Jordan Wilson’s journey from client to executive director at Friends of Sinners
Photo by Jamie Plain
Jordan Wilson once walked through the doors of Friends of Sinners as a broken man — a drug addict chasing a high he thought would never catch up to him. Nearly a decade later, the 36-year-old has come full circle, now serving as executive director of the Christ-centered recovery program that never gave up on him. Now a husband, father, and ministry leader, he’s committed to guiding others out of the darkness he once knew all too well.
For the last 6 years, Wilson has served as the Friends of Sinners development director. Before that, he was a client. But his journey began many years ago and is filled with struggles and triumphs.
Raised in Madisonville, Wilson describes his upbringing as idyllic — loving parents, active in sports, a church kid with every advantage. But in his teens, he began drifting from that foundation, craving the experiences he felt he’d missed out on: partying, drinking, girls. A brief stint in college didn’t stick, so he got a factory job and started “living for the weekend.”
From the outside, life looked fine. He had a steady income, owned a home, and kept up appearances. But inside, Wilson felt empty, saying he only felt good when he was high.
“It was euphoric, like a wonderful achievement,” he said. “The rush lasted for hours and I had so much energy and was in such a good mood.”
What started with marijuana escalated to painkillers — traded from a coworker — and eventually spiraled into full-blown addiction.
“I didn’t identify as a drug addict until I experienced withdrawal,” he said. “Before that, I was obsessed with chasing synthetic happiness. It doesn’t take long for someone to become mentally, physically, and emotionally dependent on painkillers.”
Wilson was also deep into bodybuilding at the time. Wilson said his anabolic steroid dealer introduced him to the world of K2, or “spice” — a synthetic marijuana that didn’t show up on drug tests. He soon found himself manufacturing 10 pounds of it a week in his home.
That’s when everything unraveled. He began using crystal meth — once his hard line “never” — and his life descended into chaos.
“I was meeting dangerous people, staying up for days, getting knocks on my door at 3 a.m. from people looking for drugs,” he said. “I was trying to fill a void only my Creator could fill.”
The turning point came with a police raid. Wilson was jailed for 3 months in 2014 and court-ordered to Friends of Sinners.
“I didn’t want that. I wanted to do my own thing,” he said, admitting that attitude got him kicked out — three times in 6 months. “I was giving up. I had decided I was never going to get sober, even though I knew incarceration lay ahead. I burned all my bridges.”
At his lowest, Wilson found temporary shelter with a friend of his mother — until he broke her only rule: no drugs. She kicked him out. With nowhere to go, he ended up on his mother’s doorstep, asking to crash. She agreed — on on condition: he had to find a new rehab program.
“I agreed, even though it would be rehab number seven and I knew it was pointless,” Wilson said.
Despite what he considered the inevitable, something shifted. He arrived at his mother’s house on Good Friday — unaware of the timing, but acutely aware of the peace that settled over him.
“She told me she had been praying and fasting for me for 12 days,” Wilson said.
That weekend, Wilson’s father invited him to attend church for Easter Sunday.
“I told him I would be too sick because I’d be in withdrawal,” Wilson said. “Then he reminded me Sunday would also be his birthday, so I went as my gift to him.”
March 27, 2016 — Easter Sunday — marked the beginning of his transformation. At Victory Church in Madisonville, the preacher invited anyone searching for purpose to come to the altar.
“My dad says I ran to the front,” Wilson recalled. “I don’t even remember doing it. But I know that was the day my life changed.”
Though he got into treatment, he still had proverbial mountains to climb. Wilson entered Isaiah House in Danville, Kentucky, completing a yearlong program. He took college classes, worked on staff, and “sort of became the face” of the recovery center. He also met his wife, Kayley, and together they began building a new life.
Wilson said that in 2019, he felt God calling. He approached Joe Welsh, the director of Friends of Sinners at the time, and asked “Can you use me?”
“I didn’t know, but Joe had been following my progress,” Wilson said.
Wilson was hired as the FOS development director shortly after. Now, as executive director, Wilson leads the very organization that once tried — multiple times — to help him get clean. Alongside his wife, he’s raising two children, Knox (6) and Lemon (4), and they’ve launched their own outreach, Jesus Ministries, through which Wilson shares his testimony to inspire others.
Friends of Sinners is also in transition, working toward completion of a new 16,000-square-foot facility on Jackson Street.
“We still need about half a million dollars,” Wilson said.
He’s committed to rallying support — not just financially, but spiritually and emotionally. His greatest priority?
“Shepherding the staff,” he said. “I want them to feel seen, heard, and elevated — because that’s how lasting change happens.” OL
