Addiction took control
Corbett began using cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana at thirteen. What started as a search for acceptance escalated through high school and college. By his twenties, crack cocaine controlled his time, money, and decisions even while he tried to maintain the appearance of a normal life.
The day everything changed
At twenty-seven, a five-day binge ended in a stolen car, a high-speed police chase, and the Florence County Detention Center. Corbett now describes the day he was arrested as the best day of his life because it was the day he finally admitted that his life was out of control.
Help, truth, and a new direction
After jail, Corbett entered a year-long Christ-centered recovery program. There he learned that the peace he had pursued through drugs could be found in a daily relationship with Jesus Christ. He returned to Florence, rebuilt his life, and began serving at Florence Baptist Temple.
I am so grateful for God’s mercy and grace in my life; it has motivated me to work with others who are struggling with addiction.
From a living room to a community
After conversations with FBT’s pastors, Corbett helped start the local RU ministry. The first meetings were held in his living room. As the group grew, meetings moved to the church, and Corbett eventually joined the staff full time to direct the program.
Support without enabling
Corbett credits his wife, Amy, with supporting their family while also refusing to shield him from the consequences of his choices. His experience shapes the way RU helps families today: with compassion, truth, appropriate boundaries, and a clear path toward treatment and change.