From Survival to Purpose: Josh’s Story of Redemption and Hope

At the July Monthly Men’s Center Celebration, where Oliver Gospel recognizes achieving goals, small and large, Josh shared with everyone his journey. Read about it below and watch the video.

Life had unraveled for Josh, so much so that hope felt more like a memory than a reality. Grief, addiction, and isolation had taken nearly everything from him. But even in the thick of loss and relapse, Josh made a choice: to try again. To keep going. And that decision, to step into recovery, one exhausting day at a time, is where his story began to shift.

A Father's Worst Grief

Josh entered our program after the tragic and sudden loss of his son, Thomas. “No parent should ever have to do that,” he said, reflecting on the moment that shattered his world. Thomas had used drugs only once—fentanyl, unknowingly—and never woke up.

Grief overwhelmed Josh in ways he couldn’t have prepared for. He wrestled with sorrow, anger, and the kind of questions that don’t come with easy answers. Addiction deepened. Life felt aimless. But even in that heartbreak, God began to draw near—a Father who understands loss, gently inviting Josh to take the next step forward.

Surrender and Struggle

At one of his lowest moments, Josh cried out: “God, you cannot do this worse than I had in 47 years. So, I will do whatever you want me to do.” That moment of surrender didn’t erase the pain, but it opened a new door—a door toward healing.

Even after being accepted into the Recovery Program, Oliver Gospel’s substance addiction program, Josh struggled. He walked out the door, planning to get high one last time, but he never did. Something had changed. God was already at work. And Josh, hurting but not hopeless, turned around and came back. He chose to keep going.

A New Kind of Family

Addiction had left Josh alone. Relationships were broken. Trust was gone. But in recovery, he found something he hadn’t experienced in a long time: people who truly cared. People who stayed.

“You are my people,” he said of the men and staff in the program. “I didn’t have people I had real relationships with. Now I do.” 

Living with Purpose

Now, Josh serves in guest services, helping others take the same steps he once did. He shows up with purpose, living out the grace he was given and extending it to those just beginning their journey.  “I get to live,” he said. “Not just survive—but live.” 

Josh doesn’t pretend the road is easy. He still grieves the way he had to learn his lessons. But he sees how God is using it all, every painful step, every act of surrender, every person who walked alongside him. 

“You gave me a dad that could be a dad,” he says, imagining what his kids might say one day. “You gave me a man that could be a husband.” 

His life is a testament to the fact that recovery is possible. That change takes time and is a daily choice. That even when life is in pieces, God is still rebuilding something beautiful. 

If you’re walking through something hard, or loving someone who is, let Josh’s story remind you: you are not alone. God is still writing stories of redemption. Healing is real. And hope is alive. 

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