saved from the streets and addiction

Mark Borrett's story

My name is Mark and this is my story. If you had known of me growing up you would have known someone who came across as a bright, cheerful, helpful person. Average student who excelled at sports; member of the local cadet force; good family, hardworking parents, not exactly well off but making ends meet. That was on the outside, inside I was a mess. I was a melting pot of hate, anger, doubt and self loathing. The reason for this was that I was raped by a “ friend of the family ”. This abuse went on for a period of four years by the “ friend of the family ” and his group of friends. This was the start of a road that eventually lead to fourteen years of homelessness, drug addiction, alcoholism, and, when I was at the lowest point, accepting God as my Lord and saviour, giving my whole life to him.

That’s when my life changed. We have an awesome God. A God of unconditional love. A God of healing and compassion. He has not only turned my life around but upside down and inside out. I am being healed mentally as well as physically. He is a God of restoration. Slowly I am becoming the man God meant me to be, not the one my life experiences turned me into. A Christian walk is not an easy one, it is not all bright sunshine and fluffy white rabbits, but it is so worth it, so fulfilling. In the dark times just the knowledge that God is with me gives me the strength to push on.

That brings me to where I am now. I am in a Christian recovery centre for drug and alcohol abuse. As for the future…? Well that is in God’s hands. Next year I hope to do a 1year discipleship course at Destiny College. I am also studying councelling which I would like to take further, eventually working in the field of homelessness/addiction prevention/rehab full time. The exciting thing is knowing God is involved. As I said there are bad times, but the good ones far outweigh them. Before I had a nightmare of addiction. Now I have a full, vibrant, exciting life through Christ Jesus. I have learnt not to accept second best only God best and what is impossible for me is possible with God. Oh yeah, nearly forgot there is no such thing as coincidence in life. Just Godincidence.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future .” (Jeremial 29:11)