As a boy, Jay’s mother would beat him without mercy. “She was sadistic. There were times I was beaten for hours. But what hurt more was when I ran away, and she didn’t come looking for me.”
Then, Jay found himself living on the streets, feeling unworthy of love, and began numbing his pain with drugs. His addiction damaged his relationships with his children, landed him in trouble with the law and, finally, left him homeless. Until one day he woke up in a park and had a moment of clarity. “I said, ‘I can’t do this for one more day.’ And I got up and came straight to the Mission.”
Worthy of Redemption
Jay came to our Life Change Academy, where he was introduced to the healing love of Jesus Christ. “Now, I have more understanding of who God is and what it means to have a really close relationship with Him.”
Meanwhile, the counsel, compassion and fellowship of our staff and other Academy students have been a balm for Jay’s wounded heart. “For the first time in my life, people check in just to see how I’m doing and want to see me succeed. That’s such a healing thing for me.”
“Now, I feel like I have worth.”
Jay’s relationship with his children has now been restored and his kids are thrilled about their father’s new life in Christ. “They’re loving and supportive of me and I’m fully there for them,” he says.
Today, he’s gaining work skills and experience on our maintenance crew and joined our staff so he can share with others the healing love he found here at the Mission.
Jay’s heart is overflowing with gratitude this Thanksgiving because YOUR loving support gave him the confidence and support to rebuild his life. “I was broken, but through the love of Christ and the support of the Mission, I was able to get in touch with myself and find a fulfilling relationship with Jesus. I now have a whole new outlook on life.”
Jay’s story is featured in the Fall 2022 edition of Hope Now.
Find out more about homelessness and addiction in Kings & Tulare County.
Do you or someone you know need help overcoming homelessness and/or addiction? Reach out to us.