A New Creation

JANUARY 2019

A NEW CREATION

Ecstasy, cocaine, and alcohol ruled my life for thirteen years. At 18 years-old I was in a band playing at late night bars. For me, the drinking and drugs came with the lifestyle, but I never knew it would lead me to Downtown Rescue Mission. At 19 I was married, and shortly after we had a son. For a long time, I was clean but when my wife and I decided to get a divorce my drug use got worse. I was broken and felt that if I could find someone or some thing to help me put the pieces back together I would be okay. Eventually, this led to my first overdose – I was 21.

For years, I held a steady job and place to stay despite my drug use. During work, I was high but functional, but that slowly changed over time. I went from smoking a little weed before work to drinking a pint of whiskey and snorting cocaine before work. At 28 I overdosed again, this time on heroin, and things began to fall apart. I lost my job as a marine mechanic and for four months I lived on a sailboat in Tampa, Florida. When I first came the Mission, I thought it was crazy. How was I going to give up a year of my life for a program? Since I have been here, I’ve learned to open myself up to love and honesty. That is what I want people to know – that this place doesn’t just correct your actions, it changes your heart. I no longer live in guilt and shame over my past because all my sins have been paid through the cross.

2 Corinthians 5:14, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, the old has gone, and the new is here.”. After graduation in July I plan to become a full-time student at Calhoun College. For years, I wanted to go back to school and I’m finally able to do that. I am grateful to have God in my life, and I am excited to see what the future holds. God bless. Cory Bullard