Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
Rescue beyond recovery
This is the fifth story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Rescue.” This month, we highlight three key areas of rescue offered through our Life Recovery Program: education, stable housing, and, in honor of Father’s Day, ongoing family restoration.
Alongside overcoming addiction and securing employment, these elements form the foundation of our mission to transform the lives of those we serve.
Jorge
After dropping out of high school, Jorge just passed his first GED exam with the help of the Mission’s new GED Assurance Program.
Jorge admits he was nervous before taking his first GED exam. “After studying and doing well on the practice tests, I knew I was ready, but there was an old part of me that still had doubts.” But with everything he had learned in the Life Recovery Program, and with guidance from Workforce Development Director John Deary, he was determined to make the most of this opportunity.
Jorge had dropped out of school after being expelled twice in the ninth grade. “It was mostly stupid kid stuff that got me in trouble. But I also didn’t really care about learning,” he said, before correcting himself. “No, I knew it was important, but I just never put any effort into it.”
He spent the next three years in Mexico and moved back to the U.S. at age 19. “I was working and mostly staying out of trouble, but I always had it in the back of my mind that I should be doing more with my life,” he said.
Looking back, Jorge also recognizes a strong streak of stubbornness. “My family was always encouraging me, but I had to do things my way. I wasn’t able to listen to anyone—and that included God.”
Over time, Jorge drifted into drug use and then into crime, eventually losing the support of his family. “I was finally alone, which is what I guess I had been pushing for all along,” he explained, “being reliant on myself and not being told what to do.” The problem, he eventually realized, was that in being responsible only for himself, he had become someone without any “moral grounding.”
After time in and out of jail, Jorge finally reached a breaking point and prayed to God for help. “I had come to the realization that I couldn’t live like this anymore, and I was ready to submit to God and to what He had planned for me.”
Jorge came to the Mission in April 2025, and just a few months into the program, he was already seeing changes in his outlook. “I was learning to open myself to advice and counsel, and that made all the difference for me. Where once I was stubbornly closed off, I was now open to those trying to help me, and especially to God,” he said. “I had prayed for the strength to listen, and God gave me that.”
When the opportunity to restart his education came up, Jorge felt truly alive again. “After all these years, I was able to start learning again, and it’s been such a blessing. With John’s help, I am on my way to getting my GED,” he said.
A few weeks ago, Jorge passed his first GED test. “It was Language Arts, and I knew that would be the most difficult one for me, but John encouraged me to get that one done first, and I’m glad he did.”
There are more tests to go, but Jorge is moving toward a goal he had put off for many years. “Thanks to the Mission, I have learned to rely on others, to make and keep commitments, and to trust that God has something good in store for me. The way I look at it, getting my GED is just the beginning!”
Matt
Matt graduated from the Life Recovery Program, is now employed, and is living in his own apartment.
“It has everything I need,” Matt said when describing his new apartment. “A full-size kitchen, a den where I can do my schoolwork, and a nice patio.”
Matt credits God and the Rescue Mission for what he calls a tremendous blessing. “It was my newfound faith in God that got me sober, and the counseling and classes at the Mission that helped me go from homelessness to employment—and then to my own place.”
Matt found himself without a place to stay after his marriage ended. Drugs and alcohol had led to things falling apart. “We were into the party scene, which was OK for a while, but eventually we got deeper into it and we struggled,” he explained.
Infidelity, anger, and distrust became routine, and Matt left behind their apartment and his car when they separated. “I spent two or three years couch-surfing and sleeping wherever I could, and eventually I ended up on my sister’s kitchen floor.” During that time, Matt was trying to get sober. His sister found the Rescue Mission and convinced him to enter the Life Recovery Program.
In July 2024, Matt came to the Mission and eventually completed the program. He describes his time there as a chance to slow down and reflect. “I had the opportunity to really look at myself and the choices I had made, and for the first time I could see the impact of my decisions.”
As he progressed, Matt began encouraging new men arriving at the Mission to see their situation as an opportunity. “‘It’s a beautiful moment,’ I would tell them. Where else do you get a chance to learn and grow surrounded by people who truly care about you?”
Matt also, for the first time, came to know God’s love and feel His presence. “Learning about God, praying, and reading the Bible was all new to me, but it wasn’t long before I understood the power at work in my life.”
After graduating, Matt found employment and moved into the Transitional Living apartments. “The computer classes I took during the program helped strengthen my resume, which led to a great job. And having a place to stay while saving money—while still being supported and held accountable—helped me reach the point where I could move into my own apartment,” he said.
From substance abuse and homelessness to sobriety, employment, and stable housing, Matt’s story reflects the mission’s goal of offering men a path to a new life.
