Desman M.

Growing up was tough. My parents were strict military parents, and my father was a functional alcoholic and even led me to drink alcohol around 5 years old.  I was athletic and was an honor student but the physical and mental abuse led me to the streets and active gang life at 16. The violence claimed many of the gang members. After my brother’s accident I began heavily using drugs and alcohol to escape the stress of the gang war and to push down the pain.  I was soon facing life in prison if things didn’t change. I managed to turn things around but couldn’t shake the addiction to alcohol that was tearing my family apart. My pastor found Teen Challenge and now I am committed to turning things around for my family. I hope to get closer to God and learn and apply the teachings of Jesus, so that I may live longer and be a better man for my family.