For years, Phil viewed life through the lens of a video camera. Today, this professional videographer now looks through the eyes of faith.

 

Raised in a Christian home, Phil always believed in God, but he says, “I had it in my head, not my heart.” Still, his upbringing helped Phil resist the temptations of alcohol and drugs during a five-year stint as a bartender. Speaking about how he’d seen alcohol destroy the lives of the people around him, Phil says, “I got first-hand knowledge of how Satan works. He makes the apple look so good!”

 

Eventually, Phil took a bite of that apple himself. He began drinking when his mother died of cancer in 1995. “It tore me apart,” he remembers. “I tried to be strong, but the day she died, I got drunk. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.”

 

Five years later, Phil’s father also succumbed to cancer. “It was like a replay of when my Mom died. I asked, ‘Why is this happening?’ When I finally got my life together, it seemed like God was taking away the things that meant the most to me,” including his television job, and unemployment only compounded Phil’s troubles.

 

 

At this point, Phil went from being a “functioning alcoholic” to drinking a fifth of brandy every day. He knew he had a problem. He tried prayer and various outpatient programs, but was never able to stay sober longer than six months.

 

Things began looking up for Phil last year when he landed a job shooting video for a major cruise line in Alaska. He was overwhelmed by the majestic scenery and wildlife. “You can’t see this and not know there’s a Creator!” he says.

 

Unfortunately, alcohol was far too available onboard. “That first drink was all it took. It led to a second, then a third...and I didn’t get up in time for my shift. That raised some alarms, and they let me go.”

 

 

Phil returned to Milwaukee, where he’d been living with his brother. “He kicked me out of the house!” says Phil. “He brought me to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. I was angry, upset, confused. I didn’t think this would happen to me!”

 

Two weeks later Phil started our LifeSkills program. He’s since graduated and is now in our FOCUS program for men. “It wasn’t by chance that I got here. MRM was part of God’s plan for my life. I rediscovered the Lord here in a stronger way. I’ve learned to take God’s promises at heart. In the eyes of God, there’s nothing so terrible that He won’t forgive you!”

 

Phil plans to use his video skills in the service of the Lord, producing and directing spiritual programming. He also wants to go back to Alaska to capture the beauty and wonder of God’s creation on film.

 

Phil’s message to you is, “Thank you so much! People think MRM is just a place to eat, sleep and get away. But it’s a chance to renew not just your mind and your body, but your soul.”

 

 

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4, NIV