Brelynn
When I first met Kristin, I was in the darkest place imaginable. My addiction had stripped everything away - my relationships with my boyfriend, his family, my own family, and most devastatingly, my relationship with myself. I couldn't even get out of bed or get dressed without using. Every attempt to get clean ended in failure by day three or four, and I truly believed this would be my life forever. Hope felt like a foreign concept.
But Kristin saw something in me that I couldn't see in myself. Having walked this path before, she understood my struggles in a way others couldn't. Along with my family, she became part of a support system that refused to give up on me, even when I had given up on myself. Their determination to get me professional help became my lifeline.
Seeing Kristin's own recovery journey was living proof that change was possible. Her friendship, love, and unwavering support helped me believe in myself again. Today, I'm proud to say I've been clean for over a year. To anyone struggling: you are not alone, and recovery is possible. I'm living proof of that, and I'll forever be grateful to Kristin for helping me find my way back to life.
Virgil Marshall
I first met Kristin at court in 2021. I was there for my girlfriend while Kristin was there advocating for someone else. She noticed my situation and offered to help as a recovery coach, but at the time, we weren't ready. Fast forward to 2023, after an incident that led to substance abuse classes, Kristin came back into my life as my recovery coach. While I was working on changing my direction, my girlfriend was still struggling with addiction. Kristin didn't just help me - she also convinced my girlfriend to take the step into rehab, which changed everything for us.
Through Kristin, I met Robert, who became another important person in our recovery journey. When I needed work, Robert helped me land a job at his workplace and drove me back and forth for six months, charging only $5 a day when other options would have cost more than double. He understood that I was trying to save for an apartment. His help made it possible for me to stay consistent and build stability.
Today, our lives look completely different. We have our own apartment, my girlfriend's son lives with us, and we've both maintained our sobriety. I haven't missed a single day of work, and we're steadily moving forward. People like Kristin and Robert made a real difference in our lives - they saw our potential and provided the practical help we needed to get back on track. I'm grateful for how they helped us get to where we are now.
Candice: A great success
Levi Lewis: President of Men's Talk
Our Testimonials
Small organizations yet BIG IMPACT
Men's Talk
When I was released, I knew I had to make different choices to build a new life. That meant cutting ties with old friends – a decision that left a void no amount of work or church attendance could completely fill. I needed something else: the kind of support that only other men can provide. That's when I found Men's Talk, and it changed everything.
Walking into my first Men's Talk meeting, I didn't know what to expect. What I found was something rare and precious: a room full of men from different races, cultures, and walks of life who treated me as an equal from day one. They didn't see my past; they saw my potential. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly accepted, respected, and heard.
Men's Talk became my blueprint for success. From learning about credit and relationships to understanding what it truly means to be a man, these brothers gave me tools I never had before. It's more than just a support group – it's a hidden gem in our community where men from all walks of life come together to grow, learn, and build genuine friendships that last a lifetime.
Final Word Ministries
My wife Kristin and I first met "Chap" (Pastor Steve) in an unlikely place – the county jail. While most people might shy away from prison ministry, Chap was right there in the trenches, bringing spiritual growth to those of us behind bars. During our multiple incarcerations, his was a familiar face, always ready with prayer and encouragement when we needed it most.
Life has a funny way of bringing people back together. While working at a pizza place after our release, we ran into Chap and his wife Barb. Though we were already attending church elsewhere, something about their invitation to Final Word Ministries felt right. From our first visit, we knew we'd found what our spirits had been searching for. The love we received from Chap, Barb, and the entire congregation was beyond measure.
Their ministry transformed us from people who just went to church into believers who truly lived our faith. Chap's no-nonsense teaching style and his motto "Christians are supposed to be the head, not the tail" lit a fire in us that burns to this day. Final Word Ministries, are quietly changing lives across South Bend, especially for those transitioning from jail. The spiritual foundation they helped us build, and their commitment to teaching the Bible without compromise, gave us the tools we needed to truly transform our lives. Their impact on our community might fly under the radar, but for people like Kristin and me, their teachings and love have made all the difference.
Life Changers
While Final Word Ministries lit our spiritual fire, Life Changers Church and Pastors Charles and "Lady Bev" King showed us how to spread that flame throughout our community. From the moment we walked through their doors, we knew this was a place where faith meets action.
It was at Life Changers where Kristin and I experienced something we thought only happened on TV – being so overwhelmed by the Spirit that we couldn't stand. That moment wasn't just powerful; it was transformative. But what makes Life Changers truly special is how they channel that spiritual energy into real community impact. Whether it's partnering with Men's Talk for their "Fish for Life" events or hosting movie nights for neighborhood kids, they're constantly finding ways to share God's love with those who need it most.
Pastors Charles and Lady Bev have become more than just church leaders to us – they're mentors who've guided our spiritual journey with open ears and caring hearts. Life Changers is truly a hidden gem in our community, a place where you don't just grow spiritually, but find real opportunities to put that growth into action and make a difference in others' lives.