God Brought Me Out of the Darkness.
For years, James lived on the edge – run-ins with the law and running from the Lord. He hated himself and believed he would die in that dark and broken state. But at City Rescue Mission, surrounded by prayer, compassion and the truth of the Gospel, James discovered how to live in the Light of God.
Growing up in Jacksonville, James recalls a normal childhood. “I had what I needed and most of what I wanted,” he shares. But one important aspect was missing – a relationship with God. His family never went to church or prayed over a meal.
“God was pretty much the furthest thing from my mind.” 
Without a spiritual foundation, James struggled. At age 13, he experimented with drugs and quickly started facing substance abuse. Soon, he was no longer welcome in his parents’ home. He took to the streets. His destructive behavior escalated. He spent time in jail. He even dabbled in witchcraft.
“I was seeking something spiritual. I didn’t really know if it was bad or good.”
Eventually James started a family, but he continued his toxic lifestyle.
After his first child was born, he was incarcerated again. His mother, who had long ago cut ties, reconnected. For the sake of his baby girl, she urged him to check into a faith-based recovery program. But James had no place for God in his life.
Then, while still behind bars, he received devastating news. His best friend had died. His baby’s mother was struggling with challenges of her own. And his little girl had been taken into state custody.
“It was the darkest time of my life. Everything I loved had been ripped away.”
Broken and desperate, James finally agreed to enter rehab as an alternative to prison. For a time, life improved – he regained custody of his daughter, held a good job and embraced his sobriety. But the chain of substance abuse had not been completely broken. He slid back into his destructive ways and to a place even darker than before.
When his wife nearly died giving birth to their youngest child, he was ready to die himself. With no other option, he turned to God – begging Him to save her. She lived. That’s when he knew it was time to change, and it would take God’s help to do it. So he surrendered to the Lord and joined the Mission’s faith-based LifeBuilders Program.
For the first few days, James faced grueling withdrawals. “I lay in that dorm so sick I couldn’t even shower.” But with the encouragement of our staff, he didn’t give up.
“They loved me, prayed for me, and walked with me through it all.”
As his health improved, he excelled in every aspect of our faith-based curriculum – Bible study, adult education, workforce development, life skills development, counseling and case management. As with all participants, our goal was to help James discover how to be a sober, productive, self-sufficient member of his community.
After graduating, James began to rebuild his life – step by faithful step. He found steady work, reunited with his family and recommitted himself to his wife who, too, had turned to God in her darkest moments. Today, they are raising their children in a Christ-centered home.
James now lives in the light of the Lord, serving in prison ministry, sharing his testimony with men living in darkness as he once was. He also stays active in his church and mentors others at the Mission.
“Everything I have is because of God,” James says.
“I used to hate myself and believe I would die in my addiction.
But today, I wake up excited to see what God will do next.”