Jerry Doyle (2002)

“I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. We were a lower middle class family. My father’s addiction to alcohol brought with it abuse (verbal and physical), infidelity, manipulation, and fear.

After high school I attended college. I was introduced to drugs for the first time. I had a friend who had a fast car, beautiful girls, and VIP status at most of the clubs in town. I asked him how he had acquired this, and he told me about a drug called Ecstasy.

I started selling Ecstasy and making lots of money myself. Along came the girls and prestige. I started using cocaine to stay up longer and earn more money. There were weekends when I never even slept because I was so high.

On October 30, 1989 I was arrested and put in jail on felony charges surrounding the sale of a controlled substance. As quickly as the money, girls, and prestige came they disappeared. Still, I hadn’t learned my lesson. After being released, I resumed abusing cocaine.

I later tried crack cocaine and was instantly addicted. It became the all consuming love of my life. Six years later, 12 more arrests and a lot of money come and gone -- I was near homelessness.

Through my wife’s persistent encouragement, I began calling Teen Challenge centers. No beds were available, though. Finally, on one of my last calls, a gentleman in a small town in Southwest Missouri said, “We don’t have any beds, but we can offer you a couch.” I gratefully accepted.

I entered the program and was determined to give it and God 110%. As I read God’s Word Jesus started to become real to me. I desired a personal relationship with Him.

After being in Southwest Missouri for 2 months, I transferred to Detroit. I knew I needed the teaching and the discipline provided there. For another 10 months, I studied the Word. The more I read, the more I was healed.

I graduated in May 2002. My life is now better than I could have ever imagined. My wife and I have found a Bible-teaching church, and I work for a large Christian owned company. My wife and I were blessed with our first child on May 30, 2003. Though I had ruined my credit with my addiction, God restored it to me and I was able to purchase a home and a car for my wife. I could not have accomplished any of this on my own. All praise to Jesus Christ!”