Ashley

I grew up in a Christian home on a farm just outside of Morden and have spent most of my life in the Pembina Valley. From a young age I experienced feelings of rejection and abandonment. At 18 I decided to start my own life which led me into trouble and the start of my addiction. When I was introduced to crystal meth my life spiralled completely out of control and sadly this went on for years before I finally came to the end of myself and knew I needed help.

I entered the Adult & Teen Challenge Manitoba Women’s Centre and everything changed. God met me there and showed me a new meaning and purpose for my life. I recently graduated and have chosen to participate in the Surge leadership program to get the training needed to work full time with this ministry.

A scripture I stand on is Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

When I was introduced to crystal meth my life spiralled completely out of control and sadly this went on for years before I finally came to the end of myself and knew I needed help. I entered the Adult & Teen Challenge Manitoba Women’s Centre and everything changed. God met me there and showed me a new meaning and purpose for my life.

At age 13, I experimented with ecstasy, marijuana and alcohol. I felt worthless and hopeless and the next 17 years my drug use escalated into crack cocaine and fentanyl. I had been charged with many criminal offences and my lawyer told me about Adult & Teen Challenge. I was accepted to Thunder Bay men’s program and a month later I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and was baptised. I have learned how God loves me and has a plan for my life, discovering my true identity in Christ. He healed me, giving me joy, peace and purpose.

Before I entered the Adult & Teen Challenge program I used and sold drugs. I was a violent person and did things that landed me in jail. I believed I was coming to the end of myself with my only options being death by drugs, violence or spending the rest of my life in jail. But God had a different plan. During my last time in jail I committed the next year to ATC because of the love of my family and Robby Ahuja. Getting to know Jesus has changed my life. Slowly but surely he is growing inside me. I sing and I dance because He lives in my heart. Now I have love and forgiveness and am committed for life