26 Feb Meet James
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.”