Here is Steve's story:
“I just hoped I’d pass out and never wake up,” Steve said of some very dark days in February and March of 2005. Steve was drinking heavily every day, barely eating anything and moving from one cheap motel to another in Southeast Portland. Severely depressed after his “functional” alcoholism had transformed into all day drinking, and a loss of his marriage and a good job he walked away from.
Steve had always been a hard worker. He worked in the grocery business since he was a teen, and had worked as a delivery truck driver. His work ethic came from his parents who adopted Steve as an infant. Steve grew up in Beaverton and had a normal childhood. He recalled his Grandmother making him practice the organ after school, and working for his Dad’s toy distributorship. Steve recalls starting drinking in High School at about age 15, just to “be cool, fit in” and was sneaking alcohol from his parents.
“My mom would pick me up from school and take me to go work, I think to try to keep me out of trouble,” Steve says.
He married young and he and his wife had three sons before they divorced. Steve married again and he and his second wife had two boys. Steve traces his downward spiral to getting laid-off in 2002. He found himself living on unemployment and starting his drinking first thing in the morning.
By Christmas 2003, his entire family had become alarmed at Steve’s drinking. His mother, stepfather, sisters, wife and in-laws confronted Steve in an intervention, demanding that he not only to get serious about recovery, but to seek medical help because he looked so thin and unhealthy.
“When they confronted me like that I was so angry, I was furious. I rejected what they were saying, and my wife moved out and took the boys, took money, and I was basically left with nothing. I was angry about it at the time, but looking back I know they were desperate. When I see pictures from back then, I did look terrible,” Steve recalls. (see picture at right)
After that confrontation Steve made several half-hearted attempts at recovery to appease his family, and to remain in diversion from a DUI charge. He managed to find sober housing and a good job as a receiving clerk, but his divorce and a confrontation with another resident caused Steve to walk away from his job and start his drinking binge and motel hopping.
Even in the darkest days in motels, Steve was drawn to look at the Bibles in the nightstands.
“I didn’t really understand the Bible, but I was drawn to it. I feel like God intervened.”
Steve called his sister Jodi, who had been receiving the LifeChange newsletter. Jodi helped direct Steve to LifeChange.
As he started recovery in LifeChange Steve recalls being scared, and watching others, and worked on being obedient. He found that he was transforming spiritually.
LifeChange had its struggles, Steve recalls, “the kitchen job assignment was hard for me, sometimes it was hard to get along with others. I did enjoy working at the thrift store.”
Looking back after four years, Steve says, “Being in LifeChange deepened my relationship with God, helped me understand the bible. I’m able to build healthy relationships, I’ve learned humility, and I’m a better dad.”
Steve had always been a hard worker. He worked in the grocery business since he was a teen, and had worked as a delivery truck driver. His work ethic came from his parents who adopted Steve as an infant. Steve grew up in Beaverton and had a normal childhood. He recalled his Grandmother making him practice the organ after school, and working for his Dad’s toy distributorship. Steve recalls starting drinking in High School at about age 15, just to “be cool, fit in” and was sneaking alcohol from his parents.
“My mom would pick me up from school and take me to go work, I think to try to keep me out of trouble,” Steve says.
He married young and he and his wife had three sons before they divorced. Steve married again and he and his second wife had two boys. Steve traces his downward spiral to getting laid-off in 2002. He found himself living on unemployment and starting his drinking first thing in the morning.
By Christmas 2003, his entire family had become alarmed at Steve’s drinking. His mother, stepfather, sisters, wife and in-laws confronted Steve in an intervention, demanding that he not only to get serious about recovery, but to seek medical help because he looked so thin and unhealthy.
“When they confronted me like that I was so angry, I was furious. I rejected what they were saying, and my wife moved out and took the boys, took money, and I was basically left with nothing. I was angry about it at the time, but looking back I know they were desperate. When I see pictures from back then, I did look terrible,” Steve recalls. (see picture at right)
After that confrontation Steve made several half-hearted attempts at recovery to appease his family, and to remain in diversion from a DUI charge. He managed to find sober housing and a good job as a receiving clerk, but his divorce and a confrontation with another resident caused Steve to walk away from his job and start his drinking binge and motel hopping.
Even in the darkest days in motels, Steve was drawn to look at the Bibles in the nightstands.
“I didn’t really understand the Bible, but I was drawn to it. I feel like God intervened.”
Steve called his sister Jodi, who had been receiving the LifeChange newsletter. Jodi helped direct Steve to LifeChange.
As he started recovery in LifeChange Steve recalls being scared, and watching others, and worked on being obedient. He found that he was transforming spiritually.
LifeChange had its struggles, Steve recalls, “the kitchen job assignment was hard for me, sometimes it was hard to get along with others. I did enjoy working at the thrift store.”
Looking back after four years, Steve says, “Being in LifeChange deepened my relationship with God, helped me understand the bible. I’m able to build healthy relationships, I’ve learned humility, and I’m a better dad.”
Looking forward, Steve plans to spend time with his two younger boys and to build relationships with his adult sons. He is attending truck driving school. He hopes one day to be married again, but is in no hurry to be in a relationship. He is enjoying getting involved at New Song church in Portland.“I’m never going to be the guy giving a sermon from the pulpit, but I can minister to people. One on one I just tell them my story, what God has done for me.” (Steve today, pictured at left)
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