Category: Stories of Hope

“All glory to God.” My childhood was difficult from the very start. I was born prematurely, weighing only five pounds, and because of that, my mother initially didn’t want me. She and my father were together for nineteen years, but their relationship was filled with every kind of abuse—physical, verbal,

“Since coming to the Mission, I have learned what it truly means to live for and in Jesus Christ.” I believed I had a typical childhood. I was raised by two loving parents who, for the most part, set good examples for me. They worked hard and instilled in me

“I feel free, comfortable, and happy.” Morris grew up in the church – a spiritual foundation during a tumultuous childhood. But when his parents divorced due to his dad’s drug addiction, that foundation crumbled. “We stopped going to church,” he says. Without that support and community, Morris’ life began to

“God, I can’t do this on my own. A heart change, a mindset change, a life change – I need you to take over.” Before I came to the Mission, it felt like my life was falling apart underneath me. It happened slowly over many years, then all at once,

I’ve experienced a complete change in the direction of my life since coming to the Mission. Before I found myself at the Mission, I had an adventurous childhood. I was born in Florida and grew up surrounded by four-wheelers, mud trucks, camo gear, hunting, and fishing – just your typical

 “I’m so blessed that nobody gave up on me.” Growing up in the country with nine siblings and a single mom, Alfredo did what he could to help make ends meet. “Before I was even a teenager, I was harvesting crops and working in restaurants.”  Tragedy struck when the family

 “One of the most important tools I’ve learned here is how to set boundaries. I’ve discovered how to love Jesus, and I genuinely believe that He loves me in return.” My parents divorced a week after my birth. My dad was suspicious because I wasn’t a redhead like my older

 “During those dark moments, I prayed to God, asking for His help, and He delivered.” I was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1962, and from the earliest memories I can recall, moving was a constant. My mom, my sisters, and I seemed to always be packing up, heading to a

“They’ve shown me the love of God.” Raised by a single dad, Nash knew his father loved him and worked hard to provide for the family. But as a child of divorce whose mother was hospitalized due to alcoholism, he knows that trauma had an effect on him growing up.

“I have found happiness around people that I know love me.” I grew up with both parents in active addiction, and they were abusive towards each other. My Dad suffered from Type 1 diabetes, and the drugs quickly shut his body and his organs down. Before I knew it, I