Get to Know HopeQuest

This is a series of interviews where we introduce you to some of the men and women who serve the clients at HopeQuest. Today we meet Brian C. Bailey, the Campus Pastor / Director of Spiritual Formation for the last four years.

Bryan’s background in a nutshell

Bryan grew up in Texas and New Mexico, receiving three degrees from Texas Tech: a bachelor’s in Corporate Finance, a bachelor’s in Economics, and an MBA in High Performance Management. He planned on becoming an investment banker and senator, “Then Jesus showed up.” After obtaining his Master of Divinity with a focus on Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Bryan worked in high school and college ministry until God brought him to HopeQuest.

“When I was in seminary, never in a million years would I have thought that I’d end up working at a rehab! But this is ministry every day, not once a week. I always tell people that ‘Pastor’ is not who I am, it is what I do. Walking with and sitting down with hurting people is pastoring.”

What is the role of faith in an addictions treatment program?

“Do you have to be a Christian to recover? No. Will you ultimately get peace and joy in your life without a relationship with Jesus? That’s a different question. I think most people who want recovery or talk about recovery are really wanting peace. We had a client who had been to 11 rehabs. He said this is the first place that dug beneath the surface both spiritually and clinically.”

What if somebody isn’t Christian? Can they still benefit from the TREK Program?

HopeQuest has served everyone from monks, to atheists, to megachurch pastors, to ex-cons, etc. “People who aren’t Christians are asking the same questions. We’re all searching for peace. Most people walk into the program with a lot of spiritual baggage. Faith doesn’t have to be overcomplicated! I want people to ask the hard questions and have permission to question and wrestle. You will never grow beyond the questions you are afraid to ask.”

“I view our clients as leaders, especially in the environments they will step back into after treatment. That mindset changes how I interact with them. I try to give clients freedom, confidence, and tools to find answers.”

There are other Christian treatment programs out there. What makes HopeQuest unique?

“I don’t have personal experience with other programs so I can’t say. I do know that I don’t focus on religion – I focus on the gospel. Not dumbing down the gospel, but bringing gospel clarity. We are grace-focused and practical, meeting clients where they are at. My guiding philosophy is ‘gospel + safety + time.’ If you remove any of those ingredients, it doesn’t work.”

“I also try to let clients see the human side of pastors. I am not the savior or superhero in their life. You can’t get away with wearing a mask here!”

What about your work do you find most rewarding?

“Seeing clients find hope and have lightbulbs go off. Seeing clients own their own faith. That’s huge. I once had a pastor hug me, sobbing, after class one morning. He told me he has been teaching grace his entire career but only just then came to really understand it. Moments like that keep me going.”