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A Journey from Brokenness to Hope: Arthur’s Story of Transformation at Kathy’s House

My name is Arthur Rucker. I’m 41 years old, born in the Ontario and Pomona area.

Growing up, my mom was always working, so I didn’t see her much. I spent most of my childhood with my dad, who was very abusive—physically, verbally, and mentally. My childhood was rough. I was always fighting and getting into trouble because I didn’t have an outlet or a way to escape. I just didn’t know how else to cope.

As I got older, the trouble continued. Eventually, I ended up serving almost 10 years in prison—back-to-back sentences. Every time I’d get out, I’d be back in jail within a month or two. When I got a little older, I got married. At one point, my wife and I were devoted Christians, but then we stopped going to church and drifted away from our faith. That led to a lot of problems in our marriage, and everything fell apart. I went back to the life I knew before, but it never worked out. It was a terrible experience.

When my mom passed away, it was devastating for me and my family. She was my everything. I talked to her every day, and she was always there for me—even when I was in and out of prison. Losing her hit me hard. I realized I needed to change. I knew she’d want me to turn my life around, but I thought I’d have to do it alone. Then, my sister found Kathy’s House, and that changed everything.

Now, I’m here, and I’m never looking back. I’m moving forward with God in my heart, guiding my path. I feel happy, loved, and cared for. My family is supporting me through everything, and for the first time, I can see a future. I can see life. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have found this place.

I’m planning to go to trucking school to get my CDL, which will help me financially and give me the opportunity to travel. I’m also pursuing my passion for music—something I’ve always been drawn to. With God in my life now, my music has taken a new direction. It’s something I treasure, and I know I can use it to help others by bringing fellowship, friendship, and love. I believe I can guide people onto the right path.

I know it’s hard. Every day is a struggle. But with the Lord, everything gets better. Everything falls into place. You just have to take that first step and give it to God. Once you do, your whole world opens up. It’s a beautiful experience—one that can totally transform your life, making you a better person and bringing happiness, love, friendship, and fellowship into your life.

From Brokenness to Hope: A Journey of Healing Through Faith

I was born and raised in Ontario, California, in a very broken family. There was a lot of sexual abuse, alcoholism, and chaos in my upbringing. I grew up with one full brother and two half-brothers, along with a stepmother who was abusive toward me.

I couldn’t wait to leave home, and by 17, I had a child and moved out. I got married and had four children by the time I was 24. I was busy raising my kids, but there were deep, unresolved issues from my childhood that I had blocked out. I tried to address them with my husband, but we never truly dealt with them. I started drinking casually when I was around 28, usually on weekends, but it got progressively worse over time.

Eventually, I left my husband and entered into another relationship that lasted 13 years. During that time, my drinking escalated. It went from weekend drinking to needing alcohol just to get through the day, and eventually, I became a binge drinker. That relationship was abusive—emotionally, physically, and mentally—and the drinking only intensified. I got a couple of DUIs, isolated myself from my family, and my children began to see the effects of my addiction.

In 2020, my son was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I pulled myself together to care for him through his chemotherapy, but tragically, he passed away due to an accidental fentanyl overdose. After he died, my life became unbearable. The pain was overwhelming, and I fell into month-long binges, isolating myself in hotel rooms, trying to drink myself to death. I wanted to die and be with my son. I didn’t know how to cope with the pain.

During this time, a friend I had met while caring for my son remained by my side. She prayed for me, gave me a Bible, and encouraged me with love and support. After my son passed, she was there even more, offering words of encouragement and prayers. One day, I left everything behind—my abusive relationship, my belongings—everything except a bag of clothes. I went to a hotel, where I tried once again to drink myself to death. That’s when she texted me and asked if I would go to a rehab program. I said yes.

From there, she found Kathy’s House for me, and although I wasn’t planning on going, God made it clear that this was where He wanted me to be. As a new Christian, saved just a few months before, I didn’t understand why everyone at Kathy’s House was so joyful and passionate about worshiping God. But over time, the Holy Spirit touched me, and I fell in love with the church and the people there.

