Jeremy’s Success Story

I grew up in Vernal, Utah, where life revolved around family, hard work, and the oil fields. Like a lot of teenagers, I made some poor choices early on. I started smoking marijuana in high school, and before long I was kicked out of school. At the time, it didn’t seem too bad because there were always good-paying jobs in the Uintah Basin and I went straight to work in the oil fields.

The work was demanding. Long shifts and endless hours were part of the job. Unfortunately, drug use was common, and I eventually started using methamphetamine to keep up with the pace. At first, I convinced myself it was helping me work harder and longer. Looking back now, I can see it was the beginning of a long road that nearly cost me everything.

One day I came home from work and found police officers surrounding my house. I had no idea what was going on. That’s when I learned a family member had been selling drugs out of our home without me knowing it. Everything changed in an instant. My marriage fell apart, and our children were placed in foster care and later adopted.

Losing my children (I have six, including stepchildren) has been one of greatest regrets of my life. As painful as that has been, I’ve also come to realize they were given stable homes where they could grow up safely. That doesn’t erase the hurt, but it gives me peace knowing they were cared for when I couldn’t provide what they needed.

After my marriage ended in 2014, my life became a cycle of addiction, homelessness, jail, and trying to start over. Sometimes I found work. Sometimes I found myself back behind bars. I never stayed on my feet for very long before drugs pulled me back down.

Then life hit me with two more devastating losses.

My dad passed away in 2018. I relapsed afterward because I didn’t know how to deal with the grief. A few years later, in 2022, my mom passed away. She was my best friend. Losing her sent me even deeper into addiction because, once again, drugs seemed easier than facing the pain.

After my mom died, I bought a converted shuttle bus that someone had turned into a tiny home. I parked it wherever I could and tried to make a life for myself while working overnight stocking shelves and building displays at Walmart in Salt Lake. From the outside, it probably looked like I was getting by. Inside, I was still carrying around a lot of pain.

On May 12, 2025, I was arrested again on a drug-related charge. When I was released on July 3, 2025, I had nowhere to go. I had stayed at the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake before during periods of homelessness, so I knew where to turn.

This time was different and I entered the New Life Program.

One of the biggest turning points for me was working through the Genesis Process. It helped me understand not only my addiction but also who God really is. I learned that instead of trying to carry every burden myself, I could surrender my life to Him. I discovered that God doesn’t abandon broken people. He restores them.

I had attended Calvary Chapel in Salt Lake off and on for years, but I had never fully committed my life to Christ. Then one Sunday, someone asked if I wanted to be baptized that afternoon. Without hesitation, I said yes. On November 24, 2025, I was baptized and became a born-again Christian. Since that day, I’ve learned to trust that God will help me each day.

The Mission also gave me opportunities to serve others. During the education phase of the program, I worked as part of the Mission’s security team. My job was to help keep our homeless guests safe, but it became much more than that.

Twice I had to administer Narcan to people who had overdosed in front of the Rescue Mission.  Years earlier I had worked as an EMT, so I knew what to do while talking with 911 dispatchers. By God’s grace, both of those individuals survived.

One of the greatest joys has been encouraging other men who are where I once was. I’ve had the privilege of talking with several homeless men and convincing them to give the New Life Program a chance. Today, some of those same men are still in the program, growing in their faith and rebuilding their lives.

After completing the employment phase of the program, I found work and began saving money so I could return home to Vernal. In July 2026, that dream became a reality.

Today I’m back in the Uintah Basin, closer to my family than I’ve been in years. My oldest son, who is now an adult, and I talk almost every day. Rebuilding that relationship has been one of the greatest blessings God has given me. I also have a wonderful fiancée who stood beside me through this journey. Together we’ve put a down payment on a fixer-upper home, will be married soon, and look forward to building a future together.

I have a job opportunity as a welder, helping to fabricate the large oil tanks used to store oil and gas throughout the Basin. It feels good to be coming home with a new purpose and a new outlook on life.

The Rescue Mission didn’t just help me get sober. They helped me find Jesus Christ. They gave me hope when I had none, surrounded me with people who believed in me, and reminded me that my past didn’t have to determine my future.

To everyone who supports the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, thank you. Because of your generosity, I have been given another chance, as well as others like me. You helped me find recovery, rebuild relationships with my family, and begin a new life. I will always be grateful for the hope you helped restore.