In 1987, at just 23 years old, I was facing a possible murder charge for shooting a man point-blank in the face. I had always believed I’d never live past 25 because of the fast and brutal lifestyle I was living. What I never imagined was that the God of heaven and earth would reach down into a lonely jail cell and teach me what it meant to be Born Again.

But He did. Alone in that cell, God visited me and showed me how to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ—someone I knew nothing about at the time. In February 1987, I surrendered my life to Him. By His mercy, all my charges were amended, and I received a 23-year sentence.

After my release, I walked with Jesus for years. But struggling to find acceptance in society, I eventually fell back into survival mode. I believed God no longer loved me, that He would never take me back, and so I returned to my old life. From ages 14 to 62, I was in and out of jails and prisons. After a 12-year failed marriage and three suicide attempts, I found myself desperate for something more. In 2024, I became homeless. I thought there was no hope—and that the God I once loved wanted nothing to do with me.

But everything changed.

After completing a 28-day recovery program in Albion, Indiana, God revealed His unknown plans for me at Inspiration Ministries. It was there I finally found what I had been searching for all my life: restoration, hope, love, joy, and peace. God placed people in my life who genuinely loved and cared for me.

Through enduring a 9 months of recovery at Inspiration Ministries, I was made whole again by the power of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Every need I had was met—and today, I serve in a peer support role within the very ministry that helped save me.

My life is awesome now, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Thank you, Inspiration Ministries, for restoring my hope. Because of this ministry, I’m truly living my best life.