At Kathy’s House, the staff and volunteers have been wonderful. The women who come in to help us work through personal issues and past hurts have been a huge blessing. This place has saved my life.

I’ve had moments of reflection where I realized that, even when I wasn’t a believer, God was still there. He was always with me, even in my darkest times. I remember when my son passed away, and I laid beside him for two hours before they came to take his body. Somehow, I wasn’t panicked—I just held him, and I know it was God comforting me.

Now at Kathy’s House, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. There’s a little baby here who has brought so much healing to me. God is revealing my strengths and areas where I can grow. I want to stay surrendered to Him because I know that if I do, He will continue to guide me and show me His plans for my life.

To anyone who feels hopeless, I want to say that there is hope. I was in the darkest place of my life when my son died, and I didn’t know how I would go on. But God has been with me every step of the way, giving me comfort and peace. He helps me sleep at night and gives me strength to face each day. I’m a completely different person now, and there is hope in prayer and in God. If you trust Him and surrender to Him, He will take care of you.

God has shown me my life verse, Joshua 1:9: “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I love this verse because it’s a reminder that God is gently yet firmly commanding me to trust Him so that He can care for me.

My name is Brian Corbett. I had a good childhood, but I took a wrong turn along the way. A baseball injury broke both shin bones in one of my legs, and as I recovered, I got hooked on morphine, which led me down a destructive path. Eventually, I lost everything. I reached a point where I just couldn’t go on. That’s when I heard the Lord’s voice calling me to get to the ranch. So, I set everything aside and went straight there without looking back.

At Kathy’s House, I found a place filled with love that helped me rebuild my foundation. I’ve learned to see myself more clearly, discovering parts of myself that drugs had kept hidden. I’ve been taught how to love others, to have compassion, and to find a peace and joy that can overcome any challenge.

Through the meetings, my sponsor, and the guidance of mentors, I’ve started tearing down walls I’d built to hide my pain. I’ve opened up about issues I was always too uncomfortable to share, which has given me a renewed trust in others. This journey has helped me release years of pent-up resentments, allowing me to heal.

Today, I’m part of a strong support group, where we’re fighting this battle together. There’s so much love in that. I’ve struggled with depression for most of my life and thought it was something I’d always have to deal with. But the Lord has slowly taken that burden from me as I’ve chosen to follow His will. Now, even when I don’t feel motivated, I take contrary action, going against my old habits. After a year of sobriety, I have more hope than I ever thought possible.

Being sober for this long has also given me compassion and understanding for others who are still in bondage. I feel clarity returning to my life, and I sense a calling to help those who are homeless or struggling with mental illness. I know now that I have a gentle heart, a gift that drugs had dulled for so long. Even if it’s through small actions, I want to help my community.

To anyone still struggling and feeling hopeless, I understand how it feels. It can seem like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. But I would tell you to just give it time. Don’t let the voice of discouragement convince you that you’re beyond hope. That voice isn’t real. Trust in the Lord, let Him be the healer, because He truly is. Healing takes time, but if I can make it through, you can too.

From Homelessness to Wholeness: A Journey of Redemption and God’s Mercy

Hi, I’m Jody Howell. I grew up in El Monte, the second youngest of eight kids. Growing up, we were forced to go to church, and I gave my heart to the Lord when I was nine years old. I believed I was saved and would go to heaven, but I didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus.

It wasn’t until 2007 that I had a real encounter with Him. Between being that nine-year-old girl and my 2007 experience, I went through drug addiction and all kinds of struggles. I was homeless and didn’t have any ID. When I tried to get into a shelter, they wouldn’t take me without identification. The man behind the counter told me to pray. That’s when Psalm 116 came alive for me. It says, “I love the Lord because He heard my cries for mercy; because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.” In that moment, I knew He heard my cries. His mercy was overwhelming, and it was sweet. From that point on, I couldn’t get enough of Him.

