Community and fellowship have become instrumental in R.J.’s life and recovery.

R.J.’s “addictive personality” was driven by a constant desire to escape. Cigarettes, marijuana, and eventually methamphetamines were the only vehicles with which he could cope with life’s struggles. Unfortunately, over the years, addiction repeatedly unraveled the life R.J. tried to build.

“I had my life together a few times but through the misery of addiction, it ripped my world a part. Each time I relapsed I lost my family and my kids.”

R.J., originally from Texas but hoping for a fresh start, moved to California to live with his dad. However, the arrangement came to an end and R.J. could no longer stay there. With nowhere else to turn, he began sleeping on the streets.

At the height of his addiction, R.J.’s life spiraled further. He spent time in prison and was hospitalized in a mental health facility following a breakdown. Even relocating didn’t bring the relief he hoped for. “I’m in California, a thousand miles away from my kids and fell into the same thing again. I left Texas to get away from that. I’ve now learned that I can’t run from myself, so I carried all of what I was struggling with here with me.”

Everything changed the day R.J. planned to turn himself in to his probation officer after breaking the conditions of his parole. That same day, men’s Program Manager Oscar Corral happened to be onsite. The two connected, and R.J. came to the Mission.

“I felt more relief than you can imagine. This program was a Godsend to me. I was expecting to go in and surrender myself and go to prison,” he said, “but God put Oscar in my life to tell me that He does love me, that there is hope, and that there will always be hope.”

On the drive to the Mission, R.J. and Oscar passed a large billboard that read, “Heaven this way,” with an arrow pointing in the direction they were headed. R.J. believes it was a sign from God, confirming he was finally on the right path.

“I found a faith-based program that is way better than any of the programs that I have heard about. In prison, people talked about programs like they were terrible, like they were just like jail, but this is the most at home, loved, and safe I’ve felt since I left Texas.”
R.J.’s favorite part of the program is participating in Bible studies with the other men. Church and fellowship have become central to his life. “We’re accountable to God first and then each other. I used to think I was all alone but now I have people around me that God has put in my life to show me that isn’t true.”

In August, R.J. was baptized. Looking ahead, he hopes to enter the Transitional Living Program after graduation and eventually work for the Mission. “The fact that this program is financed by people with such generous hearts is amazing. I want to be a part of the very thing that helped me get my sanity and my desire to live back.”