John Crouch

John grew up in Mount Vernon, MO, as an only child. He had the most loving and kind parents that a child could want. Despite all the pain and hurt that they experienced throughout the years, they are still married.

Throughout his childhood, John was involved in AAU Basketball. He played in tournaments in various states. At the age of 10, John knew what he wanted to do with his life – he wanted to be a basketball player. His parents did not make a lot of money, but they always found a way for John to chase his basketball dream.

At the age of 13, John took his first drink of alcohol. At age 14, he was using pot every day. John filled the loneliness of being an only child with substance consumption, friends, and dating. He reach a point where his focus was on getting high, or in his words, “Chasing the next best high –which does not exist.”All of John’s relationships, friendships, and things of importance started vanishing, and he did not care. He had no regard for the well-being of anyone else. He was only concerned about himself – he was a very selfish individual.Years of poor choices stripped John of his dream. Playing college basketball was no longer an option. John’s choices had consequences.In 2008, John was arrested for drug possession. That started a 12-year cycle of in and out of county jails, a prison treatment program, a five-month prison term, three DWIs and living a worldly life full of chaos and destruction. John was lost and hopeless. His downward spiral led to deep despair.

In 2014, John’s daughter, Ariel, was born. John thought this would change everything for him. He was wrong. In 2017, everything came crashing down. John had been abusing alcohol and sleeping medications. The days of a nice home, two cars, a well-paying job, children, and a girlfriend were over.Even with his world crashing down around him, John was not willing to change how he was acting and living. The face of his beautiful 3-year-old daughter was not enough to snap him out of the distorted mindset he had created within himself.

For 20 years, John lived his life on autopilot. He remembers his child’s mother saying, “John, you’re here, but you’re not really here.”It took getting sober for John to understand what she meant. Selfishly, John left the home. His time as “Man of the House” had come to an end. The phrase, “Everything Must Come to an End” held no meaning for John. He was numb. He masked his feelings and emotions. He was a shell of a human. He was empty. Losing Ariel had had such a profound effect on him, and he felt there was nothing he could do.John says, “Looking back, I realize now that I never really tried.” John continued his daily drinking, consuming various drugs, robbing, stealing, cheating, and dealing. He made no effort to correct his wrongs. His lifestyle was out of control, and he didn’t care. John always said that he believed in God. What he didn’t realize was there was so much more to it.

In 2016, John learned about the Victory Mission Men’s Shelter. He was right out of treatment and had nowhere to go. He stayed at Victory Mission briefly – now he knows the reason that this amazing ministry was put in John’s life. On December 4, 2019, John’s life changed forever!He was fresh out of prison and strung out on drugs when his friend dropped him off for an interview with the Restoration Program with Victory Mission. It was at Victory Mission where John learned of the love of his Savior, Jesus Christ. John learned of the power of prayer as well as how to pray. He learned that his life has purpose and meaning – God created John for a reason!At first, it was hard for John to grasp the concept that God could forgive him for all the rotten things that he had done. However, understanding whom God is, what He has done, and what He is capable of doing has filled John with an incredible joy, peace, and hope. John has a new life in Christ. The relationships that he thought were broken are slowly mending.John will complete the Victory Mission Restoration Program in December. He has a full-time job with a great company in Springfield and recently signed a lease on a new house. John is also part of a great church, where he has met people who will forever influence his life.

The New Pathways for Good Dads program has given John the tools and encouragement that he needed to be a father to his daughter.He says, “I am so thankful that God blessed me with this program and all of the people who believed in all the dads out there who have been through losses, heartache, and hopelessness.”John’s advice to other dads who are struggling is short and to the point. He says, “Please do not give up hope. Do not stop trying to be there no matter what is going on around you. God shines His light in the darkness. Reach deep inside, dig deep, have Faith, and trust in the process!”There is Hope – the story is not over. On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2020, John will get to see his daughter, Ariel, for the first time in three years! This is a moment that he will cherish and hold in his heart forever!

This date also marks one year of sobriety for John. Johns closing words for you, dear reader, are words of encouragement. “You are not your past. God will provide the people, places, and things in your life that are needed to enjoy a life that is nothing short of beautiful! Trust in Him, do the next right thing, and do not give up before the miracle happens!”