02 Jun 2024 Dr. Pillow has spent decades rescuing people from addiction

Posted at 6:53 PMh in Features by

By Carol Rolf

Dr. Larry Pillow, 80, might be content, living the life of a retiree, but he is not. He is still dreaming for “every child to have a sober parent and for every parent to have a sober child.” 

Photo by Mike Kemp

Pillow grew up with an alcoholic father. Later in life, he lost an adult son to a drug overdose. He knows pain and heartache, but still gets up every morning and goes to work, helping others, something he has been doing since he answered the call to the ministry more than 50 years ago. 

Dr. Larry Pillow, founder and director of WeCan Ministries with Jay Cupit, founder and director of The Other Side Ministry in Heber Springs (Cleburne County) and assistant director of WeCan.

In 2008, as founding board chairman, he led a team to start Renewal Ranch, a faith-based rehabilitation center in Perry County for men struggling with addiction. He left Renewal Ranch in 2017 and started WeCan Ministries Inc., a network of 16 Christ-centered residential facilities for adults struggling with addiction, providing 269 beds for men and women. Three more facilities are opening soon.

“Larry Pillow, alongside many others, worked tirelessly and diligently toward planning, launching and establishing the ministry of Renewal Ranch,” said James A. Loy, executive director of Renewal Ranch Ministry. “Although Larry has had no involvement in Renewal Ranch since his departure … there is fruit that remains. God’s Word says in John 15:16 KJV, ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he will give it you.’ We are thankful for Larry Pillow and all his efforts to help make Renewal Ranch a refuge for men and their families whose lives have been torn apart by addiction so they may be redeemed, restored and transformed by Jesus Christ.”

Pillow was honored March 15 for his body of work and impact on the community at a celebration banquet hosted by Conway Cowboy Church. More than 350 people attended, including 160 residents, graduates and family members from 13 facilities located in eight counties.

“I’ve never seen or experienced such a relationship of joy as was present that night,” said Pillow. “It was amazing; family members and friends that I have known for a long time were there. Theme for the evening was ‘Together, We Can, If You Say Yes,’ yes to Christ.”

Dr. Pillow’s extended family attended the WeCan Rally in his honor. Front Row, from left, is Kara Pillow, Annie Grace Walker, Marion Walker, Julie Smith, Larry Pillow, Peggy Pillow, Charlene Little and Clare Middleton. Back row, from left, is Mack Smith, Jack Pillow, Kelly Pillow, Tracy Pillow, Greg Pillow and Sherri Pillow.

Former State Sen. Gilbert Baker served as the event’s emcee.

“Larry and I have been friends since 1980,” Baker said. “There were several years in my life when I turned my heart away from the Lord. One result of that was that I began abusing alcohol. Larry reached out to me and helped me, along with many others, see the need to commit my life back to Christ and stop the alcohol abuse. He was there by my side for several difficult years. A couple of years ago he ask me to help him and WeCan. I’m his driver and do some teaching and fundraising.” 

Pillow has also been instrumental in bringing Life Relaunch to Conway. Life Relaunch is a faith-based, two-day experience for men and women that, according to liferelaunch.org, “seeks to change hearts and restore lives.” Representatives from the organization, headquartered in Florida, attended the March 15 event.

“After I left the Ranch, and even before, people reached out to me and said, ‘We want to know what you know and do … how to start a transitional facility,” Pillow said. “I knew the process. I knew what would work and what wouldn’t work. So we founded WeCan Ministries. 

“My goal is to have one of these transitional facilities in every county in Arkansas,” he said.

“If I give any credit for living a life as successful as mine has been, it’s because I have a purpose; I have a reason to live,” he said. “I tell others, ‘Get up. Make up your bed. Make up your mind’ … and I have a laundry list of things for them to do, but most importantly … ‘Make up your mind that this is a day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.’”

“One thing WeCan needs now is a permanent facility for leadership training and Life Relaunch events,” he said, adding he is hopeful that need may soon be met. 

As Pillow continues to fulfill his dream of helping those with addictions, he remains committed to Conway. 

City of Hope Outreach (CoHo) Hope Village in Conway has 10 homes whose shells are complete. The unique community will serve individuals, families and veterans experiencing homelessness. The expected completion date is the end of 2024. WeCan Ministries, which Dr. Larry Pillow founded, sponsored a home.

“I love Conway,” he said. “I’ve been here since 1969. I learned about The City of Hope Outreach’s plan to build Hope Village, talked to board members and others, telling them I thought it was a ‘great idea’ to become involved with the project. In 2023, WeCan, Conway Cowboy Church, builder Landon Dickson and several others worked with Dr. Phillip Fletcher and his team at Co-Ho to build and furnish a two-bedroom home in Hope Village. This community of tiny homes will house homeless individuals and families in Faulkner County. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one of these tiny homes might benefit one of those recovering addicts that we are trying to help?”

For more information on WeCan Ministries, visit wecanmin.org.