Rachel Szabo - Media Internship

May 2012 - "Redemption"

“My name is Hugh. I came to Jeff Street in December 2007. I have a history of alcohol and drug addiction. I have a bipolar disorder. I also suffer sometimes from depression. There’s a lot of confusion that sets in with depression.

After graduating Jeff. Street, I really desired to move into my own apartment, so I did. But I had no one living with me and I was isolating. I had too much time to myself where I would spend hours in thought versus actions. I entered a depressed mode and started shutting down the people around me and the things around me. I began hearing voices that would tell me to do violent things to the other tenants in the building. I became afraid of what I might do in that state of mind, so I opted to go to the psychiatric ward instead. A lot of that period was due to my depression and maybe areas of schizophrenia, though I’m not diagnosed that.

After living at Jeff. Street for a while I decided to move in with my sisters. My older sister says this is the healthiest she has seen me in three decades. It’s a frightening thing to know the reality of the fact that you are mentally ill, but I believe the Gospel is powerful enough to reach me even in my darkest place. And no matter what happens to me in the life I have left, it’ll be alright.”
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“My name is Stuart. I’ve been living at Jeff. Street for four months now.

I have some mental problems that make me feel very uncomfortable being around other people. They have diagnosed me with bipolar, social phobia mood disorder. PTSD and anxiety as well.

I just want everybody to know that there is hope, because I had none when I first got to Jeff. Street. But now I have hope and love in my heart because of the people here. They have done so much for me, and I just want them, and others struggling in life like I have, to know there is love and hope at Jeff. Street. I feel like I’m a better man and Christian because of my friends here.”
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As my media internship draws to a close, I am very blessed to have been part of the Jeff. Street community for two years. Thank you for the part you have played in allowing me to be here. I have witnessed God use this place to begin healing the lives of others as well as my own. What a privilege to see these mere snapshots of God’s grand redemptive work through our Lord Jesus Christ. This work He shall always continue until the day it is brought to full completion. I hope your eyes will always be open to see in your own community how God is bringing real, everlasting redemption to those who trust in His Son.

Until we are fully redeemed,
Grace and Peace,

Rachel Szabo

Your Opportunity to be part of God’s redemptive work: I still have $1,640 to raise to cover the housing costs of my internship. At the end of my internship Jeff. Street absorbs the remaining balance of the funds I could not raise. Please donate so Jeff. Street’s limited funds may be directed elsewhere.