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Randy's Story
 After Randy graduated from Hope Ministries’ STAR program in June 2006, he moved to Hope Transitional Housing and began saving for the day he could move out on his own. Two months later he was picked up for driving drunk.
For the next several weeks, Randy waited in a jail cell to be sentenced to prison. His parole officer believed Randy could still make it if he returned to the one place he’d received the most benefit: Hope Ministries. With her help and considerable advocating from our staff, Randy was court ordered to return to Hope Ministries.
“Hope Ministries had the most successful program I’d been in,” Randy says. “They know I may make mistakes, but they are forgiving and merciful just as God is. Not lenient—forgiving. They know even graduates have to return for extra support at times.”
Randy says Hope Ministries’ program is different because it is Christ-centered. “I’d stay here even without the court order,” he says. “I grew up in church until I was a teen and thought I knew everything. Being here helped me get closer to God, reconnect with my family and opened a lot of other doors. It’s the safest, most stable place I know.”
When Randy talks about his future, his voice conveys uncertainty. “It’s easier for me to set achievable small goals like getting my high school diploma than to set long-term goals,” he notes. “I need to be here until I find out what God’s purpose is for me.”
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