September 2021 • Newsletter
Michael (third from right) has found the community he needs at Along Side Ministries. “It’s a brotherhood; people I can talk to and confide in,” says Michael.
Michael had been to prison a couple of times for DUI. But when he found the Lord and God helped him break his addiction to alcohol in 2008, Michael thought the trouble was behind him.
“I did really well for almost seven years after that. Then I thought, ‘You know what, maybe I can drink socially again.’”
One night as he was driving home, he struck a cyclist with his car. Michael has no recollection of doing so. One minute he was helping his then nine-year-old daughter out of the car at home, the next he was surrounded by police. Thankfully, the cyclist survived. Michael was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for aggravated DUI.
He was heartbroken. What was he missing? Why didn’t his recovery last? Then God gave him his answer.
“The more I prayed on it, the more it became clear. It’s when I cut myself off, broke off ties with the church that I started falling back into my old ways.”
He continued, “In not so many words, God was telling me, ‘What you really need, Michael, is community.’”
That epiphany brought him to Along Side.
“This program has given me exactly what I needed… a brotherhood, people I can talk to and confide in. And I’ve been so blessed to have a mentor like Mark Capps. He’s phenomenal and has shown me so many things.”
Today Michael is back on his feet and looking forward to graduating in September. He’s reconnected with his now 16-year-old daughter, he’s employed and working to earn his driver’s license back with Along Side’s help.
Gone are the days of relying on himself. He’s plugged in, sober and staying that way – thanks to the support of friends like you.
