Your love helps Harlan know he is not alone...
Harlan knows the value of hard work. Raised by a single mom who always had multiple jobs, he followed her example. “I’ve been mowing lawns and stuff since I was like 12 years old. I’ve always worked,” he says.
As an adult, Harlan attended college and got married – but 15 years and three children later, his marriage ended in divorce. “It devastated me,” he says. “I was barely able to function. I was working hard to provide for my family, and I didn’t understand why that wasn’t enough.”
To silence the negative thoughts in his head, Harlan turned to alcohol. For a while his addiction was under control, and his career continued to progress. But as the stress of work and depression over his failed marriage grew, so did his drinking – until he lost his job. “My career really gave me my identity and purpose. Without it, I felt like nothing.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a physical limitation, Harlan struggled to find work. He began spending too many days on the couch, with a bottle in hand. When he ran out of savings and feared being homeless, he came to the Christian Aid Center.
“This is where I needed to be to realize my potential.”
“I was spiritually bankrupt and emotionally broken,” he says. “I knew I needed to deal with my issues.”
Harlan entered our Rebuilders Recovery Program, and through classes, counseling and community, he began discovering God’s true purpose for his life. “The Program works on the whole ‘me,’ not just my problem with drinking… I’m learning that God has a bigger plan for me than I could ever imagine for myself.”
Today, Harlan is restoring relationships with his children and grandchildren, and he is addressing his health issues. He graduated from our recovery program, works part-time and volunteers at the CAC. “I learned to be humble and have compassion for people who are different from me,” he says.
Thank you for loving neighbors like Harlan “as you’ve loved yourself.” Your kindness has reminded him that he is not alone and that a better life is possible!
