James' Transformation Story

Just like James’ story below, not everyone accepts help the first time it’s offered. And not every rock-bottom looks the same.

Most people begin their testimony by telling about the life they came from. James begins with Who saved him from it.

“Well, first, I want to give God the glory for my life. I am a new man.” It’s been a long road and a lot of ditches from the streets of Richmond to the doors of New Life for Adults and Youth, but God had a revision in mind for the story of James Lewis.

“I was raised by my grandmother and lived with my sister and brother. At 16, I started smoking weed and formed a gang on the Southside of Richmond. I stole and ran drugs until the age of 26 when I got hooked on heroin. I was homeless for fifteen years, in and out of jail, and lost a lot of friends to death and prison. When I was 35, I lost my sister to drugs and my life went out of control.”

When we reach our breaking point and reach out to God, He meets us with new life.

“A couple of years ago, I came to my breaking point. I went to a church called New Life Outreach and Pastor Victor told me about New Life for Adults and Youth and how it would change my life. But I said, ‘No way,’ and went back to what I was doing. Then I hit rock bottom and had nowhere to go. I called the Men’s Program. My life was a wreck, then God changed me inside and out. I used to live for Satan; now I live to see souls saved. God is good!”

James receiving a milestone certificate.