James - June 2021

James was born and raised in the dark—in a thick cloud of drugs and danger. With addicts for parents and a dealer for a dad, family life was a nonstop cycle of crime and punishment or attempts to evade it. James describes how his past darkness was often physical as well as spiritual.

“Some places we lived had no electricity, and dad would board up the windows and padlock the doors so he could sell drugs inside. Once when I was 15, a deal went horribly wrong, and dad got out fast, but I was stuck inside with the buyers. They chased me around in the dark with hatchets, and I had to kick out a window to escape.”

Frightening as it was, living in the shadow of death failed to scare James straight. Instead, he took after his dad, becoming a criminal, then a convict.

But a year and half ago, James signed up for our long-term men’s program, Forge. He’s about to graduate, and his life is as different as night from day. He’s built strong relationships, learned life and classroom skills, and is working and living independently.

“I’ve got a job, a safe place to live here at God’s Resort, and neighbors who are always checking on me. People keep asking if I’m going to move away once I graduate, and I tell them I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got it good.”

Thank you for your support. You played a part in delivering a man from the power of darkness into God’s marvelous light!

James Whitford,

Co-Founder and Executive Director