While in program, Job fully surrendered his life to God. He was even baptized!

Growing up, Job didn’t know that the “aggressive” treatment he and his siblings endured wasn’t normal. “We thought it was okay to have parents like that, because we never had parents that weren’t like that. It was a very stressful journey in my life,” he said. “As a kid, I thought the other kids were faking their joy, were lying about their happiness and the way their parents loved them, but as I got older, I realized that they were genuine. Their parents had real care and love for their kids. My parents were the total opposite.”

At just 9 years old, Job began stealing beer from his stepfather. By age 12, he was already using methamphetamines. “I was an alcoholic at a young age. I became defiant, secretive. I would sneak out of the house and hang out with all the older guys my brother did.”

During his adolescence, Job described his drug and alcohol use as “easy” and “casual,” but as he grew, so did his addiction. “I started becoming very violent,” he said. “As my addiction got worse, I started (using) methamphetamines hard. I started drinking 20 beers a day, Monday through Sunday.”

Eventually, Job found himself homeless and hopeless. “I was just lost and I felt like I was going to end up dying. I had a lot of hurt, felt a lot of betrayal. Drugs took my family, my son, and my spirit. My soul was just lost.”
While incarcerated, Job joined a prison gang, but everything changed when he began attending a Bible study. Through prayer, he left the gang and surrendered his life to God. The prayer leader shared information about RMA SFV, and upon his release, Job came to the Mission.

Adjusting to life in the program was not easy. “I never had anyone love on me before. When I first got here, I wouldn’t speak to anybody. I didn’t want anybody to talk to me, touch me or even look at me.”

Over time, Job began to heal and take responsibility for his own growth. “I’ve learned now I’m only in control of myself. I have to focus on fixing myself. I had to surrender everything that happened to me, everything that hurt my heart, to God.”

Recently, Job was baptized at the Mission—a public declaration of his transformed life. Looking ahead, he is hopeful and grounded in faith. “After graduation, I want to advance as a man of God. I want to be a Kingdom builder like the staff here,” Job said. “As far as a career, my goal is to become a train engineer. But I know sometimes my goals might not be what God has in store, so wherever He has me, I’ll be happy.”