2017 GRADUATE TESTIMONIeS

Transcription

1 New Life Discipleship and recovery Program 2017 GRADUATE TESTIMONIeS Restoring Faith, Hope, and Family BoiseRM.org PO Box 1494 Boise, ID (208)

2 SPECIAL THANKS! A huge thank you to TEN MILE CHRISTIAN CHURCH for hosting the celebration this evening and to all of the VOLUNTEERS who offered their time to make it a success. THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS! and SNAKE RIVER PROVISIONS AND THANKS TO YOU! Finally, thanks to YOU for being part of this celebration! Your presence today is an encouragement to our graduates, and we hope it is also encouraging to you to see the transformation that has taken place in lives you are impacting with your generosity. All of our programs are funded by you, our donors, and we are truly grateful. 2

3 NEW LIFE DISCIPLESHIP RECOVERY PROGRAM at BOISE RESCUE MISSION MINISTRIES The New Life Program is the Mission s 1-2 year drug and alcohol addiction recovery program. It provides discipleship, accountability, counseling, education, and a Bible-based curriculum to help men and women end their addictions and gain the tools to stay addiction-free. Since the program s beginning in 1996, more than 220 men and women have graduated and moved on to build productive, successful lives. PROGRAM CAPACITY: Lighthouse - 18 River of Life - 30 City Light - 30 LENGTH: The time it takes to complete the program varies by individual, averaging from 1 to 2 years. COST: The New Life Program is funded solely through grants and the generous members of our community and is free for the men and women participating. REQUIREMENTS: Anyone wishing to commit to the program must complete an application and interview with staff. For information about applications, see page 27. YOU CAN HELP! MENTOR - Christian men and women are needed to come alongside program members and counsel them. TUTOR - Many program members work towards their GEDs - you can help them with their studies. DONATE - This month is MAY MATCH and your gift to Boise Rescue Mission Ministries counts for twice as much this month. Giving is easy. Send a check to BRMM, PO Box 1494, Boise ID 83701; call (208) ; or go to BoiseRM.org/Donate to put your gift to work even faster. PRAY - Pray for diligence for the men and women in the New Life Program; for God to help them resist daily temptations; for faith in God during the hard times; and for encouragement on the long road to recovery. 3

4 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:21-25 (ESV)

5 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) CITY LIGHT GRADUATES Maria Balli...8 Courtney Gentry...11 Jessica Kauffman...16 Bernie McGlochlin...19 LIGHTHOUSE GRADUATES Mike Arnold...6 Scottie Hart...12 Jeff Kruger...17 Bryce Miller...20 Ray Nelson...21 Daren Watt...26 RIVER OF LIFE GRADUATES Richard Avila...7 Doug Bryson...9 Marty Fonseca...10 Andrew Hotykay...13 Ted Hutcherson...14 Antoney AJ Jones...15 Mike Leach...18 Josh O DonnelL...22 Rick Stackow...23 Jeffrey Turner...24 Michael Walter...25

6 MIKE ARNOLD For me the New Life Program did what secular rehabilitation could not do to empower me to get to the root of my addiction. Secular programs want to tell you to look deep inside yourself, but I have learned that you cannot fix your problems and pull yourself up by your bootstraps. You have to look outside yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout this last year I have learned to give my burdens over to God. In doing this, the pain that I held onto started to dissipate. Even in my darkest moments, I could see God s hand in my life, and can see that now especially as I look back. I ve spent many years struggling to understand why I would continue to repeat the same old behaviors. At the age of 53 I decided that enough was enough, and that something had to change. I had grown tired of my self-destructive behavior while watching those who love me suffer. It was time to get honest and become willing to confront my skeletons and the pain that I ve stuffed away for so many years. In 2007, I entered the New Life Program. For those six months I felt alive. But shortly after leaving, I returned to my same old behaviors and the vicious addiction cycle continued. After many failed attempts, I decided that it was time. I remembered the time I spent at the Lighthouse and how good I felt about myself. I knew that I wanted that in my life again. In 2016, I checked into the Lighthouse again and I started building a new life by developing my relationship with God. Today I have a strong relationship with the Lord. I truly understand what it means to forgive those that hurt me and to forgive myself of the things that I have done and the hurt I have caused. I have been set free from the shame and the guilt that dictated my life. Thanks to the wonderful people that God has placed in my life, I find hope and a new way of living. Thank you to the New Life Program staff. They taught me that, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) The foundation that I have built in Christ has given me a new life and for that I will be forever grateful. 6

