Meet Harold, a man who has overcome addiction and found hope and purpose through Christ at the Modesto Gospel Mission. Today, he's a new man, sharing the word of God, working and serving his community. Let's celebrate his journey and his inspiring commitment to serve God and others.
"As a child, I always felt like I was missing something. I was constantly trying to fit in where I didn't belong and ended up smoking weed for the first time at the age of five. By the time I was six, I started drinking. I was bullied in school, and my home life was sad because my parents were dealing with their own addictions. I found myself hanging out with the wrong crowd, and by the time I turned 18, I was using meth. Things only got worse when I started using heroin at the age of 23, which led me to overdose five times. I was trying to numb the pain inside me with drugs and alcohol, but I always believed in God.
One day, I attended The Rock Church with a friend, and I followed him here to the Mission. He has changed my identity and turned my life around in so many ways. Now, I take my time to preach the word of God and reach out to people at the bus depot, praying for them. Through the New Life Program, I got a job with Workforce Development, and I serve at the warehouse and receiving dock. A member of the church even gifted me a car. Today, I love myself, and I have a lot of people cheering me on.
The life I live now is very different from how I used to live, and I'm at a point where I can help my family, especially after the loss of my brother. God has me right where I'm supposed to be, and I'm here to serve Him."
- Harold
