Leslie
It is impossible to condense everything that Jesus has done for me into a small newsletter, but I do want to share some of my story with you. I was adopted by my grandparents when I was young and they took me and my sister to church regularly. When I was a teenager, both my grandparents passed away. The grief of losing them lead me to a different church that preached the gospel unlike any I had ever heard. It was at that same church that I gave my life to Christ. However, my life spiraled out of control when I was 22 years old after having a stroke. After my stroke, began to use drugs to cope. Even though I had two wonderful children who I loved deeply, I was unable to break through the horrible cycle my life was in alone.
In my darkest hour I cried out to God to bring me home or show me a different way to live. I found out about Life Challenge through a crisis center shortly after and decided to go. My mother dropped me off at Life Challenge in the middle of a snowstorm and I had no idea what was in store for me. I was certain of this, that I was an addict, who didn’t know how to live, how to be a mother to my two children, or how to be anything but hopeless. Over the next several months at Life Challenge, I saw the kingdom of God alive and operating through the staff and volunteers. I learned about my Creator and His unconditional unfailing love for me.
I am no longer desperately enslaved to addiction nor am I imprisoned by my past! Today I have a job, a car, a home, and support. God blessed me with all of these things. With these blessings I am able to take care of my beautiful daughter, who He gave back to me. He is a God of restoration. I am confident that God is going to restore the rest of my family and give me my son back as well. I know that whatever my future holds for me that I do not face it alone. Today I know that I am loved by the King!
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
Phil 3:12-13