7 RICHARD AVILA I come from a family with no religious background, and, as a result, I never had even a slight hint of who God or Jesus was. Growing up and only seeing drug dealers with power made that power the thing I wanted. When I got a little older, I met others who had God in their life and they seemed happy and complete, but I still didn t look into getting what they had. I had my own idols and religion. I was doing drugs and trying to be someone other than myself. I hated myself, and, at age 14, I attempted to commit suicide. Soon after that, I went to rehab. I was taught about God by another client, but it still didn t click. I went right back to using soon after my graduation. I have been in and out of jails and institutions my whole life. I always thought that I could do it on my own, and I used to ask people what God has ever done for me. If I needed something, I thought I had to make it happen and that put a huge weight on my shoulders. But what honestly brought me to the New Life Program was that I was less than a month from becoming a father, and I was looking at being incarcerated soon after my son s birth. I didn t want to miss out on his life, so I dropped my pride and applied to the program. Since entering the program I have accepted Jesus as my Savior and have begun to take the steps to change and get a new life. The Lord God has blessed me with so much already. I have my family that I am a part of. I am becoming a person that I never could imagine ever becoming, and this is all possible through the Lord. I know now that I never would have been able to do it alone. Proverbs 3:35 says, The wise inherit honor but fools get only shame. Everyday this verse is in my mind and I believe that the Holy Spirit puts it on my heart. When I was being foolish I lived in shame and unhappiness, but being here, I understand that reading the Word of God and believing creates wisdom, and with wisdom come the happiness that I have never had before. This all leads to the highest honor with the Lord. I know that whatever I need, all I need to do is ask God for help and, if it s in His will, I shall receive it. God has given me hope and that is all I really could ever ask for. Once you have hope there is nothing you can t do. The sky is the limit. 7

8 MARIA BALLI 8 My adult life began at 15 years old, with my first pregnancy. I didn t know until I delivered that I was carrying twin sons, Ceasar and Chazz. Chazz was born with health issues. I made a promise to my parents that I would graduate with my class and I juggled parenting, school, and hospital visits. Without my parent s support this would have been impossible. When Chazz turned three years old he was diagnosed with leukemia. His fight lasted a long two years until God called him home at five years old. I began drowning my pain with crack cocaine, marijuana, and meth. I completely anesthetized my own grief and the grief that Ceasar was going through. I did not care about myself or anybody else around me, not even the new little life I was then carrying. I was really deep into drugs and I was scared to care for another child. God blessed me with two more incredible children, but I wasn t the mother any of them needed or deserved. I abandoned them, neglected them and left them motherless, all for drugs and a man who seriously abused me for 16 years. My confidence and low self-worth had me believing it was okay to be mistreated and disrespected. Every time I left and went back, it would get worse. I destroyed the trust of my family and they had no choice but to cut all ties with me. My boyfriend and I got to the point that we were struggling to live, eat, and support our habits. I started to shoplift until I was apprehendedand went to jail. When they searched my purse, they found meth and charged me with possession. My life hit rock bottom. I was unable to cope, was isolated and was having thoughts of suicide. I fell onto my knees and cried out to God, Please come take me out of this situation I am in. The very next day the warrant agents came and picked me up. At this time, I didn t care where I was going or for how long. I just knew God had heard me. I spent 3 months in jail until I was to be sentenced. During this time, I was blessed with information of the faith-based recovery program at City Light. The blessings of the New Life Recovery Program, the Boise Rescue Mission staff and family, and my church family at St. Paul s Baptist Church have shown me how much I am truly loved and accepted, not just by them but by Jesus.

9 DOUG BRYSON Everyone examines their life from time to time and the same goes for me. The problem is, I was at such a low point emotionally and physically and I had enough of the self-deprecating ways that I was thinking about it constantly. I knew I needed help with addiction before it killed me so I entered the New Life Program in October I read the outline and procedures regarding the NLP program and I knew exactly what I was getting into. The commitment to a year or more of my life was huge for me. The guidelines I had to follow were clearly spelled out for me and I was willing to accept them. Fast forward to now, the program is not what was outlined for me in black and white on those pages. It is so much more! This program has changed me for the better and forever. What you don t read about in the guidelines is how you look at life on a day to day basis, living it in a Christian setting with Christian leadership. I have a whole new outlook on what it is to live a Christian life. I feel almost re-born into a faith I had never known. But now I understand it and Him in a more robust way. From the first day you are surrounded by people who are in a similar situation as you. Every individual and case is different, but very quickly you are urged to focus on the same goals: recovery and God. At first I was hoping I was not going to be beaten over the head by the Bible daily and force fed the Word. It is far different than I was anticipating. From devotions at 8am daily to the last class, you are busy learning not only good solid scripture, but life skills, sober living, and relationship building. The day feels smooth and uncluttered. Your homework is beyond the walls of the Mission. Living life clean and sober and being the best version of yourself is your homework, and it is never ending. The NLP program by design is really versatile and can easily fit into anyone s life, whether they are 18 or 80. I thank God every day for the opportunity to get my life back and discover the awesome person that I am. I look better, feel better, and my outlook is strong and determined. I will graduate from the NLP and leave the Mission but the Mission will never leave me. I always have a home here and a family who loves and supports me. 9

