MEET DESIREE
Desiree has struggled with addiction for many years. However, the past 7 to 8 years she has been homeless living on the streets in Birmingham. She arrived at City Of Lights after the hospital released her following a brutal rape which almost took her life.
Her addiction caused her the loss of her three children who all became wards of the state and have now been adopted through the foster care system. She arrived at City Of Lights a broken young woman who did not know the love of Jesus Christ.
Now, through the biblical instruction she has been receiving, she has come to except Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. By being in enrolled at Bevill state, she is working toward a certification through the Ready to Work program. Desiree said, “There are good and kind people here who truly care about me. I have found friends among the women who really love me. I’m so thankful for a warm bed and hot meals.”
It is Desiree’s dream to be able to become self-supporting and make a life for herself that would be pleasing to God. She is learning who she is in Christ and that she has a purpose and a future.
Will you help Desiree?
Desiree has struggled with addiction for many years. However, the past 7 to 8 years she has been homeless living on the streets in Birmingham.
She arrived at City Of Lights a broken young woman who did not know the love of Jesus Christ.
MEET JESSICA LEDBETTER
Addiction cost me a scholarship, two marriages, and a lot of pain…
I was 19 and upset over a boyfriend. I had reached a place that I just didn’t want to feel at all. I started using methamphetamine. Although I had a dance team scholarship and had been accepted into an RN nursing program, I chose my addiction over my opportunities. I’ve been through two divorces. I’ve suffered abuse - my third and fourth left vertebrae have been fractured, and I’ve suffered other injuries. I stayed in an abusive relationship because I didn’t want to be alone.
Being at City Of Lights has given me the hope of becoming a strong Christian woman. I hope to have my own place, a job, and be able to depend on God and myself in the future. No more codependency. I’m a semester away from a degree in sociology with a minor in criminal justice. I want to be a probation officer one day. My dream… I want to help people.
Having a sponsor would help me to be able to have peace of mind, feeling I’m held accountable, and give me hope that someone other than my family cares about me while in my recovery process.
Will you help Jessica?
Jessica has been in addiction since she was 19. She is one semester from getting her Bachelor's degree and is grateful to be at City of Lights to come together with other women to overcome their life struggles.
Jessica was baptized this past Sunday! She needs your help to provide the help she needs to stay with us.
To sponsor Jessica in her journey to freedom from addiction, click the support button.
““Dependency on alcohol and pills cost me everything I really loved…””
Jacklynn’s addiction began when she lost two children during two difficult pregnancies. The stress and anxiety from those losses began a life of drinking and drug abuse as a result.
During her 14 years of marriage there were struggles with drinking and over the years the social drinking grew into dependency for alcohol.
After the birth of her daughter in 2000, she had back pain issues causing her to add the drug of Lortab. This dependency took away “everything” she really loved”. It devastated her life, motherhood and family bringing about a hopelessness unknown before.
After coming to City of Lights, she has found hope and renewal with her goals being to be able to provide for herself, secure reliable transportation, get a worthwhile job, a tea cup yorkie for comfort and hobbies to make her life whole.
Sponsorship to City of Lights would provide the needed support to keep her in a program that so far has helped her find strength in God’s Word and hope for tomorrow
“City of Lights has helped me realized that through God I can overcome the deepest of addictions problems that have plagued my whole life.”
Jennifer began her addiction with drugs around the young age of 20 when social drinking was the thing. The day she received a DUI should have been a wake up call for her . Rather, she says, she found even more comfort with those who were involved in drinking and drugs. A cousin actually introduced her to a hard drug substance thus putting her deeper with the involvement of narcotics.
Addiction has caused her custody issue with her precious children, divorce, disappointment with her beloved grandmother, dropping out of school and more.
Coming to City of Lights has opened a new door of possibility for restoration with family, and long-term recover.
Her main goal is to “continue to really walk in faith”.
A sponsorship would help her to remain in this program at City of Lights , to give her opportunity to find out God’s will for her life and learn how to talk the talk of a Christian and to actually live out its principles. To continue this program would give her the ability to turn her deep issues over to God for a positive outcome.
“Drug addiction has cost me family, freedom, children, marriage and relationships.”
Chelsea began her journey with drugs during her teenage years when she was introduced by her mother and former step -father. Her abuse grew into use of pot and LSD. After a car wreck she was prescribed Loriatabs which added to her addiction.
Through a turn of events, she has had a drug-ridden and unstable home life since a child. She has been family abused, emotionally devastated, mentally challenged by others and rendered hopeless at times. Chelsea has been incarcerated in the Tutwiler prison for Women on two occasions. This cost her loss of both children, family and livelihood.
Drug addiction has cost her family, freedom, children, marriage and relationships. From custody battles to even loss of her inheritance, the devastation has been deep and long.
The City of Lights program has been one that has provided a place to be able to think through her situation, seek God on critical issues relating to her abuses, and abusers.
By being at City of Lights she desires for God to help her be made whole, get a clear understanding of her purpose going forward, be able to make a plan and gain the confidence needed to be a loving wife, Mother, friend and follower of Christ.
“I lost everything. Drugs ruined my life and took my whole family away.”
Gina began her journey with drugs at the age of 18. She and her friends would would drink, party and socialize. Before long she was involved with smoking pot, cocaine, pills and eventually meth. Through her experience with drugs, she was divorced, lost her son, and is now trying to recover.
Gina is thankful to be at City of Lights where she has been able to focus on God and His will for her life. Her goals are to be able to “stand on her own two feet”. A sponsor would help her meet her goals, continue to study and grow to an understanding of faithful service in Christ.
“I now know for sure there is a God who loves me and has a plan for my life.”
Michelle began her addiction and habits of drug abuse when she was 16 years of age. She got in an abusive relationship and with her boyfriend did pain pills, cocaine and meth.
When her home was raided by police, she lost her children to foster care and she spent time in jail. Throughout her life, she had absolutely no knowledge of God. Over time, she would lose all 4 of her children. It was at a low point in her life that she lifted a Bible and considered seeking God.
When she came to City of Lights she found the courage she has needed to stick with a program and seek God’s truths. A sponsor would help her in her recovery quest and enable her to do God’s will.