Matthew Schmid formed Type R Ministries (TRM) in 2017 after successfully stepping into solid recovery after a long-term battle with addiction. He quickly recognized his desire to help people struggling with many of the same issues he finally found the faith and strength to fight. However, it became unmistakable that he still had much to learn, and Matthew decided to start his education process. He started attending numerous seminars, conventions, and workshops and earned his Peer Recovery Certification. Shortly after, he decided to return to school for his CDCA (Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistance licensure.) Meanwhile, Matthew was setting up TRM as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, developing a business plan, networking with the recovery community, and building a diverse board of directors. As a result, TRM started receiving numerous grants, such as a 2018 Franklin County ADAMH Community Grant and a 2018 Morrow County United Way Grant, and securing over $20,000 in donations in the first 18 months.
TRM started to hold several in-person events in 2017 and 2018, reaching thousands. In addition, TRM gathered data on at-risk communities and partnered with other agencies to offer peer support and recovery service placement. TRM also volunteered with Morrow County DAAP (The Morrow County Drug and Alcohol Awareness Coalition.) In April 2018, DAAP elected Matthew as the coalition’s president.
Most recovery stories are not a straight line, and in late 2018 Matthew momentarily struggled in his recovery. While temporarily devastating for Matthew, this was a final seal on his sobriety, and he has remained abstemious since. You may ask, why did we include this? Honesty and transparency! Two essential things in recovery! Someone cannot run from their past, but they can use it to learn from and shape their future. Matthew did just that, and not only did this event shape Matthew, but it also helped transform TRM.
During this time, Matthew resigned from leadership positions, gave the board complete control of the nonprofit, stopped offering peer support, started attending counseling, and concentrated on his studies and self-care for a promised 12-month period. TRM agreed that he should continue to post daily motivational quotes to continue engagement.
A year later, Matthew was in a very different and much healthier place. Not to mention married and living overseas. At this time, the board decided to ease back into community engagement with TRM. Matthew started to author and post blog entries from his experience for typerministries.org (currently removed as we recreate) and once again offered to help connect people with recovery resources. The pandemic unexpectedly extended and renewed the successful virtual outreach and fundraising initiatives. Thankfully, the early success in organic outreach and later success with digital outreach continue to help shape our ideas for next-generation services.
Meanwhile, Matthew continued to study, and in 2021 Matthew graduated with honors from Liberty University with a Counseling Degree. Additionally, he received a certificate in addiction studies from Columbus State Community College. Matthew purposely chose to diversify his education between conservative and liberal schools to give him a well-rounded edge. One of his aspirations is to be a reconciling force between the church and LGBTQ people. As he says, “You cannot reconcile people if you fail to understand both sides.”
Since 2017, TRM has reached thousands of people from all walks of life, connected over 200 people with recovery services, offered peer support or basic addiction counseling to over 500 people, and looks forward to providing support for many more. Since 2019, TRM has been involved with many outreach missions in Ohio, New York City, and even across the Atlantic in places like Berlin, Germany, and Portugal.
Just like any journey of growth, TRM is in the process of reinventing who we are and rethinking our community engagement and outreach plan. We hope to work with people looking to reconstruct their lives after many traumas (including religious ones), not just addiction. We hope to have more information for you by early 2023.
Our Mission: Type R Ministries is a safe place for all people, helping to inspire the faith to grow.