Our son Matt was a young man who loved God, his family, his work, and the game of golf. At the time of his passing, his life was very promising. He loved his life, and he dearly loved Julia and being a father to Greyson. Matt was known for having an adventurous spirit, and he enjoyed life to the fullest. He could be found on the golf course with his dad, helping friends with just about anything, but, above all, he was a man who loved God.
The thirteen months he spent at an addiction recovery program was where Matt solidified his faith in Christ. Mornings started early at The Refuge in Columbus, reading (or in Matt’s case, memorizing) the “Armor of God” and “I Am Committed.” Matt, along with other men, read and studied the Bible, performed house chores and duties, and earned the privilege of working with and for local companies during the day. It was life-changing for Matt, and it is also where he learned and perfected cutting hair in the evenings, eventually for 40-50 men each month. This ultimately led Matt to Akron Barber College (after completing the recovery program) and eventually to become a licensed barber. He used his barber chair as a pulpit! He reasoned, “Where else could I have a dedicated 15-20 minutes with lots of people? They can’t get away, they get a great haircut and a gospel message that they can share.”
Restore Addiction Recovery in Lakemore, like The Refuge, is a Christ-centered, facility that helps men develop a personal relationship with God and teaches them practical life skills. It gives the residents hope for today, but, more importantly, it offers them certainty in God’s Kingdom forever. We thank you for supporting this valuable program and for showing your love for our son, his family, and dear friends. All proceeds from today will go directly to Restore Addiction Recovery to support the current men in residence and many more in the future. Praise God!
George and Leah Roth
