God Wasn't Done With Ivan
Grief, addiction, and a five-year sentence couldn't write the final chapter of Ivan's story.
My name is Ivan. In 2016, I owned my own business with a few employees. Then my mother passed away. I started to drown the pain through parties and drugs which affected my work performance resulting in clients dropping and bills piling up.
Mixed up with the wrong crowd, I ended up in county jail with two aggravated robbery charges. Luckily God wasn't done with me!
When I got out on parole after a five-year sentence, I had nothing—my wife had been murdered, my house was in foreclosure, all my worldly possessions were gone. My siblings let me lay my head at their place. Through the mandatory classes for the recently released, I learned about Reentry 1st Stop and received all that Cornerstone offered including a lead on a residential remodeling job. Two days later I was working at a faith-based company. The owners are a blessing from God! They helped me with transportation back-and-forth to work and Reentry 1st Stop even referring me to a place that helps you get a vehicle with a low-down payment.
I'm refocusing on God, the mission He has for me, and surrounding myself with people who will hold me accountable for my words and actions.
I plan on building my company backup and starting a couple other businesses. I know anything worth having takes time so that's what I'm doing, taking one step at-a-time and asking the Lord to guide my steps. Prayer works!
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