Jason was raised in a Christian home with a faithful mom who never stopped praying. After the tragic death of his father, he began to drift. By 18, drinking led to drug use, and eventually to dealing. Over the years, the spiral deepened—cocaine, pills, meth, homelessness, and countless arrests.

But in a prison cell, something broke. A chaplain handed Jason a Bible, and in the middle of the chaos, he found peace. He started attending chapel services, reading the Word, and feeling a tug on his heart. One morning, after a restless night, Jason dropped to his knees and surrendered his life to Jesus.

That moment changed everything.

Today, Jason is walking in freedom. He serves at Men of Valor, mentoring other men coming out of incarceration. His story is one of radical redemption—a testimony of how God can take what the enemy meant for destruction and turn it into purpose.

If you’ve ever felt too far gone, let Jason’s life remind you: Jesus still saves. He still redeems.

Want more stories like Jason’s? Read You Are Loved or explore From These Broken Pieces to see what God can do with a surrendered life.

You are never too far gone for grace. Your story is not over.

The post Jason’s Redemption Story: How Jesus Saved My Life and Gave Me a New Purpose appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

After 12 years lost in addiction, homelessness, and brokenness, Jamie shares how Jesus became the doorway from death to life. What began with anger toward God ended in an encounter with Christ on a church porch, two bottles of water, and a moment that changed everything.

This conversation is raw, honest, and full of hope—for anyone struggling with addiction, for families praying for a loved one, and for those who wonder if it’s ever too late. It’s not about religion. It’s about Jesus meeting people exactly where they are and restoring what seemed beyond repair.

If you or someone you love is in the fight, don’t stop praying. God hears. God moves. And resurrection is real.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14

If this story encouraged you, please like, share, and subscribe so more people can hear what God is doing.

#Testimony #RedemptionStory #FromAddictionToFreedom #JesusSaves #RecoveryThroughChrist #CelebrateRecovery #ChristianTestimony #HopeForTheBroken #FaithStory #GodStillHeals

The post Christian Testimony: From Addiction to Redemption appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

If you’ve spent any time around recovery communities—especially Celebrate Recovery—you’ve probably seen the phrase “God Is Dope” on shirts, hats, and posters. The first time you hear it, you might smile or be confused. It’s not a phrase you expect to see next to a Bible or in a church hallway. But that’s kind of the point.

People in recovery know exactly what dope once meant. It was the substance. The thrill. The escape. It was the thing that was chased when everything else felt too heavy to carry. But that high always came with a crash. It stole peace, relationships, and sometimes hope.

So when someone who’s experienced God’s rescue says, “God Is Dope,” what they’re really saying is:

“God is greater than anything I used to turn to. He’s better. He’s stronger. He’s enough.”

The thing that once controlled me doesn’t anymore. God does and that’s a good thing.

In the You Are Loved series, we often talk about how recovery isn’t just about stopping a habit, but it’s about discovering Who truly satisfies your soul. Healing doesn’t start with sheer willpower. It starts with a Savior. God isn’t a consolation prize after the world lets us down. He is the source, the One who fills us with hope and joy that we don’t have to regret later. When God steps into the story, hearts change, minds transform, and what once defined us loses its power.

That’s what makes the phrase “God Is Dope” so real for those in recovery. It flips the narrative.
The very word that once represented bondage now becomes a testimony of freedom. I’ve heard people in CR say things like:

“I used to think that substance was everything… but now I know God is.”
“The high I was chasing can’t compare to the peace He gives me.”

That’s why this phrase resonates. It’s a celebration of the transformation Jesus brings.

What Scripture Says About God’s Goodness

The Bible has been saying this truth long before it made its way to T-shirts:

• “Taste and see that the Lord is good…” — Psalm 34:8
  • We don’t just hear about God’s goodness — we experience it.
• “ I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” — John 10:10
  • Jesus didn’t rescue us to leave us barely surviving. He gives us life that is full.
• “The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
  • We’re not who we were. And we don’t have to live like we’re still stuck there.

One of my favorite things about this phrase is that it invites questions. When someone asks, “Why does your shirt say that?” you get to share the best part of your story: “Because God changed my life.” God doesn’t waste a single thing He rescues us from. Not even our words.

Wear It. Live It. Share It.

So yes — God Is Dope.
Not because it’s trendy. But because He’s powerful, loving, and deeply invested in our freedom.

If this phrase speaks to your recovery story, don’t be afraid to wear it. Let it start conversations. Let it be a reminder of what’s true on the hardest days.

