Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night can stop Austin from his appointed rounds as a mail carrier. That same commitment can be said of his relationship with Jesus Christ.

Austin received God’s gift of salvation not long after he came to the Good News Men’s Shelter homeless, unemployed, addicted to drugs and alcohol and spiritually disillusioned. Now, about two years later, he’s kicked his harmful habits, moved into an apartment and landed a job with the U.S. Postal Service. What’s more, Austin knows he’ll get to spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus.

“It was amazing,” said the 28-year-old Indianapolis native of his time at Good News. “There was such camaraderie with all the staff. They were there for me when I had nowhere to go. Good News was my home and I’ll never forget it.”

Unlike many of the men residing in our shelter who have little to no religious upbringing, Austin grew up attending an apostolic church pastored by his father. He was taught that living a good life and avoiding the world were essential to salvation. But when his family and church split over theological differences, Austin walked away. He swore he would never darken the door of a church again.

Instead, Austin turned to Buddhism, hoping it could provide the answers to life’s questions. But, “I found Buddha couldn’t do anything for me, either,” he said. As so often happens when man’s religion fails, Austin found solace in drugs and booze. His substance abuse became so bad he enrolled in a treatment center in 2019. Three years later, with no source of income or place to call home, Austin came to Good News.

“I broke down when I got there,” Austin remembered. “I came with an open heart and open mind and leaned into the resources they had there. I got back into the Word through the Bible studies and chapel services every day and I made a positive change.” A change grounded in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

While at Good News, Austin earned a license to write life and health insurance policies. With his spiritual life in order and some money in his pocket from his insurance job, Austin moved in with a male friend. He was making good money, but business wasn’t consistent and Austin needed a job earning a regular paycheck. He applied for, and was accepted into, the Postal Service careers program. After three months of training Austin was given his own carrier routes and postal truck. He delivers mail six days a week to residences and businesses in downtown Indianapolis.

Even though he’s back on his own Austin still has ties to Good News. He faithfully attends the same church as his Good News counselor and is an active member in a men’s fellowship and accountability group. Austin has been involved in church outreach ministries as varied as auto maintenance service for single mothers, building a deck for a visually impaired church member and roof repair for another family.

Austin also wants to play a larger role in the life of his daughter, who turns three years old in August. He’s working through the court system for joint custody with the mother, a former live-in girlfriend. After years of confusion, addictions and mistakes, Austin’s life is stable and secure, thanks to God and help from Good News.

“I don’t believe in coincidence but things just started falling into place for me when I went there,” he said. “I’m standing up on my own two feet again, and I’m in it for the long haul.”