Anything is Possible - Denver Rescue Mission

Lloyd’s life spiraled through addiction, loss and homelessness—until his daughter’s heartbreaking plea pushed him to change. Through faith and determination, he rebuilt his life and found purpose in helping others do the same.

The Old Life

“When my daughter said to me, ‘Dad, what are you doing? You’re hurting me,’ that’s what hit my heart. I told her, ‘Okay, kiddo, find me a program and I’ll go.’”

After over 20 years of battling addiction, these words from his daughter were the spark Lloyd needed to ignite his motivation for change in his life.

Lloyd started drinking and smoking marijuana at the age of 14 as a way to cope with his anger and navigate his emotions. “I was adopted at four months, and so I kind of always carried this around with me, of why my true family didn’t love me enough to keep me.”

As he grew up, Lloyd watched his adoptive parents struggle with health issues. As a teenager, he had to perform CPR on his father two times before he later passed away. His alcoholism only grew worse after that, and that is also when he began using methamphetamines.

“When I lost him, it was very detrimental to my myself, my mind, my emotions, everything. I didn’t know how to control it.”

Lloyd’s twenties were spent taking care of his mother, and at the same time he was deep in his addiction, going in and out of jails and prisons, getting a divorce from the mother of his two children, and ending up in another toxic, codependent relationship.

“When my mom passed, she comes running out the front door saying, ‘Lloyd, I can’t breathe.’ And so I sat her down in a chair, and she died in front of me, like my father did. Both of these situations became very heavy in my heart and my mind.”

After each traumatic experience, Lloyd continued to turn to substances to cope. And when his last relationship ended, that’s when he started experiencing homelessness for the first time.

“I was living in a tent. I was going in and out of the 48th Avenue shelter, not knowing where my life was going to end up. I wanted to get sober. I just didn’t know how,” he said.

Lloyd’s children were calling morgues looking for him, not knowing if he was dead or alive. That was the wakeup call Lloyd needed, and his daughter helped him get into a program at Stout Street.

From there, Lloyd’s journey of sobriety began, and after a few months he joined the Mission’s New Life Program at The Crossing. “At this point, my sobriety started to stick,” he said. “I knew what I wanted. I wanted my kids back. I wanted my life again.”

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

– 2 Corinthians 5:17

The New Life

Lloyd’s time in the New Life Program was a total transformation. Through counseling, taking classes, building relationships with the staff and other participants, and establishing a relationship with the Lord, his life has never been filled with so much hope.

“I started working on my relationship with the Lord, getting more in touch with where He wants me more than where I want me,” Lloyd said. “I’m just super thankful where I’m at now, because it wouldn’t be without Him.”

Not only did his spiritual life improve, but Lloyd’s physical and relational health improved, as he has since reconnected with his children and his sister.

In addition, his education and training improved, through classes at The Crossing and through CrossPurpose, a nonprofit that partners with the Mission to offer free training and certification in various industries and trades. Through them, Lloyd received HVAC training, which helped him obtain the current job in HVAC that he has now

“I made a promise to my kids: you’ll never, ever be calling another morgue looking for you father; I will never do that to you ever again,” Lloyd said. “Because of that promise, I worked harder, I fought for it. I kept myself motivated.”

Lloyd also got connected with a peer coach who encouraged him during his time in the program and motivated him to also become a peer coach now that he has graduated.

“I am a peer coach to some of the guys [at The Crossing]. I’m the type that if you need me, I’m coming to see you. That’s what my peer coach did for me,” Lloyd said. “I just want them to see that it’s possible. It wasn’t always easy for me, but there has got to be something that you hold onto that makes you not want to go back out [on the streets]. There’s gotta be that one strong motivator.”

Today, Lloyd has another motivator for his life: to help others who are going through what he went through. He now lives and works at a sober living community, is a peer coach and is inspiring others to not give up on their journeys of recovery.

“I’ve lived in a tent. I was at 48th shelter. I was one of the guys on the street pushing shopping carts around, holding a sign. I’ve done all this. I just don’t want it no more. I want better for my life,” he shared. “So, from me to the guys just coming [to the program], or the ones struggling with being here, the two things I want to be able to tell anybody is, don’t leave, and find your motivator. Because this is the best I’ve ever done in my entire life. And it’s all because of God.”

“Jesus died for all of us. Look at the
two people who were next to Him
on the other two crosses. They were
murderers and thieves, and He still
forgave them and came back for them.

I think me being in the darkest
moments of my life, He knew that I
would call out to Him. He knew that
I was just like one of the guys on the
cross next to Him. I’ve had some dark
moments, but because of my faith,
He knew that if He called me, I would
come running.” -Lloyd

Ready to Change Lives?

Lloyd’s story is proof that change is possible. This Easter, people like Lloyd are relying on your generosity to provide hope for them to rebuild their lives. Give today to change lives.

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