I was the oldest of four children, the only child of my biological dad.  He and my mom were married for one year.  Mom remarried again when I was two to a man who had four children.  They then had three children together, making a total of eight.  It was a lot of responsibility.  I went to Catholic school from 1st to 4th grades.  Then mom divorced her husband, packing up one day and leaving while he was at work.  I then switched to public school.  I got in a lot of trouble there.  As children, we were at the house a lot by ourselves with no established family life.

In junior high I started smoking, hanging out with the bad kids, and one thing led to the next.  In high school I started using alcohol&marijuana.  Mom remarried for the third time.  I used to drink before going to school.  I didn’t know my biological dad very much.  He was in prison for ten years and I visited him a couple of times.  During that time, I received Jesus as my Savior and Lord at the age of 20.  When Dad got out, I moved in with him.  After a while dad started to be sick, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.  He had to take medicine and go to the hospital a number of times.  When he died I stayed in his trailer while I worked a good job at the Post Office.

Through a friend I started dating a guy in prison, got engaged, and spent a lot of money on him.  Next I met a boy, Richard, who I married and had three children with.  He was a Christian too, but we were both backslidden and were not getting along.  We started using marijuana, and in 1996, at the suggestion of my cousin, we divorced.

After that, I was introduced to crack cocaine, and I went downhill fast.  I started spending my paychecks on crack, missing work and house payment and bills.  Finally I declared bankruptcy and stopped working altogether.  Some guys told me how to write big checks at stores to get money, which I did.  My behavior was starting to affect the children who were left with baby-sitters a lot.  The drug controlled me so much.  Someone told me about prostituting, and started taking me downtown.  At first I was so ashamed, but it enabled me to get the drugs.  I started being picked up by the police for drug paraphernalia.  I never did steal from my family, though.  I was put on probation, went to treatment centers, and gave up custody of the children. 

I began to get so depressed – I had lost my children, my relationship with God, my vehicle, and even the will to live.  I began contemplating suicide, and made several attempts, including jumping from the Hopple Street Bridge.  But to my dismay, I was unsuccessful.  After a stay at the hospital, I went to my aunt’s for a while; but soon relapsed.  I ended up in jail for drug related charges for 7 ½ months.  While there, I rededicated my life to the Lord, and began praying and reading the Word. 

August 1999 was my out date, but on April 18 I had learned that I would probably be out in three days.  A homeless shelter looked like my only place to go.  A girl in the jail suggested Christian Inn Ministries to me.  I called them on the 19th and praise God, someone from there picked me up on the 20th.  God provided a home for me better than I expected.  Christian Inn was exciting to me because I wanted more of Jesus.  I was so happy to be with other Christians, after jail experience and the persecution I encountered there.  I know God placed me here.  At first I couldn’t believe I was actually in this place.  It was like a Bible school, and I couldn’t get enough of the Word.  After several months I began working and paying off some debts.  Today [Sept. 20] I have been here for six months.  I don’t know what would have happened if I would have gone to the shelter.  Thank you all so much for making it possible for me to be here.

[FIVE MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION]  The good habits I learned at Christian Inn are still essential in my walk with God.  When I look back at my stay there, I realize how precious it was to have ample time to study, pray, and spend time with the Lord.  Now with full time work people witness what took place then by my actions.  Praise God for His guidance and loving kindness.  I hope to labor for His kingdom more than for earthly things.

POEM –
CHRISTIAN INN by Angela H. Bachman – former 10 mo. resident

There’s a little place called the Christian Inn,
Where they’ll help you overcome temptations to sin.

By drawing closer to our God,
and you’re no longer confined to a pod,
To Him be the thanks for a safe place to stay
and praise Him as you grow & pray.

Each day as you fellowship with other Christians,
you will see God has put you on a mission,
To tell others how to receive eternal life
and put an end to all the strife.

The love God gives to you
will come shining through.

He’ll heal your past mistakes
and your heart will no longer ache.
All because Jesus paid the price,
so you’ll see God is nice.

He sends his spirit to dwell within
and now you’re called his kin.

Put His Kingdom first each day & rejoice
because now you’re on your way.
To a land flowing with milk and honey,
where there’s no need for money!!!