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‘His Steps’ offers tools, coaches to fight addictions
"His Steps" at First Friday
At the First Friday event in Springfield on Sept. 6, leaders from His Steps ministry in Rincon offered free bottles of water. Pictured from left are Alex Marshall and Pastor Mike Gianeskis. (Photo by Barbara Augsdorfer/Effingham Herald.)

By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

The groups come together once a week to check in, hold each other accountable and have a main teaching time.

“His Steps” meets at Coastal Bible Fellowship in Rincon and is for anyone struggling with any addiction – drugs, alcohol, pornography, overeating, or gambling.

“We want to fill this niche to give people the tools to fight their addiction,” said Pastor Mike Gianeskis. He added that people are not forced to join the church. Friends and/or family members who want to learn how to support those with these problems are welcomed to attend.

His Steps logo
The group is led by Alex Marshall, a recovered addict and born-again Christian, with oversight from Gianeskis, Coastal Bible Fellowship’s founding pastor. Gianeskis is a certified biblical counselor with ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors) and a Commissioned Addictions Biblical Counselor (CABC). 

Counselors also help people with marital and parenting issues, depression, and any other issue that would keep anyone from growing in their faith and defeating negative habits.

“His Steps” is a free program. “We know people have jobs, but they’re struggling,” Gianeskis adds. “You don’t have to feel that guilt. God accepts people in the midst of their problem.”

Members of His Steps meet 6:30-8 p.m., Thursdays, at the church, 5513 McCall Rd., Rincon, first in a large-group teaching time, then break into small groups with a coach. The program is self-paced and designed to “extend a compassionate hand and real help to those struggling with addition,” according to its brochure.

For more information about “His Steps,” call Marshall at 443-966-5695, or Gianeskis at 912-659-3657.

Rep. Buddy Carter: Granddaughters Survived Texas Camp Flooding That Killed Their Cousin
Buddy Carter
Rep. Buddy Carter spoke publicly about the loss of his granddaughters' cousin in the Texas flooding.
U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., who represents Effingham County, said his twin granddaughters survived catastrophic flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas, but their 9-year-old cousin, Janie Hunt, was killed. Carter shared the heartbreaking news on social media and in interviews with Fox News, CNN, and Atlanta News First, revealing that Janie’s body was found on her mother’s birthday. Carter said his granddaughters survived by climbing onto a roof and waiting for rescue.
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