“I was born in Portsmouth New Hampshire. At the age of five my mother moved me and my sister to Syracuse New York. We left my dad behind. Even at age five I knew there was something wrong but didn’t come to fully understand why my dad didn’t go with us until I grew older.

“My mother did the best she could, actually in hindsight, she did a great job providing a home for me and my sister with what little we had at the time. But I started to have trouble dealing with some things and I really missed my dad often as the years went by. I started struggling in school and in everyday life.

“In my early teens I found myself rebelling against my mother and turning to the streets and hanging out with a group of teens who were in the same situation I was. They became like another family to me. We were all kind of hurting inside, more like angry, and became rebellious looking for something, for ways, to fill the voids in our life.

“At the age of 15 I started drinking and getting into legal trouble with my friends. In hindsight, I believe this is the point I started hearing Gods voice. And even then, still growing and acting out in rebellion, I often heard God speaking to my heart and telling me my life “would never be right until I come to Him”. This happened during many different periods as I grew, and somehow I knew it was the truth inside, but It would be years before I would answer the call.

“By the age of 16 I had gotten myself in so much trouble that my mother couldn’t deal with me anymore. She was exhausted, tired, didn’t have the answers on how to correct things the way they were with me. The courts gave me the options of jail or going to the Job Corps. I chose the Job Corps but it didn’t last long. I was fighting a lot and acting out in other rebellious ways, and was kicked out after four months. I found myself on the streets of Syracuse at only the age of 17.

“Soon after, at the age of 18 I was put in the Jamesville Correction Facility because I had violated probation so many times. I remember vividly my first night in my cell. I was very scared! I eventually found myself getting down on my knees and praying to God. I became a little more settled as I heard a small voice inside saying everything was going to be ok. Somehow I felt that it was true, and things did become better for a while.

“When I was released from the correction facility my mother told me I had to go live with my dad in Oklahoma. I had only seen my dad twice in the last few years. So I was on my way to Oklahoma. He also struggled with life issue but now was sober from crack and alcohol and living a better life. My dad was engaged at the time and eventually married the woman. Soon after, my dad moved all of us into a big wonderful house. His wife had two daughters of her own. I thought I finally found what I was looking for in life – security, stability, and love of a family. I was very excited to be with my dad and his new family. But very soon things became unstable. After only a few months of me thinking life was going to be good something terrible happened. One day from upstairs in my room I heard a gunshot. Very soon after, I heard the police and ambulance sirens.

“I felt horrible, and at the same time felt like “the rug had been pulled out from under me” once again. When my dad was bailed out of prison I found myself without a home. For reasons I never really knew, I was asked to leave and not welcomed back, along with the others. At the time I was also dating a woman and we moved in together. Years went by.

“Much later in age, I was at a party and tried Crack for the first time. Before this, I never did the “hard drugs”. I was now in a completely different world as the Crack took hold of me and my life. I became a full blown addict – stealing, lying, and doing whatever I had to support my habit. So many years went by and my addiction to crack remained. My life being destroyed and headed to a really bad place. I was already experiencing the worst destructive side of this addiction, but I could not stop. I could not control it.

“At the age of twenty-five I found the strength to go to Salt Lake City Mission – Crack addict and all. So I did get to experience who they were and what it was all about.

“But soon after arriving at the Mission I was arrested for attempted robbery and found myself in the legal system again. This time I was headed to prison for up to five years. I was out after a year and a half then placed on parole. I met my first wife shortly after and had three beautiful kids who are grown now. But while I was married I was still addicted to Crack. Eventually my wife left and divorced me. My life took an worse course and quickly headed into a fast downward spiral of addiction. Rock bottom wasn’t too far away as I was also introduced to “Meth”. I spent years in and out of jail for theft. Eventually my life was completely destroyed. I was without a family, without friends, without a life. I had no one to turn to and was really alone for the first time.

“I decided to go back to Oklahoma and stay with my dad. I found him once again addicted to Crack and we became addicts together.

“One day I saw a church came by passing out water as the Pastor was telling everyone “God wants to bless you”. I asked him who he was and how does he know God wanted to bless me? Pastor Roderick was his name and took it upon himself to keep coming back and talking with me after that. I eventually went to his church “Salt Of The Earth Ministries” and soon after verbally “gave my life to Lord” and our Father in Heaven. But life didn’t change right away. Somehow I found the strength to stay faithful and found God to be faithful. After a year of “walking with the Lord and God” and being spiritually “raised up”, growing more positively as I remained connected to the church – I heard an inner voice urging me to go back to Salt Lake City. But unfortunately when I got there I soon found myself in jail for old warrants. I was given six months jail time.

“But very fortunately I met a minister while I was serving time. His name was Elliot Brown who happened to be Salt Lake City Mission’s head Chaplain. We became good friends. He told me great things about the Mission and the experiences there. By this time my six months was coming to an end and I had no idea what I was going to do. I had no place to go. I had no clothes or food, but I remembered Mathew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

“I decided to trust God and not worry. Somehow I felt at peace.

“When I was released from jail I checked into a shelter but soon realized that wasn’t for me. I left in the morning. That same day I saw a Salt Lake City Mission outreach team serving coffee and donuts, and also saw Chaplain Elliot again! I was welcomed to the Mission and ended up joining their “Upward Motion” men’s recovery program.

“At the mission I found the brotherhood I needed and grew in my relationship with God and Christ in my life. With the help of the Holy Spirit – who I became to know was inside me as a companion, a gift from God – and with the help of my new found “brothers in the Lord”, and also founder of the Mission Pastor Wayne Wilson – I had finally answered the call of God on my life. I spiritually grew into becoming a Pastor as I preached the Word of God . It was at the Mission that I received my pastoral ordination. Soon after I became a Chaplain.

“My life went through so many changes as I continued to hold true to my Faith. Through all the good, bad, happy and sad, I remained faithful and on a forward motion with God in my heart. I became a survivor! I was now truly an overcomer! I joined the staff of Salt Lake City Mission. Years later, I would become Director which is where I find myself today. I am very humbled, thankful and blessed. I have accomplished great things with God in my life. And I know I will continue to do so.

“I have been so blessed in being able to share my story over the years, especially at various colleges and even at the State Capital on several occasions. Over the years I have been an advocate for the unsheltered and addicted –  and also for those in jails and prisons. Because of the life I led I have come to understand the struggles of those who need even the most help – those in dire circumstances of life. This is also why outreach and providing a safe place for the men and women struggling and living life at its worst is of such importance to me. “I understand. I have been there”. It is the same sentiment shared throughout everything Salt Lake City Mission stands for.

“Today I have a good relationship with my children and family. I have a great apartment which I am so thankful for. No more sleeping in porta potties, on park benches – living on the street. I finally have the life that I always wanted and no longer have to be in fear of the bottom falling out. So I dearly thank God – first and foremost – for saving me from so many terrible things and experiences, and for “never leaving me nor forsaking me”

“Thank you so much to the Donors and Supporters of Salt Lake City Mission. You make it possible for God to work through our life experiences as staff with a heartfelt compassion to see others live a more positive life. Because of you there is a safe and healthy environment where God can be discovered and others can become “OVERCOMERS” too. And discover that “with God all things are truly possible”.

“God bless and never lose hope for struggling family members and friends. God has a way out!