Mike, of Canton, Ohio, will be our newest ATCOV graduate this month. He came into the program in January 2024, broken by sin, alcohol and drugs. “I felt no shame or guilt – I felt entitled to live that way and enjoyed it. I had been living in ‘Mike’s Kingdom’ for 40 years but I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
Although finding Jesus in his twenties, Mike pushed God aside and chose to live for himself. He owned his own business, had money in the bank, new vehicles and lots of vacations. However, Mike was still miserable. But God sent his brother-in-law, Mark. Mark would call him every day and night planting seeds of Jesus, faith and hope into him. Mike would argue that he was saved and going to Heaven and that Mark should go help other people. But Mark never gave up.
The month before Mike entered the program, Mark passed away from cancer. During that time, God placed it in Mike’s heart that he needed to get help and go to ATCOV. Mike saw first-hand his own son, Phil, graduate the same program after a ten-year heroin addiction. The seeds that Mark had planted were starting to sprout!
While it hasn’t been an easy journey, God has transformed Mike’s heart and mind. “I had to surrender. I was a manipulator of everyone and everything. It was a huge wake up call for me to realize that. Now I can look in the mirror and like what I see!”
Mike will be serving as an intern. He wants to give back and help other clients on their recovery journey. Mike plans to grow even more into this new life of peace, contentment, and joy! It’s due to Jesus and the seeds Mark planted!
