The People Behind the Work: Putting Down Roots: Lukasz’s Story

For our latest ‘People Behind the Work’ spotlight, we’re sharing the story of Lukasz and the journey that brought him to The Carpenter’s Arms – first as a client, and now as a member of staff.

After initially arriving with plans to stay for just two months, Lukasz went on to complete the residential programme for addiction and take up an opportunity through Pathways. Today, he uses his own experiences to help others move forward in their recovery.

‘For three decades of my life, I struggled with substance abuse. I tried every drug. I had been to prison in America as well as in England as a result of my addiction. I had hurt myself, destroyed my life and hurt those closest to me.

I managed to get sober for five and a half years, but then I relapsed. After that relapse, I lost everything I had built and gained – relationships, my business, money and my relationship with God, which went first. Everything else followed.

It was a painful experience that affected not only me, but everyone connected to me. This time around, I nearly died as a result.

When I arrived at The Carpenter’s Arms, I was broken. I had burnt all of my bridges and was full of self-pity and rejection. I was spiritually bankrupt, in debt and full of unforgiveness.

A friend had told me about The Carpenter’s Arms, and I made the decision to come. On 17 January 2025, I arrived in Loughborough – somewhere I had never even heard of before.

I came with a detailed plan I had made for myself. I was going to stay for about two months, get off the medication I was on as a result of my substance abuse, go back to work and carry on chasing my plans.

I got off the medication and achieved what I had come to do. I set a date to leave, but I became uneasy about my decision. I noticed that God was placing His finger on my plans. I wrestled with it for days before eventually deciding to stay and do Phase 2. I felt peace within myself, so I knew it was the right decision.

In Phase 2, I started digging into the reasons why I had relapsed. I learnt a lot about myself and began to understand the adjustments I needed to make, because what I had been doing obviously wasn’t working. I needed time to heal and work through the blind spots I carried.

I remember calling my friends while I was in Phase 1 and telling them I was just going to keep my head down and get back quickly. I didn’t want to put any roots down here.

Then, while I was in Phase 2, I started going to church. One day, the pastor was preaching about putting your roots down. I remember thinking, “Oh dear, I’m going to have to put my roots down here.” I didn’t find that easy, but it was around that time that I decided to continue into Phase 3 and finish the whole programme.

When I moved into Phase 3, a job opportunity came up through The Carpenter’s Arms’ Pathways programme, and I’ve been working here ever since.

God has put me back together, and He used the staff, clients and all the people I’ve interacted with here to do that. Today, I’m grateful for every one of them, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

My past pain is somebody’s strength today.

Everything I’ve been through has equipped me to help others. I’m passionate about seeing God transform men so they can have a positive influence on their children, partners, families and society – men who no longer take, but give.

Nothing goes to waste with God.’