After a year at Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio Valley, Bryan will graduate on May 13th. Bryan, 35, will work as an intern at ATCOV after graduating. After completing his internship, Bryan plans to continue to serve the Lord.
“I am called to world missions and also hope to serve as a worship leader while mentoring and pastoring young people with addiction, giving freely what has been given to me by means of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.”
He started experimenting with alcohol and tobacco at 12, and moved onto drugs. “My drug use continually increased because I would solicit myself to older men who kept me high so that they could have their way with me,” he said.
By 26, he was regularly smoking crack, then moved on to methamphetamine and other drugs. One day while at a friend’s house, Bryan saw a bright light, felt a gentle touch on his left arm and heard a voice whisper, ‘I love you.’ “I knew it was Jesus,” he said. Bryan had been crying out to Jesus for help.
He went to church with a friend where he had a profound experience, but it took a while longer before Bryan sought help.
He showed up at his grandmother’s house in September 2021, scared and strung out. Bryan remembered hearing about places in Columbus and Cincinnati, called Teen Challenge. He Googled it and found ATCOV.
He says the program worked for him because he was broken and had burned so many bridges. “I knew God was in control and my desire was to learn to love him and serve him because I had become aware of how much he loves me,” Bryan said.
ATCOV provided Bryan with a family when he felt like he didn’t have one. He’s learning self-discipline, how to cooperate with other people and how to be a friend.
“God is also beginning to restore relationships and broken dreams,” he said.
