Newsletters

James’ parents always worked hard and paid their bills, but they were also alcoholics. Why not, James thought, if drinking helped them cope with their stress. It seemed harmless enough. “Seeing them drink taught me how to go through my life,” he says. “At a very early age, I started drinking before and after school. I didn’t feel normal otherwise.”

When he grew up, James started a career, married and bought a home. He was still drinking, but he was functioning, just like his parents had. Then, after 18 years of marriage, his wife left. “It tore my world apart,” James says. “My drinking spiraled out of control and I lost my job and my house.”

He wound up living on the streets. Then he landed in trouble with the law. But it turned out to be a godsend for, there in his jail cell, he had the time and clarity to examine his life. “I knew I didn’t want to drink anymore and God didn’t want me to either so, when I was released, I walked to WRM.”

James entered our Discipleship Program, where Bible studies and life skills classes strengthened his faith and equipped him to live free from addiction. “I study the Bible, apply it to my life and talk to God more and more each day,” James says.

James supports other men on their journeys of healing through his service as our Discipleship
Program House Manager. “I listen to people’s struggles and pay attention to their needs. It’s a lot of responsibility, but God always helps me through.”

Now, James is going to find work and a place of his own and, wherever he goes, he plans to share his testimony of transformation. “I was a mess, but I’ve been made new and happy, and I’m going to spread the word of God.”

This Easter, James is experiencing God’s gift of new
life! Thank you for empowering him to follow Christ’s
calling in his life. “WRM gave me a beautiful life.”