Phil’s life was a downward spiral for nearly 30 years — addiction, prison, failed attempts at change. He spent more than half of his life behind bars, trapped in a cycle he couldn’t escape.

But even in his darkest moments, a thought crept into his mind: There has to be something bigger than this.

That thought haunted him in drug houses, surrounded by people chasing their next high. It followed him into prison cells, where hope felt far out of reach. No matter how deep he fell, the idea never left him. And eventually, he decided to find out if it was true.

Hitting Rock Bottom

Looking back, Phil sees no signs from his childhood that could have predicted his struggles. He grew up in a loving home. His mother worked hard to provide for him and his siblings, setting an example of stability and responsibility.

“I lucked out,” Phil says. “Mom was a hardworking, excellent mother. We had everything we needed.”

But things changed after high school. His father was in and out of his life, and by his early twenties, Phil was drifting. He started experimenting with drugs — at first, just marijuana. Then, one night, he unknowingly smoked a joint laced with cocaine. From that moment, he was hooked. Drugs consumed his life, leading to crime, broken relationships and years in and out of prison.

He tried to change, but every attempt ended in failure.

In 2021, seeking a way out, Phil came to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission and joined New Journey, our residential addiction recovery program. He wanted to turn things around — but addiction’s grip was still strong. He relapsed, violated his probation and was sent back to prison for 18 more months. That was his breaking point.

“There were so many times I could have died,” Phil explains. “God, for whatever reason, stayed with me and kept me alive.”

The day Phil was released, he came straight to MRM. “Coming back, I felt a huge weight lifted off of me. Nothing was going to stop me from staying in the program this time.”

Determined to see real change, Phil committed fully to his recovery. He surrounded himself with support, dug into God’s Word and gained the tools he needed for healthy living. Slowly but surely, he began to rebuild his life — this time on a foundation that wouldn’t crumble.

Today, Phil has been sober for over a year. His faith is stronger than ever, and he’s now working at MRM — ministering to other men walking the same difficult road he once traveled.

He knows his transformation wouldn’t have been possible without the support of friends like you.

“Your donations are affecting people’s lives in a way you can’t imagine,” he says. “And in a way I once couldn’t imagine. Thank you!”