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Byran |
Byran’s father was an alcoholic whose weekend parties with relatives often included violence. His mother, though strict, was a Christian and always took the children to church. The youngest of ten children, he started smoking at the age of 9. By age 12 he was drinking and using marijuana. During this time his parents divorced and Byran remained with his mother. Struggling to abide by her rules, he got frustrated and, at 13, he “left and never went back.” Byran moved in with one of his sisters and his father, partying with them until he was 18, and never returning to school. Eventually his life began to catch up with him. Encounters with the law, brushes with death from serious car accidents and being stabbed finally got his attention. He realized that something had to change. He soberly recalls, “I got caught up in the mix to the point where I just said, ‘I’m tired of this. There’s got to be something better.’” After several attempts to get help at various treatment centers, including a brief stay at the Denver Rescue Mission, repeated failure drove him to realize that something wasn’t working, and he knew now that he had to include God in his life. At last, at the very end of his rope, Byran came back to the Mission. As he shares it, “This last time I finally came in and I said, ‘God, help me! What do I do?’” He vividly recalls the one-word answer – “Surrender!” And so he did. He fell exhausted to his knees and said, “God, this is it. I give my life to you. I can’t do it any more. I surrender. I give up.” This was the pivotal moment that began Byran’s journey to wholeness. The following day, he remembers, “It was like all things were new!” Beginning the Denver Rescue Mission’s New Life Program is one thing. Persevering to the end is quite another. Byran soon discovered there were temptations that could distract him from successful completion of the program, but because he kept Christ at the center of his daily activities he avoided pitfalls that might sabotage his recovery. He puts it well when he says, “Denver Rescue Mission is a place God leads you to, where you can change your life . . . because evidently it’s not working your way.” He also understands that “the program gives you the tools, but it’s up to you to use them.” Since graduating from the New Life Program in December, Byran’s
life continues to demonstrate the grace of God that blesses a surrendered
soul. Several months ago he traveled to Michigan and was reconciled with
his 19-year-old son. While there, one of his sisters said to him, “If
you can do it, so can I.” Byran now talks weekly to his mother,
who is overwhelmed at the change that has taken place in her long lost
son. He is completing his GED studies, preaching and serving in ministry
at a local church, and sharing the story of his own redeemed life with
other men in the New Life Program. He even got married on December 31st!
His own words best summarize what began over a year ago when he says, “Life
is awesome – I’m growing every day!”
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Resource Center
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