Do you recall feeling overwhelmed with Jesus’ mercy and love when you first encountered Him? The indescribable emotion that comes from falling in love with our Savior?
Jaime was raised by good parents in a stable home, but like many teenagers, he would drink and smoke marijuana when hanging out with his friends. He just liked the way it made him feel. But he slowly started to feel convicted as God grabbed his heart. In a moment of clarity, he fell to his knees and called out to Jesus, “Lord, change my life.”
For the next 13 years, Jaime’s life was good. He got married and started a family. He played in the church band and became consumed with theology and the academic study of the Word. “It’s like the Bible says,” he explained, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up… I got my head really puffed up with theology, but I lost that love.”
Although he was growing in his studies and pursuing his dream of becoming a pastor, he had somehow lost his first passion—and his love for Christ. Then one night, he went across the street to the park to play basketball with some friends but smelled someone smoking weed, and “it smelled so good.” He was reminded of a simpler time.
Before long, Jaime had fallen into old patterns, spent more time partying, and developed unhealthy addictions to alcohol and marijuana. He ignored the important people in his life—his marriage, his children, and his faith in Christ. And it cost him everything.
Eventually, Jaime’s wife left him. He spent years lost in his addiction. He had tried to get clean and rebuild his life, but a profound depression fell upon him. The weight of his decisions. The guilt. The relationships that he lost with his wife and children. And the relationship that he lost with his Savior. He had once been filled with the joy that only comes from above, so he was experiencing the pain of that loss.
“I’m done. I was at the end of my rope.”
Jaime had found himself homeless with two young boys to take care of, so he decided that the best thing for him and his family was to come to the Gospel Rescue Mission.
“My love grew cold. My biggest prayer was, ‘Lord, bring back my first love, renew love in me for You.’ My heart’s desire now is to love God with all my heart. I don’t want just head knowledge. I want to be in love with God.”
In the Recovery program, Jaime was brought to his knees once again by God. He was overwhelmed by Christ’s mercy, love, and grace—he felt like the prodigal son coming home—and a new love for God was ignited. In a few short months, the transformation in Jamie’s heart is evident to everyone around him.
The love of Jesus is restoring Jaime—from the inside out, and He is slowly restoring his relationships, beginning with his parents. “I’ve asked for forgiveness from my family for all the stuff I did. I had secluded myself from my family. God puts it all back together. He has been gracious in restoring.”
As Jaime shared his story, he kept talking about the eternal impact Gospel Rescue Mission has had on his life. “I was heading to destruction, and God snatched me out of the fiery pit, and he brought me here.”
Your gift, your impact, is of eternal consequence for people like Jaime who come to GRM and turn to Jesus. I can’t thank you enough for being a part of that legacy.
Every day, men, women, and children who are desperate and hurting come to the Center of Opportunity. Some, like Jaime, have lost their first love. Others have never known the love of Jesus. Your generous gift—your support—introduces them to that love and starts the process of healing, restoration, and transformation… wholeness.
Thanking God for you,
Lisa Chastain
Chief Executive Officer