10 MARTY FONSECA I m here because my life wasunmanageable. My substance abuse was out of control, my thinking was messed up, and I didn t know how to deal with how I feel. I didn t like myself. I felt like a failure at my job and most other things too. I ve been a lousy son, husband, and father; mainly because I m a drunk, but I m dysfunctional when I am sober too. I used to have goals or at least some dreams but after a while, I just gave up. I ve never been very good at following through on things. But now, when I think about graduating the NLP, I think of the confidence I have gained from actually completing something I ve committed to. I ve broken more commitments than I ve achieved in the past, so I try not to make very many of them. The really important ones hurt the most, and it s usually those I care about that I hurt. When I don t commit though, I stop myself from having strong meaningful relationships, or ever really reaching my potential at anything. That s why the goal of completing the New Life Program is so important for me and such a priority. It has given me the tools I need to start life fresh with confidence. I came because I was ready to trust God. All my other attempts at living a happy life had failed. I was tired of being sad and depressed and drinking myself nearly to death. God has a plan for my life and I wanted to know what that was. He hadn t let me die yet, despite my selfishness and stupidity. Through the program, I found out that His plan was too good to let my plans ruin it. Proverbs 19:21 says, You can make many plans, but the Lord s purpose will prevail, and I believe His purpose for my life is being shown to me even now. 10

11 COURTNEY GENTRY My name is Courtney Gentry. I was born in Ontario and raised in Payette. I have 3 beautiful children: Jacob 12, Madelynne 6, and Olivia 4. I started using meth when I was 20 years old and I never did anything with my life. My life was going nowhere but down. I got myself into some serious trouble in 2014 when I got arrested for selling meth to an undercover informant. I had my youngest daughter with me at the time and I thought, How could I have done this to her. I remember them taking her out of my arms and putting me in the back of a police car. Little did I know that day would be the best thing that had ever happened to me. Just days before, I had cried out to God and asked Him to help me and He did. My mother happened to be staying at City Light at the time and she told me about the recovery program here; that it was faith-based and would allow me to have my children with me. I knew I needed to get into the New Life Program. I got accepted and now I am living my life for the Lord. I am on the most amazing journey of my life and God is the center of it. He has brought my family together and I have an awesome relationship with my kids now. City Light has taught me about Jesus and His unconditional love. I am very blessed to have gotten the opportunity to be in a program like this. It has changed my life. I ve been clean and sober for 3 years now. I thank everyone at City Light for all their support and encouragement through my recovery. 11

12 SCOTTIE HART I have struggled with alcohol since I entered the Navy. I somehow made it through life maintaining a functioning alcoholic life style. I have been married and divorced twice, and was only thinking of what made me happy, or so I thought. Both of my marriages ended due to my alcohol abuse. I hurt two people whom I loved and still have special feelings for. I also hurt my relationships with my three children who only wanted a sober father in their lives. In 2012 I lost my job because of absenteeism. I soon found myself in a deep depression and felt overwhelmed with grief from living a life of sin. I got to the point when I was always under the influence of drugs or alcohol because I thought alcohol was the answer to my problems. It was when I was sent to jail on my third DUI that I decided I was not going to give up on my life anymore. I reached out to God for the first time in many years and I was introduced to the Rescue Mission s New Life Program. I prayed that the Lord would help me get accepted for this program for a new start, this time with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. I have always believed in God but never really made room for Him in my life. Since I started this new journey with my Heavenly Father, I realized how truly blessed I really am. I have God, who I know will never leave me, two loving and supportive parents, three healthy children, two wonderful grandchildren, and a clear mind to enjoy all that I love. God and the Lighthouse staff have helped me restore my faith and love for others, which I am eternally thankful for. While transitioning to the new and very much improved Scottie, several scriptures come to mind. Proverbs 3:5-8 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. His will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. I will graduate from Treasure Valley Community College and Eastern Oregon University with degrees in Business Administration at the end of this calendar year, all because of His love towards me and my love for Him. 12

