Erica's Fresh Perspective
My name is Erica Burns and I am a 60-year-old retired mother of 5 and grandmother of soon to be three. By the grace of God, I have been married to the same wonderful man for 36 years and after being called to ministry at 57, I am privileged to be a Wesleyan pastor at Community Life Church in Kanata.
I started my own recovery journey from Food Addiction and Codependency some thirty years ago, with two stints in rehab in the US. Addiction and mental health issues run deep in my family of origin and true to form I married into a family with a similar history and issues. Having had a life transforming experience I went on to share what I had learned taking others through the steps individually and in groups. A huge part of my ministry calling is recovery ministry. I am currently facilitating a codependency group and will be starting a second LifeLab Recovery group this fall.
I first heard of Jericho Road discussing recovery options in Ottawa with a mother whose son needed treatment. I believe in Jericho Road’s mission. When I was approached about serving on the board I was honored. I also firmly believe that when God calls us to service the answer must always be yes.
Jericho Road is a unique Christian focused, peer lead residential mental health/addictions treatment center for men, that has a long-term commitment to those who have gone through their program and the community as a whole.
This ministry is important to me because addiction and mental health issues effect every aspect of family life and community. One changed life changes the direction of every life. We heal a whole community one person at a time.
I would love to see Jericho Road expand to the point where we no longer have to ask anyone who needs us to wait. Any time we step out in faith we are changed. I’m so excited to see what God has planned. I know that it will be more than I could ever have dreamed or imagined!
