Michael

I was in care at ten, running wild on the streets from a very early age. Then street homeless, in and out of prison – doing bad things to get drugs, doing bad things on drugs.

I was lost, man.

Over those years, I dipped in and out of ACT and St Aldates Church.

They’d always open the door to me.

They used to feed me at Monday dinner and at the church when I was homeless. Rob [ACT’s Outreach and Mentoring Manager] would always spend time with me.

The last time I went to prison, I thought, ‘You’ve become everything that you hate about humanity.’ I wanted to end it all.

I was strictly anti-religion, but sitting in my cell I had a kind of vision. I was shown that Christ is king, that Jesus is the guv’nor – and I just knew it was true. Even though I knew nothing about the Bible, I thought ‘Oh my days, this stuff is real.’

I knew something profound had happened.

Then I started reading scripture, got baptised, got confirmed, fell in love with fervour with the Lord.

I came out of prison and went straight to St Aldates Church. My assimilation into the church has been seamless.

And ACT invited me in – just pulled me into the family.

They showed me such open arms and such love. It was like they were waiting.

Now I’m learning some good traits and shedding some bad ones. It’s a painful process but I’m doing it.

I’m hungry, and I’m learning, learning, learning. I learn a lot from other community members, from people going before me, and from [ACT’s Director] Dave and Rob. I’ve never really had any positive male role models. It’s lovely to have men I can look to for guidance.

They even took me on holiday last year.

Canoeing, climbing, getting to know each other, sharing our experiences in the Lord – I felt like a big kid because I haven’t had holidays before.

It’s so moving to have someone say, ‘Do you want to come on holiday with us?’ To be invited to something like that, it’s beautiful.

I’m nearly two years clean. I’ve done an Access course and now I’m starting a degree in politics. I’d like to have a nice job one day, do something that helps others.

But for now, I’m learning to live a day at a time. Jesus taught us to live in the moment – don’t worry about how you’re going to be clothed or be fed tomorrow, just think about today.

I’ve always had this low self-esteem, this inferiority complex. Now I’m learning from Aldates and ACT that my perception was skewed.

I’ve been welcomed into the family as an equal.