My
name is Melvin. I’m 45 years old. I reside in the Hartford
area. I’ve spent the last 14 years of my life struggling with drug
and alcohol abuse. Although I believed that the Lord had called me, somehow
I always ran from that call and attempted to “do my own thing”.
Due to the drug and alcohol abuse which always played a part in my downfall,
the results were disastrous. Approximately nine months ago, I had a good
job, I was in the process of reconciling with my loved ones, and yet I
fell prey to my uncontrollable selfish behavior. I began to drink again
and that led right back to crack cocaine! I didn’t just hurt myself
but everyone who loved me dearly. Though I had fallen hard, the Lord hadn’t
given up on me. The doors of Youth Challenge were open to me! Today I
am submitting to God wholeheartedly for the first time in my life. I’m
building a sure house with the help of the Lord, a solid foundation.
I know by walking in obedience and stepping out in faith I will be made
whole and the Lord will
restore to me the things I hold dear to my heart. I thank God for his
love, grace, and mercy and the ministry of Youth Challenge for caring.
Thank you. God Bless
My
name is Jorge. I was born on the Island of Puerto Rico to Isabel
and Jorge. When I was three months old my father abandoned my mother,
leaving us at his parents house. My mother moved to Wisconsin, got married,
and had eight more children. I am the oldest of the nine. We were brought
up in what I would call a very strict church. I felt afraid of God. I
did everything asked for fear of getting punished. If I told a lie, I
would get so paranoid I would have to tell on myself. At age 15, however,
I met a young lady and we became friends. My parents were very much against
the relationship. The girl, not being a church girl, was like a heathen
to them. I ended up leaving home not long after that. I took my girlfriend
to New Jersey, where I thought I was a king. I forgot about all that pertained
to God. I was sinning, smoking, drinking, and doing all the things I thought
a man should be doing. At 16 years old, I tried Heroin. I fell in love
with its effects. The feeling of numbness it gave me medicated me from
all my worries and there were many. I was always scared. I once or twice
thought about going to church, going back to God, but fear detoured me
from doing so. By 1985 I had four children of my own. I had overdosed
three times. I had been introduced to cocaine as well. I was very depressed.
My wife divorced me. I lost a kidney from a stab wound and got Hepatitis
C. I was in and out of programs.
Last year I got married to a woman who is a believer in Christ. She has
four children, two girls and two boys, just like me. Shortly afterward,
I returned to Youth Challenge. I had been in the program before but had
not stayed. This time I have! God has done a wonderful work in my life!
I
am experiencing the love of a father again through my grandchildren. But
what really has changed my life and my attitude is the awakening that
God loves me. Not only is He a consuming fire, but He is love. I don’t
remember being told about the love he had for me before! I thank God for
my folks and now I’m grateful to them, because they did what they
could. Prov 22:6 says “Train a child in the way he should go, and
when he is old he will not turn from it”. At heart I had the fear
of the Lord in me!
Thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am now free from heroin,
cocaine, and every illicit drug. I am no longer involved in any criminal
activity. I am learning to wait on the Lord at Youth Challenge. Today
I have a hope and a future, and I see God restoring me and rebuilding
my life. Thank you for your prayers and your support of this ministry
“rebuilding broken lives”. Thank God he never gave up on me
and thank you because you haven’t stopped giving. Keep us and our
families in your prayers. God is Love!