Barton: ‘People will be coming to start their new year off right’

By Jordan Troutman jtroutman@cassville-democrat.com 

Mark Barton, of Cassville, has shared his story of recovery for many years, including on Dec. 29, 2021, as part of a 12-part series published in the Cassville Democrat, one step of the 12-step program for each month of the year.

At that time, Barton was 17 years sober from methamphetamines and cocaine. On June 18, 2024, he will celebrate 20 years free from his addiction. 

Barton grew up in Springfield with undiagnosed ADHD, and at 12 years old, he attempted suicide. He met the love of his life in high school, but his drinking habits resulted in the relationship not working. Barton had a strained relationship with his father and authority figures in general, but he joined the military and was active from 1978-1981. 

When he got out, he was invited to a party where he tried meth for the first time at age 23. From 1984-2004, Barton was in and out of halfway houses, jail and received charges including trafficking and cooking meth.

On Aug. 10, 2004, Barton woke up in the burn unit of St. Joh’s Hospital in Springfield.

“I had been in a drug-induced coma for seven weeks,” he said. “I didn’t remember the fire at that time, but over the years, I have pieced it together.

“They told me it was a meth fire and that there was a cop stationed outside of my room.”

While in the hospital, not one of Barton’s drug-using friends came to visit him.

“My brother had actually made funeral arrangements for me,” he said. “My daughter came to visit me, but I didn’t want her to see me like that. When it was time to leave, they told me I would need several more surgeries and needed to stay in a nursing home for three months.

“I was in a low place. Seventy-eight percent of my body was burned. I had 17 felonies that had been filed against me, and they took my daughter away and told me I could not have contact with her for one year.”

Barton was getting depressed, and his suicidal thoughts came back, leading him to make a second attempt on his own life.

“I was scared,” he said. “I started praying and thinking of my daughter. I said, ‘I don’t know anything about it, but I am going to give this Jesus stuff a year.’

“Everything changed after that, I had hoped and I wanted to be productive. I asked God to show me who he was.”

At that time, Barton was living in the Budget Inn, and one day, he went to the Cassville laundromat.

“There was this booklet from Crowder that said, ‘Older adults going to college,’” he said. “I enrolled in college and started the addiction counseling program.”

From there, Barton connected with a classmate whose husband was the preacher at New Site Baptist Church.

Barton went from a laundromat to college, and meeting a pastor’s wife to New Site, finally finding Celebrate Recovery.

“We started CR there with about six people,” he said. “After a year, we had 50-60 people in CR. Then, my psychology teacher, Heidi Henderson, asked me to come to the First Baptist Church in Cassville to speak to her Sunday school group.”

That is where Barton met Sharon Sater.

“I told her that we needed a CR in Cassville and she, with tears in her eyes, said she needed to pray on it,” he said. “After 10 days, she came to me and agreed to start it. Our first meeting was April 21, 2009.”

The 15th anniversary of the Cassville branch Celebrate Recovery will be April 21, 2024.

“To be 20 years free from meth and cocaine after a 24-year addiction is great,” Barton said. “I gave my life to Christ 18 years ago. Jesus was the last thing I tried and the first thing that worked.”

Barton said the last couple of years have been very difficult.

“I have lost a lot of friends to fentanyl,” he said. “It is not easy to quit, and no one is choosing to die. A lot of the times, they aren’t even aware that fentanyl is in their drugs.”

Barton said CR is doing great though, between the word of mouth and testimonies printed in the Cassville Democrat, it is growing.

“We have the best group of leaders we have ever had,” he said. “The First Baptist Church sponsors us and provides meals and even sends us to an advanced leadership training in November.

“All of our leaders and groups are gender and issue specific.”

Barton said each leader has found freedom through CR and in Jesus.

“This allows them to connect with their groups,” he said. “Their pain has become their purpose.”

There are 11 leaders and 5 groups, and each group has two co-leaders.

“When it comes to CR, people find that they aren’t alone,” he said. “When I first tried to get clean, I said, ‘I’ll give this Jesus thing one year.’”

Barton said it didn’t even take that long before he started to see his life changing.

“Jan. 2 is our next meeting,” he said. “People will be coming to start their new year off right. It is a great time to start because we will be restarting the 12 steps and you can get in on the first steps.”

The first step is stepping out of denial and admitting that you have an issue.

“It is amazing how we work together,” Barton said. “The number one worst thing you can do is to isolate yourself. Give CR and Jesus just one year of your life.”

Barton said there are about 50-70 adults who come together and humble themselves by admitting they have a problem.

“After a while, we become a family,” he said. “We care and support and look out for one another. Don’t give up before the miracle happens, you have to take it one step at a time.”

At CR, a meal served at 5:45 p.m. and childcare is available for children from birth to 6th grade.

“I can’t thank the First Baptist Church enough for all they do,” he said. “You don’t have to be a member of any church to join CR, you don’t even have to go to church.”

CR is non-denominational.

“CR is not just for addiction,” Barton said. “The definition of recovery is getting back something you have lost or that has been taken from you. That can be anything from grief, self-worth your marriage – anything.”
Barton said addiction and recovery are not the same thing.

“If you are reading this and thinking of someone CR could help, come with them for support,” he said. “The biggest and severely enforced rule of CR is who’s seen and what’s said here stays here.

“This is a safe environment; people pour their hearts out and share their secrets to get better. You are only as sick as your secrets, and by being honest you can find that freedom.”

Meeting schedule

To add or update any meetings, people may call Mark Barton at 417-766-5449.

Tuesday

• Celebrate Recovery Cassville at the First Baptist Church in the loft. Meal is served at 5:45 p.m. and large group is at 6:30 p.m., childcare is provided nursery to 6th grade. People may contact Mark Barton at 417-766-5449. 

Wednesday

• Shell Knob – Celebrate Recovery at the Viola Victory Church at 29604 State Hwy., 39. Meal starts at 5 p.m., meeting starts at 5:45 p.m. Childcare is provided For more information call Jessica at 417-239-9001.

• Seligman Celebrate Recovery at Mozark Fellowship at 28277 Frisco Street in Seligman. Meal is at 6 p.m. and meeting starts at 70 p.m. For more information call Loni at 417-827-2737.

• AA meeting, noon to 1 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville.

Thursday

• Monett Celebrate Recovery 6-9 p.m. at the New Site Baptist Church at 1925 Farm Road 1060 in Monett. Meal at 6 p.m. Childcare and nursery up to 5th grade. The Landing for 6th to 12th grade. For more information, people can reach Allan at 417-461-6802.

• AA meeting, 8-9 p.m. at 1308 Harold Street in Cassville.

Friday

• NA meetings from 6-7 p.m. at 303 East 11th Street in Cassville. For more information people can call Sarah at 417-846-7045.

Saturday

• SMART meetings from 10-11 a.m. at 208 West 8th Street in Cassville. Alliance counseling. For more information people may call Loni at 417-827-2737.

Sunday

• NA meetings from 6-7 p.m. at 303 East 11th Street in Cassville. For more information people can call Mike at 417-846-7866.