Mike Rediscovers Hope, Healing and a Future

Mike spent years trying to escape the pain of his past. He turned to alcohol at a young age—first to numb the trauma of childhood abuse, then to cope with his mother’s death from cirrhosis. By the time he was 20, addiction had its grip on him. “I didn’t know how to ask for help,” he says quietly.

At 23, he began having seizures. Later, he survived a brain tumor—without any lasting physical effects. Still, the cycle of drinking continued. He married for financial security and joined the Army, but was discharged for drinking. His life unraveled further, and eventually he ended up in jail. “No matter what I tried, I couldn’t stop drinking.”

When Mike’s father—now sober himself—offered him a place to stay in Eau Claire, it became a turning point. “He brought me to Hope Gospel Mission. That’s when everything started to change.”

At Hope Gospel Mission, Mike found structure, support and something he didn’t expect—faith. “I accepted Jesus as my Savior here,” he says. “God put people in my life so I could grow. He placed me in a church, gave me a mentor and continues to guide me.”

One verse that keeps Mike grounded is James 1:19: “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” It reminds him daily to listen, pause and walk humbly with God.

Today, Mike is working, saving for a sustainable future and preparing to join Hope Gospel Mission’s Discipleship Program. Long-term, he wants to pay off his debts and follow wherever God leads—because after everything he’s been through, he says, “Now I know God has a plan for me.”

To the donors who made his transformation possible, Mike shares his heartfelt gratitude: “You may not know how deeply your gifts impact lives. Now I feel wanted—and I know God loves me. You don’t know us, but you still care. I didn’t know that kind of compassion existed. I want to be that same example to others.”