You may have heard that one meal or one night of shelter can open the door to a brand new life. It might sound like an exaggeration, but in James’ case, it’s literally true!

 

Six years ago, James found himself stranded. He’d loaned his car to someone who didn’t return it on time, and James had no way to get home. He happened to be near the Milwaukee Rescue Mission and came in, just for the night.

 

While here, though, James heard about our year-long LifeSkills program, the FOCUS transitional living center and our other life recovery services...and a tiny seed of hope for a better future was planted. James left MRM after his very short stay and for the next six years, he continued his lifestyle of addiction. But the seed slowly took root and grew.

 

At last, James says, “I decided to submit to God.” And when he made that decision, James knew he could count on our community to provide the deep-down, serious help he needed here at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission.

 

“LifeSkills set a foundation for me,” he explains. “A foundation to stop, read [the Bible] and pray in difficult situations. My goal used to just be that I didn’t want to use drugs anymore. Now my goal is to know Christ more.”

 

James has already seen some fruits of his new way of life in his restored family relationships. “During my using, I abused my family by staying away and having them worrying. Now they can see a difference in me, and they support the change. When I have a pass, I choose to spend that time with my mother and sister.”

 

Because he spent so long trapped in his addictions, James wants to enter the six-month FOCUS transitional living program after graduation from LifeSkills. There, he’ll continue to be accountable for his behavior and participate in Bible studies and classes. He’ll also have the chance to start working and save money for safe housing.

 

James knows he’ll have to wait for many of the fruits of his new life. He wants to start his own janitorial company, a process he knows could take years. But he’s learned patience and faithfulness at MRM and he’s prepared to work hard for his goals--quite a change from the young man who dropped in six years ago!

 

James admits that without your generosity making a place for him at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, he’d either be in jail or dead today because of his addiction. On behalf of James and all the other men whose lives are changing with your help today, thank you!