Meet David

...the challenges he faced would ultimately require a Master’s Touch.

In and out of jails for years, David’s drinking was getting worse and people close to him wondered what would it take for him to change.

May 21, 2018 | Stories of Hope

David had a big problem . . . alcohol. No matter how hard he tried to break the chains of his addiction, it looked like he might never be able to.

In and out of jails for years, his drinking just continued to worsen. Then one night things really escalated. The final straw occurred after an altercation with his sister. The police were called and he was forced to leave his parents’ home.

In that drunken fog, the memory of his sister and the painfully disappointed faces of his parents were still fresh in his mind as he recalled the police escorting him to the squad car.

In that moment, as David was taken to jail, it finally hit him. The sudden realization that, this time, all of his bridges were burned and no one, not even his parents, would be there to bail him out.

But in the depths of despair, in a lonely jail cell… he met Chaplain Ray.

After hearing David’s story and his cry for help, Chaplain Ray said, “I’ve got just the place for you.” The next day, David received some information from Chaplain Ray, including a letter and a brochure for Wayside Cross Ministries.

The moment he first opened that letter, David knew Wayside was the right place for him and he entered the Master’s Touch program in July of 2015.

“I remember that day clearly. . .”

Today, he credits his journey of transformation to encountering the holiness of God and learning about his own depravity through the Bible-based, Christ-centered teachings that the Master’s Touch program offers.

“I know everything was sovereignly orchestrated, starting with my probationary phase that led me to Wayside, and the daily chapel teachings.”

David had a new outlook on life, and his transformation didn’t go unnoticed.

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. ~Nahum 1:7

Recovering at Wayside also gave him a chance to rekindle a lost passion . . . cooking. “I love the creativity and the opportunity to be useful again.”

Today, David leads a productive life working on staff as Kitchen Supervisor at Wayside Cross. He is responsible for feeding 110 men, three times a day, and they’ve never missed a meal! David does his job with passion and joy and gives all the glory to God. He is grateful for his new beginning, but he is especially grateful for God’s grace and mercy, and the restoration of his relationship with Jesus Christ.

David’s transformation has led him to a life of peace and contentment, feelings he never knew existed in his previous struggles with alcohol and overconfidence.

As we chatted, David pulled out the letter that first led him here to Wayside, as the tears welled up…

He now knows that, without surrendering his life to Jesus Christ, and without the support of caring people like you, this change, his miracle, would not have happened.

If you enjoyed this story and want to learn about other lives that were changed, click: Stories of Hope & Recovery

If you know someone in need of a safe place to recover and rebuild their lives call Wayside Cross Ministries’ Lifespring Center for Women or Master’s Touch for Men at (630) 892-4239.

Master’s Touch Ministry offers men like David restoration and recovery from brokenness and addiction and is just one of six ministries dedicated to serving Christ through His people in need. Now a full-time employee as our Kitchen Supervisor, David is helping lead others through that journey of transformation. Join us in this ministry of helping to transform lives.

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