When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which he has given you. Beware lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping His statutes which I am commanding you this day; lest, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them…then your heart becomes proud, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of slavery. Deuteronomy 8:10-14 (NAS)
A jail cell, a cement bunk, a blanket and a Bible. Not exactly the place where you would expect a miracle, but God has a way of redeeming even the most difficult circumstances by His grace. During one of the darkest time in his life, John found God - a Divine encounter that eventually changed the course of his life.
John shares his memory of that day. “My life was out of control, I was lost like a ship with no mooring, lost at sea. Sitting alone in my cell, I opened the Bible and began reading. The verses in Deuteronomy 8:10 – 20 described my life. For a time, my life would go well. I had a job, relationship, and my own place. Eventually I started to believe that I could do it on my own which always led to relapse and loss. Every aspect of my life was short term, chaotic, and selfish, living only for the moment to please myself and my addictions at anybody’s expense.”
John first came to the Christian Aid Center in the fall of 2010, relapsed within a few days and left. A short time later he returned determined to make a positive change in his life. The first few weeks at CAC were very difficult, and John struggled daily, if not hourly, to remain sober.
As John opened his heart and life to God, God proved Himself faithful to provide all John needed to break free from the slavery of addiction. John has been sober since November 20, 2010 and sees hope and a future.
“My whole outlook on life, in general, has changed since coming to CAC,” John says.”My attitude is more optimistic instead of pessimistic. I realize I can smell the flowers and see the sunshine for their beauty. My clarity is a lot better on life and what it holds for me. I have gained the trust of others around me. I’ve gained a reason to smile and to be loved. I’ve mainly gained the love of Jesus Christ and His father God, my sobriety, and a reason to live.”
Each Sunday John attends the Vineyard Free Methodist Church and recently became a member. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior earlier in life and was baptized in March as a recommitment of his faith. John participates in the Men’s Transitional Program at CAC, attends bible studies, classes, works in the kitchen Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, and shares duties as dorm monitor. He is currently enrolled in the IMPACT program at WWCC, a retraining program for individuals re-entering the job market.
John is committed to his recovery and he knows that his personal faith is key to his continued sobriety. “My goal is to remain in close contact with my High Power whom I call God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. I want to make amends to those whose lives I’ve damaged and retain a relationship with my children. My desire is to be a pro-social person in today’s society.”
God has given John fresh hope and a new purpose. Please pray for John as he continues in his recovery and grows in his relationship with God and others.
New Beginnings
Recently, several men staying at our center had the opportunity to spend a few days in the Wallowa mountains enjoying God’s creation, renewing their spirits, and reflecting on God’s goodness in their lives. They shared these thoughts about things for which they are grateful.
in one man’s life.