Imagine living where every turn seems to lead you deeper into despair. Yet, even in the darkest moments, a sliver of hope can ignite a powerful transformation.

This is Michael's story—a story about resilience, faith, and the relentless pursuit of a better life.

Michael was raised by his single mother, a high school beauty queen, but his childhood lacked discipline and supervision, leading him into a life of mischief. Without spiritual guidance or a stable family structure, Michael wandered, both literally and figuratively.

At seven, Michael had an encounter that would forever change his life. Walking home from school one day, he needed to use the bathroom and began knocking on doors. An elderly lady answered.

“She was in penny loafers and a baking apron,” Michael said with a smile.

She invited him in and later invited Michael to join a Sunday gathering with cookies and Kool-Aid. Tempted by the promise of treats, Michael attended and was introduced to the story of Jesus. Although he recited a prayer to invite Jesus into his heart, this newfound faith did not immediately change his path.

As Michael grew older, his troubles escalated. By the time he was 17, he had become a master burglar, using clever tactics to break into bowling alleys and movie theaters. This five-year crime spree continued until he moved to Arizona for college, where he was eventually arrested and sent to prison.

While incarcerated, Michael learned two crucial lessons:

- First, no matter how often he got away with his crimes, he would eventually be caught and lose everything.

- Second, he realized the value of time as his cellmate recounted a life spent mostly behind bars.

“My cellmate started talking about when he got arrested in 1976,” Michael said. “In that moment, I realized that in 1976, I was seven years old, and I thought about everything I had done in my life from the time I was seven up until that moment. This guy had been sitting in a prison bunk that entire time, and now I was sitting next to him.”

This was a turning point for Michael. He made a promise to himself to live a better life.

Life After Prison

After his release, Michael ventured into the tech field, finding success and stability.

He moved around, living in places like Reno and Washington state before returning to California. His mother, now five years sober, introduced him to a 12-steprecovery meeting.

While alcohol was never his main vice, marijuana had been a constant companion for Michael. Determined to reconnect with his half-sister, niece and nephew in Santa Rosa, Michael made several weekend trips to visit.

Michael brought along his childhood friend and former crime partner during one visit. He then discovered that his friend had fallen back into drug use, and his half-sister was using cocaine. This revelation pushed Michael to an emotional breaking point.

He drove around Santa Rosa in his truck and found himself in a Denny's parking lot, questioning the purpose of his life, feeling lost and alone.

A Moment of Clarity

In despair, Michael reached out to a God he had never sought.

Reciting the Lord's Prayer, he struggled to follow a God who did not reveal Himself—at least not in any way Michael could see. Midway through the prayer, he realized that there was no point in praying if he was unwilling to change genuinely.

“In that moment, I felt a warmth and a weight,” Michael said. “I call it the bear hug of love. I knew that I was in the presence of God, and I knew that God loved me and He wanted the best for me. “

Michael's resolve wavered after six or seven years despite his initial success. He found himself homeless for the first time at age 42.

After several more cycles of getting back on his feet and falling back into old habits, Michael found work in Colorado doing home renovations but soon faced another period of unemployment and homelessness.

That’s when he came to Springs Rescue Mission for help.

Michael immediately joined the HOPE program, which provided him with the community and the support he had been missing. He took on a leadership role in maintenance, found a sense of purpose and reconnected with his faith.

Springs Rescue Mission became the foundation for his new beginning, offering him stability and a chance to give back.

A New Hope and Future Aspirations

Michael's experience at Springs Rescue Mission taught him the importance of staying connected and giving back. He realized his previous failures were due to his tendency to isolate and focus on personal gain. He plans to work for a faith-based organization and stay plugged into the community he found at SRM.

“First and foremost, I need to get back to stability and then I need to stay connected with the same community that helped me get there,” he said. “And then I think the second level of that would be maybe doing outreach. I was talking with the maintenance manager and I'm thinking about getting my painting contractor's license and eventually starting my own outreach painting company.”

Despite numerous setbacks, Michael never gave up on his quest for a better life. His faith gave him the strength and guidance to overcome his challenges and find anew purpose. We can all learn from this resilience, reminding us that it's never too late to change our path.

It’s Your Mission

You can help others like Michael. Starting at $25, you can care for a homeless neighbor at Springs Rescue Mission and provide them access to a campus full of life-transforming services. Together, we can make a difference and offer hope to those who need it most in Colorado Springs.