Written by Ervin Lee; From beer to the Bible ministries
Article originally published in the November 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine
At first glance, it seemed like I had everything anyone could want. I had a lucrative career as an executive at Fortune 500 companies, a thriving chain of liquor stores, popularity, and women. From the outside, I looked successful. But inside, I was broken and fighting a battle that almost no one knew about. Alcoholism was slowly destroying my life.
Something had to change
My addiction put my businesses, my marriage, and eventually my life at risk. I reached a point where I knew something had to change. As a last-ditch effort to save my life and everything I loved, I entered rehab. What happened there changed me forever.
Finding Jesus
I went into rehab looking for freedom from alcohol, but I found something far greater. I found Jesus Christ. I came to understand that sobriety alone wasn’t enough for me. I needed a Saviour. I needed the forgiveness, hope, strength, and new life that I believe can only be found in Jesus.
A new foundation
Today, my faith in Jesus is the foundation of my life and my sobriety. I don’t simply credit a programme or willpower for the person I am today. I give the glory to Jesus Christ. He met me during one of the darkest periods of my life and gave me a reason to keep going.
Spiritual sobriety
Every day, I try to keep Christ at the centre of my recovery through what I call my “spiritual sobriety kit”. It includes physical exercise, prayer, studying and writing about God’s Word, and continually seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus. My sobriety isn’t just about staying away from alcohol. It’s about becoming the man God has called me to be.
Sharing the same hope
That faith is also why I co-founded Hampton Ministries. I want people struggling with addiction, depression, and hopelessness to know that their darkest moment does not have to be the end of their story. I want to point people towards the same hope that transformed mine. Jesus Christ didn’t just help me get sober. He gave my life a new foundation, a new direction, and a new purpose. Today, I want to spend my life sharing that hope and helping others discover the freedom and spiritual healing I have found through Him.
This article appears in the November 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine. Read the digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 30/10/2026
Feature image: Sourced from original article published in the November 2026 issue of JOY! Magazine
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