“I completely trust God and His love for
me.”
I was born at St. Mary’s Hospital on October 12th in Richmond, VA. My mom’s name is Brenda Walker, and my dad’s name is Waverly Walker. My mom always told me and my brother, Brandon, that she always wanted children. She said thatshe told the Lord, if He would give her children, she would give them back toHim—and she did. I remember family trips to North Carolina to visit family or to Buckroe Beach inHampton, VA. These were the happiest moments of my life.
During this time, I was in school, caught in the middle of my parents and not sure how to help or cope. I was put into an adult role way too early and never really got to experience a childhood. I loved my mom, and she needed me to help out and do the things she and my father couldn’t do.
My father was a functional alcoholic. He was always gone. When he was home, he was never positive or happy. There was always anger, arguing, hurt, and confusion. This was what I went to sleep with and woke up to. All I wanted to do was escape, fit in, and be loved.
In my high school years, I felt alone, sad, different—like I wasn’t good enough. These feelings led to hanging out with groups that I had no business hanging out with. They were not good for me or my walk with God. I began to use drugs to cope, to fill a void, and to help deal with the shame of the lifestyle I had chosen. I made terrible choices then, and it cost me dearly.
Eventually, I went to my first rehab facility, which lasted 30 days. The same night I graduated from this rehab, I went out, made the same poor decisions, and gotarrested again. I was humiliated and knew I had disappointed my family. These deep feelings of shame and humiliation only made me run back to the same people and things that I was trying to stay away from. Only this time, the enemy had my mind made up. This was who I was, what I deserved, and all I’d ever do.
I was in an internal fight with myself. To the world, I was trying to be a good son to my parents, a good brother, a good employee, and a good Christian—yet I was still struggling with drug abuse. I walked in fear, guilt, and shame for years, and no one knew. This fear, guilt, and shame made me feel very depressed and sad. I was wearing so many masks that I had no idea who God said I was, so I started to believe the world.
God has been so faithful and good to me. He never took His hands off of me. I met a guy named Micah Meredith, who I began to hang out with. I’m convinced God put him in my life just to tell me about the Rescue Mission. He had gone to the Mission, and he began to talk to me about how much it had helped him. When he told me how long the program was and where it was, I wasn’t interested at the time.
During this same period, my brother was saying that I should think about a rehab facility to get healing and rest, but I wasn’t ready yet. I will never forget asking the Lord, “Father, is the Rescue Mission where You want me to be? If so, I need a sign. Make it clear to me.” I prayed that prayer and immediately started back using drugs.
God heard my prayer, though. I was fired from both jobs within two days. I was put out of my home and had nowhere to go. Then, all of a sudden, an intake coordinator from the Rescue Mission called, did a phone interview, and told me I could come the next day. That was all the confirmation I needed.
When I first got here, I was nervous, but the guys and staff have been nothing but kind, warm, and welcoming. Since I’ve been a resident at the Rescue Mission, I’ve become a resident manager. I’ve been baptized, and I have completely made Jesus my Lord and Savior. I see the importance of Him now.
The person who has made the biggest impact on my life is the director, Jason Beck. He teaches our classes, and when I say he is a true man of God, I’m not exaggerating. I thank God for his teaching, his insight, and his excitement to help people. Anything I need, he goes above and beyond to help—even stopping just to say hi when there are 15 people wanting his attention.
I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to learn from God and heal wounds that I have suffered from in my life. God is so faithful and amazing. He gave me this gift. I get the chance and the time to learn about who I am in Him and how much He loves me. Since coming to the Mission, I now know that I am walking in His grace and that all my sins—past, present, and future—are already forgiven. _at is such an amazing feeling because I can relax and walk in the identity God says I am.
Since being here, my view on life has changed, as well as how I see people in the world. I no longer walk in fear or make a decision, burst through the door, and expect God to bless it.
Now I pray and wait for God to open the door so I can walk through it. I feel like I am walking in victory. This is truly freedom for free.
I’ve met a lot of residents here, and I’ve learned a lot from them. The proudest moment I’ve experienced here is becoming a Resident Manager and working in the administrative office. No one knows, but I actually prayed for that position 11 months ago. I asked God for it, and He gave me the desire of my heart. He is such a great God.
I feel the Mission has given me the chance to heal old wounds and scars. Now that I am healed, I no longer operate or move out of being hurt. I move and operate out of being healed and healthy. My choices are better—although not perfect, and I am still human. I now have the tools needed to evaluate behaviors, learn from them, and listen to the Holy Spirit, who lives in me and guides me. I completely trust God and His love for me.
Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 91 are two scriptures that I read often and pray over my life every day.
After I graduate, I’ve asked God to leave me where He wants me to be. I want a great life, and I want the life God has for me. The Mission means a lot to me. It’s only here where
a man can come with nothing but the clothes on his back—no money, no nothing—and God can transition him and change his heart and his mind. It’s here that God can bless him with necessities, friends, and family. These are things that only God can do—things that man could never do.
God is so good, and I give Him all the glory and the praise. I thank Him for leading me to the Mission. The Bible says our steps are ordered by God; although we may stumble, we will never fall. There is no doubt in my mind that God has ordered my steps here.
Click here to download the February 2026 issue of The Mission Bell.