Dignity Restored - Denver Rescue Mission

After decades of addiction and near-death experiences, Abel chose a new path through Denver Rescue Mission’s New Life Program. Today, he is a graduate, reunited with his family and building a stable future through steady employment.

Finding Solid Ground

Abel grew up in a military family, moving from place to place throughout his childhood, including time in Colorado Springs. But as an adult, he found himself stuck in a different kind of cycle—one shaped by addiction.

For 24 years, Abel believed he needed to stay in a constant high just to get through life. Along the way, he endured one life-threatening crisis after another. Within four years, he survived a stroke following a prison stay, sepsis and an overdose.

“Talk about the obvious signs of being on the wrong path,” Abel said.

But to Abel, the greatest sign wasn’t everything he had been through. It was the fact that he had survived it all.

“There was that grace from God that kept me here,” he said. “It was time. It was time to stop.”

Abel knew he needed a new path, so when his mom suggested Denver Rescue Mission’s New Life Program, his response was simple: “Bingo, let’s do it. I’m ready.”

Abel traveled from El Paso, Texas, to Denver, determined to begin a new chapter. He knew it wouldn’t be without its challenges, including waiting for a space to open in the New Life Program.

In the meantime, Abel stayed at the Mission’s shelters, where he received nutritious meals, a safe place to sleep, showers, case management and the stability he needed to take his next steps.

“The shelters were great—I’m not going to lie,” Abel said.

But what impacted Abel most wasn’t just having his basic needs met. It was the people.

“You know what was so amazing? They didn’t know I was going into the New Life Program, but the staff—they’re so intuitive and so engaged,” he said.

Before Abel ever shared his plans, multiple staff members independently encouraged him to consider the New Life Program, believing he would be a great fit.

Their encouragement affirmed that they saw not just where Abel was, but who he could become.

One Step at a Time

When Abel arrived at The Crossing for the New Life Program, he was ready to embrace every opportunity to build a different life.

One of those opportunities came through Back on My Feet, a nonprofit partner of The Crossing, when he was invited to be part of the relay version of the Colfax Marathon.

Abel began training three mornings a week, meeting his teammates at 5 a.m. The early mornings were about far more than preparing for a race. They gave Abel the structure and consistency he had been missing for years.

“You know what I needed? That discipline,” Abel said. “I needed to start building and cultivating new behaviors so that I can be stable and maintain a new life.”

Each run became another step toward rebuilding not only his physical health, but his confidence and sense of purpose. By race day, Abel completed his four-mile relay leg at a 10-minute-mile pace.

But one moment stands out to him.

“I remember such a special moment, not so much when I handed the baton, but waiting on Larry, one of my peers there,” he recalled. “He is a great ally in my sobriety and in my community with Denver Rescue Mission, and when he came and gave me that baton, it was some type of transition, right there.”

The baton represented more than a race. It represented the life Abel was building—one step, one choice and one day at a time.

A New Chapter Begins

As Abel continued his journey through the New Life Program, he completed his work readiness portion of the program at the Ministry Outreach Center (MOC). Each day he helped members of the community find food, clothing, hygiene items, and more through the Client Services store.

While helping others in need, he too found a renewed sense of purpose and belonging.

“You meet so many other community members and hear so many stories,” he said. “In helping others, I was really helping myself.”

From there, Abel enrolled in CrossPurpose, a partner organization that helps participants develop the skills they need to succeed in a new career. There, he earned an electrician certification, gaining practical skills and renewed confidence as he prepared for life after the Mission.

Equipped with new skills, restored confidence and hope for the future, Abel returned to Texas. For the first time in decades, he reunited with his family as the man he had always hoped to become.

“Oh my goodness, the dignity that they have restored in me,” Abel said, reflecting on the counseling and support he received. “I’m so ready. I have a 25-year-old son, and I haven’t been sober for 24 years. He gave me a 2-year-old granddaughter, so I got to go show them this version of me.”

Hope That Lasts

Through the New Life Program, Abel found more than a place to stay. He found people who believed in him, opportunities to grow and the support he needed to rebuild his life.

The Mission didn’t simply change Abel’s circumstances—it helped him rediscover the person he was created to be, restore his dignity and build a different future.

And now, Abel wants others to know that recovery is possible.

“Don’t give up, don’t give in to the addiction. There is hope, and there is an answer; there is healing, and there is recovery.”