After graduation, Jeremy wants to serve others in his community and is considering youth ministry.

Chaos in his younger years left its mark

Jeremy grew up in West Covina where his earliest memories were shaped by dysfunction and survival. “My mom had me when she was 15,” Jeremy shared. “It wasn’t her fault. She was a kid herself, raised in the foster system.” Born into a home surrounded by drugs and alcohol, Jeremy’s life started on shaky ground. “I started smoking when I was 9 years old — cigarettes and marijuana. That’s pretty young to start,” he said.

Despite poverty, Jeremy remembers his childhood with surprising positivity. “I knew we were poor,” he said, “but we always had food, housing, clothing. My mom fought hard to get me back from her foster parents when she turned 18. She did everything she could.”

But the chaos surrounding him left its mark. By 17, Jeremy was deep into addiction—and it cost him everything. He and a friend were desperate for drugs, and an attempted robbery resulted in a fatality. He was sentenced to 31 years in prison.

Prison, however, became the place where his life began to change. “When I was in jail for that long, I ended up accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior,” he said. “I was involved in chapel, got my AA degree, took trade classes. Jesus was in my life.”

After four parole hearings, Jeremy was finally released. He began rebuilding—working at a non-profit, staying sober, and renting a room. But when life got overwhelming with unpaid work, stress, and discouragement, Jeremy relapsed. “I started drinking again. I thought I was still functional, but I stopped praying, started getting in my own head, and lost focus.”

It all came crashing down in a drunk driving accident. “I went to jail for the night. I had lost my car, my house, my job. I told my dad I needed rehab, that I had lost my way, and I had to get back on track.”

Jeremy turned to a pastor who had mentored him since his teenage years. That’s when he was introduced to the Mission. “I needed a Christ-centered program. Ten months sounded like what I needed to reflect, reconnect with God, and find my identity through Him.

“When I arrived, I knew this was an answer to prayer,” Jeremy said. “They welcomed me. I felt safe. I felt at home.”

Today, Jeremy is healing. “I’ve learned to slow down, trust the Lord, and not get overwhelmed. The biblical classes helped me get to the root of my addiction,” he shared. “I’m not focusing too much on the past. I’m focusing on God changing me, Him growing me, and looking forwards. Being able to be here, have calmness, and have this short season of time that I can forget everything else and focus on reconnecting with the Lord, it’s been the biggest blessing.”

After graduation, Jeremy is considering a call to youth ministry. “I want to use my story to help young guys get on the right path. You never know what good the Lord has prepared.”