RYAN’S STORY….JUST THE BEGINNING

Hello my name is Ryan DeVore, I am currently a student in a drug recovery program called Teen Challenge. It is a faith based, Christian program. I have been a student here almost nine months now and have been able to witness and be a part of major transformation, restoration, healing, and miracles. God has moved majorly in my life and I feel pressed to continue the calling he gave me. That is the reason for this letter. I was a drug addict for four long years and it completely ruined my life, relationships, health, and well-being. I started with alcohol and marijuana, eventually leading to meth-amphetamines. I used to be a well driven student athlete but quickly fell off the tracks when drugs entered my life. I ended up becoming homeless for almost half a year when I was twenty-one. I was lost, confused, still using and not having any concern for life. It all ended badly when I woke up one morning in a tarp full of blood, bleeding from a wound to my head. This scared me enough to call my family and reach out for help. I ended up coming back to Teen Challenge on 8/10/17. I am almost completed with my time here and I don't feel its right to walk away from this ministry only because I completed a program. I have felt compelled to expand my Christian family by attending a discipleship training school. It is part of an organization called “Youth With A Mission”. My vision is to help the people in need that struggle with basic necessities on a daily basis. I have always had a passion to be part of missionary work, spreading the gospel and helping the community with services they don't have. I plan on this being my initial encounter concerning the power of God working through people I have never met and seeing how it will change their lives and mine. Colossians 2:7 says, "Let your roots grow deep into him, and let your lives be built upon him, then your faith will grow in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness." This scripture is close to my heart because I believe our roots and foundation are the most important part of life. It is where we derive our strength and motivation to continue on through the waves of life. I believe this school will solidify my foundation and deeply connect my roots with our Lord and Savior. This school consists of three months of schooling which is the lecture phase, and three months of outreach phase where we take what we have learned and apply it to situations in a real world environment with individuals who may have never heard about the living God. I am more than excited to attend this school and reveal Gods mysterious plan for me. The school starts July 1, 2018 it is coming up very quick and that is why I'm reaching out to friends and family who might be willing to support my vision. Thank you for your time and support, God bless you.