As human beings, we're naturally resistant to change. Once we're set on a certain path in life, it can be almost impossible to imagine walking down any other — even when we know that path might be better for us. Whether it be small changes like starting a new diet or a change in style, or a massive one like deciding to seek sobriety, we at Hope Center believe that what leads to success in that change is nothing other than faith. Faith in oneself, faith in the idea that the change you're making is positive, and ultimately, faith that God will help bring that change about.
To have faith is to have more than just blind belief; according to the Oxford English Dictionary, one definition of faith is 'trust that someone or something will do what they promised.' In the context of life change it's not the belief that gets you on the road, but the promise of transformation at the journey's end that makes change truly successful. This kind of faith is key in so many areas of life, and especially so in our program at Hope Center Ministries; it's why we take so many opportunities to celebrate our residents who saw their journey through to the end, and who now live brand new lives as a result of their commitment to personal transformation. This week we celebrate the testimony of Sikeston, MO Graduate Van Brooks!
Van's story begins like many others: as a product of circumstance. Born to two alcoholic parents he was set up as early as he could've been for a difficult life. Would growing up in the orbit of two active addicts have changed the path that Van eventually found himself on? Would he still have made the same mistakes, or would he have learned by way of example what not to do when it came to falling into substance abuse? That question may never have an answer, as Van was put up for adoption at only 2 months old.
Even without the influence of his parents in his life Van's life was far from easy, and he found himself drawn to drugs starting at only 12 years old. He describes feeling lost and hopeless as he grew up, saying he was entirely 'without a light' with which he could guide his life forward. He fell further into despair the older that he became, and in so doing, further into addiction. This spiral of substance abuse and depression is something we've talked about many times before in stories like Van's, but it's hard to understand exactly how soul-wrenching this cycle can be; by the time Van looked up and realized where he'd gone with his life, he was sleeping in his car in Walmart parking lots, more often than not with a needle still in his arm.
In 2020, he'd finally had enough. He'd lost custody of his children sometime before, was running as far as he could from the consequences of the law to avoid prison time, and simply didn't want to live his life like this any longer.
Van called out to God that day, begging for a change, and was stunned to hear Him respond. After all, why him? Why would God care about someone so 'unworthy' of saving? The answer didn't matter. Van had faith that wherever God was about to lead him, it was his last chance at a way out.
He had debts to pay before his journey could really begin, and Van was ready to pay them. He returned to Kentucky where he was facing prison time and spent 11 months in custody before having the opportunity to come to Hope Center. He found himself in our Sikeston, MO Men's Center, and from there began his true process of spiritual reconciliation and recovery.
Van was a Community Leader for the Sikeston Center, helping the men around him find a path to God exactly as he had found at the lowest point of his addiction. After graduation he was able to get his driver's license back for the first time in 18 years, began a new career as the Facilities Director for the Hope Center Ministries Central Support Office in Oklahoma City, and has thusfar experienced full restoration with both of his daughters!
Van describes this point in his life as the most fulfilled, joyful and full of praise that he's ever experienced. He's worshipping God every day, and is even more proud that as a father, he's been able to help both of his daughters develop a loving and close relationship with Jesus Christ. He's trusted with so many projects and opportunities in his role as Facilities Director that he never saw himself being worthy of; beautifully however, God disagreed. Perhaps most importantly of all, Van says that he now knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is on his side.
When asked what the most important lesson that he learned during his time with Hope Center was, Van states that it was learning how to be a servant; how to serve God, how to serve others, and ultimately, how to serve his own happiness to create positive change for himself, and for those in his life that he loves.
"If I can do it, anyone can," Van says as we close his interview. "There's a light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to search for it."
At the beginning of this post we talked about how faith is defined as 'trust that someone or something will do what they promised', and for Van, the promise that God made to him that day in 2020 has been fulfilled. His life now is as unrecognizable as his photograph from where he was before coming to Hope Center, and as such an indispensable part of our team at Central Support, we couldn't be more proud.
Thank you Van for sharing this incredible testimony of transformation, and for all that you do for us!
God Bless!