
Joseph arrived at Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio Valley a year ago as a broken man, facing 22 months in prison. He will graduate in April 2024, looking forward to his future.
But coming to ATCOV wasn’t his idea. “I didn’t really have any other choice, it was this or go to prison,” Joseph, 36, said. He was on probation but couldn’t stay clean. His addiction started with alcohol and marijuana when he was young and then at 18, he began using opiates.
Two people from his church contacted the judge on his case —without Joseph’s knowledge — and asked the judge for some grace to see if ATCOV would work. “I didn’t really want to come to be honest with you, but 22 months is a long time to sit in prison and I don’t think that would have helped me,” Joseph said.
His life is better now. He’s happier and he’s working to restore relationships with his family. After graduation, Joseph will return home to Kenton, Ohio, to be closer to his daughter, who’s 13. He’ll work at his grandfather’s excavating business. Before coming to ATCOV, those relationships were strained. No one could trust him. Joseph had a history of manipulating others to get what he wanted. “They’re getting better,” he said. “Trust is not something that’s immediately earned so it’s going to take my actions.”

ATCOV isn’t Joseph’s first experience with God. He got saved in 2013 but says he put God on the back burner. It was his willingness and vulnerability in putting God on the front burner in his life again that worked.
It didn’t take long once Joseph arrived at ATCOV for that to happen. “I was pretty broken,” he said. Now, Joseph has peace. Before, he was stuck in chaos, always chasing his next high. That led to lying, manipulating, and stealing.
After ATCOV and strengthening his relationship with God, Joseph feels joyful. “God has helped me,” he said. “He made me realize you get two things every day and that’s a chance and a choice.”
Joseph could have taken a chance and left ATCOV early, thinking he was ready. “Instead I chose to stay the year and let God work through me,” he said.