Justin grew up playing baseball in a small Southern Oklahoma town. He was raised in a loving, supportive home by his mom, a teacher and his dad, a successful business owner. After high school, Justin attended a small college and played baseball. There, he suffered a broken arm and was prescribed pain medication. The rehab and the recovery lasted longer than expected and he began to abuse the medication. When his prescriptions for the pain pills ran out, he turned to whatever means available to get them.
The two lowest points of his life were being arrested for stealing pills and watching his wife leave with their little girl. He stayed sober for a little while but soon relapsed.
After stints in rehab, Justin turned to the streets for his pills. Always looking for something stronger and readily available, he turned to heroin and then meth. In November 2019, he was arrested and facing prison time. While in jail, he was heard about Faith Mission. He asked the judge if he would defer sentencing until after he completed the 13-month program. The judge agreed. Justin arrived at Faith Mission on January 24, 2020.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” He said. “You get this one opportunity of having your life changed forever. Faith Mission take’s you in at your lowest, most desperate, most vulnerable, just nasty place in your life and they love you unconditionally from day one.”
“I can finally say I am becoming who I’ve always not just wanted to be, but who I’ve claimed to be at times, you know, who my dad raised me to be.”
Justin will reappear before the judge for sentencing in early 2021. He hopes and prays for leniency but said, “I’m more prepared now than ever before to face the decision.”
**We have included an update on Justin in our Spring 2021 Newsletter that will be released soon. Subscribe below.
