Men’s Resident of the Month – April 2016

It was a Sunday night a few months ago and I was sitting around a big circle table in BJ’s restaurant. I was surrounded by all the managers from each men’s mentoring home. (If you don’t know, all of the HIA houses have two managers that live in the homes and provide direction, mentoring, enforce rules and generally lead the home. Our staff meets with our management team weekly to review the progress of each resident and to chat about upcoming plans and program changes.)

So, we were all eating one night and going around the table discussing the residents, when one of the managers came up with a brilliant idea. He said, “What if we had a resident of the month? We picked out a man that embodied all of our core values and honored him at our Sunday night meeting with a plaque?”

Instantly the table erupted with approval. We LOVED the idea. So this last month we laid out the formula for nomination and asked all 8 managers to nominate one resident from each of the four homes. Once those names were submitted our staff made the final decision.

We are super excited to announce that our first ever HIA Resident of the Month is….. Devon Arnold!

Here’s a picture of Devon. He’s an absolute rock star. He fully embodies the culture and values of Hope is Alive. He works hard, he loves Jesus, he works with others, he follows the rules and he loves to have fun in sobriety. I could go on and on, but I thought you’d enjoy hearing more from him. So I asked him a few questions and this is what he had to say. Don’t miss what he said at the end…

Did something happen that pushed you into recovery?

Honestly I was completely desperate and broken. Almost every waking thought I had was centered around how I was a complete failure at life and a waste of a human body. It seemed my only purpose was to create chaos for myself and hurt all those who loved me dearly. I had tried multiple rehabs already and could not wrap my head or heart around this “sober” lifestyle. I wished I had the courage to complete my conviction of ending my life so I could stop the pain and shame that had devoured my soul. If it wasn’t for my parents having faith that the right rehab opportunity could possibly change my life and save their son I would probably not be here today.

How did you find Hope is Alive?

During my 90 day stay at Robs Ranch I discovered HIA. They took time out of their busy lives to drive out to Purcell, OK to grant me a chance to join a ministry that changes lives.

Since you moved into the HIA Mentoring Homes, what have you been asked to do that’s challenged you? 

That’s an interesting question because for me the answer is…everything!  HIA has asked that I make commitments to take action every week towards developing and improving my physical, social, and spiritual aspects of my life.

What’s has been the most rewarding experience of your recovery?

This one is simple but powerful and 100% honest. I am truly living life and enjoying it to the fullest without drugs or alcohol. I am happy to be Devon Arnold. That seems so simple but for someone who had zero self-worth just six months ago it’s an unbelievable and extraordinary feat!

How much different is your life today from when you were using? How does it feel to look at your life today?

Everything has changed. When I was using all I did was get high and isolate in my room remembering and reliving all that I had lost and all that I once had. Today I’m extremely active and involved. Since getting sober I’ve managed to attend hundreds of AA meetings, been nominated to chair these meetings,  obtained a sponsor I call daily and work steps with, obtained a spiritual advisor, obtained a business mentor, obtain and hold down a full time job, saved money and started paying back my debts, met countless new friends that actually care about me and want to help me grow, surrendered to God, gotten baptized, developed new spiritual principles, started doing a devotional study at night with my sister, started mending and redeveloping trust in relationships with my family and loved ones, had numerous opportunities to help and reach out to others and the list goes on and on.

How’s it feel to be the first HIA resident of the month?

It’s simply unbelievable. I’m extremely honored to receive an award like this. I haven’t seen my name on any kind of award or plaque in many years so it’s kind of a shock. I only hope I can continue to have the courage and determination to do the next right and give back to this program which has already done so much for me.

Anything else you’d like to add Devon?

Words cannot express the gratitude I have for this program which is not possible without its supporters. The prayers, commitments, and contributions of those who support this program that have laid down the foundation on which I’m building my new life. I am becoming a new man today because there are people out there who believed in this program before I even knew it existed. It’s those same people and hopefully many more to come that will grant miracles to the lives of countless men and women. Thank you and God bless you for saving my life!