“A Radical Transformation”: Kyle’s Story
Stories of Hope is a Men of Nehemiah series that chronicles the individual journeys of healing and redemption our men have experienced.
Tell us about your background.
My name is Kyle, and I grew up in Irvine, Texas. I guess it's common for men like me who come through Men of Nehemiah to grow up with abusive backgrounds, alcoholic family members, and drug-addicted families.
I chose drugs at an early age, probably about 11 or 12. I stayed on drugs for about 16 more years. By the time I got to Men of Nehemiah, I had no other options. I’d lost everything. I remember crying out and just wanting to die.
I needed to go somewhere where I could get structure, discipline, and develop this relationship with Christ.
What was life like before Men of Nehemiah?
Life was hell. Because as an addict, I really believed my life was great and grand. If I had $300 or even $3, I was a millionaire. But the truth was, it was chaos.
But I had some liver and kidney complications. I was losing my teeth. My life was a living hell. I can vividly remember those things. Suicide attempts through the roof. Stealing from my family, causing a lot of pain in my family's eyes and hurting them. My life was really bad.
How did you get connected to Men of Nehemiah?
I was at a 12-step meeting, and I met somebody named Shelby Bird. He was like, "Hey man, I got a friend who went to Nehemiah and he graduated."
Like many graduates will tell you, I watched the video and was like, “Nah, I'm good. I don't really wanna march. I'm good.” But I proceeded to go back to jail, institutions, and things. I just cried to the Lord. When I finally came back to Texas from Colorado, I called Nehemiah, and I got in Monday, October 31, 2017.
What was your experience like at Nehemiah?
I've been the leper, the outcast, the piece of trash my whole life. That’s what I perceived myself to be. It was such a struggle.
Being an institutionalized mind, being in prisons, your guard is constantly up. My heart was actually hardened. I had a lot of struggles when I got here.
I got diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver with the potential of liver cancer. That's how I met God, though. Sitting outside the window, I would write to God, and I would pray.
And then what really solidified my faith in Jesus was calling [my doctors] a third time. The first two diagnoses were cirrhosis. But the third, they said, "We made a mistake." But that pivotal moment of me crying out to God allowed me to see that God is a healer, and he healed me.
Like many of us who come through here, I had my ups and downs. I had my days. I wanted to quit, but the military aspect really taught me to hold on, to continue to push through.
How has God used Nehemiah to change your life?
Before I came in here, my mother was struggling. My brother was young, and here I was a 28-year-old dope fiend, stealing everything and causing chaos.
But today, I'm fully employed. I have three step-kids and a daughter. I have four kids. This is all because of Christ. But not only that, my mother is now free from the stress of this and my brother is gainfully employed. I think it's a radical transformation when these things happen.
What does your life look like now?
Well, some say I'm old and grumpy. [Laughing] As I get older and I mature, I pay bills. I'm a father. I'm soon to be a husband. I'm a friend. I'm a warrior. I'm a lover. I'm all these things today through the transformation of Jesus Christ.
How long have you been sober now?
Going on six years.
What do you most look forward to about the future?
Watching my kids grow and growing myself.
What would you say to someone battling addiction? Or the family members of someone struggling with addiction?
As my loved ones loved me through my addiction, ultimately I was really killing them. And some of them had to let me go. They had to give me over to God.
When I finally opened up my eyes and realized that there was more to life than sticking a needle in my arm—man, there is hope. There is hope. But there has to be a willingness [to change].