13 ANDREW HOTYKAY I ve been offered the opportunity to share my testimony which, to be honest, leaves me nervous, excited, and most of all, hopeful. Hopeful that my story might in some way be an inspiration and enlightening. After being born into a dysfunctional family where abuse, both emotional and physical, drugs, and immorality were common, I did my best to overcome obstacles in the road. The most prevalent one was a complete loss of hearing until until I was 5 years old, but others included my mother s abandonment, not knowing my father, and the absence of God. Out of all the struggles that life has thrown me I am glad to say that I have always had a strong personality that has helped me persevere when facing the challenges already mentioned and many more. In 2010 I decided to settle down with hopes of building a family. Unfortunately, by 2011 I was LOST and had landed in prison. During my year of incarceration I developed a new appreciation for freedom, both physical and, more importantly, spiritual. I came to the realization that I needed to find God! It was then, on my knees crying out for direction, that I found God and asked Him into my life as my Lord and Savior. There has been no greater feeling than the love I felt and clarity I was given. I started to pursue Him in everything and I was blessed. I was given an amazing godly family. I found a place to serve in ministry and attended Bible College. However, as we all know, Satan lurks around every corner. I fell to sin. I lost sight of God. I forgot my destination and, in forgetting where I was heading, I wound up LOST again. Just like the story of the prodigal son, though, God brought me home; He brought me to the New Life Recovery Program. This program has helped me in ways that are almost unbelievable. Because of the accountability, love, and investment that this place has shown me, I have been able to save my marriage, rebuild broken relationships, establish new and healthy relations, learned how to set and respect boundaries, and gain the tools needed to maintain sobriety. Even more importantly, I have been given a new and deeper relationship with the Lord, as well as a better understanding of what it means to be not just a man, but a man of God. 13

14 TED HUTCHERSON Now that I am sober, and thanks to this program believing in me, I can finally see myself. I am excited to put involving the Lord in my life into practice. I finally get to know who Ted really is. All of the struggles I dealt with and worked through were reasons I used to use drugs. I used to cover them up and bury them deep. The program is so much more than just getting clean, it is an opportunity at a new life. This is our chance to take advantage of what we are being given and put it into practice. The more we practice, the better we become. In the last 11 years I have spent seven years in jail and have had six failed attempts at sobriety. These experiences lead me to the conclusion that the one true thing missing in my life was Jesus. The main thing that this has taught me is sacrifice. There are so many things we as addicts would like to be doing, but what is important in our lives is what we really have to think about. Sacrificing my wants from my needs is what is going to make me stronger in my recovery. There was a battle that began long ago between right and wrong, and even now the battle continues. Romans 7:15 says, I don t understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. I have been living this new life long enough to know that I don t like that old life anymore. I don t like a future of sitting in jail. I can accept the fact that I ll never be perfect today, because I understand that all I need is Jesus and everything else is better because of it. This doesn t take all of life s struggles away. Life is still going to be hard, but now I can live on its terms. With Jesus, I know I will make it and, while I know it s always going to be an uphill battle, doing the right thing is only getting easier. 14

15 ANTONEY AJ JONES I can remember, like it was yesterday, thinking how awkward and different I felt growing up. I didn t know much about right from wrong in the beginning, and I never felt safe or truly loved. Looking back and seeing the person I have become and who I continue to desire to be is still a battle I fight everyday to win. As a young boy I grew up fatherless. While this is not uncommon today, back in the 70 s it was a big deal to have a family complete with Mom and Dad. If you did not have that experience, it would be hard to understand how it felt. I can remember violence, manipulation, lying, stealing, smoking, drinking and drug use. It was fear, guilt and shame that defined who I was. In December 2015, I was accepted into the New Life Recovery Program. During my time here I have come to forgive those who have impacted my life in a negative way and, at the same time, accepted the help of those who sought to teach me a better way of life. In the New Life Program I would lose my freedom but save my soul. I met men who allowed me to feel the love of God. Soon I was praying and asking God to draw close to me. In the end, I stopped living my life according to my plan. I began to live my life according to God s plan and allowing that to become the focal point for the rest of my life. I am so very thankful for the new life I now live and share with my family and friends. The God I serve has brought me out of my darkness and into His light. The scripture I have found to be of most value to me is 1st Corinthians 6:9-11. It covers both the place where my life was, and the exact place where my life is today. It says, Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: those who practice sexual immorality, nor thieves nor drunkards slanderers or dishonest ones, will inherit his kingdom. And that is what some of you were. But you have been washed clean, and sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God. It is true what the Word says about all things being possible with God, and that if we turn toward Him with our whole heart, mind, and soul, He will draw close to us and become our refuge. 15