“The Rescue Mission has been a blessing to me in so many ways, and having a place of my own is amazing,” he said. “But ultimately, learning to rely on God has been the greatest blessing of all.”
Jesse
A father of eight, Jesse is reconnecting with his children one step at a time. Through God’s grace, he is learning that restoration often begins with patience.
Jesse feels blessed to have eight children—and several grandchildren—but says that after years without contact and multiple times in prison, his journey toward family restoration is still ongoing.
“Some of my kids have reconnected with me, but the rest are waiting to see where things go from here,” he explained. “I understand the hesitation, and I’m patient with all of it. This is where I lean into God, knowing that His will is being worked out.”
Jesse described his childhood as “decent,” explaining that he and his siblings were always provided for. “Both my parents were hardworking, and we had what we needed, but there wasn’t any emotional support. I never really felt loved, and there was little communication. We certainly never discussed any problems I might have been having.”
He acknowledges that his parents were doing the best they could, but also recognizes that much of his life has been spent searching for a loving connection.
At 13, Jesse began experimenting with alcohol and marijuana and frequently skipped class. Things worsened as he was drawn into harder drugs and a life of crime. “I pretty much spent the next 40 years sometimes working and often going in and out of prison,” he said, “and having multiple relationships, looking for what I never had at home.”
During that time, Jesse had seven daughters and one son but missed out on seeing them grow up. “I was never around for any of it, and that has been my biggest regret in life.”
After leaving prison for the final time, Jesse found his way to the Mission in January 2024. As he progressed through the Life Recovery Program, he began to feel God’s love in a new way. “I started truly feeling cared for,” he said, “and I knew that I had value. I was not a bad person in God’s eyes.”
About five months later, Jesse felt ready to begin reconnecting with his children. “I reached out first to my son, and I was amazed at the response. I think he could sense a real change in me.”
His son contacted his siblings, and soon Jesse was speaking with more of his children, though some have yet to respond. “I am so grateful to God for the relationships that have been restored. Some of my daughters are still hesitant, and I completely understand. I was out of their lives for so long. All I can do is be patient and continue to follow the path God has set before me.”
Jesse’s story reflects both the power of restoration and the importance of patience when rebuilding relationships. “It’s one step at a time for me now, and I know there is more to do and more to learn. But after 40 years of thinking only of myself, I am grateful for whatever God blesses me with,” he said. “I truly believe that anything is possible with God.”
Brian
Brian cherishes every moment with his family as he works to build a better future for all of them.
Brian was struggling to secure his infant son’s car seat after a recent family visit. His girlfriend—the mother of his 9-month-old son—noticed something different. Instead of getting frustrated, he remained calm and patiently secured the seat after several minutes.
“She could tell something was different about me,” he said. “In the past, I would have blown up in frustration whenever I encountered an obstacle. But instead, I just did what needed to be done—which is what a father is supposed to do.”
Brian began drinking and using drugs around age 16. Eventually, he was using daily, though he managed to keep up with school and work. When he was 20, his mother passed away. “That really shook me, and I was never able to stay sober for long,” he said. “It didn’t help that my dad was an alcoholic as well.”
Although Brian continued working, his addiction eventually led to a two-year prison sentence. After his release, he reconnected with his high school girlfriend, who had a young daughter. “I became a father to her since her real dad wasn’t around,” he said.
Being part of a family helped lessen the grip of addiction, but not enough to overcome it. In late 2021, Brian experienced his second overdose.
With help from his stepmother, Brian entered the Life Recovery Program, completed it a year later, found employment, and moved back in with his girlfriend and daughter. “Things were going great for a while,” he said. “I was being a responsible partner and father, and shortly after I returned home, we were expecting another child.”
Brian was working for Amazon but later switched to a smaller company after the family moved. “Unfortunately, everyone at work was using something, and I fell back into my old habits,” he said.
His girlfriend noticed changes—he wasn’t eating and was losing weight. “She knew what was going on and wanted me to return to the Mission for help. I agreed, but asked to wait until after the baby was born.”
Brian kept his word and returned to the Mission in October 2025 to re-enter the Life Recovery Program. Now seven months in, he says something feels different this time.
“I think I finally understand that people are relying on me,” he said. “I’m doing this for myself, but first and foremost because I’m a father to two children who need me to be the best dad I can be.”
Brian has found a new level of focus and energy. “I’m putting everything I have into growing while I’m here. I take the classes and counseling seriously, and I’ve developed a relationship with God that’s new for me,” he said. “I pray daily now.”
He’s determined to make the most of his time while planning for the future. “I get to see my children every weekend, and that’s an incredible blessing,” he said. “And I always say goodbye knowing that what I’m doing here is building a better future for all of us.”
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