I was homeless, in a tough part of Pomona, and it seemed like there was no way out. The pain was all-consuming, and my mind was more focused on my suffering than on God. But then John said something to me that stuck: “As long as the enemy can keep you focused on your pain, he’ll do it all day long.” I realized I needed to be healed in that area. So I asked God, “What are You doing? Are You using my pain to draw me closer to You? If so, I’m all in. But if not, could You show me what You’re doing?”

Being here, I’ve gained the tools to ask those questions. I’ve learned that God is real quick and clear to show me what He’s doing. That’s been the real redemption in my life—He’s drawn me so close to Him that I can say, “Lord, if this isn’t Your plan, show me what is.”

I’ve learned who Jesus truly is—He’s merciful, kind, funny, and tender. When I’ve needed tenderness, He’s been tender. I believe He’s calling me to something new, though I don’t know exactly what that is yet. But I trust that this last year and a half has prepared me for it. I don’t think anyone is ever fully ready to dive into ministry, but when God calls us, we have to answer.

From Chaos to Redemption: Eric Hall’s Journey of Transformation

My name is Eric Hall, and I’m 56 years old. I was born and raised by my dad in San Bernardino County. My father was a Navy SEAL and also a member of the Hells Angels. While most kids were playing football in the street, I was working alongside my dad, learning his lifestyle. He was different, and I dedicated myself to following in his footsteps.

When I was 19, my dad passed away from cancer. At that moment, my life fell apart. He was my mentor and my hero, and after he died, I didn’t care about anything anymore. I threw myself deeper into the Hells Angels, and for years, I wandered through life doing terrible things. I’ve been charged with almost every crime imaginable, and I’ve lived a very destructive life.

I got married at 17, but trouble followed me. One night, after my wife and I went out to eat, we came home to find my brother-in-law in a horrible situation with my two daughters. I ended up shooting him, which led to my first prison term. That incident was the start of a long, destructive path—eight prison terms in total, spanning 23 years. I was a two-striker by my last term.

During my last time in prison, I got involved in a riot. Afterward, I was bragging to my friends about the fight, but once I was alone in my cell, something unexpected happened. A feeling came over me that I can’t fully explain. I started crying uncontrollably, and I’m not someone who cries easily. In fact, I hadn’t cried since my dad died. It was then that God showed me a vision of my heart and how dark and ugly it had become. I felt like I was on the edge of losing my mind, which scared me more than anything I’d ever experienced.

In that moment, I cried out to a God I didn’t even know. I begged Him to make the overwhelming fear go away and promised that if He did, I would serve Him for the rest of my life. I asked Him to show me His face and prove that He was real. God showed up, and from that moment on, everything changed.

I had actually accepted Jesus when I was in sixth grade at a private school, but I didn’t understand what it meant to have a relationship with Him. I used to think that walking in the Kingdom of God was something that only happened after you died and went to heaven. But now I know that it means walking with Jesus here on earth.

The motorcycle club is blood in, blood out—you don’t just leave. But Jesus made a way for me to walk away from that life, and only He could have done that.

I’m here at Kathy’s House because God led me here. My wife was already here, and through her, I was connected with the director of the ministry, who became my mentor. While I was still in prison, my wife saw the change in me and asked the director to reach out. He faithfully wrote me letters and encouraged me.

I had long ago stopped applying for prison programs because people like me don’t get accepted. But then, out of the blue, I received a letter saying I was eligible for an Alternative Custody Program (ACP). At first, I threw it aside, thinking it was pointless to apply. But God nudged me, and I felt convicted to give it a shot. So, I filled it out and sent it in, laughing to myself as I did it.

A few weeks later, I found myself in an interview with the warden, the associate warden, the ACP director, and my counselor. During the interview, I told them about Kathy’s House and how I wanted to go there. They asked about my background, which wasn’t great. The ACP director looked me in the eye and said, “I don’t think I would want someone like you serving my mother dinner or helping her in any way. I know what you’re going to do—you’re going to fail.”

They asked me to step out of the room for a while. When I was called back in, the warden spoke. He told me, “We’re going to let you out and send you to Kathy’s House. You’re the first person in five years that I’ve granted this program to, and you’re not even eligible for it. But I’m doing this so I can tell everyone how you failed.”

