I grew up in church from a young age. In my teenage years I experienced some church hurt. I stopped going to church all together when I turned 19.
Throughout my twenties and into my early thirties, I tried to fill my spiritual void with drugs and alcohol. Nothing ever worked and the further down that dark road I went, the worse I got.
I went from using drugs to selling drugs, this eventually got me locked up. While in jail, a jail ministry came to our pod and shared the word of Christ.
I would like to say things changed right then, but it took several more months of softening my heart before I would come to Christ again.
That was over 9 years ago. The relationships that I have built with men in my community, along with recovery meetings, have helped me to make it this far. Christ is the only thing that can fill the spiritual void we all have. Having men around me who live an honest and transparent life encourages me to continue to seek the cross. I’m alive today only by His Grace and Glory.
Joel 2:25 the Lord says “I will restore the years the locusts have eaten…” The Lord has more than restored my life. He has also redeemed me in his Glory.
Being a part of The Redeemed became so much more than just attending a group—it became a reminder of God’s design for community. It strengthened my walk with Christ, and I’m grateful for the men who were there with me. It was a great experience, and I look forward to continuing this journey together outside of our group.
I knew about Christ at a young age, but I walked away from my faith and started taking pills to escape all my pain. It didn’t take long for me to realize that if I took more than what the doctor prescribed, it felt good and let me escape even more from the hurt I was going through. The older I got, the more I needed an escape. I don’t even remember my first wedding because I was so high. My addiction continued to grow until I was using heroin, coke, and pills all at once. Then I got addicted to fentanyl and lost my second marriage. Finally, God met me at a faith-based rehab center. Today I’m 3-years clean, sober, and married to a wonderful woman. My relationship with God is the closest it has ever been. I even have my minister’s license. It feels like I found the greatest life you could ever imagine. God didn’t allow me to die when I was using drugs. He has a plan for our lives and it’s greater than our own.
Psalm 107:2
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