Kelci’s Story

Kelci was raised in an environment that was “a breeding ground” for her to get into addiction herself. That addiction started early when she was nine or ten. Alcohol led to marijuana, which led to cocaine, which led to methamphetamines.

Because her dad was a functioning addict, she didn’t have a negative view of addiction. “I just thought addiction was in my family until I got older and had my son.” It wasn’t until she relapsed and her son was taken from her that Kelci realized she needed real help.

“One day I got high, and that’s all it took,” she remembers. “My son then got taken from me, and that was the last straw. I knew that was it. God was like, ‘We’re not playing games anymore.’ A week later, I put myself in treatment.”

Once she was clean, Kelci came to Grace Place, our transitional housing for women, to grow deeper in her relationship with Christ. “I needed to be surrounded by people who can show me how to love like Jesus,” she says. “They can show me how to build my son up in a community so that he doesn’t have to worry about his mom or if someone loves him or cares about him. We are all dependent on God and his power, and not on ourselves.”

“My son deserves a mom he doesn’t have to worry about,” she says. “For me to be the best mother he deserves, I have to take time to work on myself.”

“By God’s grace, my mom is seven years sober,” Kelci says. “She has a wonderful relationship with God. She and my stepdad are helping me with my son, and they live close, so I do get visits to see him and spend as much time with them as possible.”

Kelci also helps others by serving as the kitchen assistant in our new Community Center.

“It’s wonderful,” she says. “Just knowing that I’m making an impact on somebody’s life is a blessing.”

“We’re treated like human beings here. But it takes all of us being obedient to God to make such a big impact. The Mission reaches farther than we think.”

Thank you for making a difference in Kelci’s life through your partnership!