But God had other plans. He opened the door and got me out of prison—not the state or a piece of paperwork, but God Himself.

Four months ago, I was released to my wife, who is an amazing woman of God. I don’t want to give all the credit to Kathy’s House, though—they deserve a lot—but ultimately, it’s Jesus who deserves the praise, because Jesus is Kathy’s House. The same man who mentored me while I was in prison picked me up and brought me here.

Kathy’s House has been a life-changing experience. It’s not just a place where they shelter you—they prepare you for life. You get to be out in the real world, working hard, learning about Jesus, and building brotherhood. I’ve been through other programs before, but nothing compares to Kathy’s House. It’s amazing because it’s grounded in Jesus and supported by elders who love you and want to see you succeed.

To everyone who funds this ministry and to our leadership, you are amazing, and I love you all.

Hi, my name is Mary Ruth Lauch. I’m 50 years old, and I am a proud graduate of Kathy’s House. My childhood was challenging—my father was in the military, and my parents divorced when I was two. I lived with my mother for many years, and I am a survivor of sexual, mental, and physical abuse that spanned from ages two to eleven. Then, my father came back into my life, and I went to live with him

In junior high and high school, I was the kid who got made fun of and bullied. By ninth grade, I started experimenting because my friends were, too. At first, it was alcohol, then pot. By 17, I was using meth. I later married a Marine, and we had children together. He was a very abusive alcoholic, and my addiction deepened as I tried to manage the kids, the house, and the responsibilities of being a military wife. After a difficult divorce, I lost everything, including my children. Meth became my way of coping, my escape. Even though I had known about God most of my life—my father was a pastor—I had drifted far from Him.

In 2021, I joined a place called Set Free at Elsinore Women’s Ranch for a 60-day program, and it was there I began realizing how far I’d fallen. After a particularly painful experience of being beaten, I knew that wasn’t the life God wanted for me. That’s when I heard about Kathy’s House. I met people from Kathy’s who would come and help with deliveries, and I felt ready to try. When an opening finally came up in January, I moved in, and my life has been transformed ever since.

At Kathy’s House, I began healing deeply. I found faith and hope again, realizing I am His daughter and am worth so much more than the world had to offer. Coming here, I uncovered layers of anger, bitterness, and pain that I hadn’t faced. But through the support of beautiful women who come to share God’s word, and a mentor who still walks alongside me, I’ve been able to grow in ways I never imagined. We support each other, encourage each other, and lift each other up as we walk this journey of healing.

Kathy’s House brought me back to the basics of knowing who I am in Christ. I learned to release my bitterness and let God fill my life. I began to grow, surrounded by women just trying to figure things out, and we’ve all seen God show up in beautiful ways.

After nine months, I was able to get a job. I now work at Mercy Warehouse in Laguna Niguel, and today, I live in a beautiful home. I still wake up feeling like it’s a dream. Now, I share hope with others, with anyone God places on my path.

To anyone struggling in addiction or unsure about this “God thing”—if He could give me a second chance at life, restore my family, and free me from my past, then He can do it for you. Don’t be afraid to reach out—there is help, and there is hope in Jesus.

When I arrived at Kathy’s House, I was facing 20 years in prison. My addiction had separated me from my daughter and a family who loved me deeply. But I dedicated my life to Jesus and committed myself to His plan for me. Today, I am free and sober, with a home of my own. I’m now a supervisor for a respected construction company and, best of all, I’m reunited with my little girl.

Before coming to Kathy’s House my husband and I were addicted to meth and living in a creek bed. When I found out that I was pregnant I knew it was time for a change. I recommitted my life to Jesus and through the tools I received in the program I was able to make positive changes before our baby was born. In September Claire was born. In December my husband and I got new jobs and the keys to our new home. God is good.

