01 / THE OPENING
ABOUT MRC HOUSE
A HOUSE OF DISCOVERY.
A place of second chances. And third chances. And fourth chances.
Some people come looking for freedom from addiction.
Others come because their lives have fallen apart, relationships have been broken, or they've reached a place where they know something needs to change.
But at MRC House, we believe the story doesn't have to end there.
We believe people can encounter Jesus Christ and begin living differently.
Not because they've finally discovered enough willpower.
Not because they've found the perfect program.
But because Jesus Christ has the power to make a person new.
MRC House is a recovery and discipleship ministry of Church of the Apostles in New Orleans, Louisiana.
A place where people can discover God, discover who they are in Him, and begin building a life no longer controlled by their past.
02 / THE CONVICTION
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO STAY THIS WAY.
There's a difference between feeling better and getting better.
James Oddo believes that difference matters.
For too long, people have been told to manage the same destructive patterns for the rest of their lives.
But what if the gospel offers something deeper?
What if recovery isn't simply learning to live without a substance?
What if it's learning to live an entirely new life?
MRC House was developed around the conviction that Jesus Christ doesn't simply help people manage bondage. He offers freedom from it.
That doesn't mean the journey is always easy.
It doesn't mean accountability becomes unnecessary.
And it doesn't mean people stop needing community, guidance, or practical support.
It means we believe genuine transformation is possible.
The goal isn't simply to stop doing something destructive. It's to become someone new.
"We are not supporting people in their recovery. We are leading them to a new life in Christ Jesus."
03 / THE MINISTRY
ROOTED IN NEW ORLEANS
THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING WE BELIEVE.
It's something we're living.
Through Church of the Apostles, MRC House is actively serving people throughout New Orleans.
The ministry connects with individuals facing addiction and instability, including people receiving services through local detox and treatment facilities.
For some, that relationship begins during a ministry service.
For others, it begins with a conversation.
And for those who become involved, the work continues through biblical discipleship, accountability, supportive community, and practical life development.
MRC House also operates residential environments where individuals can continue rebuilding their lives while developing responsibility, stability, and healthy relationships.
But the goal isn't simply to provide another program or another place to live.
It's to help people build lives that reflect the transformation they're experiencing.
That means learning to work.
Learning to manage responsibilities.
Learning to live in community.
Learning to serve.
Learning to walk with Christ in everyday life.
04 / THE PEOPLE
THE PEOPLE WE HELP BECOME THE PEOPLE WHO HELP.
One of the most meaningful things happening through MRC House is watching people move from receiving help to becoming people who help others.
These stories aren't simply about people who stopped using drugs.
They're about people who began building new lives.
People who found meaningful work.
People who became part of a church community.
People who discovered that their lives could become a source of encouragement and hope for someone else.
The goal isn't to create a permanent community of people defined by their addiction.
It's to help people become mature disciples of Jesus Christ who participate fully in the life of the church and their communities.
05 / THE VISION
THE MISSION IS BIGGER THAN ONE HOUSE
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE CAN HAPPEN THERE.
MRC House is rooted in New Orleans.
But the biblical principles behind the ministry aren't limited to one city.
James's vision is to help churches develop recovery ministries that reach beneath the surface of addiction and lead people toward genuine discipleship.
Not by asking churches to adopt the MRC House name.
Not by handing them a rigid program that ignores the needs of their communities.
But by sharing the biblical framework, practical experience, and ministry guidance that have shaped MRC House.
Some churches may develop residential ministries.
Others may begin with discipleship groups, community outreach, or other expressions of recovery ministry.
The goal is the same:
Help people encounter Jesus Christ, grow into mature disciples, and become equipped to help others.
THERE'S ROOM FOR ANOTHER STORY.
Maybe you're looking for a new beginning.
Maybe you're a pastor who sees a need in your community.
Maybe you simply believe this kind of work is worth supporting.
Whatever brought you here, we believe there's an opportunity to be part of what God is doing through MRC House.
Your story isn't over.