“I’m really thinking about my purpose and
what it’s going to take to get there.”
Jonathan knows firsthand how one bad decision can serve as a gateway to another… and then one more… until life spirals out of control. First, it was dropping out of college. Then losing a series of jobs. And finally, facing substance abuse. These choices are what Jonathan calls “life letdowns.” Before coming to the Mission, he says, he was stuck in a loop of self-sabotage.
Although raised in the church, Jonathan had drifted far from the faith-based foundation that kept him grounded in his early years. For more than a decade, he chose habits and behaviors that led to disappointment and self-doubt – and prevented him from building financial stability, personal independence and healthy relationships.
One day his eyes were opened to his meager existence when he woke up to the fact that he was alone, living out of a duffle bag, with no permanent place to lay his head.
Finally admitting to himself it was not the life he’d envisioned – and he was not the man God intended him to be – he knew he had to change.
Jonathan was familiar with the Mission; friends and family members had sought our assistance in the past. So, with hope in his heart, he knew where to go. He came to our doors with just the clothes on his back and his few belongings in his bag… and we welcomed him with open arms.
Immediately, Jonathan says, he could feel the love of God in this place. After a chain of poor choices, he knew he’d finally made the right decision. This is where he was meant to be.
“I was ready. I wanted to see what that other life was like… the life that I always expected for myself.”
In our holistic and faith-based LifeBuilders program, we’re helping Jonathan overcome destructive habits, strengthen his self-esteem and achieve financial and social stability. Most importantly, we’re encouraging him to rebuild his walk with the Lord.
He attributes Bible study and Christ-centered classes to steering him back onto the right path. “I call it my spiritual bootcamp.”
He now also understands he can’t solely rely on his own strength. Instead, by staying meek and trusting in God’s guidance, he can make good choices and sound decisions and achieve success. “One of the things I’ve learned is to be careful of the self-righteous spirit.”
As he prepares to re-enter the workforce, Jonathan enjoys giving back to the Mission by working in the kitchen and on our maintenance team. When he leaves our care, he plans to return to school for a degree in computer technology, for which we’re helping him to prepare – emotionally, spiritually and practically. “The Mission is encouraging me to think broader than the little box my mind has been in. I’m seeing my purpose now.”
“I was suffocating myself with my addictions and my choices. The Mission has allowed my spirit to breathe.”
Motivated by the progress he’s making, Jonathan is dedicated to staying active in his home church and serving his community. He is passionate about coaching the youth of his neighborhood in an after-school program. And he’s grateful for his story of transformation which will allow him to inspire others who have struggled as he did.
