Dan's story
Being at the Mission has allowed me to explore my relationship with God and the people at the mission have taught me obedience to the Lord.
My name is Dan and I come from a big family of five brothers and sisters. My parents divorced when I was ten. Then we moved with my mom to Alaska to live with our grandparents.
When I was fourteen, I started drinking and using marijuana. It was considered “normal” misbehavior at my school to use drugs recreationally. I liked using because it helped me feel normal. However, I have an addictive personality and drugs and alcohol got its grip on me.
When I was twenty, I moved back to Michigan to reconnect with my Dad. I was hired at a furniture company and moved up in the organization over the twenty years I was there. I got married and had four children, all while continuing to be a “functional” alcoholic.
When my first son was born, we made the decision that we wanted our children to grow up in the church. I was involved in my children’s lives; from coaching t-ball on Saturdays to being a deacon at our church, but I was always wrestling with alcohol and occasional binge drinking.
In 2001, my drinking and drug use became out of control. I was asked to resign from church and from my job at the furniture store. I separated from my wife and drinking became the most important thing in my life. I did odd home improvement jobs, but I was losing all that I was.
In 2005, I was ready for a change. I moved to North Carolina to help remodel my mom’s house. However, my drinking was still out of control and I could not hold a consistent job. Finally, on November 6, 2009, I realized that I had enough of the way I was living my life. I spent every penny of a paycheck in one day. I knew that I needed a drastic change.
I contacted my family for help. My twin brother asked me to come back to Michigan in an effort to help. I agreed and chose to go to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. As we drove to the mission, I started to doubt if I had made the right choice. Then I met the director of the Men’s New Life program, Dennis. He put me at ease, and listened to me. He told me that this was not going to be an easy road to recovery but that the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission was going to help me.
I was still leery of my decision, but on my first day at the Mission, I went to the dining room for a meal and my sister was volunteering with the high school class that she taught. It was an act of God that he placed my sister there, beaming and excited to see me. That was the affirmation I needed to know that I was in the right place.
While at the mission, I have met men who are in the same spot as me and have been an amazing source of support. Being at the Mission has allowed me to explore my relationship with God and the people at the mission have taught me obedience to the Lord.
I graduated the discipleship program in January, 2011. I knew that I needed an accountability program to keep me from going back to my old ways so I entered the leadership program at the Mission. I now work at the Rescued Treasures thrift shop. I am not sure where God is planning to take me, but I know God has to be the focus of my life.
I had the privilege of sharing my testimony at the last annual banquet. When I was sharing my story with our supporters, I felt that everyone in the room was also there to support me. I was overwhelmed by God’s love flowing through you into my life. Thank you for the sacrifices and gifts you give.