16 JESSICA KAUFFMAN I chose a life of prostitution which then turned into a life of addiction to money, alcohol, and drugs. I wanted to be good enough in the world and to make someone proud. At age 18, I started working on the streets in Portland to make money for my pimp and our family. I lived like this for 11 years. I was running from my family, running from my responsibilities, and doing whatever I thought would make me happy. Chasing after these worldly things left me tired and emotionless and it was never enough. After I gave birth to my daughter, I just knew I was going to change and start a new life. However, this did not last long. My desire to change wasn t stronger than my addiction and my belief that money was everything. The turning point in my life was when I got arrested in December of I was facing up to 25 years in prison and the risk of never having custody of my children again. I came to a point in my life when I had to choose either the game I ve always lived, or life. I chose life and this meant cooperating with the police department to put away a man who was in the wrong. Sitting in my jail cell, I cried out to God. I asked for help and surrendered my life to Him. I didn t really know what this meant, but I asked Him to please take over because I was so tired, lost, and drained. In return, He gave me an overwhelming feeling of peace and warmth. It s really hard to explain but, at that moment, I just understood that it was going to be okay. This doesn t mean things got easier. I was in for a long fight, but I wasn t going to give up. The thing that stuck out to me the most was that small voice telling me to do the right thing. This meant going against everything I was taught and trusting people I never thought I could. I stepped out in faith and God started to reveal to me through scripture that the life I had been living was wrong. I did not feel shame or guilt. I felt conviction, compassion, and love. I started to realize this was not the way to live. Not because someone told me, but because the Lord created me for His divine purpose. He gave me the ability to finally see hope in my life and in my future. Then, while I was in jail, a lady told me about the Rescue Mission and I applied and was accepted. After I went to prison and completed the Rider program, the judge let me out and I showed up at City Light ready to learn. I have not looked back since! 16

17 JEFF KRUGER I lacked honesty in my life with alcohol because I never thought that I personally had a problem with it. My family and friends told me that I had a problem. Obviously, I did not listen. I betrayed others when I drank because alcohol was the only thing that mattered to me. I did not know how to handle my emotions sober and alcohol would make me go numb and forget. At least for a little while it did. I did not know how to handle my thoughts so instead of grabbing my Bible, I would just grab a bottle of booze. When my Dad died, I didn t know who to go to for help, so that s what I did. Alcohol affected my behavior and my family. My family saw me go to court and jail for my DUI s. They helped me through them, but I know that I have hurt them. They always saw a lot of potential in me and didn t know why I couldn t beat alcohol. I love them very much and they were right. I would be a lot farther in life if I hadn t touched alcohol. My behavior also had an effect on my friends and others as well. Before, I was a very strong person. My friends would look to me when they were down, when they needed strength. And I wasn t there to help. I stopped seeing and talking to my friends because they wanted me to quit drinking. Being an alcoholic, alcohol had become more important to me than they were. I am here on my own accord. I really wanted to stop drinking and chewing nicotine. This program is the only thing that has really made me stop and think. The staff here really care about how we conduct our life outside of this place and I truly believe that God has given me this chance, not only for myself, my family, and my friends, but to glorify Him too. The staff at the Lighthouse have been a huge part of my life. They, as well as God, have given me the tools that I need to make decisions sober as well as thinking things through before just giving up and grabbing a bottle. I am very thankful, and grateful to them. They have shown a lot of patience with me. They have watched me mature before their eyes and seen my relationship with God grow; they did not judge a book by its cover. I thank God and everyone who has been there for me. 17

18 MIKE LEACH As a child, my family never attended church or any functions. Both my parents were alcoholics. As a matter of fact, everyone I knew was an alcoholic. My parent s marriage was full of abuse towards each other and neglect for me and my sister. At age eleven, my mom left and my sister and I were raised by our father. Shortly after their divorce, my dad enrolled me into a Seventh Day Adventist school and this was the first time I ever learned about Jesus. After school, my sister and I would go to my grandmother s house until my dad came to get us. My grandmother was Christian. She would talk to us about Jesus and how wonderful He was, and how He would always protect us because she would intercede for us every day in prayer. At the age of fourteen, I pushed God away because I could not understand how a loving God could sit back and watch my sister and I go through the pain we experienced. It wasn t until the age of twenty-eight that I dedicated my life to Him. Over the years I fell short every day with my drinking. My thinking was that since I was saved I could mess up and do my own thing. Alcohol ruined my life and I continued to put God on the back burner because I didn t want to face the truth about my addiction. God gave me free choice and I took advantage of it in a wrong way. It was not until my third DUI that I called out to Him to help me with my addiction. My life had come to nothing. I was never truly happy regardless of what I did. My years were full of pain and suicide attempts. God answered my prayers when I called out to Him by leading me to the New Life Program at the Boise Rescue Mission. This is where I have been reconnecting with God. My prayer life is now a very important part of my day and I am thankful as I reflect back on all the things Jesus has helped me through. Even the times when I struggle and feel I cannot make it, the Holy Spirit tells me that Jesus is always with me and to just continue to pray through the hard times. I thank God for all I have gone through as I believe these things have made me a stronger Christian. With His help, I know everything will work out and it will work out for His glory. 18

