Tim is doing God’s work this Easter!
“The Mission opened the door for me to be with God.”
Tim grew up in a chaotic household where both parents battled addiction. Life was filled with emotional pain and instability – Tim even went to 12 different schools. “I remember just trying to fit in,” he shares. With alcohol and drugs readily available, he started using them as an escape. In adulthood, he found himself on a path of addiction and broken relationships.
After a painful divorce, Tim sank into depression and disconnected from friends and family. “I was ashamed and couldn’t bring myself to reach out.” He spent several years living in unfit conditions, isolated and out of options.
Then, during a quiet moment on a city bus, he caught his reflection in the window. “Is this what my life has become?” That’s when a caring soul encouraged Tim to come to the Mission.
“The Mission opened the door for me to be with God.”
When Tim arrived at the Mission, it wasn’t out of faith – it was because it was cold, and he was desperate to find a safe place to sleep off the streets. “I wasn’t a believer,” he admits. “Looking back, I realize the Lord met me here anyway.”
A few months in, Tim’s heart began to soften. He started to pray. “I asked, ‘God, if you’re real, please show me.’” He remembers immediately experiencing a sense of peace.
Tim’s transformation didn’t end with gaining lasting sobriety. After graduating, he worked at the Mission as a Thrift Store Manager, then began teaching and preaching.
Today, more than 18 years later, Tim is our Chaplain and Men’s Services Coordinator, and he serves as a pastor at Journey Church. He also oversees the downtown Mission.
Pastor Tim pours into others what was poured into him: compassion, accountability and understanding. “This program doesn’t just change the lives of the people who come through here. It impacts their kids. It stops generational cycles. That’s huge!”
This Easter, Tim continues sharing his experience, strength and hope with those along the path to recovery. Thank you for helping light his way! “The second-smartest decision I ever made was walking through the doors of the Mission,” he smiles. “The smartest was accepting Christ into my heart.”
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