Meet John

John remembers his childhood as a series of contrasts. Like his mom, who was an alcoholic… and his dad, who was overprotective to try to compensate. Or a wonderful childhood spent playing outside… and a heartbreaking experience of addiction as he became a teenager.

When John was about 13 years old, time with friends took a darker turn. “I wanted to do it all… I was drinking and using drugs,” he says.

He spent years trapped in a cycle of drinking and addiction. Nothing was able to break through and convince him to change until he was arrested for DUI and locked up in a special cell for people who were suicidal.

“My self-confidence was really low. I had lost jobs and relationships… I didn’t have anything.”

But when John walked through the doors of Waterfront Rescue Mission, he realized he was right where God wanted him to be.

“I knew that if I didn’t come to Waterfront, I was gonna fall. I told them I know God has me here and has better things for me.”

At Waterfront, John was willing to put in the hard work to overcome addiction and transform his life. 

“I had to prove I was wanting to change… to give my life to Christ. Because it’s not just about changing, it’s about repentance and redirection,” he says.

He even earned a nickname, Smiley, because he was always happy and thankful to be among people who cared and invested in his recovery. 

Today, John is celebrating four years of sobriety. He has his own home, a good job, and the love of his fiancée. He is a proud dad of three girls and loving every minute of the life he has built.

This Easter, John is experiencing God’s gift of new life! Thank you for empowering him to follow Christ’s calling in his life. “Having a sober mind is powerful – especially when you’ve got God on your side. Now I’m who God created me to be.”