In a world where addiction and emotional bondage affect millions, a new book aims to provide a path to lasting freedom. Matthew Linehan, a U.S. Army veteran and co-founder of Men in Christ Global Ministries, has announced the release of his debut Christian nonfiction book, "Free Indeed: The Seven Keys to Unlock Your Freedom." The book details the biblical principles that transformed his life after nearly three decades of addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Linehan's journey into addiction began after his father's suicide when he was young. The resulting grief and pain led to years of brokenness and spiritual darkness. However, in January 2015, a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ set him on a new path. Since then, he has been dedicated to helping others find the same healing and hope he discovered. "After nearly 30 years of addiction, I encountered Jesus Christ and was completely set free," Linehan said. "I wrote this book because I want people to know that no matter how long they have struggled, freedom is still possible."
Drawing from personal testimony, practical discipleship, and Scripture, "Free Indeed" introduces seven key principles that helped Linehan overcome the strongholds that had controlled his life. The book is designed for readers battling addiction, shame, fear, destructive patterns, and other forms of spiritual or emotional bondage, as well as for families, ministry leaders, and caregivers supporting them. Linehan first developed this material while teaching the curriculum with his wife, Emily, at a large church in Houston, Texas. The impact on people's lives motivated him to combine the curriculum with his own story of redemption. "I believe this book is different because I lived it, walked it out, and came through the other side to talk about it," Linehan said. "These principles are not theories to me."
Although friends and family encouraged him for years to write his story, Linehan began seriously pursuing the project around 2020. The writing process was challenging, especially while managing ADHD, but his purpose remained simple: to offer hope. "If readers take away only one thing from this book, I want it to be hope," he said. "Jesus offers abundant new life to everyone who is willing to surrender."
Linehan is a 2018 graduate of the Lakewood Church Pastoral Care Internship and previously served as a men's ministry director in the Katy, Texas, area. Today, he continues to minister through men's ministry, mentorship, pastoral care, discipleship, and public speaking. He lives in Taipei, Taiwan, with his wife and daughter while traveling regularly to Houston. "Free Indeed" is published by Lucid Books, a Houston-based hybrid publisher that aims to help authors inspire and inform readers. For more information, visit lucidbookspublishing.com.
