Matt s.
Up until recently, my life had always been dark, lonely, and filled with hatred for myself and others. I tried to change many times, but all of those failed attempts just affirmed the feelings I had of being worthless and unlovable. I made many half attempts at following a god. Looking back, I now realize that I was trying to follow a false god that I didn’t even know anything about. In all actuality, I never really wanted to change my life or myself because I was sure that I would never amount to anything. With this attitude, I fell into drug and alcohol abuse. I used and abused everyone I could, even my own family. I was very impulsive and didn’t care about much of anything. I would find myself in and out of trouble again and again only to end up right back in the same old spot that I had always been in.
My careless lifestyle eventually led me to prison at the age of 18. Over the last 26 years I’ve been in and out of prison 3 times, and have spent half of those years locked up behind bars. When I wasn’t in prison, I was on probation and parole. I was never able to get out of the system because I learned to use it to get what I wanted.
Things began to change about 5 years ago when my probation officer presented me with a program called Step Seven Ministries, and said they might be able to help me through their sober-living homes and stuff. I had nowhere else to go, and so I decided to give it a shot. I kept thinking that there was no way they were going to give me a chance… because of who I was and what I had done.
Either way, I went and met with them. For the first time in my life, when I looked at the man sitting across from me, I didn’t feel an ounce of judgement or condemnation. Instead, I felt love and concern. It was like their only agenda was to help me.
I entered into the program in March of 2016, and was baptized on September 4th, 2016. I spent about a year growing as a man, father, and follower of Jesus.
Because of a previous arrest, I had to go back to prison. The entire time I was there, Step Seven was with me. Regular phone calls with them helped me get through the 3.5 year sentence I ended up serving. Step Seven fought to get me back into one of their houses so that I could continue where I left off. I was paroled to Step Seven and able to continue my growth in Christ and as a member of this wonderful community.
Today, my life is better and more meaningful than ever. My life is Christ-centered, and full of love. I have just regained full custody of my 13 year old son, and I’m engaged to be married. I try to serve and give back in every way I can. Currently, I’m a house leader in one of the sober-living homes. I will be moving out in a couple of months to be able to live with my son and new wife. Life is good!
Step Seven Ministries has helped me become the man that God had always intended me to be. I look forward to being a part of this community for years to come, giving back however I can!