There was a time when I believed my mistakes would define the rest of my life.
As a young man, I made choices that led me down a destructive path. At 21 years old, I entered the Michigan Department of Corrections after being convicted of a violent crime. Looking back, I can see that I carried a lot of anger, frustration, and unresolved trauma from my childhood. I rebelled against authority and never learned how to deal with what was happening inside me.
What followed was 25 years behind prison walls.
Most people think transformation happens overnight, but for me, it began with education and learning to see others differently.
While incarcerated, I became involved in the Hope-Western Prison Education Program. We learned about restorative justice, victim empathy, accountability, and the impact our actions have on others. It challenged me in ways I had never experienced before.
That classroom became a bridge between offenders and communities, between accountability and hope, and ultimately between the person I had been and the person I wanted to become.
When I was released on April 2, 2025, I quickly discovered that freedom came with challenges I wasn’t prepared for. After 25 years away, the world felt unfamiliar.
That’s when I connected with 70×7 Life Recovery.
70×7 provided more than a place to stay. They gave me a place to belong.
Through their housing program, I found stability and a community of men who were also committed to rebuilding their lives. We were learning how to live independently, manage responsibilities, maintain sobriety, and support one another.
For me, that support became the foundation for everything.
With encouragement from the team at 70×7 and others who believed in me, I was able to reconnect with the Hope and Western Theological Seminary community. Soon after, I was awarded a Trustee Scholarship to pursue a Master of Divinity degree and a graduate certificate in Restorative Justice.
Sometimes I still have to pause and take that in.
I entered prison without a GED. Yet today, I am pursuing a master’s degree.
Coming back into society with a violent offense on my record hasn’t been easy. I worried about how people would see me, and whether employers would even give me a chance.
What I discovered is that courage matters.
Instead of hiding my story, I learned to share it honestly. I shook hands, introduced myself, and explained where I had been and where I was headed. Since my release, I’ve held positions in management, accounting, and information technology–opportunities I never thought I’d have.
Today, my greatest joy is being able to give back. Through my studies and ministry work, I can walk alongside others who are seeking healing, freedom, and restoration. I want to help create the same safe space that helped change my life.
For years, I was known as an offender. Now, I have the opportunity to be known as a student, a mentor, and an agent of reconciliation.
I thank God every day for the people who invested in me, believed in me, and refused to give up on me. 70×7 Life Recovery played a critical role in that journey by providing stability, encouragement, accountability, and community when I needed it most.
I am proof that no matter how far you’ve fallen, hope is still possible.
