Testimonies
Micah House is a faith based transitional housing program that provides structured living and the development of living skills that help men whose lives has been negatively influenced by the life style and use of drugs.
Micah House is a Christian organization that focuses on the rehabilitation of the spirit of man. Although this program is influenced by faith, the religion or lack of religion of the men who come is not considered a requirement for entry into the Micah House program.
On any given day, as you enter Micah House you will see and hear the hustle and bustle of men in various stages of activity. Some are attending their house chores, some are preparing to make appointments and some are on their way to jobs that they have either found on their own or have found through the assistance of Micah House. Some are preparing to attend the various groups that Micah House provides to help these men develop healthy life skills.
Watching and listening to Pastor William Lockett (Director) and his staff you get the clear impression that they see their clients as good men who have made bad decisions. Micah House offers a way out of what seems like a hopeless dilemma.
INTERVIEWS
Amin Al Amin age 39
My name is Amin A. I come from Columbus Georgia, by way of Iowa, Fort Dodge Iowa. Fort Dodge is where my addiction started, that was 1999. My drug of choice is crack cocaine.
By 2004, I had arrived in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There were a few reasons why I choose Minneapolis, Minnesota; one reason is that my kids and their mother are here.
When I arrived, I entered into my first treatment. After completing this particular treatment I relapsed. Shortly after, I entered into another treatment center. This cycle continued until December 27th 2006, which is when after this last treatment I entered the program here at Micah House.
When I entered Micah House I felt that I was spiritually, physically and mentally hurting. When I entered the Micah House, there was energy, a feeling of spiritual safety and security that I had not felt for a long time. I spent 75 days at the Micah House. It was the best decision that I have made in a long time. The staff is always accessible and willing to help. Many of the decisions I have made to date, has been with the helpful suggestions of experienced staff members.
I love this program and I have chosen to stay connected by entering Timothy House which is a transitional house for men that is also a part of the Micah House system. I want very much to stay connected.
My future looks brighter than it has for many years. I hope one day to become an employee of Micah House and give to men who will most certainly come after me what has been so freely given to me.
Raymond, Age 51
I was born in Alabama, although I didn’t grow up there. I grew up primarily moving around throughout the central and eastern part of the country. The years that I consider being the years of my real growth took place during the eight years that I lived in New York City. I was 40 years old then.
I spent more time in Minnesota than anywhere else, so I consider myself a Minnesotan. I have been an addict for 30 years. I started trying to get help for my addiction when I was in New York. I finally decided to return to Minnesota after my experience in New York.
I went through a 21 day treatment program, after completion I came to Micah House. I was seeking continued structured living. I liked the fact that Micah House provided spiritual and cultural structured living. It was the best decision I could have made. I didn’t think so when I first arrived. I still had this huge demonic spirit in me and so when I first arrived I immediately judged the house, the staff and anything that would give me a reason to not like it.
It didn’t take long before I began to bond with the young men and staff at the house. I had the added blessing of getting into the Micah House at a time when it was not fully occupied; it was going through a restructuring period. I watched as the house became fully occupied.
I had a 75 day commitment from the Micah House. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to get a place of my own after 70 days at the Micah House. They allowed me to graduate early so that I could take advantage of the opportunity. I am a single father. My son is 17 years old and although my situation was different from the rest of the men at the house, the staff helped me take advantage of every opportunity that presented itself.
I am also disabled, I am legally blind. In spite of this I feel blessed and spiritually connected. I write for the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder Newspaper. This wonderful job, I so very much enjoy also provides me with a modest supplemental income.
I am truly blessed. Thank You, Micah House!!!
Richard M. Age 41
Richard’s my name, I’m from Dayton Ohio. I was very sick and had to be hospitalized in Dayton. I was given an opportunity to come to Minnesota to get chemical dependency treatment at a facility that had accepted me from the Dayton hospital, but when I was released from the hospital in Dayton and came to Minnesota, I got sick again.