19 BERNIE MCGLOCHLIN I entered the New Life Program on October 30, My addiction is with alcohol, the same addiction that has wreaked havoc in my original family that I was born to. I have seen my relatives get injured or die because of it. My childhood ended at the age of ten. My mother died and my dad couldn t care for us, so my brother, sister, and I went to our aunt s home that already was full of her children. My teenage years were very difficult. I got into trouble with the police, started drinking, smoking cigarettes, and having relationships with older men at the age of fourteen. Rebellion, frustration, anger, and loneliness set in. It was the start of my thirty years of alcoholism. I became overwhelmed with it and didn t know how to quit for good. I continued to get in trouble with the law and I lost a lot of money, different homes, jobs, and my own husband and children. I began to go in and out of different homeless shelters, got help from churches, and just moved around a lot. Relationships didn t last either. The City Light shelter was a huge blessing to me, not just for the shelter, but for new friends and the staff who always have a smile and a kind word. They planted a seed in me for the Lord. It s taken a while to let that seed grow to what I see today when I look in the mirror. I see a child of God, a woman that has turned around and walks in His light. All of the grays and darkness are gone and I can now help someone else who might be in trouble. I have the best relationship of all with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I have an understanding for my addiction and all that comes from it. I truly believe that He has taken away that sickness and allowed me to rest. He opened up my mind, heart, and soul to Him. Today I have faith, love, joy, and forgiveness. I rely on Him every day for everything. I am ready and anxious to live a good, normal, godly life, to get back with my children, and be involved with Calvary Chapel Church. 19

20 BRYCE MILLER Land. Thankfully it was not 40 years. My whole name is Bryce Canaan Miller, given to me by two wonderful parents who I am very thankful to have in my life still. My middle name, Canaan, means Promised Land. I believe that my middle name was prophetic for my arrival into a Promised Land of my own. My life can be compared to God delivering the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. God did deliver me from my chains of addiction, but the process was not immediate and just like the Israelites, I struggled for a long time before I stepped foot into the Promised I was born in Long Beach, California and went to a private Christian school in Downey. Due to my misbehavior, I was ultimately expelled indefinitely after being expelled three years in a row. Forced to join public school, I saw an opportunity to recreate my identity to who I thought I needed to be to fit in. I began to hang out with gang members and represented myself as a known graffiti tagger. Drugs and alcohol played their roll, leading to rebellion against my parents. That resulted in my running away from home as frequently as possible. For this reason, my parents moved me away to Idaho, but I brought all my problems along for the ride. My rebellion only got worse and led to criminal charges and incarcerations. Partying, drugs, and women were the only ways I knew how to live. I had three separate encounters with God before I gave up, surrendered my life to Him and asked for deliverance. The moment I surrendered, God delivered me. I got arrested and even though I was locked up, I felt so free at the same time. Through consistent prayer and meditation with the Lord, I was reminded of the New Life Program and was accepted. The moment I stepped through the doors of the Lighthouse Rescue Mission, I left my old life behind and I took a step into the path God was paving for me. My life has drastically changed in the last year and a half. I have been redeemed, delivered, and set free from the person I used to be. I plan on using my testimony to lead others to the promises that God has set before them. 20

21 RAY NELSON I have been battling with alcohol for over 23 years. The grip it had over me controlled every decision I made, even if it hurt me or other people. I would even go as far as buying alcohol instead of paying my rent. In 2009 I was admitted into ICU at St. Luke s Hospital in Twin Falls for 15 days because I had been drinking too much hard liquor for way too long. I had pancreatitis so bad that the doctors did not know if I was going to make it. Ever since I have been diabetic. The doctors told me that I had to stop drinking or I was going to die and that it would be sooner rather than later, but that did not stop me. I was hospitalized six more times after that for pancreatitis. On August 6th, 2014, I could not take it anymore. I had no more money, no place to go. I was done. I had burnt every bridge with family and friends. I was sitting in my jeep at a truck stop searching for help and it was God who brought me to the Lighthouse Mission and saved my life. On August 8th, I gave my life to Christ. It was at the Lighthouse that I realized that I did not have an addiction problem, I had a sin nature problem; a worship disorder. I was spiritually sick. I needed the Word of God in my life and I had to put my trust in Him and Him alone. I remember that day in August thinking about eating a bullet and ending it all. I was at such a low point that I felt like I was nothing but a burden to everybody I knew and loved. But God had a bigger plan for my life. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. I am very grateful for the opportunity to go through the New Life Program and for the people God has put in my path to help guide me through His word. I give all the glory to God for what He has done in my life and what He continues to do every day. Thank you. 21

