Hi, my name is Leanne King. I am so grateful, blessed, and honored to be part of Inspiration Ministries at the Grace House in Butler, Indiana. I entered the program on May 11th—Mother’s Day—just after being released from Steuben County Jail, where I spent 4½ months. To be honest, the only phone call I made during all 135 days I was there was on day 133… and it was to Marie Orr. She accepted me into the program without even having an application filled out. That’s the power of God’s grace.

So, what has God done in my life? As of November 27th, I have been delivered from over 25 years of addiction. For decades I self-medicated, numbed pain, and tried to survive the trauma of physical, emotional, and mental abuse. I walked the streets alone, full of shame and self-hatred. I destroyed good things, especially relationships with my daughter, my mom, and my family. I truly believed I wasn’t capable of being loved because I didn’t love myself. My choices led me into situations where I was raped, hospitalized, jailed, homeless, and hopeless. And yet… through everything… I always knew I was still alive for a reason. I just didn’t know what that reason was until I gave my life back to Jesus.

I grew up in church—not because my parents took me, but because I desperately wanted to belong. I loved the people there. But when my dad died at 16, I got angry at God and pushed Him away. It wasn’t until I was sitting in jail again, having lost everything again, that I fell to my knees and asked Jesus to help me, forgive me, change my heart, and rescue me from the chaos I had created.

If you ever wonder whether miracles are real—don’t. I am living proof that they are. Today, I am safe, clean, loved, and I know deep in my heart that I am worthy to be called a child of God. I have a job, I’ve gotten my license, I have a beautiful church family, and I’ve discovered that I don’t need drugs to face life. All I ever needed was Jesus.

I don’t feel like I’ve wasted my life—I feel like God has taught me how to live it in His image. I’m on track to graduate on February 11th, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me next!