Recovery Stories

Austin, started his journey into addiction smoking weed that lead him into downward spiral of bad decisions, stating, “I just kept making bad decisions, and no matter what decision I made, it just kept going wrong for me.”

However, when he learned about Heartland, a program offering hope for change, he felt a renewed sense of purpose: “I knew in the back of my mind that I wanted to change but I wasn’t doing nothing about it, and… when I heard about Heartland, I knew that that was going to make a difference.” Austin credited his transformation to accepting Jesus into his life, emphasizing, “I didn’t have to do it on my own; he showed me that he was there walking beside me instead of me feeling like I was left alone to fight my battles.”

Austin’s journey is far from over, but his time at Heartland Recovery has better equipped him to deal with life. Do you know someone struggling today that could use a second chance?

Justin grew up going to a private school. However, his high school experience took a turn for the worse as he “started hanging around the wrong people… progressed to other heavier drugs.”

A few years after graduating high school Justin lost his brother to suicide. This loss started Justin down “a really bad road” marked by imprisonment and relapses. Even intermittent attempts at rehabilitation were thwarted by his mother’s demise and his father’s battle with cancer, prompting a return to addiction and criminal behavior, resorting to theft and violence to support his addiction. As the felony charges started to pile up, Justin realized that he was going to spend ” the rest of my life in prison if I didn’t change.”

A judge gave Justin one last opportunity for redemption through the Heartland program. Justin began to “trust in the Lord and… lean on him.” instead of turning to drugs to deal with life. God has begun to restore relationships as Justin has leaned on Him. Justin shared that, “there is an answer… Jesus Christ loves you and he died on the cross to give you from your sins.”

Tim, battled drug addiction for 25 years. After seeking help at numerous treatment centers life began to feel like a revolving door, “It was a lot of the same, just patterns of my using. It was just a trap. The more I tried to get out the further I sank.” Seeking God’s guidance, he found hope through Heartland Recovery, a place that welcomed him with love and support. Surrounded by Godly men and building a relationship with Jesus, Timothy’s life turned around.

“I’m hopeful. You know, my future looks bright. I’m not dreading what tomorrow’s going to bring.” He encourages others struggling with addiction to seek help from Heartland, persevere, and trust the process, knowing that there is hope and a brighter future with God’s guidance.

Peer pressure led Clay to experiment with drugs and alcohol during high school, initially without significant consequences. However after a surgery and recovering on pain medication, addiction took hold, leading to a cycle of treatment centers and relapses. The turning point came during a jail sentence when Clay realized the extent of the damage caused by his addiction. “I knew that I couldn’t do it on my own…. I was arrested. I was in jail, and I knew that it was time for me to straighten up”

Seeking help, Clay found a spiritual-based program called Heartland, where he finally began to find peace. Over the last 12 months of the recovery process Clay has seen relationships restored and found hope. When asked how he was feeling as he prepared to graduate Clay said, “I feel good. Times before I was real nervous around this time, when it was time to be going home. The Lord’s restored in me a new peace. I’m pretty comfortable where I’m at and how I feel.”