I was tired of being a gang banger. Enough was enough. I was at the Clinic of Hope, and I remember looking at an eight-foot cross every day. It grabbed my attention, and I fell to my knees crying as I realized it represented Jesus’ sacrifice for me. I continued to struggle and in March of 2019, it felt like the Holy Spirit threw away the fun and I only felt the guilt, shame, and paranoia. A friend then mentioned Inspiration to me, and I felt like it could work. I met James with Inspiration, but he wouldn’t let me in the program because I was high, so I went back to Salvation Army to get sober. The next day was my first day of sobriety.

In a normal halfway house, you feel the anger and negativity. But at Inspiration, you feel God’s presence and love from others. I see Jesus doing miracles in lives of men who once were kicking down doors, full of hate, deceit, and manipulation. They now have a glow and love about them that only Jesus can give. The staff care about your sobriety, and they are willing to take a risk on someone they barely know.

When all hope and love was lost, I came to find that the hope and love that Jesus has for us is relentless and never-ending. Through Jesus, you can be the parent you once were, and the son or daughter people once admired. You CAN be better than that. I now have a support group bigger than I ever had, my self-worth has improved, and the joy of the Holy Spirit intensifies daily. That’s how I became “Kokomo Joe,” no longer just Joe.

I owe who I am today to God and Inspiration. This organization does what the name says, it inspires. It inspired me to work on my relationship with God, others, and my family. I was inspired to get my license back after six years, and to live a light-filled life with Christ, no longer in darkness. It inspired me to have a vision, pursue ministry school, feed homeless, and have hope. Jesus + Kokomo Joe + Inspiration = “Holy Roller"