There's undeniably something about Monte’ Pershall. Looking otherwise like a conventional construction guy, it's probably something in the eyes or the posture. His eye contact is direct and mild. His manner is unpretentious, the attitude of someone who can face things and isn't afraid of work. 

         Monte’s childhood was abusive. Addictive family members, foster care, and being passed around to distant family members and friends.  Alcohol and drugs were introduced to him at a very young age.   As a teen in the '80s, he was an alcoholic himself, and then a drug addict. He's been in and out of jail so many times he sincerely can't count. Many of his stays, he doesn't remember.

         He's had some strange close calls: once he was let off for writing an essay; another time, he spent the night in his car after a traffic stop that could have put him away for possession. "Stay right there," he remembers the officer saying, and when he returned in the morning to find Monte’ still in the car, he released him. Things continued like this until, in 2005, Monte’ decided to change his path. Not long after, his wife followed him into sobriety. They set to reforming their family together and rediscovering their faith. 

            Monte’ spent years repeatedly succeeding and then failing in business, and in 2020 COVID brought down another previously booming business, and Monte's resilience and commitment were tested again. One day, he found himself tearing dangerously along a winding road in bad weather after taking out a substantial life insurance policy. "I felt ready to die," he says. "But God didn't let me crash. I pulled over, crying and praying, and decided I just had to pull myself up and get back at it." 

           He founded Cedar Creek Renovations in 2022, which he describes as "as much a ministry as a construction company."  A few months after CCR was founded, Monte’ was working on a local project by himself and needed help, so he reached out to a friend asking for guys who could work with him in construction. His friend sent close to twenty men straight out of prison. Monte selected a handful of these men with whom he could build lasting relationships and began work.

           Alongside CCR, he is the Executive Director of Tree of Life Recovery Homes in Amboy, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that connects formerly incarcerated and addicted men with housing around Clark County. It had been "put on his heart" to help others struggling with addiction and incarceration for many years, and the timing was finally working out. 

            This is a much more supportive program than a usual ministry or recovery home. "There's nothing wrong with [AA, Celebrate Recovery], but we're different, more relational. These gentlemen are part of our lives," Monte’ says. At Tree of Life, they connect the men with housing, train them in applicable trades like construction, teach them how to apply for jobs with a record, pray for them, and take a real interest in their lives. 

             Their mission is to comprehensively prepare these men for sober, healthy lives, with God at the center of it all. There are currently four gentlemen in the program, and Monte’ wants to grow that number as soon as they secure a facility where they can build their own housing units and training space. For men who can't work in construction, Monte’ has plans to start a junk removal business, and will continue developing relationships with other local business owners who can provide jobs. Monte's wife, Hillary, hopes to add a family restoration room where willing families can work to reunify with the help of a close friend who is also a faith-based counselor and who currently serves on the Tree of Life board. 

            Tree of Life is also supported by Thomas Wilbanks, Housing Director; Patti Robertson, Pastor; and Traci Varney, Director of Relations. Anyone interested in working with or joining Tree of Life must "desire to know Christ, have a background in recovery and/or incarceration, desire to continue to pay it forward, and remain clean," Monte’ says. 

            He continues, "We want people with us who have a background in recovery and incarceration, because these gentlemen can tell the difference between empathy and sympathy, and they don't want pity." Monte’ is all about the difference between empathy, which comes from understanding, and sympathy, which comes from pity. He isn't in any rush to put himself above the men he works with, and he doesn't feel sorry for them. He recognizes them. "One of the things that makes me relevant with my guys is that I fail a lot. And I tell them, 'When you see me getting frustrated, put your hand on my shoulder and pray for me. That will instantly diffuse everything.' They see that I'm human too."

          As Christmas approaches, Monte’ and Tree of Life continue fundraising in the spirit of restoration and rebirth. You can donate online at their website: treeofliferecoveryhomes.org, or using our QR code: