Travis’ New Life Began with Easter
Seattle's Union Gospel Mission - March 15 2026
You helped Travis find freedom through Jesus’ resurrection!
Drugs were a constant in Travis’ life. He was only a kid when he caught his parents cooking meth in the kitchen. Soon after, he decided to experiment with the toxic substance himself.
“I was 12 years old when I first started doing meth. By the time I was 14, I ran away and lived in abandoned vehicles in a trailer park on the other side of town.”
But trouble followed Travis, even to the other side of town. That’s when hunger led him to steal in order to eat. And it wasn’t long before he served his first sentence in juvenile prison.
Tragically, Travis’ dad died of a drug overdose. While serving his sentence, Travis had plenty of time to let grief harden his heart. His anger towards his parents and their poor choices deepened.
Once released, Travis continued in the only numbing he knew — more drugs — which finally led to homelessness.
“Living on the streets in cold weather, alone and hungry, it feels like your body is shutting down. It’s miserable.”
A MIRACULOUS MOMENT
Stealing to survive on the streets landed Travis in prison again. While he was there, a staff member from Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission came to visit Travis, offering him a lifeline.
“Someone from the Mission met with me and said that my mom was in their Women’s Recovery Program.”
This Mission representative shared a powerful message from his mom:
“Travis, I want you to get God in your life.”
You see, at the Mission, Travis’ mom had found freedom from her chains of addiction. Now, she wanted that freedom for her son too.
Upon his release from prison, Travis decided to give the Men’s Recovery Program at the Mission a chance. He’d seen the changes in his mom. And though he was still struggling to forgive her, Travis knew that homelessness, drugs, and stealing were a dead-end road.
Travis needed to find a path to a new life.
“When I came to the Mission, I changed. I met decent, reliable people, made new friends, and built a community.”
YOUR OPPORTUNITY THIS EASTER
While at the Mission, Travis found healthy relationships and healing for his heart. He found reconciliation with his family and forgiveness for his mother too.
“I realized it’s not her fault. I made my own decisions. She had a rough life too. Our relationship now is great. I love my mom.”
When trouble was all Travis knew, you helped him find a new life through God’s love. Thank you.
Today, he’s celebrating the miracle of freedom through the power of Jesus’ resurrection. You can share this with other hurting, homeless neighbors this Easter.
What do miracle moments look like at the Mission?
Miracle moments look like Almaze, who knocked on our door with two young children. She was unexpectedly pregnant with her third child and fleeing an abusive relationship.
“I got pregnant, and I lost my job. I became homeless and had nowhere to go. I knocked on your door. And you didn’t owe me anything. But you helped me.”
— Almaze
They look like Katrina, who saw no path out of homelessness after living out of her car for six years while struggling with depression.
“When I got here, it felt like a huge hug. I hadn’t been hugged in a long time. Just the love, support, and food, it’s amazing. I’m hopeful. I’ve learned a new way to be a safe person.”
— Katrina
Miracle moments look like Timothy, who found freedom after being hooked on heroin for 20 years.
“I describe drugs as an ‘ever waking nightmare’ because a lot of past trauma keeps popping up. But you’re not dealing with it. I really connected with Christ in the Men’s Recovery Program. A lot of changes happened after that. Now, I have a beautiful family. It’s such a blessing.”
— Timothy
These miracle moments all have very different details. But the common theme is that you helped make them possible!
More miracles are waiting to unfold. Thank you for making miraculous stories a reality for more men, women, and children this Easter!
