A Chance to Be a Kid

Austin and Gavin are energetic guys who’ve seen a lot in their short lives. Just 18 months ago, the two boys came with their mother, Kelley, to Hope Ministries’ Hope Family Center where she began working diligently to complete the H.E.A.R.T. Recovery Program. But the months before had been harrowing at times.

“We were staying at another shelter and a lot of people got in fights,” Austin, 9, remembers. “We thought this would be scary, too.” Gavin, 8, agrees, “In the other place people got hurt, so I was sad. I feel better at this place and I have friends.”

At Hope Family Center, the family quickly settled in to work on behavioral, health and parenting issues. Mom got stricter, but somehow the boys felt comforted by her new rules and boundaries.

“Mom’s a lot different,” Austin confides. “She’s nicer and actually more strict. I was doing bad things before. She just doesn’t want me to grow up and go to jail. If I don’t learn now, I’ll get in trouble when I’m 15 and go to jail.”

Gavin is more reserved and quiet; he tends to let
Austin talk for both of them. But he’s sure he would have landed in jail, too, if it weren’t for Hope Family Center and his mother’s new tougher stance. The boys also credit their improved attitudes to their newfound friendship with Jesus.

“When I first came here I didn’t know anything about Jesus or that He existed,” Austin says. “I wasn’t sure who made us and we’ve learned a lot about that. I’m really glad I learned about Him because it would be awful if I died and went ‘down there.’”

Though his mother and Elizabeth Spragg, director of family ministries, think Austin would make a great evangelist someday, he has other ideas. “I wanna be an NFL football star,” he says simply. “I like animals and I want to be a vet or feed animals,” Gavin chimes in.

Gavin and Austin feel good about their mom, themselves and their future! “My life has changed,” Austin declares.

“I’m in sports, I’ve learned about God and I get good grades!” “Me, too,” says Gavin. “My life’s a lot better—I learned about Jesus.”