Walking In Faith
Before coming to Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio Valley and establishing a relationship with God, Devin attempted suicide, struggled to get along with the mother of his children and used drugs.
Now an intern at the center, Devin’s life has done a 180-degree turn around and he’s hoping to become an ATCOV staff member after his internship. “It gives me my purpose with helping other people overcome,” he said.
Devin, who is from Norwalk, Ohio, graduated from ATCOV in 2021, but he slipped and started using again. He returned in 2023 to complete the six-month restoration program. He traces his substance abuse to his time in the military where he drank heavily. When he returned home, the drug use started, spanning pills, heroin, crack cocaine and methamphetamines. He was using and selling.
In 2018, he shot isopropyl alcohol into his arm, attempting to end his life. He watched his arm turn bright red and it felt like his whole body was in flames. He envisioned the fluid entering his heart and got scared. “I prayed,” Devin, 38, recalled. “God, if you get me out of this, I’ll praise you for the rest of my life.”
That was a turning point for him, but he kept using, explaining that, “Life keeps you sped up.” Devin was in and out of jail and institutions for about 11 years. Finally, he got tired of that life. He completed the program at ATCOV but used issues with the mother of his children as an excuse to resume his old habits.
“I wasn’t ready to stop, not even for my kids back then. I was just super selfish,” Devin said. But then something clicked. Devin came to the realization that not having his children in his life was sending him further into a hole. He returned to ATCOV.
Everything in his life has improved since his return. He’s co-parenting with the mother of his two children, ages 6 and 8, and working on his relationship with them, seeing them more often. He’s healthier now, too, in all aspects of his life. He works out, but he keeps his mental health in check by sharing his story with others in the program. Spiritually, he stays connected to the Word daily: studying, reading and living it.
“It wasn’t until I came here that I was able to slow myself down to the point I can appreciate it and see that it truly helps me,” he said. Growing up, religion was more routine and that provided a foundation. “Now there’s more of a relationship,” he said. “It’s personal.” He no longer just goes through the motions.
“It’s faith, really — knowing that Jesus Christ is my Savior and being willing to walk it out instead of just talking about it,” Devin explained.
