““BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, AND SO FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST.” GALATIANS 6:2
My name is Amy, and I was born in Syracuse, New York, and at the age of 10, my mother moved us to Opelika, Alabama where I was raised. My father passed away from cirrhosis of the liver when I was 2 years old, and my mother became angry at God for taking her husband from her. She turned to alcohol to cope with her anger. I was raised in a close-knit family; my grandparents lived next door, my great aunt and uncle lived across the road and my other uncle lived down the road. My grandfather was a deacon in the church and every time the doors were open, I was there. Even though I was in church all the time and it was an outlet for me, nothing resonated in my heart, until I became an adult.
My mother worked all the time to provide for the family and while she was at work my stepfather molested me from the ages of 7-10 years old. I began rebelling very early on and sought fulfillment in drugs and men. I would use drugs for a season and get sober for a season and then use again. I had 2 kids out of wedlock; I was unstable and hopped from job to job. My main objectives in life were to provide for my kids and make sure they had a place to stay, clothes to wear, and food to eat. I began selling drugs to provide for my family and when I relapsed on the drugs, everything fell apart. The void I had in my life could not be filled by any number of men, money, or dope. The year 2022 was riddled with arrests that resulted from my drug and alcohol abuse. The fourth arrest was enough for the court to order me to inpatient treatment and that is how I ended up at the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia on February 27, 2023. It was not by my choice, but God’s choice, to sit me down and show me I had a problem.
My first impression of the Mission was that it was hectic, busy, and had lots of movement. As I settled in after a few days, I began to feel some relief, solace, and comfort. I knew this was where I needed to be. On May 14, God spoke to my heart and showed me that I was not the woman I wanted to be nor was I the woman He intended for me to be. I went down to the altar on that Mother’s Day morning and gave my heart and life to Jesus. Since that day, my heart has become tender, and I want to love people and tell everyone about Jesus. I want to tell everyone what Jesus has done for me; how He has changed me and who He is. I share Christ with my mom and my family, freely and proudly. I am so grateful for the Rescue Mission and the opportunity that has been presented to me by coming here. I know I was chosen for this place for this season. The Mission is more than a “rehab” it is a life recovery program and through the power of Christ, has breathed life into me. The Rescue Mission is my second chance and road to redemption. God knew I was coming here before I even knew it, and I believe that’s why I didn’t fight it. I jumped in knowing I couldn’t swim, and He did not let me drown. I have found passion in helping others by being a voice of reason and offering a listening ear. I now have a compassionate heart and want others to know and experience the freedom Christ has given me. I am passionate about telling people how God rescued me and that He can do the same for you too. The only thing you must do is surrender! Stop trying to fix, manage and control everything. I am grateful for all that God has already done, and I am excited about what He has in store.
Read the August edition of The Mission Bell here.
