It was only when my daughter asked through the visitation glass how much it would cost out of her piggy bank to keep me out of jail, that I truly recognized: I needed God. I could no longer do this my way. My options were exhausted so I began looking towards Jesus that day. I had been in active addiction for 20 years and spent a year in jail. I never could see the end of that road, until that day. It wasn’t always easy, but I had a different kind of strength once I laid down my burdens, trauma and… Read More
Overcoming Obstacles
-
-
My biological dad suffered from severe alcoholism. He was decapitated by an Amtrak train when I was 11 years old. I grew up with a verbally, physically and mentally abusive stepdad. My family struggled with poverty, food insecurity and shelter. I was sexually molested and raped by multiple perpetrators for several years beginning when I was only 4. At 19, I was raped and left in a field. By age 21, I was married and pregnant. I suffered from anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. At 24, I learned the baby boy I was carrying had died. I carried my dead son in my womb… Read More
-
I learned at an early age I needed to listen to God and not ignore His nudges. So when my dear friend, Joanna, desperately needed a live liver donor in order to save her life, I felt God’s nudge. And I knew I had been called to donate part of my liver to her. Joanna and I became friends about 15 years ago. We worked together in the preschool department at our church in Birmingham, and saw that we had very similar passions. We started to do a lot of life together and became very close friends. When I first met Joanna,… Read More
-
During my season of greatest brokenness following a devastating divorce, I put up so many walls as my own personal protective mechanism. I experienced rejection and abuse coupled with the exposure of my ex’s unfaithfulness. So much trust had been broken that I didn’t ever think I could let anyone get close to me again. I remember countless nights of crying myself to sleep, wishing the pain would dissipate. I remember feeling numb inside, forgetting what it’s like to simply feel anything at all. I remember wanting to learn to live again, but being unsure how to get from where I… Read More
-
At a very young age, my brother was very physically abusive to me to show off in front of his friends. My entire household was full of pride and ego. Nobody could ever admit they were wrong; there were always issues. There was never a family dinner without fighting, screaming and somebody walking out of the house! I had at least 23 suicide attempts starting at the age of 11. The abuse was so great at my house that I was ordered to move out to avoid my brother being taken into juvenile detention. I truly cried out to God! I said, “If… Read More
-
My name is Kareem McNeal, and I was once in a situation where it looked like I would have a promising career with the NFL. A sudden accident changed everything, in an instant. I could easily have blamed God for losing my opportunity, but I did not. My faith was stronger than what happened, and I continued to trust in God. I am from Tuskegee and went to high school in Montgomery at Alabama Christian Academy. Originally, I did not have a desire to play football, but the football coach asked me to try out for the… Read More