You can't run from God

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” — Isaiah 43:18–19

Brad Rushing first entered the Men’s Residence back in 2012. Even then, everybody could see the potential in him.

After graduating, Brad went to Liberty University, but it wasn’t long before he returned to the same old thinking and the same old lifestyle. He was young, had experienced a lot of hurt early in life, and simply wasn’t ready for that amount of freedom.

What followed were years of addiction, mental health struggles, arrests, broken relationships, and running from God.

Every so often, Brad would find his way back home to us. He would come through the program, graduate, get a job, move out—and eventually return to the same life he had always known. Along the way, he got married and had a daughter, but the instability continued. His marriage fell apart, and Brad kept running further from God and closer to the personal hell that had somehow become comfortable to him.

But God never stopped pursuing him.

Last year, Brad found himself back in the Lake County Jail. Only this time, something was different. He couldn’t run anymore. In that jail cell, Brad had a real encounter with God, and the change began.

When he was released, Brad’s plan was to catch a bus to Orlando and stay at a rescue mission. But God had another plan. Someone offered to bring him by the Christian Care Center just to pick up some things he had left behind and talk for a little while.

He came here to get his stuff but ended up enrolled in the Men’s Residence Program. What Brad thought was just a quick stop along the way turned out to be a divine appointment that would change the direction of his life.

I told him, “Treat this like it’s your first time here. Don’t do it the way you’ve always done it.”

And that decision would matter.

As Brad approached the end of his program phase, everything in him was screaming to leave. Going back to what he knew would have been easier. Instead, I offered him the opportunity to extend his time in the program.

Brad said yes.

And from there, everything began to change.

God’s love became so apparent in Brad’s life that instead of running from it again, he finally surrendered to it. Instead of simply getting another job and returning to the same cycle, Brad began studying to become a licensed Peer Recovery Specialist so God could use the very things that nearly destroyed him to bring hope to somebody else.

He quickly earned his Peer Specialist certification and is now working toward the experience required for full credentialing.

Then Brad decided to go back to college.

There was just one problem: old student loans were in default, which meant he would have to wait before he could receive financial aid.

But God.

Through a generous donation to the Christian Care Center, we were able to enroll Brad immediately at City Vision University, where he is now studying to become a Drug and Alcohol Counselor.

For years, Brad kept returning to the life he knew.

This time, God has put a brand-new life in front of him—and instead of running from it, Brad is embracing it with everything he has.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing.”

Brad’s story is still being written. And stories like his are why the Men’s Residence exists.

If you would like to be part of what God is doing through the Men’s Residence by becoming a financial partner, volunteering, or partnering with us in prayer, email Jamie@christiancarecenter.org.