True Stories of Triumph

The Willie King Story

His first experience with pain and terror came at six years old when he watched a fatal stabbing. He decided then that nothing could have power over him if he did not care about himself. With his childhood experiences and those of the military, he started using drugs and alcohol to hide the pain. Fortunately for him, he had a daughter and granddaughter who cared enough to encourage him to get help.  

On January 29, 2017, the Veterans Administration sent him to Emmanuel House. It was at Emmanuel House that Willie learned to care about himself, make better choices, find his Higher Power, and move in a positive direction.  Emmanuel House helped him increase his disability benefits from 30% to 80%, and he is working toward 100%, which will put him in a good place to pay for housing and living expenses.

Because of the support that Willie received from Emmanuel House today, he has peace and joy in his life.

This Program Was a God Send

After completing 8 years of military service I found myself dependent on alcohol and later crack cocaine. I began having thoughts of suicide and decided I needed help. I went to the VA hospital where I was placed on suicide watch. The VA told me that there was only one place that they felt could truly help me. That place was Emmanuel House.  Emmanuel House has helped me regain my life and I will be celebrating 12 years of recovery this March.

This program was a God send, and over the years I have been blessed to help other veterans get their lives back. 

Thank you, Emmanuel House,

-Nurse, Frazier

I Am Grateful

My name is John C. I’ve been a father, husband, soldier, production worker, certified peer recovery mentor, and now a case manager at Emmanuel House Veterans Recovery. I am a grateful recovering addict. 

My life wasn’t always like it is now. I’ve been homeless multiple times, incarcerated multiple times, a convicted felon, a thief, a liar, a drug dealer, a violent drunk, and chronically unemployed. I would never accept responsibility or admit that my actions lead me to all the difficulties I was having in my completely unmanageable life. I was adrift and didn’t know how to cope with what I viewed as a cruel and merciless world. After hitting rock bottom, the VA sent me to Emmanuel House. That was on my clean date 5/27/2014. 

Since that day I have found a sense of purpose that has allowed me to heal from the abuse I suffered as a child at the hands of my parents. I came to realize that God was watching over me my entire life and was using my life experiences to mold me into the person I am today. Because of God and the help and guidance I've received as a result of the Emmanuel House program, I have been able to forgive my parents. I never would have been able to repair my shattered psyche without the help of Emmanuel House Recovery.

I stayed as a resident at E-House for three years assisting other veterans who had come to Emmanual House for help. Ultimately I was approached by the med room supervisor with an offer to become a Peer Recovery Mentor. I completed the requirements and became a certified peer recovery mentor, a certification I still hold. After about 2 years of mentoring at EH, I was offered the position of shelter case manager, a position that I still hold. 

As of May 27, 2021, I am 7 years clean. During my time at Emmanuel House, I have acquired a Habitat For Humanity home and, most importantly, an unshakable belief in God along with a positive sense of worth that has been missing my entire life. None of this would have been possible if I wasn’t positioned by God had not brought me to Emmanuel House.

I can only hope that my story inspires another still-suffering addict to take that monumental first step and seek the help and guidance needed to become a productive member of society.