Shining for Jesus

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples, “ You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

Today, because of God’s abundant grace, Jon’s life is giving light to men in the darkest of places. Maybe that’s because he’s able to relate to those who have been through tough times. At ten years of age, Jon heard his infant brother screaming in the crib. His mom was an alcoholic, and often passed out drunk. Jon tried to wake her up. But this time was different; she never awakened. It shook Jon’s world; he did not speak for a year.

The silent toll of pain was numbed by drugs and alcohol during his teenage years, and his dependency only grew in adulthood. In 1986, Jon married and became a father. He says by that time he was a “full-fledged drunk.” Somehow he managed to stay sober during the day and have a successful business.  Still, he was so desperate for a high that he stole pills from his client’s homes. Tragically in 1998, one brother committed suicide. It was then that another brother involved with Alcoholics Anonymous challenged Jon with a question, “Do you believe in God?” Jon knew he needed help, and perhaps God was the answer. This led to  sobriety and years of involvement with AA.  Despite his success as a drug counselor and his gratitude for the sobriety he found, Jon still felt something was missing. After two failed marriages and a serious medical diagnosis, Jon turned back to pills and alcohol. By 2013, after 18 years of sobriety, he was addicted again and homeless.

For five months Jon lived in New Haven off of State Street in a makeshift house built out of cardboard. By that time he had been diagnosed with with Schizoaffective Disorder, PTSD, Anxiety Depression Disorder, and Opioid Disorder. Somehow one day on his way to the methadone clinic, he stumbled upon a place called The 180 Center. He helped himself to free coffee and sat down to listen to stories from the Bible. Jon says, “I knew then I couldn’t get away from Jesus.”  He was ready to make a u-turn and surrender his life to God!

Jon graduated from The 180 Center Discipleship Training Program in 2015. He has served as part of the leadership team at The 180 Center since his graduation. He smiles as he says, “There was something missing all the years that I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. I’m forgiven and it’s okay. I know how to say I’m sorry, and I know how to forgive.” The light of Jesus shines brightly through Jon as he serves as Co-Director of The 180 Houses, 4 sober houses with 50 beds for men in recovery. Every Friday night he leads a 12 step recovery meeting for men, using the principles he learned in AA and the truth he’s found in a relationship with Christ Jesus. “Without Jesus I cannot function,” he humbly confesses. Jon’s life is giving light to many now that everything is in His hands. Is God’s light shining through you too?

(You may learn more about developing a relationship with Jesus or The 180 Center Discipleship Program by clicking on the link at the top right of this page.)