NEWSLETTERS

Thank you for giving Miguel a life-changing gift this Christmas!

When Miguel and his wife got divorced, his drinking spiraled out of control. Social drinking was a normal part of life in his family growing up, but it wasn’t until his marriage fell apart and he was separated from his kids that alcohol became a real problem.

“My ex-wife and I owned a house, and I had to move out. I had nowhere to go,” he says. He eventually moved back to his parents’ house, but soon after, they left the country – and Miguel was left alone, managing his father’s liquor store.

“The alcohol was free, so I was just drinking all day,” he explains.

He tried attending rehabs and short-term recovery programs, but he always fell back into drinking again. When he ended up in the hospital, his family knew he needed more help. His sister recommended he try a long-term recovery program, so he called the Mission to see how we could help.

Miguel was excited to learn about our Christian-based addiction recovery Life Change Program. He began the program at the Market Street Mission – Jersey Shore in Asbury Park, and then transferred up to our Mission location in Morristown to participate in work therapy and life-skills classes to finish out the program.

By working with a counselor and attending Bible studies, Miguel found himself growing and changing – he began developing patience, deepening his peace, and strengthening his relationship with God.

“I was hopeless before I came here, but now I see myself as someone who can go back out there and use my skills to be successful in life,” he says. “The Mission gave me a deeper relationship with Jesus, and I’m very thankful for that.”

Thanks to your prayers and support, Miguel graduated from our program and became a Mission intern, working at our Thrift Store and serving as a mentor to other men in our program.

“Initially, I joined the internship with a sense of duty and a desire to help others, but I quickly realized that this journey was also about my own transformation,” he reflects. “Through daily interactions with the men at the Mission, I saw firsthand the power of faith and perseverance. I felt God’s presence guiding me, especially during challenging times. My patience, empathy, and understanding deepened, and I learned to trust in God’s plan more fully. I also became more aware of my own strengths and weaknesses, which helped me grow in humility and reliance on God’s grace.”

As an intern, Miguel was able to use his own experiences to walk alongside others pursuing recovery from addiction – and he has strengthened his own faith in the process, too: “Seeing individuals come into the program broken and struggling, and then watching them gradually rebuild their lives through faith and hard work, is nothing short of miraculous. These stories of redemption and recovery reinforce my belief in the power of God’s love and the Mission’s work,” he says.

After serving as an intern for two years, Miguel was hired to work in the dispatch office at our Thrift Store in Morristown, and we are thrilled to have him on the team!

This Thanksgiving and Christmas, Miguel is celebrating with joy and peace and is sharing his hope with the people around him – thanks to your compassion and care that opened the door to his new life.

“Now I can further contribute to the Mission’s efforts to provide a safe and supportive environment for those in need. This role is a testament to my dedication to the Mission’s values and my desire to serve God by helping others on their path to recovery.”

To read the rest of this issue of Market Street Mission Messenger, click here.