When I was 14 years old it was the cool thing to drink and do drugs. Little did I know at this early age I was developing habits that would later proof to be devastating to my future. This life long struggle of using drugs and alcohol continued into my later teens right through my twenties.

It wasn't until I had a son that I decided to stop using drugs, but as a result my alcohol consumption increased compounding my problems of alcoholism. Alcohol contributed to the break up of me and my family. With all humility, I started looking for help. AA was my first stop.

After a year at AA I was able to control my alcohol consumption to a certain point, but my lifestyle was still not what I would call acceptable. Needless to say the company of friends I was still keeping while trying to stay dry was not helping the situation.

I continued to drink only socially, but I slowly progressed back into old habits of drinking more frequently. I began missing more and more work time and family functions spending less and less time with my son. This went on for a number of years.

The people who cared most about me lost all their trust and confidence in me. The hardest days were not seeing my son and knowing what I could have done different to avoid all this.

Now as man in my mid thirties I knew that if I was ever going to get my life and son back it was time to get serious and deal with my alcohol problem.

I thank God for drawing me to get the help I needed from Open Door Mission. I entered their Christian Life program in January of 2004 and successfully graduated on October 3rd.

For the first time in a long, long time I feel like life is brand new for me. Old things have past away, all things have become new. My future is in God's hands now. By far, the best hands that I have ever put myself in.

I have a renewed commitment not just to myself, but my son. I know I can't make up for all the lost years in just a few short months, but with God's help I am going to redeem the time I have left in this life and be the man and father to my son God would have me to be one day at a time.

-AJ

Dear Supporters of the Open Door Mission,

I am a graduate of the Mission 's Christian Life Recovery Program. I would like to tell you about myself and my testimony. I am 27 years old, single, and without children. My grandparents, who strongly believed and lived for the Lord Jesus Christ, raised me in Williamson, NY. At a young age I gave my life to Jesus Christ, but didn't make him the Lord of my life. As I grew older I became very prideful, rebellious, stiff-necked, wild and curious about the wrong things in life. My mother and father have always engaged in some type of drug and alcohol use. Consequently, I followed after the same passions and patterns. I followed after bad company, made very bad life -threatening choices and decisions. I quit everything positive and good. I neglected and forsook God's Word, my grandparents' guidance, direction, and discipline, my teachers' influence, my counselors, recruiters from Xerox who tried to work with me and my Christian foster parents who tried really hard to help me succeed. All these people were placed in my life by God to warn me about a path in life ordained to misery, anguish, pain, devastation, and destruction.

Being stiff-necked and self-righteous got me on a path that nearly destroyed me. I followed drug dealers down to Scranton, PA and sold their drugs, which landed me in prison. It was my first criminal conviction and I received a two year sentence. I was released only to try another drug, crack cocaine and it tore my life apart for eight years. I stole, sold whatever I could get my hands on, and became suicidal. I was a complete mess. I realized that everything people had so desperately warned me to stay away from had come true. I was broken and all done.

It was at that time God planted a seed in a dear brother in Christ and through him I came to the Open Door Mission in September of 2001. While going through their Christian Life Recovery Program, I began seeking the Lord Jesus Christ and He rescued me. I didn't successfully complete the program the first time around, but God's mercy and grace brought me safely back six months later. Thanks to the love of the Lord Jesus Christ and the prayers and support of many , on July 20th of 2003 I graduated from the Mission 's Christian Life Recovery Program.

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. One particular passage of scripture that comes to mind in all my gratitude is found in the book of St. Matthew 25:31-46. If you have time to read it, please do. Here at the Mission we usually have milk with our dinner. It makes me think to myself that your love, aid and support as a donor of the Mission is the "milk" that has nourished me and my fellow brothers to make a better way of life. You've provided us with not just a handout, but a hand up. Although I may never meet most of you personally, you'll always have a place in my life and heart.

