The Bible is clear, it took a child to save the world. “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins,” (Matthew 1:21).Growing up, Dennis knew little of that child. His own childhood was horrific. “My mother was into witchcraft and was highly abusive,” says the 34-year-old guest at Springs Rescue Mission. “Every scar on my body was from her or one of her boyfriends.” At the age of 12, Dennis was taken from his mother and placed in group homes. But the damage was done. By 15, he was heavy into crystal meth and cocaine, and “tweakers” became his new family. He also had a new job: dealing drugs with Mexican, Russian, and biker gangs.“In my 20s, I was involved in some high-level drug games,” he says. “My alcoholism was pretty high, and I was mad and self-destructing, on a full blown rampage.” But that all changed on February 14, 2014, the day Dennis found out his girlfriend was pregnant. “When I found out I was going to be a father, lightning hit me,” he says. He was determined to turn his life around. But first he had to spend time in jail for a previous offense. When he was released, he came straight to Springs Rescue Mission.

“When I got here, I was a train wreck, spiritually sick with a lifetime of anger and regret,” Dennis says. “All I knew, if I was going to be a decent father, I needed to change almost everything. And I wasn’t going to fail her. “I’ve been here for a month. I turn my life over to God every day. I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I got Christian brothers, counselors, and teachers — God is tearing me down and building me back up. Springs Rescue Mission is saving me. Right now, my daughter’s grandparents have custody of her. But one day, God willing, I’ll get my daughter back. And she’s going to have a father who’s a man of love, honor, trust, dignity, and respect.”

On the first Christmas, a child was born who saved the world. But in 2014, a daughter was born who saved a father’s life.