I grew up going to church but I didn't understand what it was to be a Christian.

My dad physically beat me for every act of disobedience. My mom would try to intervene, but it was usually too late.

I didn't have the heart to forgive her for calling my dad to discipline me. I also began hating my sister for telling my parents about my disobedience.

As I grew, I suppressed these memories, but the pain was still there. I began fighting and acting up in school.

In the last years of high school, I began binge drinking, smoking marijuana and partying. I also desired the violent lifestyle of the gangs.

Finally, after a night of drugs and drinking, I asked the Lord to pull me out of the life I was living. I couldn't do it on my own.

My prayer was answered shortly after when I went to jail for the first time. God worked through my pastor, a man I barely knew, to get me out of jail. He let me stay with him for a month until I could enter Teen Challenge.

Since then, I’ve given my life to Christ and have received healing from my past pain. I am also beginning to restore my relationship with my family.

God has pulled me out of the darkness – out of the pain and suffering from years of drug addiction. Through Him, all things are possible!