Hi, I’m Phil. My mom grew up in Israel and was a Holocaust survivor. She married my dad after the war and eventually moved to Brooklyn, where I was born and raised.

I had a happy childhood, my parents were very loving and they raised me well. Both of my parents died while I was a young teen. I began to curse God for taking my parents away. All my friends had their parents and I was left with none. It affected me in a very big way.

I hung out with the cool crowd. I just wanted to fit in. I started experimenting with marijuana and before long other drugs. I was easily addicted. I started working as an adult and worked really hard. I was functioning well, balancing work and my addiction. After 33 years, that balance was gone and I was spending all of my money on drugs, including heroin.

I became homeless when I ran out of time at a shelter downstate. I was still working and earning money, money to buy heroin. But it wasn’t enough to feed my addiction and I became really dope sick.

I knew people who shot heroin, but I sniffed it, which is bad enough. I witnessed people overdosing and that still didn’t stop me. I  wanted to get high no matter what, it didn’t matter.

While hanging out at the library I ran into a friend who was also a drug user and he told me he was headed upstate to Capital City Rescue Mission and that I should come with him.

He told me they have a Christian based program and that “it’ll change your life.” I thought “whatever” and told him, “You know I’m Jewish, right?”  He said it didn’t matter and that they would be happy to have me,  but I ignored him. I went to a friend’s house to stay and did a lot of heroin. That night it was like God said to me, “Phil, enough is enough, you can’t keep doing this!”

So I came to the Mission. I remember crossing the street and seeing the “Jesus Saves” sign and thinking, “This is going to be a challenge for me.” But I was welcomed with open arms. I joined the New Life Program and they gave me a binder. On the cover is a picture and a Bible verse:

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:
The old has gone, the new is here!“

 I looked at that every day and thought that’s me! The old me is gone, this is the new me in Christ! I had been spiritually numb, not following any religion or even Judaism. I had been idolizing drugs, but that all changed when I came to the Mission. There is camaraderie with the guys in group. We were all broken, in need of direction. That’s the great thing about the New Life Program, we are all here for the same reason. To get closer to God; it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

I can’t do this on my own. I’m connected to a church and surrounded by great people; pastors, staff and other Christians who support me. God has reconciled my relationship with my son and I am able to see my grand-daughter twice a month!

Thank you for giving me a  safe place to heal and grow closer to God. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me!