Stories of Transformed Lives
Erron started using meth at 11 years. When he came to FCM, his eyes darted around wildly, he talked in a computerized voice, and he looked half-crazed. When interviewing him to get into our Hope program, we all agreed there was a childhood trauma he did not remember, so we prayed for him. Erron’s eyes changed and he instantly got set free. He is now a handsome, happy young man and even works at Faith City.
Dora came to Faith City over 16 years ago, needing to get clean and sober. Connie Garcia was working here at the time and helped Dora achieve a new life. Last summer, Dora came to Faith City with her granddaughter, Reyanna, needing to get some clothes and shoes. The only thing Reyanna owned was on her back, as Dora had just returned from south Texas where she picked up her beautiful granddaughter. Reyanna is now safe and lives with her grandma instead of state custody.
In February of 2015, a young man named Rocendo came to us begging for prayer. He had late stage cirrhosis of the liver, complete with distended belly, jaundiced eyes and skin. We laid hands on Rocendo’s liver and began to pray. His liver went nuts! It flipped and moved for 5 minutes. Right in front of our eyes, his belly shrunk! Praise God!
One day in chapel, the security team brought Kristy forward for prayer. She had been on drugs for 5 years. One night the Lord spoke to her and told her she was going to die if she did not quit so she came to Faith City for help. Kristy also had a tumor on the memory center of her brain so we prayed. Tears started to flow down Kristy’s cheeks and she seemed to be in another world. Finally she turned around and said, "Did you see the light? It was beautiful! And my headache is gone!"
When I asked to take this man's photo, he was wiping tears away from his eyes. He looked at me and said, "Yes but I don't smile. I have nothing to smile about. I cry a lot." But right as I went to snap the shot, something caught his attention and this is what was captured. When I showed him the photo, he looked at me amazed. I told him he has a beautiful smile. He teared up again, but this time with a smile on his face. The Joy of the Lord can be found anywhere!
Chase was raised in a Christian family. His first step down the road to addiction came when a football injury caused so much pain that he was given "half a pill." That's all it took, and he was hooked. He did anything to get pills, from stealing to dealing. When he got to FCM, we prayed for him. As we did, a huge dam in his heart broke and he wept. He repented to God for what he had done and where he had gone. Chase has now graduated from our Hope program and lives a life of freedom.
Eric started taking drugs at age 12 and used them for 30 years. He even lost custody of his children. After coming to Faith City, he learned "that as a Christian I am not a drug addict. I am a child of God." When tragedy struck, Eric saught comfort from God instead of drugs. Even though his parental rights had been terminated years before, he has now graduated from our Hope for Men program and gets to be with his children. God is good!
“Back in May of 2014, I was an RDA, but lost my job due to health issues on my doctor’s part. Because I was the last one hired, I was the first one to go. After that, I lost my car and then my house. I was forced to live with someone that was abusive both physically and emotionally. One day, I went to FCM were I learned that 1) I am loved 2) I am not alone and 3) I am a child of God. FCM is more than a shelter. It is family. The Holy Spirit is in this place.” - Donna
Phillip’s childhood was marked with horrific abuse by his dad. At FCM, we gave Phillip intensive counseling but couldn’t help him forgive his dad. Dr. Howard Batson, of First Baptist Church came to speak in chapel. His message was on the parable of the unforgiving slave. As Phillip bowed his head, a breeze blew over him & he felt something heavy physically lift off of his shoulders. He realized all the anger & pain at his father was gone. He was, after 45 years of torment, at peace in his heart!