Nehemiah Abilene
1636 N. 20th Street, Abilene, TX 79601     
(325) 232-7499     
https://nehemiahabilene.org/
leemorris@nehemiahabilene.org

By Loretta Fulton
Lee Morris learned from his 52 days in a faith-based treatment center in Dallas what it takes to manage his own facility.

He came back to his hometown of Abilene and put those skills to working, opening Nehemiah Abilene on Nov. 19, 2019 at 1636 N. 20th St. Now, Morris is hoping to create a similar center for women, to be called the Esther program.

He has expressed interest in obtaining the old Fannin Elementary School, 2726 N. 18th St., for the program. In May, Morris went before the Abilene Independent School District board of trustees to discuss his plans. The school district wants to sell Fannin and the Woodson Early Childhood Center on North Ninth Street. 

The men’s program partners with nonprofits to provide community service projects, and Morris envisions the women’s program doing the same. 

“We want to give these women the absolute best in hopes that they not only recover but begin to thrive within the community,” he said. 

Lee and Lupe Morris

BIO
Name: Lee Morris
Position: CEO Abilene Restoration Ministries, Executive Director Nehemiah Abilene.
Family: Wife Lupe Morris, 11 Children, 13 grandchildren
Hometown: Abilene
Education: GED
Previous experience: Addict in Recovery

Q You started Men of Nehemiah in November 2019. How many men have successfully completed the program since then? 
A: 63 men

Q Did you go through a similar program with your addiction?
A I was at The Men of Nehemiah in Dallas (we are not tied in leadership or financially to them). It is a state-funded program. I was there for 52 days before leaving. The founder is a spiritual father to me and gave permission for us to use the name Nehemiah.

Q You started Men of Nehemiah in November 2019. How many men have successfully completed the program since then? 
A 63 men

Q Did you go through a similar program with your addiction?
A I was at The Men of Nehemiah in Dallas (we are not tied in leadership or financially to them). It is a state funded program. I was there for 52 days before leaving. The founder is a spiritual father to me and gave permission for us to use the name Nehemiah.

Q Your program includes community service. Why is that important?
A Addiction is selfish and self-centered, focusing only on me, myself, and I. It secludes and isolates. Serving others allows me to connect with the community, helping me to care more about the needs of others than my own circumstances. When I am either in lack or plenty it no longer causes us to enter a depressive state but allows us to see the greater picture, that is community.

Q Why do you want to start a similar program for women? You must see a need.
A There are very few no cost programs for women, and even fewer programs that allow them to have their children. Abilene has a need for both men and women to have an opportunity to find recovery and a way back to society. There is a tremendous need for not only women to find recovery, but also the trauma-related care that is needed for children of parents in addiction.

Q Will the women’s program include community service, too?
A Absolutely, Nehemiah Abilene has military styled therapy for discipline and community. So, we serve nonprofits and individuals in need. The primary therapy for the women will be agricultural therapy, meaning there will be green houses and raised bed gardens at the Fannin Elementary site and hopefully several community gardens across the city in low-income areas to give the produce to local residents as the act of service.

Q You have partnerships for the Men of Nehemiah. Would you seek partnerships for the Esther program, too? What kind?
A Absolutely, we want to be able to partner with local churches, businesses, and government. We want to give these women the absolute best in hopes that they not only recover but begin to thrive within the community.

Q Do you have someone in mind to run the Esther program or is it too early?
A Administration will happen on a corporate level although there are directors that will manage the day to day. 

Q You mentioned “agricultural therapy.”  What is that? Gardening?
A  Agricultural therapy is gardening or farming. We want to create an environment that requires discipline, teamwork, and consistency while at the same time rewarding each individuals’ efforts quite literally with the fruit of their labor. We plan on growing tomatoes and cucumbers.

Q If you are not successful in getting the Fannin property, will you look elsewhere or will that be the end of it?
A We will continue to search for properties.