08/11/2026
🎉 THE BRIDGE CELEBRATES 8 YEARS OF SOBRIETY! 🎉
The Bridge would like to give a HUGE congratulations to Chris Williams on 8 years of sobriety! 🙌
Chris’ sobriety date is August 2, 2018—the last time he was placed in handcuffs and booked into the Shelby County Jail.
But what looked like the end of the road became the beginning of a brand-new life.
While sitting in jail, Chris surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. From there, he immediately went to Saul to Paul in Ellettsville, Indiana, where he began working a biblical recovery program. After completing that program, Chris continued his recovery journey at Damascus Road, a second-phase recovery home in Indianapolis.
Chris spent two years between these two programs, allowing God to transform his life from the inside out.
And God was working on more than just Chris’ recovery. ❤️
While at Damascus Road, Chris reached out to his now-wife, Ashley Williams, after seeing her mugshot come across JailTracker. In his letter, Chris told Ashley that he had been clean for 14 months and that she, too, could experience a life of recovery if she was willing to surrender her life to God, open the Bible, and do exactly what it says.
Ashley found hope in that letter—and she followed his direction.
God continued writing their story, and Chris and Ashley were married in 2021. ❤️
This past Tuesday at Family Celebrate Recovery, Ashley had the incredible blessing of presenting Chris with his 8-year sobriety token. What a beautiful picture of redemption, restoration, and God's faithfulness!
Today, Chris and Ashley facilitate Family CR every Tuesday night from 5:45–7:30 PM at The Bridge. They live a life rooted in Christ and feel honored that God has called them to help others who are walking the same road they once traveled.
In 2023, Chris and Ashley both received their ministry licenses, and today they take the Celebrate Recovery program into the jail—serving individuals who are sitting in the very same place where they once sat.
Their testimony is a reminder that recovery is possible through God, one day at a time. But it requires a daily commitment of surrender, perseverance, and faith.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
Chris, we celebrate YOU today! Eight years of freedom. Eight years of choosing surrender. Eight years of God's grace and faithfulness. 🙏
Your past does not have to define your future. Jesus still transforms lives. Recovery is possible. Freedom is possible. A new life is possible. ❤️
Congratulations, Chris, on 8 YEARS! 🎉🙌
May God continue to use your story to lead others from brokenness to restoration and from bo***ge to freedom.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” — John 8:36
