MISSION IN MY WORDS A GREATER PURPOSE

Asa young child, my parents were members of a church and regularly attended. However, when I was 4 years old, my father passed away, so my mother decided we would no longer be part of the church. I was never discouraged by my mother to learn about God, but her feelings of resentment deterred me from pursuing Him.

part of my life. I now understand it isn’t about what I can do for myself, but what the Lord did, does and continues to do for me.

With my job at the Downtown Rescue Mission, I create and implement policies that help keep our campus safe, but ultimately God has put me in a position to lead by example and point others towards Christ. Even in my failures I am able to do this through Him.

My past experiences and trials help give me relatability with our clients that I use to give them hope — Hope that is found in Jesus Christ.

Growing up I was told if I worked really hard, I would have whatever I set my mind to. So, when I did well in sports, it was because I practiced hard. When I did well in school, it was because I studied hard. When I got that great career job, I deserved it because I worked hard to get it. Without knowing it, I had developed the mentality that I was self-sufficient.

I know now that it was at this point in my life God started to work on my heart.

Shortly after the start of my career, I needed an operation on my shoulder. Little did I know, it would cause a downward spiral in my life involving drug addiction. I fought addiction for 5 years, thinking I would be the one responsible for overcoming it. This blindness caused me to lose jobs, friends, and contact with my family, yet I continued to rely upon myself even to the point of becoming homeless.

It wasn’t until I overdosed and was brought back to life that I felt the Holy Spirit. God was telling me, I was His and that I had a greater purpose.

I went through Downtown Rescue Mission’s Christcentered Life Transformation program, where I not only learned the Gospel but learned what it meant to make it a