But something was still missing and I didn’t know what it was. Then I was invited to a men’s retreat called the 7 Mile Walk with Jesus. I found out what I was missing. I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart and I surrendered and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. He died for my sins and saves me from the darkest places and has healed all of my wounds, even the ones I held on to for a long time.
Sometimes the devil tries to put a wedge of self-doubt into my head. I think he tries to keep people from realizing their full potential. I want to keep my eyes on God, instead of letting fear and doubt keep me from my life.
My new life began here on August 13, 2018. I was 57 years old and learning about life all over again. This time it is with a purpose. I had made the decision to be honest and to allow God into my life. I was a broken man when I arrived, and now I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ.
I’m so grateful for the Westminster Rescue Mission. It has changed my life!! I’ve met many people who wanted to help me. This was a huge turning point for me. This was new to me – people who barely know us men, just want to see us do good and get closer to Jesus!!
At the core of every hopeless situation is the belief that God is not in control. When you buy into that lie, the only option is to believe you are in control. That’s what I did. I used to think that my addiction was my problem. But it was just a symptom of the problem. God used my addiction to get my attention and change my direction.
There is a God-given purpose for living and only a healthy lifestyle will get me there. I am thankful for the chance to “put off the old self and put on the new man.” (Ephesians 4)
At the Mission, I found compassionate people and lots of God-centered activities. I learned what I was truly lacking in my life –a one on one relation relationship with my Lord and Savior.
Today I’m a free person, a born again Christian. I know that to be the Truth. It’s not just by mere thinking but by seeing things differently. The Lord is doing things I’ve never experienced before: He’s made me free and delivered me from the lifestyle of sin.
The Westminster Rescue Mission has enhanced and brought out new things I have learned about myself, so I believe I will be more of a man leaving than I was walking up that walkway to the Mission. Thank you to the community and the staff for your support. And I thank God for blessing me and for giving me a better look at my life and why I am still here.
When I came to the Mission last April 11, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was better than where I was coming from. For months of the past year, I had been isolating, feeling depressed and anxious. I thought about drinking and suicide. I knew God was there but I felt so far away from Him.
Before coming to the Westminster Rescue Mission my life was full of resentment and despair. I tried several times on my own strength to stop the vicious cycle of alcoholism that was destroying my life as well as my relationships with my family.
First and foremost I give honor and glory to my Savior, Jesus Christ, who loved and saved a wretch like me. My story begins as a young boy who desperately wanted love and affection from his father. By the age of three my parents had divorced and by age seven my mother had remarried.
