen Bay Ministry to provide one for men, when folks leave the Knox County Jail to assist in creating stepping-stones for them to have a deep rooted and flourishing life.

Reach the LIFE House by stopping in for soup and a visit or call 593-7972, or livinginfreedomeveryday.us/.