‘The Mission is a lifeline God sent to me.’
Brian was a teenager when he first started using drugs and alcohol. It was something he did for fun until he got into his early 30s. When he was introduced to harder drugs, his life quickly took a turn for the worse.
“Before I knew it, I was hooked. Within six months, I was addicted and my life spiraled out of control.”
What followed was a struggle with addiction for many years. Brian tried several treatment facilities and would achieve periods of sobriety… then life would get hard and he would fall back into bad habits. Though he didn’t realize it at the time, his relationships were heavily codependent, and that also fueled his desire for substances.
Brian’s turning point came from an unexpected source. While watching TV one day, he saw a commercial with a hotline to get help. He screwed up his courage, dialed the phone and was referred to Rockford Rescue Mission.
“I called the Mission and the person I talked to was so calm and soothing. She told me about the program and what I needed to do. … I was so happy because it was just what I needed.”
“I knew that if I didn’t get help, I could die. The Mission was about recovery and getting better, so I packed my bags and was ready to go.”
Brian entered our Men’s Life Recovery program, and God immediately began working in his heart. He recommitted his life to the Lord and began growing in faith and fellowship.
“It was a lifeline God sent to me because I was serious about being done with drugs and alcohol.”
Through the Genesis program and other classes, Brian was able to discover the root of his addiction and begin healing. “That’s key because if we don’t get to the crux of what’s really going on, we’ll never be able to solve our problems,” he says.
As he’s growing stronger and enjoying his newfound sobriety, Brian is working toward getting a stable job again and a place of his own.
Brian’s heart is overflowing with gratitude this Thanksgiving because YOUR loving support gave him the place and time to allow God to rebuild his life. “The Mission’s program has offered me hope. It gives you structure and we can boldly say the name of Christ and see where God is guiding our next steps.”
Brian’s testimony is featured in the Fall 2022 issue of The Rescuer.’
