John’s Story
I arrived at the Lighthouse on a Tuesday. I remember it as if it was yesterday. That last beer and cigarette after 20 years of beers and cigarettes, along with a wide range of drugs from cocaine to ecstasy, and crystal meth to crack. That Tuesday was the end of a self-indulgent life that drained everything until there was nothing left of my home, my family, or my soul. My lifestyle had wrecked a promising career as a software engineer, video game developer, and website designer. The life I lived led me into a dark underworld of hacking and pornographic websites, using what was left of my God-given talent to work for the devil, doing whatever it took to maintain my addiction to drugs and alcohol. Eventually, there was nothing left but an empty shell looking back at me in the mirror, wondering what happened to my life.
But that Tuesday, everything changed. In the 18 months that I spent in the Faith Home Ministry, I learned to confront myself rather than running away. I learned that by surrendering and submitting to God, I didn’t have to face my demons alone. I learned that my life was not in fact wasted, lost, or hopeless; that through faith in Jesus Christ, He's able to rebuild everything that was broken, and my life can prosper more than ever. I’ve learned there is a higher purpose to my life that’s so much greater than myself. My time in the Faith Home helped to free me of the bondages that nearly destroyed me. The process of discipleship allowed me to pick my life up again and place it back on the road God originally intended for it.
Today, I’m reborn, energized, and ready to set off on this new journey. I’m thankful for the love and support of the Lighthouse and its leadership. They’ve helped me to emerge stronger and more secure. I’m more inspired, passionate, and focused than I’ve ever been. It’s been a long road, and it hasn’t been easy. I reached a milestone in completing the Faith Home program, and while it is certainly an accomplishment, I know it is only the beginning. God brought me here to save my life, and to fulfill His purpose. I'm excited to see just what that is!