Our people: Clovis pastor helping with the 'hurts'

From the West Coast to the "Great American Southwest," to the East Coast, through "The Heartland" and back to the Southwest. That would describe the life journey of Bonetta Hutson of Clovis.

Hutson is senior pastor of Clovis' Living Word Church of God at 2101 E. 21st St.

She sat with The News on Thursday in her church office and talked about her life.

Q: So how did you come to be in Clovis?

A: My friends, David and Paula Stevens, moved here in 2009.

After their arrival the Beacon of Light ministry was looking for someone to lead their Women's Recovery program. David and Paula told Randy Gomez, "We know a person who would be great for that program.

So I moved here in 2010 from Rockford, Ill.

Q: Tell us about the places you've lived.

A: I was born in San Jose, Calif.

I was adopted, raised an only child and grew up in Tucson, Ariz. I lived there from 1960 to 1994.

Then I moved to Baltimore where I developed my love of seafood. I moved to Phoenix for a few years then to Grove City, Ohio, on to Rockford, Ill. then here to Clovis.

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: I have two wonderful sons: Christian, the spitting image of me, and my youngest Stephan, he is the compassionate side of me.

Christian lives in Wisconsin with his wife and stepson.

Stephan lives in Las Vegas where he is a professional break dancer.

He has three children: A son who is a high school graduate, another son who graduates next year and a 10-year-old daughter.

My grandchildren are my pride and joy.

I must add my goddaughter, Davena. She's the daughter of my friends who brought me here.

I've met my biological mother and with that I gained brothers and sisters I didn't know I had.

My husband Josh is the love of my life, my protector, my counsel and my best friend.

We are a tight-knit group of people.

Our core belief is to make this world a better place.

Q: Tell us about your career path.

A: I went to the University of Arizona in Tucson where I got a degree in music education.

In Baltimore I was a purchase for Jos. A Bank clothing.

In Phoenix I was in the owner/operator division of Swift Trucking Company.

In Grove City I was a youth pastor, and in Rockford I was the associate pastor of youth and I held a job at an employment agency.

Q: So you decided to become a minister. How did that happen?

A: It was while I was in Rockford.

At my employment agency job I discovered how people have a need to talk to someone about their hurt.

I had the freedom to talk about my faith.

I discovered how I could show people how a relationship with Jesus could help people with their hurts.

Employees just started coming in and asking me if they could just talk to me.

Q: What do you like about being a minister?

A: I like seeing people grow.

I enjoy being able to tell people that it's OK to mess up, because there is a God who will forgive you.

It's OK, we're human.

Q: You lead a group at the church called the Christian Women's Connection. What is that?

A: We meet once a month, share devotions, prayer and crafts. You don't have to be a member of our church.

Our purpose is to encourage other women of faith.

We also do projects in our community.

Q: There's another program at your church, Celebrate Recovery. What's the story of that?

A: It's centered around people with hurts, habits and hangups.

Everybody has difficulties in life and we use different coping mechanisms, sometimes unhealthy ones.

Celebrate Recovery is more than a 12-step program, it's about a relationship with God.

We share lessons, we share testimonies, emphasizing that recovery is a lifelong process.

Q: In your work with people do you believe there's a root cause of addiction?

A: Hurts, it's really hurts, because people are trying to find a band-aid to soothe that.

I myself have never struggled with drugs, but I have struggled with the hurts.

For instance, an example of addiction is a lot of women suffer from "shopping addiction."

When they are sad, they go shopping.

When they're mad, they go shopping.

When they're happy they go shopping.

And when they do this they get a rush, they don't have to deal with a situation.

Alcohol, drugs, pornography, anger, gambling, shopping, dysfunctional relationships, depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, these are addictions.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Sushi.

I fell in love with it in Baltimore.

And that hot condiment wasabi?

Yes! The hotter the better.

Oh, and anything that has cheese on it.

There isn't a cheese I don't like.

Q: Do you have a favorite place to visit or vacation?

A: The Chiricahua Mountains of Southeast Arizona.

That's my favorite place.

I used to take my boys camping there.

It's peaceful. I can feel the spirit of God there.

Q: Do you have a favorite saying or Bible verse?

A: Isaiah 43, verse 1: "But now, thus sayeth The Lord that created thee, o Jacob, and He that formed thee, Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine."