Featured Testimonies:
Steve's Testimony
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My name is Steve, and I grew up in Rhode Island. I come from a family ridden with generational alcoholism. For me, this meant repeating the pattern that was set for me by my father, and countless others before me. I had my first drink at the age of 18 and never stopped. Inside, I felt depressed, isolated, and alone all of the time. I lived in Florida for 8 years and had my own plumbing business. I soon learned that my mother was sick, so I returned to Rhode Island, still drinking but knowing my mom needed me.
Taking care of my mother became my full-time job, but my alcoholism was always there. My morning couldn’t start unless I was sure there was a 12-pack of beer in the refrigerator to get me through the day. I was functioning, but inside I was anxious, and didn’t know where to turn. One day, I decided I couldn’t do it anymore. I thought about my kids and my family and decided I didn’t want to drink anymore. I became sober in that moment, but little did I know that stopping drinking was only scratching the surface of my issues. My mom needed to be moved to a nursing home, so we had to sell the house to pay for her care. I didn’t have anywhere to go, so I got a tent and moved into the woods. Even though I was sober, I was more depressed and anxious than ever. I figured that maybe if being sober was this bad, I should just go take a drink. But, when I would lay in my tent at night, I would just talk to God, trying to figure out how to fix my life. I finally came to a breaking point when I was sick of living out in the cold with no home. I didn’t want to ask anyone for help. I wanted to figure it out myself, so I decided to try and commit suicide. I took too much medication because I didn’t know what to do. Something inside of me told me to go right to the hospital. I now know that was the Lord. The hospital connected me to the counselors and doctors I needed, and they told me that they wanted to take me somewhere that could help me. The Lord told me to listen and go. They took me right to the Providence Rescue Mission. |
The mission was where I realized drinking wasn’t my only problem. I was drinking to suppress all the feelings I was holding inside for so many years. I am the first person in my family to ever become sober after struggling with addiction, but the mission was where I really found God. I never had a real relationship with Him. While at the mission, I began reading my Bible and truly surrendered my life to the Lord. I abided by the program and came to love the classes and counseling they provided. Since I came to the mission a little over a year ago, I have, with my doctor’s approval, completely come off my anxiety and depression medication. I love reading my Bible, and now I feel that I can understand what it is saying.
I have always loved to help people, but now I have a real purpose for doing so: to honor God and serve Him. I am now one of the guys in charge of running the daily operations in the kitchen. The mission program was completely instrumental in turning my life around. I have truly experienced a miraculous change and if it wasn’t for God and the Providence Rescue Mission, I definitely would not be here today! |
Steven's Testimony
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My name is Steve, and I am from Boston, Massachusetts. I was raised by my grandparents and placed in and out of foster care homes throughout my childhood. When I was 12 years old, I was adopted by a family and had a stable home life, but I was still dealing with some feelings and pain from my childhood. I graduated high school, but I started battling a drinking issue in my 20’s. I very much struggled with anger and violence in my life. I was raised as a Christian, but I wasn’t really acting like I was invested in my relationship with God. I was using my relationship with God when it was convenient for me and to justify my behavior in life.
Eventually I found myself in jail due to my struggles. I had all but lost my relationship with my children and my family. When I was released from prison, I started living a life entrenched in a new struggle with drug addiction. Now I was homeless, and I didn’t have anywhere to turn. I knew that I had to make a change, because I wanted to be a real father to my children. A friend of mine told me about the Mission, and I decided to see if they could help me out. I stayed in the emergency shelter for a couple of nights before I applied for the “Road to Recovery”Program for Men. It did not feel like other shelters that didn’t care; they treated me like family. Sean Carew, Pastor Steven Gomes, and Dave Horowitz, they are honestly like the dream team. I came to love how the Mission cared for me and treated me like family. They spent a lot of time with me one-on-one making sure that I was doing ok. The classes and counselling really made a difference in my life! The Mission made sure I had whatever I needed. |
The staff drove me back and forth to Massachusetts to visit my children for months; and because of my recovery and help from the Mission, I now have a restored relationship with my kids. I was also was able to get my court cases dismissed from my record! I reconciled my relationship with God, and I now have a true and honest relationship with Him!
I am starting college this fall to become a substance abuse counselor, so I will have the ability to help others just like me. If you are considering donating to the Mission, please don’t doubt your decision at all! The money you give literally goes to change someone’s life just like mine! It is the generous gifts that you give to the Providence Rescue Mission that make a big impact! |