Before I became physically ill you would either find me living on the streets or doing jail time. While in jail for a suspended driver's license I had lost everything I owned including my house and everything in it.

Soon after I found myself battling several life threatening diseases, which I tried to overcome through increased prescription drug use. After a brief stay in the hospital I was released, but still more dead than alive physically, mentally and spiritually.

Months later I was introduced to the open door mission crisis housing center. At the mission they gave me food, warm clothes and a bed. At their daily chapel services I soon found out what was missing in my life and what I needed to do to change my situation. That change was in the form of accepting Jesus Christ as my lord and savior.

Soon after that decision I entered the mission's Christian life recovery program. Within months during my stay at the mission I began to experience god's miracle working power in my life. Over time my physical condition had slowly improved for the better and after successfully completing the mission recovery program, I graduated on February 27 th.

I would like to first thank everyone at the mission who showed me such compassion and kindness through the program, especially to the director Ron Fox for unselfish works and to the dedicated staff who give their all everyday.

Last, but most importantly, I would like to thank god who has helped me to understand that all things are possible to those who believe in his name and have faith in his son.

I am now trusting god for continued improvements in my health and for a brighter future in my new life as a Christian.

In 1975, while employed with Sears Roebuck Company, I lost my job due to a drinking problem. I was collecting welfare only to support my serious drinking and drug additions. I was married in 1986. With very little money left at the end of each month I managed to pay my rent, but only for a time. We ultimately lost our apartment and I began living in the streets while also staying at the Men's Shelter at Open Door Mission for lodging and meals. This cycle repeated itself up until 1997. It was at this point that I applied for the Mission 's Christian Life Recovery Program and became a short-term resident of the Mission .

Approximately one year later I graduated from the program and stayed on as an intern employee. I worked at the Mission for thirteen months clean from drugs and alcohol before a relapse. When the Mission put me on probation for my bad behavior I decided to leave and move back with my wife. The cycle of moving back to live with my wife and the use of drugs repeated itself a number of times. Finally in 2002 I made a steadfast commitment with no turning back to complete the Christian Life Recovery Program a second time and to graduate.

On Sunday, August 17th, after almost 30 years of bad decisions, my life has been transformed. If not for the love, patience and compassion of the Open Door Mission during all these years of my life, I don't know that I would even be alive today.

Thank God for the Mission who taught me about the love of Jesus Christ and rescued me out of my destructive lifestyle.

Before I ever came to the Open Door Mission I was an active drug addict, alcoholic, a liar and a cheat. I would often visit the Mission for meals and shelter, but I really didn't know that much about the organization. It wasn't until I was introduced to their Christian Life Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program that I found out the Mission was a whole lot more than a place for a hot meal and a warm bed. This was a huge organization serving the community in more ways than I ever realized offering not only food and shelter, but also substance abuse programs to men, free clothing to families and assistance to the elderly.

Eventually, I applied for their Christian Life Program and was accepted. Without a clue as to what I was getting into, a new and different kind of life began for me on that day. In just a weeks time I came to a full understanding of the root to all my past problems. I needed God in my life. With that realization I became a confessing born-again Christian. It was then that I began seeing my life and all of its problems from whole new perspective. The program allowed me to make the necessary life changes that were needed. It taught me how to make better choices that I never thought were possible.

Compared to just one year ago, I have had several life-changing experiences. There were situations that I never thought could ever be resolved, but restoration has come. I have made wonderful friendships with Mission staff, pastors and just plain folks that have shown me love in ways I haven't experienced in many years and in some ways never at all. my life today is so completely different. I can honestly say if it were not for the Mission I would either be in jail or worse yet, dead without eternal life."I've not only seen and felt miracles and changes in my own life, but also in many other people that have come to the Mission for help. There have been nights I have assisted in the soup kitchen when it looked as though there wouldn't be enough food to go around, but then the multitudes would come in to be fed and there would be just enough food. There always seemed to be just enough beds too for those who needed a place for the night. Amazing!!!

