Nick’s Story

“Before I came to Hope House, I was completely living for myself. I was hopeless and had no direction. I didn’t know what to do with my life or what God wanted from me. I grew up in a family of alcoholics, so it was normal for me to see everyone at a family event drunk. I thought that’s what people do, so I self-medicated with alcohol because I didn’t like how I felt or where my life was heading. It was easier to get drunk and black out. I didn’t see the point of anything, and I did whatever I wanted to do, even at the expense of others.

When I was in jail, my lawyer told me about Program Living. I read the application, and I really liked how it said the program helped men become healthy in mind, body, and soul. I had been neglecting all three, so I thought it was a good place for me to go. Since being in Program Living, I’ve realized that I really was an alcoholic and really did have a problem. When we learned about addict behavior in recovery classes, it described me perfectly. I was in denial before. I also realized that my theology was completely wrong. I wasn’t saved, and I believe that if I died before coming to Hope House, I would be in Hell.

God convicted me that I wasn’t saved through Hope House. He showed me how many times he prevented me from dying from my poor decision-making. There must have been a reason he saved me from death so many times, so it was time to get my life together. The book of James teaches that faith without works is dead, and I didn’t want to have a dead faith. I didn’t have any good works before I came here. I was my own God and did what I wanted. Through the program, I was able to reflect on how much of a burden I had placed on my family. I hadn’t realized that before, or if I did, I didn’t care. That really changed my outlook.

I started working through New Leaf, and I now work full-time with New Leaf. I think it’s awesome that we get to serve the community through New Leaf and do work that has tangible results. It’s good for building humility and teaches us to take pride in our work and do the best we can. I have also enjoyed doing CrossFit. I played sports growing up, but stopped after high school. That’s also when I started feeling depressed and drinking. Exercising helps me work through my emotions, so I can be more rational. I plan to continue doing CrossFit after I graduate.

I want to enroll in Southern Seminary next semester. I don’t know what God wants me to do yet, but he’s given me a strong desire to know theology better and to be able to read the Bible in the original Greek. I’ve been disobedient my whole life, so I’m just trying to be obedient now. I want to live one hundred percent for God and stop being lukewarm.”