Thank you for loving your neighbor, Steven,
and giving him hope for the future!
Steven was born into a world of chaos.
“I’ve seen a lot of violence from an early age,” he says. “Fighting and using drugs and alcohol… In my family, it became a normal way of life.”
Unfortunately, with such easy access to substances, Steven soon fell into the unhealthy patterns of his family members.
“I felt alone for a long time,” he says, “and when I was 17, I ended up on the streets.”
As an adult, Steven felt trapped in a devastating cycle of addiction. “I ended up going to jail… and seeing the look of disappointment on my children’s faces made me realize I needed help.”
Determined to restore these relationships and his life, Steven reached out to the Rescue Mission for help. “They welcomed me in with open arms,” he says.
“Before I came to the Mission, I was hopeless… Being here saved my life.”
Steven credits his success in recovery to the faith-based environment and strong relationships he’s built in our program.
“I’m grateful for chapel, six days a week… and knowing I can really lean on God,” he says. “And I’ve made good buddies who know the Bible and give me words of encouragement.”
He’s even rebuilding relationships with his children who have visited him several times at the Mission. “I have learned that forgiveness is very powerful – forgiveness from others and learning to forgive myself too,” he says. “My family is reaching out, saying they’re proud of me.”
Steven is thankful for the way you have answered God’s calling to love your neighbor as yourself – and have helped him learn how to love himself. “Now I believe that I’m exactly who God wants me to be and He’s leading me in the right direction.”
Click here to download the June 2023 issue of The Mission Bell
