Your support is giving Horace a second chance.

“I totally lost myself… then God brought me here to the Mission.”

Horace’s father abandoned him when Horace was two. With no dad around and a dysfunctional homelife, Horace felt like he never measured up. To cope, he tried drugs and alcohol at age 16.

“Peer pressure was a strong motivator. I had feelings of inadequacy, like I was below everyone around me. Alcohol made me feel more accepted.”

As an adult, Horace managed to work as a truck driver for many years – despite his drinking. Then he had an accident on the job and slowly became addicted to the medication he was prescribed to deal with the pain.

“I started struggling with jobs. Bounced around a lot… became unreliable. It caused problems with my wife and three children. I felt ashamed, so I wouldn’t come home to my family much.”

When Horace became homeless and overdosed, a cousin told him about the Mission.

The moment Horace walked through the doors of the Market Street Mission, his heart transformed.

“Something touched me and I can’t explain it,” he says, smiling. “I feel more at peace than I ever have in my life.”

In our care, Horace rededicated his life to Jesus. The support of his counselor, as well as meetings and chapel services, have helped him rebuild his life on a strong foundation.

“Doing Bible studies is something I never did before. But now it’s something I’ve grown to love.”

Today, Horace serves as an intern at the Mission, sharing his experiences and faith with others. He’s restoring relationships with his family, and they’re amazed by the joy and strength he now has.

“I’m a work in progress. I’m still healing and I know that every day I’m getting stronger. I am at peace.”

Horace is beyond grateful for this second chance in life – and says it’s thanks to the love you’ve shown for a neighbor like him. “I’ve never been in a place like this, so I didn’t realize how people offered their help to the less fortunate. I just want to thank everyone for the many blessings I’ve had here.”

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