Village of Hope New Brunswick

About Village of Hope New Brunswick

Village of Hope is a faith-based drug and alcohol recovery program in Upper Tracy, New Brunswick, set in a wilderness area along the North Branch of the Oromocto River. Founded in 2008 by Pastors Andrew and Märt Vähi and modeled on Dunklin Memorial in Florida, they run a ten-month, live-in Christian program for men and women of all ages who are struggling with life-controlling substance use. Their approach centers on spiritual, emotional, and physical renewal, alongside building a solid work ethic, learning job skills, and repairing family relationships. The program runs on donations and accepts participants from across Canada.

Students move through a series of phases: a roughly four-week Induction introducing the program and Christian living, Orientation, Regeneration, Inner Healing, and Discipleship. Along the way they examine how addiction has damaged their relationships and self-image, take part in a peer feedback exercise called the Sociogram, and learn about the physical and psychological effects of substance use through biblical counseling, classroom teaching, and small groups. The Inner Healing phase addresses root issues such as childhood abuse or rejection, while the final phase shifts the focus toward faith and serving others. Hands-on work experience prepares students for future employment, families can join a nine-week Sunday small-group course on chemical dependency and co-dependency, and an on-site Recovery Church holds weekly Sunday services open to students, visitors, and the local community.