Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (Quakers)

Shawn Leonard participated in the Mountain Ministry
and now is on staff, helping others. He attends
Rose Valley Friends church.









Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to the former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it’s deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. NIV

Mountain Ministries, located just outside of Kelso, WA., is a one-year discipleship program designed to lead a person from a life of drugs and alcohol to a life committed to serving Jesus Christ. With a 70% success rate, Mountain Ministries shows that Jesus Christ is the answer to drugs, alcohol, and other forms of addiction. Gary and Fay Miller, the executive directors, have dedicated their home, property, money and time to “the Mountain” because of the call God put on their lives. There are two sides to the Mountain: The Women of Faith (along with their children), and the Mountain Men. Between the women, children, men and staff, we number around 100 people. The staff are full-time volunteers. God provides for the Mountain through many small donations every day. God pays the bills and feeds everyone. God is a very good provider; if you’ve ever tried to out-give God, it’s the best losing game around. The Mountain has a high level of accountability and a very structured environment which includes worship, Bible teaching, prayer, and counseling. Jim and Jeanne Leonard, my parents, are retired pastors from South Salem Friends Church. They provide the Mountain with counseling and some of the teaching.

I have seen lives restored…lives that were once on the road to death. Even the animals seem to become healthy. It is a very challenging area to serve, but can also produce the greatest rewards. God loves to restore people’s lives and relationships. God is a God of restoration.

In November of 2006, my parents were at the Lord’s Gym in Vancouver, Washington (a ministry associated with New Life Friends Church). They were helping lead NWYM’s retreat known as “The Journey.” Mountain Ministries attended, introducing themselves to my parents. A few months later, I was talking with mom about the tobacco and alcohol use in my life, and how my relationship with the Lord was up against a wall and going nowhere. I wanted so much to be free, to have the relationship with Jesus of which I’d always dreamed. I wanted to be able to serve within the church and the yearly meeting, and even the mission field. My mom said she knew of the perfect place for me. Before we had finished talking, I had already committed in my heart to go to the Mountain for the required one year.

I believe the intersection between the Mountain and my parents to be a divine appointment of God. I went to the Mountain and entered the program, scared but hopeful. Rose Valley Friends Church, located just a few miles from the Mountain, gives us their support in many ways. Being raised a Quaker, this is where I chose to attend church. I graduated from the program and stayed on to be a part of the staff at the Mountain. I now do Bible teaching with the men, serve as the Food Service Director, and assist anywhere needed. I am on the Christian Education committee for Rose Valley Friends and serve as their Yearly Meeting Representative. I also serve on the Yearly Meeting Board of Christian Education. God has blessed me by opening the doors for me to serve, and it truly is a joy.

If you know of someone bound by drugs and alcohol, who is ready to be set free by Jesus call Mountain Ministries at 360-423-8350