During my time at Open Door Mission I've learned not only how loving and dedicated the staff is, but also how important volunteers and donors are to the future success of the Mission and that without their daily support, Rochester would be a lonely, cold and hungry place for many people, myself included.

After losing a job I held for fifteen years, I lost my home and car. I turned to a life on the streets living each day out of a bottle of booze. I was desperate for help especially because of the fact that I had just received my second DWI offense. While staying at the Mission 's men's shelter, I met someone who was already in the Christian Life substance abuse program. I was strongly encouraged to inquire about getting some help for my alcohol addiction. The next day I went to the Caring Center to meet with their program chaplain, Ron Fess, he invited me to pray and ask Jesus Christ to come into my life and forgive me of my past and to help me start my life over. That same day I was accepted into their program. Upon my completion of the six-month Christian Life program I was offered a full time position at the Mission . For me the most valuable lesson I've learned at the Mission over the last couple of years was learning about God's grace and love and that all things are possible when you trust in Jesus Christ. I thank God for the compassion of the folks at the Mission like Ron Fess, who gave me the chance to start over. Today, I am still sober and serving the Lord at the Mission knowing that if God was able to turn my life around, He can certainly do it for anyone who is willing to ask for His help.

I first came to know Jesus in 1982 while working in the defense industry. Some of my co-workers had a prayer meeting every day in the parking lot prior to work. It took the more than six months of praying for me before I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to give my life over to Christ. Before then, I lead the life of a stereotypical biker... drugs, alcohol, violence and crime. I don't believe in going into details about this portion of my life because I feel it falsely glamorizes it and in no way glorifies the Lord. Let me just say that I was either drunk and/or high every night and spent more than one evening in jail. I followed the Lord for several years before I found myself backsliding. I guess I had never totally given myself to the Lord. I still had the urges to use drugs and alcohol and I was trying to control them myself. To this day I can not pinpoint the exact "how" or "why" I strayed for the Lord, all I know is that after I had turned my back on God, my life was in worse shape than it ever was before. I kept going from job to job and from relationship to relationship... all of which failed. That is when a friend of mine took me to the Open Door Mission in Rochester , New York where I enrolled in their Bible Based Christian Life 12-step recovery program. There the Lord performed a miracle in my life. He accomplished in an instant what I could not do for myself in 20 years. He totally delivered me from drugs and alcohol. And all I had to do was to turn my addictions over to Him and ask Him to remove them from me! Through the kind care and guidance of the staff of the Open Door Mission and my home church, Bethel Full Gospel Church , I returned to my walk with the Lord, this time without the urges and cravings for the drugs and alcohol. The violence and anger was replaced with love and a genuine caring for my fellow human beings. God is good and He is real! He is there for you if you will just humble yourself and call upon His name. I hope that each of you that read this find the joy and peace that my Lord has for you.

Up until a year ago I didn't know that everyone is born with sin and that everyone is separated from God. Without that connection our troubles and inner hurts don't ever lessen they only get covered up or magnified. Jesus is that connection and the only way we can be saved and have life in abundance. I had an empty heart until I asked Jesus to come into my life. The more I trust and obey Him, my pain and things, which I thought weren't worth anything have become useful for the Lord. You see the Lord takes all our trash and turns it into gold. Now I know that God is building the characteristics of Christ through my pain. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. What makes me so thankful is that He suffered and died for me. So with that, any suffering or working out of my faith produces the likeness of Christ in me. Also, my troubles are nothing more than a momentary affliction. When I look back at all the things I've done while in the streets, in prison, all alone and lost trying to fill my empty heart; I can see now with open eyes that He patiently waited while keeping me from harm and death without His love. He brought my mother and me together after many years of separation. He knows all our desires and wants us to have them according to His will. I thank the Lord for all the people praying for me all these years. I LOVE YOU ALL AND THE CHRIST IN YOU.

