Our Story

AFIRE was born from a single program — We Thirst: Christian Reflections on Addiction. First presented in 2015, this powerful series invited individuals and communities to reflect on addiction through the lens of faith, compassion, and dignity. From that seed, two ministries took shape: AFIRE was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on addiction education and outreach, while We Thirst Ministries offered opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal through talks, retreats, parish missions, writings, and videos.

As our ministries grew, we came to see that healing, hope, and faith are deeply connected across all of life’s challenges. While we believe no one should be defined by a particular struggle, we also recognize that addiction often brings a deep sense of shame and isolation for individuals and families. That’s why we continue to support dedicated addiction ministries in our parishes — because people need safe spaces where they feel seen, understood, and embraced.

At the same time, we’ve merged our efforts into one unified ministry to reflect a broader truth: all of us face struggles, and all of us are called to walk together — as people shaped by both pain and grace. Our ministry serves the whole Church, offering education, inspiration, and healing-centered outreach for a wide range of needs — while still providing practical tools like our Addiction Ministry Kits for parishes.

In 2025, the two ministries were united under the name AFIRE Ministries. Officially approved as a Catholic nonprofit in 2024 and listed in the 2025 edition of the Official Catholic Directory, AFIRE continues its mission with renewed clarity and expanded outreach.

Today, AFIRE integrates faith and science to reveal the hope and healing found in Christ — who unites the human and divine, the spiritual and physical, and brings faith and science into meaningful dialogue. We offer diverse resources and experiences that nurture spiritual formation, support individuals and communities through life’s challenges, and equip the faithful for evangelization. Whether responding to the crisis of addiction or offering tools for spiritual growth, our mission remains the same: to set hearts AFIRE with the gifts of the Holy Spirit — promoting healing, renewing faith, fostering growth, and empowering the people of God to share their gifts of faith, hope, and love with the world.