22 JOSH O DONNELL Hello. My name is Joshua James O Donnell and this is my testimony. When I was twenty one I got a DUI and spent three days in jail. After that I quit drinking and just smoked weed and did heroin. I didn t like how drowsy the heroin made me so I stopped using it, but I started using meth instead. I thought it was better because I could get up and work all day, and I could use it in the bathroom at work without getting caught. Then my drug dealer wrecked my truck and I quit working. I moved in with my uncle who sold meth, and I started stealing things from people, family, and friends just to get my fix. One night, a friend and I decided we would go out on a stealing spree and see who could steal the most expensive stuff, or just the most stuff. I stole a bike so that I could get around and steal more stuff faster but then I got pulled over almost right away for not having a light on the bike. The officer was just going to write me a ticket but found that I had a warrant for not paying the fines on my DUI. I was arrested and spent eight months in jail. During this time, my sister sent me a book by Max Lucado, You ll Get Through This. This book change my mind and inspired me to read the Bible which, in turn, led me to pray the prayer that changed my life forever. I remember laying on my bunk looking at the ceiling and just praying to God to let me get closer to Him than I ever had. A couple of months before I got sentenced, my mom told me that I was going to go to a treatment program at the Boise Rescue Mission called the New Life Program. She asked me if I cared that it was a Christian based program and I told her that that s what I wanted. I thank God every day since then because I know that He made it possible to come here and He answered my prayer to get to know Him. I m still getting to know Him every day and I will continue to get to know Him till the day I m at the pearly gates and He says, Come in, friend, I ve been awaiting your arrival. 22

23 RICK STACKOW For the most part, I led a charmed life. Working hard, I learned to enjoy some of the finer things. My lifestyle included an occasional glass of wine or beer. As an athletic director and coach at a private school in Manhattan, I became highly sought after. With my success, I started to celebrate my daily accomplishments with alcohol. Although I wasn t drinking while on the job, I could not wait to hit the town with my wife. The nights grew longer. Drinking started to own my life and I was very lucky to hang on to my achievements. A couple years rolled by and the parties escalated. I was aware of my drinking problem and it did occur to me I might be doing considerable harm to my body. Eventually things started to come to fruition. I was slowly eroding physically, emotionally, and mentally. For the first time I used the word alcoholic to describe myself but I kept this admission private. Eventually, we moved to Virginia hoping the change of scenery would bring us closer together. I decided to attend AA in an attempt to end the chaos and deception in my life, but I felt my wife and children slipping away and, finally, my wife had it and asked me to move out. I was in for a long, lonesome journey. Several times I made attempts to go through rehabilitation. My efforts fell short and I had some hard realities to face. My wife was no longer in love with me. I had to move on. My brother came and rescued me with another option. It was a new start, far away. He lived in Idaho and asked me to come check it out. I got a job, all the while drinking to ease the pain. Then I became ill as a result of my lifestyle and lost my job. Serendipitously, my brother ran into an attorney on a crusade to help prevent alcoholism. He told me about the River of Life and the New Life Program in Boise, Idaho. I will be forever thankful to the River of Life for giving me a new life and new hope. The leadership of these case managers and their encyclopedic knowledge of doctrine have led me to see a new light and life with God. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here. (2 Corinthians 5:17). A man becomes whole when he reconciles with the past and I have been crossing the bridges and mending the fences of my life daily. I couldn t be happier, and I now live for God each and every day. 23

24 JEFFREY TURNER 24 My adult life has been misguided and broken. Despite academic achievement and professional experience, I failed to establish a foundation for success. I never had God in my life and, because of this, I failed as a father, professional, friend, and mentor. Unfortunately, for me the answer then was alcohol and drugs. In 2008, I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and the extreme pain led to prescription drug abuse. From there, life spiraled out of control. Drugs became a priority over family and career. I started seeing signs of my destruction. My children were finding drugs hidden at home. I got fired due to absences. I was losing credibility with associates. Eventually, my ex-wife packed up the kids and moved to Boise to live with her parents, while I was still in Salt Lake City. Using heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and other prescription drugs, I lost it completely. My last straw was when I woke up in a dumpster in Ogden, Utah. I nearly overdosed and was ditched to die. The people that I thought were my friends simply left me in a dumpster. I packed and left for Boise. Coming to Boise, all I had was my car. I wanted to at least be in my kids lives but I got more into using meth. I was very blind to what it was doing to me. I articulated well, but people could see it on my face and my demeanor. To make matters worse, I was dating a dealer who supplied me. Eventually, she moved away with another man and left me homeless. I was devastated and I decided to get high and use the rest of my stash. I nearly lost my life again. An officer dropped me off at the Mission and said to me, Mr. Turner, you came here to be father to your children. Next time I pick you up, I am dropping you off at the jail. He told me I was an intelligent man with a unique skill set and said, Use it or I will find you. I took his advice and enrolled in the New Life Program the next day. Through intensive Bible study, therapy, and spiritual discovery, I have come to understand how important the fundamentals of Christian living play in the role of recovery. Today, more people are seeing what God is doing in my life and the amazing work He is doing through me. Day by day, through prayer and serving, I am closer to setting a firmer foundation with a life in Christ.

