While in the grip of addiction, I lost everything.
My house. My family. My freedom.
After getting arrested, my wife and I lost our house.
Our children went into foster care.
I went to jail.
I had forgotten how to be a man, a husband, or a father.
But even at rock bottom, I knew God wasn’t done with me yet. I credit my time at Teen Challenge for laying that foundation of faith which led to me overcoming addiction and reclaiming my family.
I regret the years I missed with my kids during my long battle — including experiences like back to school. As a parent, you never want to miss an opportunity like that because you only get so many of them.
Today I’m grateful to be doing what I should be doing as a father of these children I love. Thank you for helping restore lives and families like mine.
~ Shawn
Shawn went through the Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge (PAATC) long-term discipleship program — where he grew closer to God and laid the foundation he credits today for his recovery. But Shawn’s battle with addiction would be long-fought. After returning home to Michelle and the kids, he relapsed and spiraled deeper into drug abuse.
Shawn began to steal to keep his habit going and to keep a roof over his family’s head. Eventually, he was arrested and ended up in jail; while back home, Michelle lost their house, and their children ended up in foster care.
Shawn’s children had no mom or dad to help them return to school that year — and may never have had it again if Shawn’s life hadn’t been restored because of friends like you.
While in jail, Shawn recalls thinking he didn’t know how to be a man, a husband, or a father — but began to remember the faith he strengthened at Teen Challenge and realized God had not given up on him. It was a critical moment that led to his re-commitment to his recovery, wife, and children.
Today, with his life and family fully restored, Shawn has come to work for Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge to help others find their path out of addiction. He still regrets the times apart from his children and for not sharing many back-to-school experiences. “As parents, you never want to miss an opportunity like that because you only get so many,” he says.
Shawn recalls the first time, post-addiction, that both he and Michelle were able to wholly participate in helping their kids get ready for a new school year. “It was a huge feeling of joy in finally doing what we were supposed to be doing as parents of these children we love,” he says.
Here at PAATC, we offer men and women like Shawn our Long-Term Discipleship program free of charge for any adult who needs the transformative power of God’s love. But we can only provide this life-changing tailored care with your support.
If you can, please give today to help more parents like Shawn and Michelle reclaim their lives, overcome their addictions, and restore their families. For mothers and fathers — and the children they love — it’s the greatest gift you can give as the school year starts.
