Charlie G - Becoming the Best I Can Be

Charlie had worked a variety of jobs, doing whatever would earn him enough money to satisfy his craving for drugs and alcohol. His addiction finally led to jail time and then to homelessness. His parole officer gave Charlie an ultimatum: either find a treatment program or spend more time in jail.

So Charlie came to the Kansas City Rescue Mission and entered our Christian Development Program for recovery. He managed to finish the program, but once out on his own, he returned to his old circle of friends and resumed his old habits.

Nine months later he found his way back to the Mission and was readmitted to the Christian Development Program. “The first time I went to the Mission because someone told me I had to,” Charlie says. “But I came back when I realized I needed to turn my life over to God and allow Him to direct me.”

Charlie completed the program a second time and moved into our Transitional Living Center. “I learned that God didn’t want me to be anyone other than who I am, but He did want me to be the best person I could be.”

Today Charlie is married, active in his church and has his own remodeling business. He frequently hires men in the Mission’s recovery program, helping to give them the same chance for a fresh start that he had.