A Life Transformed: How Faith and Sobriety Led Timothy to Serve

My name is Timothy Scott Roberts, I’m 62 years old, from Buena Park, California. I had a pretty good childhood with both parents, though I always thought we were a little on the poor side. It turns out my dad was putting money aside for his kids. Growing up, I thought everyone got a belt for punishment now and then, but as I got older, I learned that wasn’t the case. Maybe that led me to alcohol as a teenager. By 17 or 18, I was a musician playing in clubs around LA three nights a week, with a permission slip from my parents to stay out late. I could out-drink guys much older than me, though it wasn’t anything to be proud of. This started a serious abuse problem.

At 31, I moved to Arizona to escape that life, and I found Christ. I had a good life there—a wife, a home by the Colorado River—but something was still missing. Even though I was saved, I clung to my ego and the things I should have let go. I wasn’t asking myself if I’d drink again, but rather when. Every few years, alcohol would take its toll, and eventually, I was on my own, living paycheck to paycheck to afford my alcohol. I was a functioning drunk.

In 2021, my dad was hospitalized with COVID, and when I lost him, I lost my mind. Unemployed and desperate, I locked myself in a hotel room and almost drank myself to death. Out of money and hope, I told God, “If you get me out of this, I swear I’ll serve you for the rest of my life.” The next morning, I got a call from someone I’d known since I was 12, who took me to the Set Free Ranch. There, I started my recovery: no drugs, no hospitalization—just cold turkey and prayer. Without Christ and prayer, I would never have made it. I don’t recommend my path for everyone, but it’s what I needed.

Today, I’m 20 months sober because of Jesus Christ. After my 60 days at the ranch, I was drawn to Kathy’s House, where I met people serving God out of kindness, not for a paycheck. They taught me that it wasn’t about me, my ego, or what I held onto. It was about compassion, giving, and love—feeding people, keeping them warm, and sharing Jesus with them. And that’s what I do now.

If you had told me three years ago that I’d inherit money, retire, and spend every day serving Christ, I would have thought you were crazy. But I get more out of this than I ever did in all my years of drinking and chasing empty things. I know my path, and I’m committed to it. Sometimes it’s tough, but you have to stay with it. People will let you down; Christ won’t. He will never leave your side.

For anyone listening, especially younger people—don’t wait until you’re 60 to get it right. You have a whole life ahead of you to live well and follow God’s plan.

My name is Justin Buseth. I grew up in San Clemente, California, raised by a single mom. I was a bit of a troublemaker—constantly seeking attention, being the class clown, and often ending up in the principal’s office. Diagnosed with ADHD at four, I was on Ritalin and Adderall for years. When I finally stopped taking my meds, I turned to alcohol and drugs instead.

As a teenager, I smoked pot and tried living with my dad for a while, but we clashed, and I ended up running away often. At sixteen, I got into trouble with the law and was sent to juvenile hall. After my dad lost custody, I became a ward of the state, cycling through juvenile halls and boys’ homes until I turned eighteen. Drugs and alcohol were always there, offering a temporary escape.

Though my mom took me to church growing up, I misunderstood who God was. I thought I had to be perfect before I could come to Him. I’d try to get sober, believing God was the answer, but it was always a cycle of trying and failing. Over time, those “falls” became harder and happened more often.

Before coming to Kathy’s House, I’d been at God’s Ranch in a small leadership role, but I was secretly using crystal meth and drinking. When that was discovered, I was asked to leave. I ended up on the streets, drinking in a dumpster enclosure behind a Ralph’s grocery store. Eventually, a friend picked me up, and I went to First Step House in Carlsbad. From there, I finally made it to Kathy’s House.

Since then, my life has transformed. God has given me purpose and direction. I’ve started school and have been working on reconciling with my family. I now know who I am and what kind of man I want to be. My calling is to help others overcome addiction, just as I have. I’m studying to become a drug and alcohol counselor, hoping to guide others through their struggles.

To anyone who feels there’s no way out, I want you to know that there is hope. I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and unworthy. But there’s a verse in the Bible, Psalms 24:16, that says the righteous may fall seven times but rise again. Even if you stumble, keep getting back up. Don’t stay down because of shame or guilt—just keep trying. You’ll be all right.