Hope and healing: LifeSource transforms lives with Christ-centered recovery in Morgan County
Photos by Jennifer Sherwood
In the heart of Morgan County, LifeSource stands as a guiding light for those grappling with the dual struggles of addiction and legal issues. This faith-driven nonprofit, founded by Robin Ladner in 2011 and officially established in 2013, offers more than just a lifeline; it provides a transformative journey toward recovery. At its core, LifeSource is dedicated to fostering lasting change through a holistic approach grounded in Christ-centered principles, aiming to not only mend lives but also reintegrate individuals as active, contributing members of their communities.
“We want to help change their life in every way and become a contributing member of society.”
Ladner said she has always been drawn to people who had a hard life situation.
“I started with jail ministry at the Morgan County Jail in 2002 and got very involved – I didn’t know that addiction and drugs were so much the reason that almost everybody in jail (is there.)
Ladner said she became involved with inmates and their families through her work, and it became her life’s mission and a passion.
LifeSource operates four Christ-centered residential recovery houses across Somerville, Hartselle and Decatur, each dedicated to offering a supportive and structured environment for recovery.
Housing 150 residents, these facilities are more than just places to stay—they are communities where healing, growth and transformation are at the forefront.
The women’s campus, affectionately known as “The White House,” is a haven for 50 women and children. This facility is not just a shelter but a sanctuary where mothers and their children find stability, support and a path to a brighter future. The holistic approach taken here ensures that every aspect of recovery is addressed, from physical and emotional well-being to spiritual growth.
On the men’s campus, residents find a structured environment designed to foster accountability and personal growth. The Jordan House, along with the Honor, Freedom and Integrity dorms, provide a home for 55 men committed to overcoming addiction and rebuilding their lives. Each dorm is a testament to the core values that come with a life of sobriety and faith.
Jay Pepper now works for LifeSource as its Public Relations director. He says God saved his soul, but LifeSource saved his life.
“When I came here, I had no car, no Driver License, no insurance,” Pepper said.
LifeSource was the first program Pepper ever tried to end his 30-year addiction to drugs.
What led Pepper to LifeSource was exhaustion.
“I was tired. I couldn’t get enough in my body.”
Pepper was on life support for 10 days in February 2023 and started using drugs again until reaching a breaking point in March.
It was at the point he called Monica Reavis, the program director at LifeSource.
“She said ‘Do you have $250? And I said ‘Yeah.’ I lied. I didn’t have 250 pennies,” Pepper said. “I called her back and said ‘Ma’am, I don’t have 250 pennies but I’m dying.”
Reavis told Pepper to come to LifeSource.
Pepper said the addict in him tried to procrastinate and get a couple more days chasing the next high.
“She said ‘If you want to live, be down here tomorrow by 6 p.m.’”
The day Pepper set foot onto the LifeSource campus was March 21, 2023 – a date he now has tattooed on his wrist.
“I had to find something better than drugs to make me happy because I had a void that needed to be filled and I was never passionate about anything except drugs until this,” he said.
Pepper knows all too well what people are going through when they first get to LifeSource because he lived it. It’s because of his experience that he can relate to their struggles, making him the perfect advocate for the program he said saved his life.
“You have to have a paradigm shift to be successful here, we can’t want it for you,” he said. “It had to be God because I didn’t have a relationship with Him before I came here.”
LifeSource’s impact extends beyond just housing. The organization serves approximately 150 residents through a comprehensive program that includes life skills training, educational opportunities, and spiritual guidance. By addressing the root causes of addiction and providing the tools necessary for sustainable recovery, LifeSource ensures that residents are well-prepared to re-enter society as productive, confident individuals.
At the core of LifeSource’s mission is a commitment to faith.
LifeSource’s home church is LifeChurch in Hartselle. Attendees fill up the third service every Sunday, according to Ladner.
Every aspect of the program is infused with Christ-centered principles, providing residents with a solid spiritual foundation on which to build their new lives. The dedicated team at LifeSource works tirelessly to ensure that each resident feels valued, supported and empowered to achieve their full potential.
LifeSource’s success is evident in the countless stories of transformation that emerge from its programs. Residents who once felt hopeless and lost now find themselves equipped with the skills, confidence and faith needed to overcome their past and embrace a future filled with promise and possibility.
