Brian had it all…a loving family, a beautiful home, cars and boats. But Brian also had a powerful addiction to drugs that plunged him into a deep depression and ultimately cost him everything he had worked so hard for.For years, Brian wrestled with his addiction on his own. Realizing that he needed help, he joined a program at another mission, but it didn’t work for him.On April 1, 2011, Brian decided to try again, this time at Guiding Light Mission. His previous experience left him a little skeptical that Guiding Light could lift him out of his despair. That all changed with one encounter... Read more about Brian inside

One very important thing sets Bruce apart from many of the men at Guiding Light: his wife. “She has the patience of Job,” says Bruce. “I’ve put her through more pain and grief than anyone should bear and she’s still with me.” In fact, she was with Bruce when he graduated from our S.T.A.R.T. (Spiritual Truth and Recovery Training) program in March—and by the time you read this, he will be home with her again. Bruce says that 12 years of off-and-on drinking caused conflicts in his marriage, including financial problems. When he lost his job in June 2010, he also lost the health insurance that covered treatment for his severe back pain. “I started killing my own pain (with alcohol),” he says. Read more about Bruce inside

Like many teenagers, Rick’s curiosity with alcohol began when he was in high school, taking his first drink at seventeen. And like many kids who start drinking at a young age, it didn’t take long for Rick’s casual drinking to turn into an addiction to alcohol. For many years, Rick lived as a functioning alcoholic—holding down a good job in the trucking business as both a driver and manager. But a few years ago, his dependence upon alcohol caught up with him and took away the security of comfort in his job, his home and his self-esteem. Rick found himself on the streets, holding signs asking for money, mainly to support his ... Read more about Rick inside

March 2011

At the early age of fifteen, Eugene began experimenting with drugs.His use escalated from a curiosity about marijuana to a variety of other drugs."My life became unmanageable. I didn't know the next place I was going to eat,"he explains. As his habit continued, Eugene became a father, which forced him to realize he was bringing, "a lot of shame on my family." Read more about Eugene inside

March 2011