Coming from the streets and homeless, I was introduced to Christ. That's all it took. Today, I have Christ in me and I thank the Lord and the Open Door Mission for all they have done. Today, I have a vision and purpose to serve the Lord.

I came to the Christian Life Program at the Open Door Mission, September 14, 2005. When I got here I was on parole for the third time, lost my apartment and job and I was addicted to crack-cocaine. I was expecting to bide my time until I was off parole. During my first couple of months in the Mission I gained some needed weight and enjoyed the company of people that genuinely loved me.

While in the program I admittedly used drugs one more time. It was horrible and absolutely the last time. I knew if I wanted any joy in my life I had to choose Jesus. From that day forward I did what was asked of me and found what I've always been looking which was peace, love, and joy in my heart. I've spent the last year getting closer to Jesus by studying his Word, praying, and being mentored by my Pastor.

Now I've graduated from the Mission program and have moved on to the Phase II where I'm working in the Mission's maintenance department as an intern. I can't begin to thank the Open Door Mission for all they've done for me. They have helped me get my life back on track.

Hi, my name is Raul.

After seven years of drug abuse, I had no life at all feeling physically and spiritually broken. I had been in different programs, all of which brought no success. My life was a mess. I had no where to turn until I started to go to Open Door Mission for food and shelter.

While I was there I started to listen to the bible teachings. I later became a Christian and entered the Mission's recovery program. The staff and other residents accepted me as one of their family. They cared for me and taught me the Word of God and how to trust God to set me free from drugs.

Today I am a new man serving the Lord with hope and love. I thank God for the counsel of the staff and residents of Open Door Mission. They helped make a difference in my life showing me what love really means through Jesus Christ my Savior.

I am happy to say that today I am free from drugs, because I have God living in me. I will always have a family at Open Door Mission.

After approximately 18 years of drug and alcohol abuse I was completely broken mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. I had tried many times to make a new start, but always with failure. I was truly on the verge of giving up on life itself. The Mission would by my last ditch effort to get free from my addictions. When I came into the recovery program my expectation level was not all that great, but there was something different about the Mission . It was the people who genuinely cared about me and who really wanted me to succeed. Thanks to my Mission family who taught me what it means to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, today I am drug free serving the Lord to the best of my ability and living with hope and purpose.

Tim has volunteered to try something new for us. He has delivered his testimonial in his own words. We offer to you the chance to hear Tim speak his testimonial by following the link below.

Hello my name is Tim. I grew up in a Christian home attending weekly church and Sunday school classes. I even attended a Christian school for the first fourteen years of my life. For most of my younger years I knew who God was, but knowing Him is one thing, having Him take up residents in your heart is another. I lacked the later of the two. Here's my story of how I learned why religion was not the answer.

At fourteen years old I carried the coffin of my best friend. At nineteen years old I lost my father. At twenty-two years old I lost my sister. Death was all around me. I couldn't handle the pain of losing people I loved and cared for. I became addicted to drugs and was using daily. I eventually lost my job as a successful union plumber. At thirty-eight years old I found myself in the criminal court system blaming God and everyone else, except myself for my loses and bad choices.

While attending a church service at the county jail, the preacher running the service said that the only way to truly change your life for the better is to first surrender yourself to God and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart. Funny thing, but after all my early years of going to church and Sunday school it wasn't until now that I finally got it. Religion was not what I needed. I needed a relationship with my Creator through His Son who died for my all the wrongs in my life, so I could make things right with God. It was at that point that I asked Christ into my heart. Little did I know that my life would never be the same again.

Shortly after my decision to follow Christ I was transferred to Elmira prison. Getting up one morning in my cell I looked out on the street and finally understood what it meant to be free from within. Even though I was behind bars I felt a peace and freedom with myself and with God that I never felt before.

