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Recovery Center Life Stories
Thomas
Eleven years of brawling between Thomas’s parents ended in a hostile split. His mother fled with the five children to her parents’ home. Though he missed his dad terribly, Thomas hoped his new life might heal the scars of his abusive early childhood.
As it turned out, Thomas’s grandmother had a cruel streak. Out of nowhere she would crack him on the back of the head and proclaim him worthless.
The tormented boy would hide from her until his mother came home from work. Then one day Grandma announced that his mother was dead. Thomas wept his heart out. After several grief-stricken hours she told him that she had lied. His mother was not dead. It was just a joke.
Feeling hollow and despondent, not knowing who to trust, Thomas decided that God had forsaken him. At the age of 10, the disillusioned child turned his back on Christ. At 16 he had his first drink of alcohol. It was a welcome escape from family brutality. Not long after that, he joined the Marine Corps where he wanted nothing more than to drink, “party” and erase the past, which only lead to more drinking.
After a few years, Thomas left military service and became a husband and father. He thought raising a family was the key to healing the pains of his past. But Thomas was puzzled by the emptiness he still felt. He didn’t know how to love or fulfill his responsibility to the family. Instead, this confused man began binge drinking to escape the void in his heart. Thomas became more and more depressed and stopped showing up for work. Soon his wife insisted he leave and get help.
Instead of getting help, Thomas abandoned hope. The bushes became his bedroom. Paper and cardboard his bed and alcohol his only comfort. Alcohol poisoning led to seizures, confusion and vomiting, but he didn’t stop drinking. One night, hypothermia overcame his weakened system. He collapsed, unconscious. A stranger found him and called 911. A caring nurse at the hospital recommended he come to CityTeam International.
"There was something unique about the people at CityTeam International,” remembers Thomas. “This place was different."
CityTeam International mentors were patient with this heartbroken man. They helped him unravel the lifetime of tears and fears that held him captive. “I feel grateful to be alive now,” smiles Thomas. “Even my wife notices the change. I see now that God has been faithful to me, even when I turned my back on Him. I want to become a father like that — someone my son can depend on and CityTeam International is showing me how!”
Larry
Larry was in his early teens when his mom died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage. He felt the bottom of his world drop out. Just one year later his dad passed away from liver disease.
Shocked by all this loss, Larry and his sisters wondered who would take care of them. The children were afraid to ask for help, or they might be separated. So they all worked hard to keep their home, buy enough food, and pay the bills. Larry dropped out of school and bottled up his grief.
But their meager earnings just couldn’t cut it. The children were evicted. Larry moved in with a friend, but was caught abusing drugs and alcohol to dull the fear inside. After two years of sobriety in jail, this young man met his wife. Their baby was born early and weighed only one pound. The newborn suffered heart problems, a brain condition, seizures and
difficulty breathing. Again, Larry stuffed his anguish deep inside.
"I see hope now,” Larry smiles. “As I surrender my will to God, He’ll make me the father my son needs."
Reluctant to ask for help, his old addictions resurfaced. He tried to commit suicide. Larry’s wife was concerned. She arranged for Larry to come to CityTeam International for help. He agreed to sit in on some of the classes. That’s where Larry sensed God’s presence and voluntarily enrolled in our Men’s Recovery Program. Today this grateful father is rebuilding his life with God’s leading.
* Names have been changed to protect our client's privacy.
Our hope is that you and others will partner with us in transforming the lives of these men. Thanks for your help!
