One of the greatest joys of being a part of this Nashville Rescue Mission family of friends is seeing how God changes hearts. . . and continues the process of transformation for a lifetime!

That’s exactly Shannon’s experience in the aftermath of falling back into an addiction he thought he’d beaten. He found himself struggling on the streets of Nashville after another relapse.

“That’s when I heard about the Life Recovery Program”—at Nashville Rescue Mission, Shannon recalls. “I found my recovery here!”

“I owe so much a debt of gratitude to this program,” he says. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Shannon has also ended up with more than recovery after graduation: he’s now making a home for himself in Middle Tennessee. “I talked to my life coach, and he said, ‘Maybe you should try something different: try to stay plugged into your recovery community and do what you love.’”

Which is why Shannon decided to go ahead and actually relocate to Nashville. He is grateful for all the help and hope he’s received in our care: “I owe my life to [this program],” Shannon says.

That transformation goes right back to the first day God brought him through our doors for a meal, help, and hope: “The life coach told me, ‘You know what? Don’t worry about any of that,’” Shannon recalls. “‘You just worry about God and the program. We’ll take care of the rest.’”

Stay true to God, and God handles the rest of it!

Shannon is quick to share his thanks with everyone who’s been a part of his recovery: new friends like you who support this ministry or volunteer their time and talent, along with our veteran team members.

“The staff here is amazing!” he says. “They truly love what they’re doing—day in and day out—to help me correct my life and get on my feet. They truly come in to help us be able to stand up.”

Shannon’s also thankful for the way this ministry we share continues to be a part of his life, even after graduating and starting the process of settling into a new job: “We have chapel, aftercare with our life coaches, attend meetings, and keep our transitional housing and work schedules.”

Yet as the Mission helps keep him grounded, he’s also looking forward to being independent again. “I’d like to buy a piece of land or even a two-bedroom apartment so I could bring my grandkids down!” he says, proud of how stable and sure his new life in Christ has made him.

I think God put me in a spot where, when I could call Him, that’s what I did!

That’s the promise of ongoing life transformation in the Lord—for Shannon, and all those we serve with your help!

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV)