LEARNING RIGHT & WRONG
Lawrence grew up in a household where both his parents worked full time and went to church on Sundays. The values of doing the right thing were instilled early. However, in high school, Lawrence was seduced by to the allure of women, fast money, and brotherhood the thug life promised. All the things he couldn’t do or be at home.
“I wanted to be my own man at the time. I wanted all the fun out of life… not realizing the serious consequences.”
PATH TO PRISON
The “freedoms” Lawrence enjoyed led to severe consequences. He was convicted for theft and a terrorist threat – serving six years in prison. Behind bars, Lawrence spent long hours contemplating his decisions. He wanted more out of life and realized he needed to make big changes to have it.
COUNTING THE COSTS
Reentering society came with new challenges. Lawrence was drawn right back into drugs, parole violations, partying, and running the streets. His desire to live carefree, kept him locked in a cycle of prison terms and risking his life.
Lawrence once started a house fire while attempting to make illegal drugs. He narrowly escaped and was badly burned while the homeowner lost the house. He survived a shooting; just this year having that bullet removed. He ultimately suffered a broken femur, two lost teeth, and almost bled to death in a near-fatal bicycle accident. If not for a passerby who stopped the bleeding Lawrence would have died. These tragedies led to a deep sense of gratitude and hunger for redemption.
“It was hard for me to feel motivated alone. There’s a difference between me doing it by myself versus getting the support that I need at Hope Now.“
FINDING HOPE NOW
Lawrence heard about Hope Now from a friend who raved about how much the program helped him. When Lawrence walked through the doors, he was struck by the staff’s genuine passion to help him better his life.
At 34, Lawrence realizes that he is at a crossroads in life: one leading to purpose and success, the other to prison and possibly death. His past mistakes keep him determined to create a better future and steadfast to build a solid faith in God.
Lawrence is filled with gratitude for Hope Now’s support. He’s making better choices and valuing his time. Sobriety has become his priority, fueled by his friend recently losing his life to drug abuse.
“Hope Now has been a lifeline for me—a place where I find the support and motivation to keep moving forward.”