Sober Living: Ross' Story

"As a child, I was mentally and physically abused. I was full of fear and never felt like I was living up to what other people wanted me to be. I found alcohol and drugs and thought they were the solution to my problems, but that solution turned into the problem. Since then, I’ve been in and out of jail, psych wards, and recovery centers. I was introduced to recovery in 2009, and I started to seek the Lord and get involved at church. I even started to teach at a rehab and stayed sober for over three years.

In that time, my son died because of alcoholism, and two of my friends committed suicide because of alcoholism. I blamed it all on God. That became my excuse to be vengeful toward God, and I started drinking and using drugs again. I was slowly killing myself. Looking back, it was the best thing that happened to me because I got so low that I finally reached out to God again. I was admitted into a detox facility in Frankfort, and I started asking God for guidance.

I was referred to another treatment center in Bowling Green. When it was time for my discharge, my case worker gave me a list of sober living houses, but they all required a bunch of money to walk through the door. I told her I didn’t have any money and didn’t know what else to do. She gave me another list, and Hope House was on that list. Praise God. I called and told Jon my story, said I really needed some structure, but I wouldn’t have any money until a certain date. He said, 'Can you be here at noon tomorrow?' I knew right away that this is where the Creator wanted me to be.

I’ve been here five months, and I’ve found a church home at Christ Fellowship. I’ve found structure, and I was even hired as a transportation associate to help with the Ready to Work Shuttle. Now, I’m a manager at the Sober Living house, too. It’s amazing to look at where I came from. Sometimes it’s unbelievable. But with God, all things are possible. Now I’m free from trying to please other people, and I want to keep strengthening my relationship with the Lord."

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