Daniel’s Success Story

For much of my life, I felt disconnected from my family. While I did not care for drugs and alcohol, growing up in Nephi, Utah, my family was very much into drugs and alcohol. I believed I needed to follow that same path to fit in, but I am thankful that God eventually led me to the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake.

I grew up getting in trouble and, along with some of my family members, spent years in prison. I was diagnosed with several mental health conditions and prescribed numerous medications designed to help. This most recent time I was incarcerated, I remember thinking, “This is not who I want to be.” I cried out to God, asking Him to change me.

It was about the time I was released from prison that my teenage daughter, who is now 18, contacted me. Years went by without us having a relationship, and I carried that loss with me. As someone who spent multiple years incarcerated, I had not been there for her, but she said she wanted to have a relationship with me.

I believe God sent her back into my life to show me there was still hope. He was answering my prayer for help and reminding me that I shouldn’t give up. At the time, I was in Nebraska. After reconnecting with my daughter, I left and came back to Utah since she lived in Logan. My journey back to Utah brought me to the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, since when I arrived from Nebraska, I really had nowhere else to go.

I remember coming to the Mission to get something to eat. I saw the “Jesus Saves” sign, and I knew it was somewhere I could be safe. Then I learned about the New Life Program. It was a big commitment to join the 13-month program. But I knew that if I really wanted a new life, and reconnection with my daughter, I had to make changes. I couldn’t keep doing the same things and expect a different result, so I committed to the program.

When I did, I realized this place was different. There is something about walking into the chapel at the Mission. It feels calm. It feels like everyone is there for the same reason. The Mission is a safe place to heal, and the Bible studies and chapel services brought me closer to God. I began to understand that sobriety wasn’t just about stopping drinking. It was about a new life.

Having work therapy responsibilities in the Mission’s kitchen opened my eyes to the truth that God could use me to help others. I used to be selfish. I was all about myself and what I wanted. But working in the kitchen taught me to be humble and showed me ways I could bless people who were hungry and hurting.

This attitude change was important when I graduated to the employment phase of the New Life Program. When I entered the employment phase of the Mission, a fellow New Life Program member helped me get a job at a Maverik convenience store, where I work to this day. It is a good job with benefits, and I am saving money to buy an e-bike so that when I move into the Mission’s transitional housing unit, the Freedom House, next month, I can make the short commute to my workplace. Maybe most significantly is that I love working and helping people who come into the store.

I have also learned how important communication is. I used to run from difficult situations. When I wasn’t happy, I would start drinking because I was accustomed to disorganization and addiction. Another blessing is that I have been able to, with my doctor’s support, stop taking all my mental health medications. Instead, I use other techniques, such as talk therapy, prayer, and Bible reading, to address my spiritual and emotional needs.

I’m learning to have joy and satisfaction in God-ordained areas of my life. I no longer run away from difficult situations; I can talk about them. I can communicate with people. That’s a tool I’ve learned at the Rescue Mission that I will use for the rest of my life.

Through the Mission, I’ve also found friends and a community. Someone who volunteers in the Mission’s kitchen told me he attended a local church and offered to pick me up and take me to church. That act of kindness led me to a Bible-believing church community where I have continued growing in my relationship with God.

Today, my relationship with my daughter is strong. She lives in Logan, Utah, and she texts me every day before I go to work. She once told me that if I was going to keep drinking, she couldn’t be part of that life. Now she can see the changes in me. I want to be stable and eventually have a home where she can visit and I can be the father she needs.

As I get closer to graduating the New Life Program, I have mixed emotions. I’m excited about what comes next, but I’m also sad to leave. The people here have shown me what Jesus-centered love is. They listened, taught me biblical truth, and gave real-world answers to my problems when I was ready to hear them. That’s what a true family does.

Thank you so much for supporting the Mission. Without your help, I would not have a relationship with God, my daughter, or a job. I would likely be back in prison or jail, or living on the streets. Your support has meant the world to me and my family. Thank you!