After a short stay in the hospital in Minnesota, I was discharged and had the opportunity to meet Pastor Williams, the director of Micah House. The Micah House had a bed open and that’s how I got to the Micah House.
One of the things that I noticed as soon as I arrived was how inspirational the energy is at the Micah House. Recovery is the focus but equally important at the Micah House is the spiritual growth of the men there. We call it “Micah House, House of Miracles”. I have been involved with the Micah House organization for 9 months now. I have also been clean for 9 months. I love the people there.
The staff shows a lot of concern for all of the men there and it shows in how they interact with us. The staff gets involved and promotes unity among the men and staff. I have to say from my personal experience, the Micah House is one of the best things that ever happened to me. They have inspired me so that I don’t need to be clean today, I want to be clean.
I am now living at a three quarter house called the Timothy House. It is an extension of the Micah House. I have been there for 6 months. By being in this organization, I have begun to feel a real since of community. I am involved in a couple of community organizations and each week I walk with these organizations from the midtown area, the old Sears building to Lake Calhoun. This has strengthened me both physically and spiritually. Life is getting better!!!
Samson E. Age 52
I’m from Sarasota Florida; I came to Micah House after smoking crack cocaine. I had been clean prior to this for almost 20 years. I went into a 7 month relapse. After going to detox, I was sent to the Micah House.
One of the major things that helped me and I did not get in my prior years of being clean was that my spirit man was awakened this time around. This time I felt secure not only in my recovery but also in the facility that I was recovering in.
A major reason, I believe that I relapsed was that I wasn’t happy in my recovery. Even though this last relapse caused me to loose a lot of material things, I still feel that my life is getting better. I feel more fulfilled.
I had a 75 day stay at Micah House. During my stay there, I learned much about myself. My experience at Micah House taught me responsibility and dependability. I learned information that helped me to get my life back on track.
One of the major benefits of the Micah House is its staff. They were always available to help, counsel and provide suggestions and direction. Any questions I had they helped me find answers. Any time I needed emotional support they were there. Spirituality, faith and hope are the Micah House gifts. I am truly grateful for the staff a Micah House.
I am living at the Timothy House now and I will be working pretty soon. Life is by means perfect but my experiences at the Micah House as provided me the life skills I need to make my life better. I really have hope today. Being clean is a big part of my life as well as seeking spiritual growth. I believe that they both go hand in hand.
John Age 29
I didn’t grow up in Minnesota; I grew up in Baton Rough, Louisiana. Things in Louisiana weren’t going right for me, hurricane Katrina had just passed through and everyone knows what happened after that.
My Dad was already living up here in Minnesota and he said “Since things aren’t going so good for you in Louisiana, why don’t you come up here with me for a while?” I thought no, Minnesota is too cold. My Dad said “Why not put the cold aside and give it a try?”
I came to Minnesota and got into treatment on October 26th 2006. It was a 21 day program. Before that I knew I had a problem with weed and I tried to stop on my own. It didn’t work. I went through a couple of 21 day programs. After the last treatment program, I made a decision to do something I had never done before. I decided to actually finish something I had started.
When I left treatment I came to the Micah House. My first week in the Micah House was uncomfortable but after that I started to get established there and the craziest thing started to happen. I started to find out who I am. Through the Micah House programs, I started to look at myself. I began to keep the focus on me. Through the Micah House program, I started to see that this was the key to recovery. I don’t know how or why but things started to come to me easily.
I stayed at the Micah House for 74 days. During those days I began to realize that I had become a part of a spiritual program. I started to take my rightful position within the Micah House family. I started to see my life a lot clearer.
The staff is like family. I was the main focus, which is how they made me feel. They told me “we don’t want to hurt you; we want the best for you.” I could tell they meant it. I didn’t know how to seek recovery. They were there encouraging me and helping me find it. I had been struggling, they recognized that and gave me all the help and support that I needed to get through that period.
The tools, the love, the commitment, the memories and my recovery, I will take with me for the rest of my life.
I love this program, I will always come back.