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January 08, 2025
Breaking the Chains of Addiction for Good
Growing up with an alcoholic father, Melissa struggled from a young age with feelings of fear and abandonment and yearned for acceptance. During her teen years, however, she found a temporary escape through alcohol, and the consequences quickly consumed fifteen years of her life – blackouts, withdrawals, run-ins with the law, reckless behavior, and overwhelming guilt.
Melissa Huray, Emmy-award winning news reporter turned addiction counselor, and author of the 365 day devotional Radical Freedom: Breaking the chains of Addiction for Good opens up about how she found radical freedom through surrender.
With the wisdom and training of a counselor and the heart of understanding of one who suffered from addiction, Melissa talks openly with Perry and Shawna about shame, the need for community in your recovery, and how God can take even our worst mistakes and use them for good.
Also in this podcast, when Perry’s daughter Kali Joy was 16 she prayed, “Lord I want to know what it looks like to live like I have nothing to lose.” The Lord answered that prayed in a really painful yet powerful way that not only affected Kali but also the rest of the family. It pushed this truth more deeply into their hearts, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”
IN THIS EPISODE
Melissa Huray
Melissa Huray has spent the past twenty years helping people with addictions find freedom through the power of Jesus Christ. Radically freed in 2003, she is a masters level addiction counselor with degrees in communications and exercise physiology. Her memoir, “Blackout to Blessing” was recently released by Beaufort Books. Melissa is the Executive Director of the Lindell Recovery Network and hosts an internet television show called the Hope Report which streams live five days weekly on Lindell TV. Melissa worked as an on-air radio personality and Emmy award winning news reporter and anchor before entering the field of addiction. She currently lives in the Twin Cities suburb of Lakeville, MN with her husband of twenty years and has three daughters. Melissa enjoys writing, running, wordsmithing and singing – both old-school karaoke and with the City of Lakes – a nationally recognized women’s Barbershop chorus.
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Perry LaHaie
Perry LaHaie's passion is to know Jesus and make Him known. “I’m all in with Jesus but not all put together. I need Jesus right now as much as I did when I first started following Him!” Perry says. In addition to co-hosting Perry and Shawna Mornings, Perry is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, and advocate for those who haven’t yet heard the gospel, especially those in the Muslim world. Born and raised in northern Michigan, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a graduate degree in Cross- cultural Communications. Perry also serves with Frontiers, a worldwide ministry to Muslims. Perry and his bride, Teresa, call Holland, Michigan home. They have two adult children, Kali and Taylor, and Taylor’s bride, Bri.
Shawna Beyer
Shawna Beyer has a way of telling stories that create personal connection— to her, to one another, and to God. She has been a homeschool mom, church planter, project lead for a consulting company, and church staff member. Though she’s been involved in ministry with her husband (Dan) in Iowa, Arizona, and now Michigan, she was born and raised in Southern California and as they say, “You can take the girl out of California . . .” She is mom to four grown kids (Bryn, Drayson, Eden, and Haven) who no longer need her but humor her anyway. Shawna is passionate about the rhythms we weave into the fabric of our lives to fall more in love with God each day. Healthy foods are her go-to, but she will abandon that whole track in a heartbeat for a homemade cinnamon roll like Grandma used to make.
Perry and Shawna Mornings
The Perry and Shawna Podcast: Real life conversations reminding you that you’re Abba’s child and that you’re blessed to be a blessing and loved to share Jesus’ love.