Finally, the day came that I made parole. I was released from prison to go live with my mother. I started work again as a plumber. I found a church that I liked and starting attending services regularly. I was doing very well spiritually and emotionally until I found myself in an unhealthy relationship with a woman I thought I loved. In the relationship I found myself being tempted to do things I knew were not who I was anymore. I made the mistake of using drugs again and became very depressed in my failure to remain true to my decision for Christ. The hopelessness seemed to much to bear and I attempted to take my own life, but by the grace and plan of God, I failed. At 3:00am I woke from my attempt at suicide in an institution hearing a small voice telling me to go to Open Door Mission in Rochester, NY. At this point I would do anything to get back on track so that's where I went.

Upon arriving at Open Door Mission I applied to enter the Christian Life substance abuse recovery program. Eventually after a year's time I would successfully complete the program and graduate. Now that I look back the voice in my head that morning at the institution telling me to go to the Mission was truly God's voice. It took thirty-eight years of drug use, prison life and countless suicide attempts for me to finally realize how much God loved me, but thank God He always had a hand on my life. I also thank God for my mother who never gave up on me and continued to pray for me.

The lessons I've learned from being a follower of Christ are the greatest lessons of my life. What I mostly understand from my setback while being a Christian is that to surrender yourself to Christ also requires a commitment to follow His will clearly stated in His Word.

Today I stand fully committed to Jesus Christ who has delivered me from a life style of hopelessness, addiction and death. I thank God for bringing me to the Open Door Mission, for changing my heart, giving me a purpose and a desire to go wherever he leads me and to serve and please Him in all I do.

My heart of appreciation goes out to all the staff at the Mission and for their compassion, guidance and strength they showed me since the first day I walked through the door. I also want to extend my gratitude to all those who support this outreach with their faithful donations. If you never knew before what your contributions do to help people like me, now you know first hand what you've done to help restore hope and life.


Robert
Due to a heavy drug addiction, depression and loneliness, I was led to the Open Door Mission in February 2007. I left behind my job, apartment, vehicle, friends and nearly my entire life and applied for the Mission's Christian Life Program. The program helped me realize just how much of my life was in disarray not only because of wrong choices that led to my drug addictions, but also the fact that I had no true connection with God. During my time at the Mission, I was taught from the bible how scripture can be applied to the challenges of everyday life. I learned about forgiveness, patience, kindness, goodness, being a servant for the Lord and most important, I learned about love. I've also learned many things through the lives of others who have shown me through example. The Open Door Mission was a haven for me by providing all my needs while I was in the program. It gave me the opportunity to focus on my recovery and build a priceless relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All these things have helped prepare me for a more promising future. I've purposed to carry the virtues of God with me for the rest of my days and spread His gospel of salvation where ever I go.

I've been a long term resident of the Open Door Mission for the past seventeen years now. While living here, I've also been working for the mission in their housekeeping department. I work in the laundry area to help provide clean clothing and linens for our short term residents. I really enjoy serving the Lord in this way. I have developed many wonderful friendships over the years. The Open Door Mission is not only my home and my job, it's my family always there to support me and help put a smile on my face.

Over the past five years my battle with alcohol lead me to three different rehab programs, but I felt there was still something missing in these programs and in my life that I only later discovered. It wasn't until early September of 2003 that I felt like I was finally in the right environment to be able to overcome my addition. I first started coming to the Mission 's Men's Shelter for meals and housing, then I later applied to enter the Christian Life Recovery Program. I was accepted into the program on September 17th. After living at the Mission Caring Center for ten months I successfully completing the program on Sunday, July 18th 2004 and received graduation honors. I want to give thanks to the Mission for leading me to Jesus Christ and His Word for it was for that reason that I am free from the bondage of alcohol and am now a servant of the Lord. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who helped me get through the program and also those who contribute to the Mission . Without the support of everyone involved with my recovery, I never would have had the chance to meet Jesus and experience freedom in Christ.