Amanda Cheatwood
Apr 30, 2025
Charish Catlett’s Journey of Redemption
In the heart of Alabama, within the walls of Word Alive International Outreach, Charish Catlett is living proof that no one is beyond the reach of redemption. Once caught in the grip of addiction and facing severe legal consequences, Charish now serves as the Program Director for Seven Springs, a faith-based rehabilitation program dedicated to restoring lives. Her story is one of radical transformation, perseverance, and the undeniable power of God's grace.
A Life Caught in Chains
Charish’s journey began in brokenness. Addiction wasn’t a distant issue—it was a generational struggle that had touched her family in various ways. Her mother, sisters, and eventually Charish herself all found their way to faith-based rehabilitation programs. But before finding freedom, she was ensnared in a lifestyle that revolved around drugs.
“I was trafficking heroin,” she admits. “I was looking at a lot of time in prison, with a quarter-million-dollar bond over my head.”
Throughout her years in addiction, there were always people in her life who would bail her out, literally and figuratively. But when she found herself in jail in 2018, there was no one left to turn to—except God.
“I cried out to Him, and He raised me,” she says. “For the first time, I wasn’t trying to manipulate my way out. I just knew I needed Him.”
“I cried out to Him, and He raised me,” she says. “For the first time, I wasn’t trying to manipulate my way out. I just knew I needed Him.”
A Hard Road to Freedom
Recovery wasn’t immediate or easy. Charish first entered the Esther House, a program for women battling addiction. She made progress, but about two weeks before her scheduled graduation, she relapsed.
“It wasn’t the same,” she reflects. “I tried to go back to drugs, but it didn’t work. I knew too much about the freedom in Christ.”
Rather than running further into darkness, she returned to the program on her own. After spending more time in jail, she committed to completing another full year in recovery. This time, something clicked. Eight months into her second stay, she began working at the program’s thrift store—a stepping stone toward her future in leadership.
Called to Lead
Charish quickly realized that her passion was in helping others break free from the very chains that had once bound her.
“I always knew I wanted to help women,” she shares. “I wanted opiate addicts to know that you don’t have to wake up every day needing something to survive. God can deliver you.”
Her heart for others did not go unnoticed. She spent several years serving as the Women’s Director before being asked to take on an even greater role.
“Kent Maddox and the leadership team saw something in me,” she says. “Kent was the one who told me, ‘I want you to run the men’s program too.’”
Now overseeing both the men’s and women’s recovery programs, Charish is responsible for over 300 individuals—220 men and 120 women. Her work involves court advocacy, job placement, counseling, and daily mentorship. Once a familiar face to judges and law enforcement for the wrong reasons, she now partners with them to bring people out of addiction and into restoration.
Now, just a few months into her racing journey, Charish is already building a legacy. Her 3-year-old daughter has taken up go-kart racing at the Talladega Go Kart Track, making motor sports a shared passion across generations. For Charish and her family, racing isn’t just a hobby—it’s a way of life.
Transformation Through the Power of God
The impact of Seven Springs and Esther House is undeniable. Testimonies of changed lives pour in regularly, but a few stories stand out.
“One of my childhood friends, BreeAnn Kellum, came from jail into our program,” Charish shares. “She stayed faithful, and now she’s been working alongside me on the women’s side for over two years.”
Another success story is Rocky Burns, a man who once struggled with schizophrenia. “He’s about to graduate,” Charish says. “He told me, ‘The Lord put Seven Springs, you, and God in my life to get me where I need to be.’ Today, he’s stable, working every day, and walking in freedom.”
A Life of Purpose
For Charish, this work is more than a job—it’s her calling. “This is my long-term vision,” she states. “I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. Every day, I get to see lives change. I get to see revival happen in people’s hearts.”
Her journey has come full circle. What began in a jail cell has led to a position where she helps others find the same freedom she once so desperately needed. She is a walking testimony of the truth found in James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
“I used to say that verse over and over,” she remembers. “Anytime I felt tempted, I would just keep repeating it: ‘I submit myself to the Lord, I resist the devil, and he has to flee.’ That’s what I tell people now. You may not believe you can be free, but you can. God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called.”
“Call on God. Even if you're still using, even if you don't think you can ever stop, just call on Him. Let someone sow a seed into your life. There's hope.”
The Message of Hope
To those still caught in addiction, Charish’s message is simple: “Call on God. Even if you’re still using, even if you don’t think you can ever stop, just call on Him. Let someone sow a seed into your life. There’s hope.”
Her life is a testament that no one is too far gone, and no past is too broken for God to redeem. Today, she walks in freedom—not just for herself, but for the hundreds of men and women she helps guide toward the same transformation.
From trafficking heroin to trafficking hope, Charish Catlett’s life is a stunning display of God’s ability to bring beauty from ashes. And through her work, that beauty is multiplying, one restored life at a time. •
To learn more about Seven Springs Ministries, visit www.7springsministries.org
