Steve Shelton grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, never knowing his father. He grew up as an only child, raised by a single mother, supported by her parents, Steve’s only grandparents.
This is a common theme for many men trapped in addiction. Steve was not only without the influence of a father, but he did not even have the knowledge of a father. He struggled with self-esteem and self-worth, which plunged him into a life of addiction for many years.
Due to her struggles, Steve’s mom was not a strong presence in his life, so he was raised primarily by her parents. By the age of 33, Steve had lost all contact with his mom, and both of his grandparents had deceased. Steve found himself completely alone in their family home, and due to the typical neglect that comes with addiction, that home was beginning to fall in around him.
Finding Hope at 2820 Governors Drive
He eventually reached out to God through the ministry of The Livin’ Room at 2820 Governors Drive, a local Christ-centered outreach to the disenfranchised. God began to break the bondage of addiction in Steve’s life as Steve dedicated his life to Jesus Christ.
2820 supported Steve in getting further recovery and spiritual training through His Way residential recovery program for men. Steve was an outstanding participant, embracing the full benefit of the program. He graduated from the nine-month program in January 2022 and then the Advanced Recovery Group in June of that same year.
In anticipation of his return to his family home, his home church at 2820 renovated his home, and he returned to a brand-new home in June 2022.
Steve had become a dedicated and invaluable part of The Saving Way thrift store team at Winchester Road, where he had worked since he was in the His Way residential program.
Reconnecting Across Continents
Recently, through Facebook, Steve was contacted by a woman from Germany, a stranger who believed she had a long-lost older brother in America. Through Facebook communication, they became convinced that they were long-lost siblings. Steve also connected with his long-lost younger brother Sascha and his family.
Just before Christmas, Steve received the gift of a lifetime when he was able to fly to Newark, New Jersey, meet his German family, and meet his father, Wilfried. After 59 years of being lost, they were found!
Steve is now sporting a newly-issued passport and a ticket for a two-week trip to Germany, in July, to meet the rest of this family he had always yearned for but never knew.
Long before Steve knew of his German family, he concluded his testimony at the His Way Annual Dinner, before nearly 700 supporters with these words,
“A man with a family is a rich man. A man with multiple families is rich beyond measure. I stand before you all tonight and proclaim that I am the richest man in the room tonight!”
God’s grace in II Corinthians 8:9 is being realized in Steve’s life,
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.”
I know no man richer than Steve Shelton.
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The His Way Christ-centered recovery model provides a greater chance for overcoming addiction and lasting change for men and their families. Check out all of the ways you can support our ministry and help making lasting change: https://hiswayinc.org/ways-to-give/