25 MICHAEL WALTER I was raised in a Christian home and the church from my childhood. I had my first taste of alcohol at the age of twelve. My father drank heavily and I did too. I started to smoke cigarettes and then I was introduced to drugs; my drug of choice at the time was marijuana. At seventeen I continued the use of alcohol and my drugs of choice became marijuana, amphetamines, and LSD. I was running with motorcycle gangs and living a life of drugs and crime, but my life wasn t going where I wanted and I had to make a change. At the lowest point in my life, I left my family to go to the River of Life Rescue Mission. I needed to try to find some meaning in life and start over. It was here that the godly staff introduced me to the New Life Program. They have shown me that the way to win over my addictions and issues in life is through the Lord Jesus Christ. The things of this world I was pursuing before let me down over and over again, but God has never left me, despite my flaws. He has shown Himself to me in His Word. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 says: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. He sent His son to die on the cross so that I can be saved and have eternal life. I now have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He is with me every second of every day. I have given my life over to Him completely so that I can serve Him and have meaning in my life through His grace and mercy; choosing to do His will, not mine. 25

26 DAREN WATT 26 My name is Daren, I m 51 years old and glad to be back in Idaho. I was raised in Blackfoot but have spent the last thirty years living in Utah. I grew up in a very stable home with loving parents. We had God in our lives, and went to church every Sunday. At the start of my young adult life, I began living life my way. I was happy I was finally in charge but I became somewhat careless with my thoughts and actions. I worked twelve hour shifts and found myself falling into the rut of tobacco and alcohol use, occasionally smoking pot. After twelve years, the mill shut down and I found myself looking for a new job. At the same time, these substances were controlling my life, but I was in denial that I had a problem. My pride would say, No worries, I got this! But I was on a path of destruction. I eventually quit drugs and stayed with alcohol because it was legal and easy to get. Long story short, years later, I was drinking to take away the shakes and get to work, then drinking at work to get through the day. I drank on my leisure time to stay sane. I had side-stepped the law many times, was drinking myself slowly to the grave, and really didn t care while continuing to drink and drive daily. I m not proud of that behavior. Here is where the good part starts. Slowly God led me back to Idaho and funneled me to the Lighthouse. By this time my life was a wreck without a crash. The functional alcoholic I thought I had been was no longer functioning well at all. I was miserable, didn t like my messy life, and was certainly in need of help. Fortunately for me, God had my sister intervene. Because of her job, she knew of the Lighthouse. Ten months later I m the happiest guy on earth. With the repairing of my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit assisted me with the ability to overcome these sinful, addictive substances. One of my favorite scriptures is Ephesians 4:21-24, Put off the old and put on the new. I now have learned to trust in the Lord, to lay down my old sinful ways and desires, and have taken up a new life in Christ. I m comforted knowing I m not taking on life alone. God loves me and I m learning to love Him more every day. God saved my life through the doors of the Lighthouse Rescue Mission. Thank you, God bless.

27 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. Psalm 62:1,2 (ESV) TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THE NEW LIFE PROGRAM: Women can call CITY LIGHT HOME FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN (208) Men can call LIGHTHOUSE RESCUE MISSION (208) RIVER OF LIFE RESCUE MISSION (208)

28 Restoring Faith, Hope, and Family Across the Treasure Valley since 1958 Simple, Safe, Secure Online Giving: BoiseRM.org ADMINISTRATION & WAREHOUSE PO Box 1494, Boise ID Located at 308 S 24th St, Boise ID (208) BoiseRM.org THE RESCUE MISSION THRIFT STORE th Ave S Nampa, ID (208) CITY LIGHT 1404 W Jefferson St Boise ID (208) RIVER OF LIFE 575 S 13th St Boise ID (208) LIGHTHOUSE th Ave N Nampa ID (208) VWCS 869 W Corporate Ln Nampa ID (208)