Charlie’s Testimony
Extreme Makeover: Hope Edition

“I’ve been an alcoholic all my life,” says 55-year-old Charlie. For the past seven years, his alcohol was shared and encouraged by a girlfriend who was an addict too. “We were both working, but barely scraping by. We lost her house in foreclosure. We stayed with my mom for a couple of years and moved out when my girlfriend received an inheritance.” But sadly, that only exacerbated the problem. Now the couple didn’t have to hold jobs, and they continued their heavy drinking.

Then Charlie’s girlfriend passed away. “Her family took all our possessions and kicked me out in the snow. I went to a friend’s house, but he said I couldn’t stay. He brought me to Hope Ministries’ Bethel Mission.” That was December 2009. And since that time, in our Journey of Hope long-term recovery program, Charlie says he’s experienced an “extreme makeover” in every aspect of his life.

“Everyone who knew me when I drank says my eyes don’t have that dull, dead look anymore. I’ve gained weight, cut my hair and shaved my beard. Hope Ministries helped me get new eyeglasses, and soon they’ll help with my dental work.” (Charlie is missing many of his teeth.)

Among the many skills Charlie learned through our program is how to use the computer. “I have an e-mail address and a flash drive with my resume on it. Now I can use the computer to apply for jobs,” he explains. Having a job is a requirement for graduation, and he recently found work with a handyman service.

Perhaps the most radical change in Charlie, however, is God’s transformation of his heart. “I am a different human being,” he says, amazed by his spiritual awakening. “I have total faith and trust in God that things are going to work out the way they’re supposed to.”

Charlie is looking forward to graduation and to living as a brand new man. He shares these thoughts with others who are ready to accept the “extreme makeover” Hope Ministries’ long-term recovery program offers. “It brought me to God—it saved my life. The program isn’t for everyone who needs it; it’s for everyone who wants it. It took me some 35 years to understand that.”

Thank you for helping us provide an “Extreme Makeover: Hope Edition” for people like Charlie and so many other grateful men and women. God bless you.

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