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Jeff spent the last 14 years of his life involved with drugs and alcohol. His addictions changed from one toxic substance to another as the years went by, while depression led him to thoughts of suicide.
In December of 2003 Jeff came to Springs Rescue Mission addicted to methamphetamines. Six months earlier he ended a relationship, and so found himself without a place to live. With limited funds, the choice was using money for either housing or drugs. Once again Jeff chose the drugs.
Months on the streets gave Jeff a lot of time to think. Each day he would develop a plan to clean up his life and consider his options. He would look for a job but quickly realized no one wanted to hire him because he had no permanent address. The times that he would go to talk to someone about a job, he smelled of alcohol. "My addictions would always get in the way," Jeff says.
On Thanksgiving in 2003, Jeff went to the City Auditorium for Springs Rescue Mission’s holiday meal where he ran into an old friend---a friend who used to get high with him. His old friend had been in the men’s residential program at the Mission for seven months and suggested Jeff explore the possibility of joining the program.
After a couple days, Jeff thought, "My life is just impossible. I’ve tried everything I could." By December first, Jeff was a resident in the New Life Program. "It was frightening coming into something new," Jeff explains, but after four months, his mind cleared and he realized he was going to make it.
For a year Jeff attended classes. As his thirst for God’s Word grew stronger, so did Jeff’s will to overcome the drug addiction. "It was a long, hard, and up hill battle for me to renew my mind. At the beginning of the year I wondered if I would make it. The Lord and I went through some battles together. Now I look back excited at what a blessing Springs Rescue has been and what my Lord Jesus Christ has given me through this place."
Jeff rose above all the difficulties he encountered and has proved himself to be a leader among his peers.
Jeff worked in the Mission’s warehouse for nine months where he processed incoming in-kind donations. By the end of the ninth month, he was in charge of warehouse operations under the supervision of a staff member. In the tenth month, he transferred to the Mission’s Auto Detail Shop to learn a new vocational skill.
Jeff graduated the New Life Program in December of 2004. At this point, he knew he would have to decide a direction for his life. Jeff accepting an intern position as supervisor of the Auto Detail Shop and was in charge of six volunteer workers. Jeff learning running the business and interacting with employees and vendors. "In addition to being a tremendous asset to the Mission and the Detail Shop, he is a good role model for the men in the program," says the staff member who is responsible for the operation of the Auto Detail Shop.
As of the time of writing, Jeff is working for a local businessman—but not for his business. The businessman has twenty classic cars, and everyday Jeff details them. It’s a fun job, it pays well, and Jeff is doing well on his own.
See also New Life Program.