About 4 years ago Chris was dropped off at our Men’s Shelter doors by the sister he’d been living with. They both knew Chris needed help with his crippling alcoholism. His addiction started in earnest after he was blindsided by his wife’s affair.

“We never worried about money. I had a great mechanic job and she was an accountant. Our kids never worried about anything; they always had full stomachs. We had nice cars and a new house. But she cheated on me and we got divorced.” 

Chris was drinking excessively after his divorce and his involvement in a Los Angeles death-metal band only encouraged his reliance on alcohol to deal with his problems. Chris says, “I drank like a rock star, but it catches up to you. I never did drugs, I saw it kill my friend and I did not want that in my own life.” After his job let him go, Chris moved in with a girlfriend/prostitute who ended up leaving him. This breakup tipped Chris over the edge into a full-blown alcohol addiction.

“It was beer morning to night, all the time. I chugged it. I wouldn’t let anyone help me either. My pride got in the way. Pride makes you say you don’t need help while you’re sitting there broke and eating noodles.” 

Eventually Chris felt he needed to be closer to family. He moved to Indianapolis to live with his sister, who was trying to help him get his life back on track. He also had a concerned Christian friend who had been telling Chris along the way about his need for a Savior that would give him new life. Though there was much resistance, Chris finally responded and gave his heart to Jesus! But he continued to struggle with alcohol addiction. Soon after his salvation, Chris’ sister told him he needed to move out and go to a place where he could find the help he really needed. He didn’t like it but, with no other options, he came to Good News and moved into our Men’s Shelter. The accountability of the program immediately helped Chris move past his need for beer and then the Word of God began to have its cleansing effect.  Now Chris regularly attends church and has become a quiet, happy man. He often greets people with a smile and works hard to tell others about Christ.

“Good News has kept me accountable. Now the biggest part of my life is Christ and every day I try to share Him with everybody. Now I’m just being patient, waiting for God to open doors. I just need to be patient and loyal to what I’m supposed to do. I try to tell other guys that, to just wait and let God and Good News help you. Some of them listen, some of them don’t; they just go back to that same lifestyle of being broke and hungry.”

Chris was a HUGE help working in our Small Parts Assembly building and was one of the main characters featured in our “Wrecked to Redeemed” video. He successfully worked through our recovery program and was able to buy a car and find a stable welding job. This steady job, coupled with his faith in Christ and a renewed self-sufficiency, has allowed Chris to move out of our Shelter and into his own apartment!

Thanks to the support of faithful partners, we are able to invest in men like Chris so they can find hope even in the darkest of circumstances. Please join us in praying for Chris as he enjoys his new home and independence! While we are glad he has made this step, his kindness and hard work will be missed around our campus.