The post What does “God is Dope” Mean? appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

At 26 years old, Jimmy’s life took a devastating turn. After losing his father, he fell into the grip of meth addiction, a spiral that would strip away everything he loved—his children, his job, and his sense of worth. The pain of loss mixed with self-doubt, and the lie that he wasn’t “good enough” became the chain that bound him.

Hitting Rock Bottom

Jimmy reached a point of complete despair. Alone on a creek bank, carrying nothing but drugs in his pocket, he thought his story was over. His body was broken, his heart was empty, and his hope was gone.

But what looked like the end was actually the beginning of grace.

A Life-Changing Encounter

In that quiet, desperate moment, Jimmy had his first real encounter with Jesus Christ. It wasn’t in a church pew or surrounded by people—it was just him and God. And that’s all it took.

Jesus met Jimmy right where he was—dirty, defeated, and hopeless—and offered him something he hadn’t felt in years: love and freedom.

That encounter changed everything. From that day forward, Jimmy began walking a new path—one marked by healing, recovery, and redemption.

Lessons from Jimmy’s Story

Jimmy’s journey reminds us of three timeless truths:

• God meets us at our lowest point. No matter how far we’ve fallen, His love reaches deeper still.
• Freedom is possible. Addiction doesn’t define us—Christ does.
• Your identity is found in Jesus. Not in your past, not in your mistakes, but in who He says you are: forgiven, chosen, and loved.
• Recovery is a daily decision. Every day, Jimmy chooses faith over fear and freedom over destruction.

There Is Hope for You Too

If you’re reading this and you feel trapped—by addiction, shame, or regret—please know this: you are not alone. The same God who rescued Jimmy can rescue you.

No pit is too deep, no past too broken, and no heart too far gone for God to redeem.

Need help? Reach out to a local recovery program, Celebrate Recovery group, or church in your area. Freedom starts with one step—and that step could be today.

The post From Drug Addiction to Divine Redemption appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.

Here is the original interview. I also wanted to share with you the chapter of her story from my book: From These Broken Pieces.

Free Falling

Terror filled Jayme as she stared down at the earth thousands of feet below. Underneath the bubbling fear was a boiling excitement. It was time to leave the plane, and something told her that she would love this. 

She took a deep breath and jumped, wind whipping at her face. Her arms were outstretched as the world zipped by. This is what freedom feels like. She thought. This is what living feels like. 

Free falling 15,000 feet from an airplane felt like going a month without binging and purging herself. Bulimia had ruled her life. Her childhood perfectionism grew into a check-the-box relationship with God, food-restricting diets, and over-exercising. It ate away at her. Her relationship with her husband broke down. Finally, she just left him and fled to Florida. 

She started dating an atheist. One day they drove by a church and he said, “I know you used to go to church when you lived in Michigan, and if the only reason you’re not going now is because you don’t want to go by yourself, I’d go with you.”

An atheist. Telling her to go to church. In that moment, she knew it had to be God, so she took a chance and tried church again. It didn’t lead to recovery right away. She tried seeing a counselor, but she wasn’t ready yet. The hold bulimia had over her was just too strong. The craving twisted her mind. If she didn’t give in, she just knew she would die. And yet, to keep purging was killing her.

Something had to change.

It was time to start trying to recover. She had nothing left to lose trying it God’s way. She prayed out even though she was terrified. 

What if I gain weight? 

What if all these bad things happen that I don’t have control of?

Her thoughts spun wild, but she had to let go of control and start getting help. She came across a book written by someone who had dealt with bulimia. She saw herself in the pages of the book, only this person had gotten better. The story was enough to make Jayme realize it was time to start taking tiny, gradual steps. 

She went one day without purging.

A week. 

At the one-month mark, she signed up for skydiving. She had struggled so long that she didn’t know who she was anymore. She didn’t have hobbies or dreams. Something new was needed. How different could you get than launching yourself out of a plane and into the sky?

As soon as her feet touched the ground, she knew everything was different. That free fall was what it felt like to be free from bulimia and she’d never forget it. There was no going back. She started traveling the world—even bungee jumping in Switzerland—and she knew was traveling with Him. Just her and the Lord.

She’s now gone eight years without purging. Jayme thought she’d live with this addiction her entire life, but God had a different plan. She has even hosted a podcast: Recover With God Podcast to encourage others struggling with eating disorders.

It was a long journey that led to jumping out of that plane, but she now lives every day in beautiful, God-given freedom.

Want more encouraging true stories of hope and healing? Check out my book, From These Broken Pieces. Another great place to start your healing journey is diving deep into God’s Word! My free online course, Coming To Life may help!

The post Free Falling: A True Story of Eating Disorder Recovery appeared first on Katie Hauck Ministries.