Testimonials
Meet LifeChange Program Member Stephen Martin
Stephen came to Bread of Life in March of 2008. The one word he uses to describe his life when he came to the Mission is “hopeless.” Even though Stephen lived on the affluent Eastside of Lake Washington he found himself homeless due to his addictions. His marriage was also failing. He had exhausted all of his own resources. He didn’t know where to turn for help.
Stephen found himself in a cold weather shelter in the basement of a government building in the heart of Seattle. He says, “I was very scared; it wasn’t a pleasant experience.” However, God was looking out for Stephen. He met a Christian friend at the shelter. The next morning this friend led him to the Bread of Life Mission.
Stephen found temporary housing at Bread of Life and a few days later joined our recovery program. Stephen accepted Christ at a very young age but had not been in a right relationship with God for quite some time. He says that when he entered the program “the scales fell from my eyes. I could see clearly again and my hope was restored.”
Stephen says, “I see the importance of respecting and submitting to Godly authority in order to grow spiritually. The foundation of my life is being rebuilt. God has humbled me and gotten my attention. He is helping me become a man of Godly character.”
Stephen also has hope. He has hope for a new future. He has hope that as the foundation of his life is restored, and he becomes the man God intended him to be, his family will be restored as well.
Meet our Heroes Kitchen Manager and Recovery Program Member, Recle Walker.
Recle is an exceptionally talented man. He is originally from Northern Louisiana, where he grew up in a very loving home with wonderful parents. Recle exhibited a strong talent for basketball and played all through his teen years. After high school he was offered scholarships from two different colleges. However, Recle also excelled at getting into trouble. He became addicted to drugs and alcohol during his teen years and this changed the direction of his life. The partying lifestyle and lack of self control led Recle in a different direction than he envisioned as a young man with the world at his feet.
Recle has been trying for several years to overcome his addictive behavior. Since joining our recovery program in February of 2008, he realized that his talent and abilities are both an asset and a liability for him. God has used different circumstances in Recle’s life to help him understand the need to change. Recle says, “I am working very hard to submit to God and become the man He wants me to be. Part of my strategy is to control my tongue. I take to heart the scripture in James chapter 3 that says, if anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to control his whole body.”
Recle desires to serve God fully and has as a few ideas for his future. However, he wants to make sure his goals are in line with God’s will for his life. He firmly believes that as he submits his will to God all of his other needs will be met.
Thank you to all of our supporters. Thank you to all of you who donate your time, energy and finances to allow us to help men like Recle and Stephen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Meet LifeChange Program Graduate and Heroes Staff Member, Mike Walton
Mike is quiet and reserved, and if you only knew the surface facts you might question how he ended up a hurting man, seeking help at the mission. He was raised in a stable two-parent home in a Philadelphia suburb, spent ten years serving in the military, and had a successful career as a professional cook and manager for twelve years.
But underneath his life was steadily being destroyed.
His life-long anger issue often led to brutal fist fights and eventually earned him a bad-conduct discharge from the Navy. His growing cocaine use squandered his money, drove him to stealing, and ruined his relationships.
But there was also the devastating pain of his father’s untimely death, the agony of losing his beloved mother to a painful lung disease, and the death of his closest sister shortly afterward.
Depressed and broke, Mike came to Seattle last summer hoping to find a job and a new start. He learned of our recovery program and made the decision that changed his life.
He admits it’s still hard for him to be close to people because of his pain and loss, but the Life Change program has brought him back again.
“The program is difficult, but fair,” he says. “One of the best things I learned is that God gives everybody a gift and you ‘gotta’ find that gift. With His help I did, and now I’m a changed man.”
Meet LifeChange Program Member, Robert Shepherd
Robert lived in Georgia as a young boy, the third of four children. His father was away much of the time driving a long-haul truck while his mother was at home addicted to heroin and secretly working as a prostitute.
One day his dad arrived home early and discovered Robert’s mom in the act. An ugly scene ensued. In a flurry and without explanation, she grabbed little Robert and headed for St. Louis. He was only seven years old.
For the next three years his mom prostituted in their slum apartment and ignored him. She never fixed a meal, washed his clothes or took care of him. Eventually she didn’t want him anymore and kicked him out.
A local street gang took pity and housed Robert for seven years. He quit school, slept on couches and learned how to steal. But at seventeen he left the gang to find his family.
He could only find his aunt, but when she opened her door and saw him, she cursed vehemently and said, “You’re no longer part of this family!” and slammed the door in his face. He was only a teenager but had lost his family and never heard from them again.
It’s a long story how he came to the mission last December after decades of loneliness, failure and living on the streets. We welcomed him into our Life Change recovery program and now, for the first time in his life, he is free from drugs and alcohol and serving Christ.
Ask him his story and he’ll smile and tell you, “I’m a prodigal son that’s come home.”
Thank you to all of our supporters. Thank you to all of you who donate your time, energy and finances to allow us to help men like Robert and Mike 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
