Stories of Transformation

Dean's Story

“We are able to minister to the people who are in this situation, homeless, hungry, using, and we’re able to tell them how we got out of it.”
- Dean, Light of Life Shelter Manager

Born and raised on the North Side, Dean was an athlete in school. After he graduated, he turned to drugs and alcohol, but in 1994, he was introduced to recovery and started to rebuild his life. He started out as a cook at Light of Life and it was evident that he was right where God wanted him to be. He quickly advanced in his career at the Mission and is now the shelter supervisor at the Voeghtly Street Shelter.

shelter stories

Every story is unique. Every story deserves to be heard.

Michelle's Story

"I really didn't know how to love myself before. Today I can look in the mirror and love the person that I see."

Solomon's Story

A"I can listen to the birds sing now. I can hear the beauty of life. I can see how beautiful life is."

Donnie's Story

"There aren’t many places where you can come from active addiction or straight from a park bench and walk through the front doors and immediately feel loved... ”

Jeremy's Story

"This program really does provide the foundation for a lot of people like me, to really make a difference in their life and put their life together."

Sharlene's Story

"No third grade little girl plans to be a prostitute. She doesn’t plan to be homeless. She’s not planning to hold a sign on the highways that she’ll work for food."

Jamal's Story

"In some of the trials and tribulations of our guests that come through the shelter, I see me. My hope is to be able to be hope"

Dean's Story

"We are able to minister to the people who are in this situation, homeless, hungry, using, and we’re able to tell them how we got out of it."

Pastor Bill's Story

"It’s more than just an addiction. There’s family things, there’s background, there’s wounds, there’s hurts and those are then things that are so deep-rooted ..."

Paradise's Story

"Light of Life taught me how to put God first, be a mother to my children, and take care of me. They taught me to find me again and it gave me a purpose to live."