Renny's Surrender to God and Journey to Healing

School never felt like a way out. Eventually, he dropped out and began selling drugs. At 18, after getting his girlfriend pregnant, his mom asked him to leave. Still, he worked and hustled to support his son.

Over time, he and his girlfriend built a life together, got their own place, had two more kids, But as they grew apart and the relationship ended, he began struggling with alcohol.

He found himself alone, drinking in his apartment. “Living alone with a bad habit is the worst combination,” He would black out, get into fights with neighbors, and end up in jail.
Then his body began to feel numb on one side, his arms and legs tingling, struggling to breathe, his chest in pain. Deep down, he knew where this road was leading.

That’s when he prayed: “I surrender. I’m putting my life in your hands. I don’t want to drink anymore. I don’t care what it costs or what I have to go through—just take this from me.”

Not long after, while at the rental office to renew his lease, he felt a clear prompting from God. In that moment, he said “I’m going to treatment.”
When looking for help he was turned away by multiple rehabs. Frustrated, he thought he might as well go back to drinking—or end up in jail again. Then one staff member stepped in and said, “I’ve got a place for you,” and brought him to Gospel Rescue Mission.

His first reaction was “Isn’t this just a homeless place?” But inside, he learned “It’s not just a shelter. We have treatment, housing. This place is here to help.”

Looking back now, Renny says, “This is what I prayed for.” Today, he says he feels “fit physically, mentally, and spiritually,” His family sees the difference too.

If he could share one message with anyone struggling it would be “Quitting was the best thing I ever did. I just wish I had done it sooner. But it’s never too late to stop.”