A Christmas Wish from CORE

Christmas, the season of hope, invites us to revel in the spirit of joy and cheer that warms our hearts.

This festive time reminds us that God bestowed a supreme gift upon all humanity some two thousand years ago. It was the arrival of a very special baby named Jesus, wrapped in cloths and nestled in a manger.  We readily envision the parents watching over the newborn, accompanied by humble shepherds and gentle animals sharing the stable. We immerse ourselves in the coziness of the scene by identifying with the baby’s mother, who treasures and ponders everything in her heart.  

The nativity scene is much more than simply a miraculous, heartwarming historical moment. As we already know, the quiet, unassuming arrival of this baby holds a promise that surpasses the grandeur of any human achievement. The baby is destined for greatness, and He makes everything right again. At Christmastime, we celebrate God's ultimate gift: Jesus came into this world to save us all, giving everyone reason for hope and joy!

At CORE, as we reflect on our many blessings, we are keenly aware that our mission is made possible only through our friends and supporters. With heartfelt gratitude, we specially want to recognize these individuals for their commitment and belief in our cause. Your encouragement, prayers, and generosity are the cornerstone of our success. We sincerely thank you – you're the best! 

To those still struggling with addiction, take heart! There is a solution for your difficulty, and you are not alone. At CORE, we offer open arms and unwavering support to guide you on your journey to recovery and health. You are deserving of a brighter future, and we’ll help you find it. Every member of our staff – in whom the drinking and drug problem has been solved – speaks from personal experience. We’ll show you the solution and how it works.  

To all our readers, this Christmas season, let’s reflect on the true essence of hope. Our real hope transcends human achievements and reaches into the depths of our souls. It begins with a baby born in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago.

CORE wishes everyone a Merry Christmas

filled with the timeless hope and joy

that Baby Jesus brings to us all!

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Jeremy Hampton: Little Drummer Boy

“The Little Drummer Boy” is a familiar holiday tune about a poor young boy who performs for Baby Jesus. While the song itself is a Christmas classic, the Rankin & Bass TV version received only a lukewarm response in Nielsen ratings. Children were put off by the lead character, who wore a wooden expression on his face throughout. He never smiled – not when his pet lamb was miraculously healed, and not even when Baby Jesus smiled at him.  

In hindsight, we think the Rankin & Bass production was ahead of its time, but 50 years ago there just wasn’t anybody out there with enough charisma for the lead role. Today, we know of the perfect person. He possesses the excitement, poise, and glamour needed for the protagonist’s part. With piercing eyes framed by a rugged face and well-groomed beard, our guy even has an infectious smile.   

Meet Jeremy Hampton! CORE Church members readily recognize Jeremy as the accomplished drummer for our popular praise and worship band. His resume doesn’t end there. He’s also a house manager, recovery instructor, spirituality class teacher, softball team member, and volunteer for CORE special projects. Jeremy is able to serve in these positions because he has recovered.  

While people today have difficulty picturing this, five years ago Jeremy was a struggling addict who hit rock bottom. He told us “I was doing a lot of meth, weed, everything. I was 118 pounds and malnourished. I was sleepng in my car and miserable. I was dying.” His predicament was the product of denial and blaming others. “My thinking was that I just needed to get away, change my location and friends, then I’d be fine,” he recalls, “it all made sense in my head at the time.” Jeremy shook his head while telling us this, and we understand why. Within CORE, we know that such thinking is eternally wrong. Unfortunately, it’s terribly common with an addict trapped in the cycle of addiction.  

By the end of his last spree, everything Jeremy had worked for in life was gone, again, and this time he had nobody to turn to for help. The moment finally had come for him to quit, but he couldn’t, no matter how hard he tried. In desperation he called our program manager Kevin Hunt who, Jeremy says, “answered my phone call and got me in [CORE]; he probably saved my life.”

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