Tetelestai Recovery

Breaking Free from Addiction: A Journey to Redemption

Addiction is stealing the lives and destinies of so many of God’s children who can’t find their way out.  Many good people suffer in silence from the effects of this deadly disease.


We were addicted to drugs and alcohol for many years. The disease tried to kill us, and we thought there was no hope.

We finally hit rock bottom (incarceration) and found a word that would change our lives forever: Tetelestai.

Tetelestai is the Greek word that means, “It is finished!” It was the final declaration of Jesus from the cross.

We watched the power of Tetelestai play out in a courtroom verdict that no one saw coming. The shock and disbelief gave way to hopeful anticipation as we enthusiastically came into agreement with Jesus and declared our addictions FINISHED.

Living clean and sober in the power of Jesus’ words ushered us into a life that is better than we ever thought possible.

This program was developed by addicts, for addicts. God redeemed our past, gathered the broken pieces, and made us into something useful for His Kingdom.

Tetelestai Recovery

Escaping the Cycle of Despair and Addiction

Have you ever felt stuck? I don’t mean stuck in prison, stuck in a ditch, or stuck in the mud or snow. I also don’t mean stuck in an unfulfilling relationship, stuck in a job, or stuck with your kids.

The kind of stuck I’m talking about has to do with feelings of despair, dysfunctional behaviors, addiction, or anything else that impacts your life negatively, leaving you feeling hopeless about getting unstuck.

Sometimes we become stuck due to an obsession of the mind. It’s something that we just can’t let go of. We want to break free, but it seems to have an unshakable hold on us. What do we do?

Tetelestai Recovery

Unlocking Miracles: The Spiritual Meaning of Tetelestai

Tetelestai is recorded in the original Greek text describing what Jesus said from the cross in His final moments of mortality. The English translation, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), is the basis for this program.

We believe that Jesus’ words hold miraculous power. We speak these words into our own lives and into the lives of others. We are confident that a spiritual principle is set in play when our statements come into alignment with the words of God.

So also, will be the words that I speak: it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do. Isaiah 55:11


Since Jesus gave witness on the cross, “It is finished,” we align with Him in calling an end to our addictions and dysfunctional behaviors. We testify in agreement with Jesus and thus, the matter is resolved.

Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.   
2 Corinthians 13:1
Tetelestai Recovery

The Last Word

As part of an ongoing prison ministry at Lansing Correctional Facility behind the razor wire, we discussed Tetelestai (It is finished) with the inmates. Together, we explored the truth and finality of the power of Jesus’ words which delivered complete healing, grace, and forgiveness to all of mankind.

Not only did it call an end to addiction, dysfunction, and criminal behaviors, but it created a starting point for the beginning of something new, powerful, and unexpected. On the third floor of an old stone prison chapel, we embarked on a weekly tour of Jesus words and works.  We explored, discovered, and embraced the expansive impact of His words, “It is finished!” into other areas of our lives where we still struggled.

There we found freedom, commitment, courage, grace, love, compassion, fulfillment, and the desire to face our ailments and our addictions head on and in a permanent manner. Christ’s grace and what he did on the cross cannot be undone and neither can his words “It is finished.”

We documented what we discovered in that old prison Chapel. We wanted to preserve for others the testimony of our experience with the power of Tetelestai.  Jesus’ word had enabled us to move out of a lifestyle of relapse, despair, hopelessness, and criminal behaviors. We were able to move into something life-changing, and life-preserving, just like Christ’s work on the cross. We were excited to share how Jesus made us each a new creation.