Because of you… “My story has a new beginning!”

“God brought me out of the wilderness, and I don’t want to go back there,” Steve shares. “So, I’m just trusting in the Lord.”

“I’ve come from a very destructive lifestyle, lost in what I was doing,” Steve says.

Steve grew up in the church, but he let curiosity get the better of him when he first tried drinking at age 11. This led to years of heartache and grief, as alcohol slowly consumed his life and marriage. “Before I came to Wheeler Mission, I was drinking constantly.”

The wake-up call came when Steve ended up in the hospital. “I was blacking out and it was kind of a warning, to get it together – but I didn’t listen.” At his lowest point, Steve ended up in jail. But as soon as he was released, he walked straight to Wheeler Mission, determined to make a change.

Here, through your gifts, he was blessed with the essentials of safe shelter and nutritious meals. He received everything he needed to feel comfortable and at home.

“My life has changed significantly. The verse that sticks out to me is 1 John 1:9, ‘If we confess our sins, He’s faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ We’re all sinful people, and we need Jesus every day, every minute, every hour.”

For the first time, Steve was able to celebrate the miracle of Christmas with God’s joy and peace in his heart.

Steve first entered Hebron, our long-term, residential addiction recovery program. Then he completed our six-month residential internship program, Equip, to prepare for work in ministry. He now works as a Guest Services Coordinator at Wheeler Mission, and he and his wife are taking steps to reconcile their marriage.

This Christmas, because of your compassion and God’s love, Steve’s story has a new beginning. Through the gift of Christ’s birth, his future is filled with joy and meaning. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to get my life back on track. To surrender and accept Christ as my Lord and Savior.”