Testimonials

Through dedication and hard work, the men who choose the Bridges of Iowa program have a second chance at life.  They are grateful for the opportunity and regularly give back to those who are following in their footsteps. 
"But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." Ephesians 4:7

Nick, April 2008

Nick began using when he was 10 or 11 and was in trouble repeatedly while growing up.  He was selling and using drugs, had no ambitions, and no desire to do much with his life, and was okay with that.  After being charged with a felony, he was put on a probation program for people under the age of 25.  The rules for that program were very simple, go to some classes, do community service, obey curfew, don’t drink and don’t use drugs.  Nick didn’t obey any of that.  He received numerous chances, and felt like he was an exception to the rules.  In the winter of 2006, he got an OWI.  He had two choices; go on the run or turn himself in.  His consequence was treatment at the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility. After completing this, he thought he was on his way.  After serving some additional time and taking a hard look at his life, Nick chose to attend Bridges of Iowa. However, this wasn’t without some strong encouragement from his PO and the Courts.

Bridges of Iowa worked for Nick.  He got to know Jesus Christ and developed a relationship with him.  In addition to the spiritual guidance, the structure and discipline of the program helped him realize that living ‘his way’, rather than God’s way and the right way was the only way to go.  Through Bridges, Nick was hired at Quality Services, a refrigeration truck and trailer maintenance company.  He has worked his way up from janitorial services to being a certified technician.  Life is good for Nick.  Here’s what he has to say about his life.

Kevin, December 2007

Kevin started using when he was in the fourth grade, and found himself in treatment by the age of 12. He eventually became more and more dependent on meth, and somehow managed to hold a job, marry and father two sons, supporting his habit by stealing copper from abandoned buildings at night. But after thirteen failed attempts to kick the addiction, Kevin’s marriage was gone and his relationship with his children destroyed.  Kevin says that when he got to Bridges, ‘I was entirely broken’. He had tried to quit on his own and realized he just couldn’t do it.  In the past, Kevin didn’t voluntarily attend any treatment; he was court ordered, his mom made him, his family made him, and he did it for all of the wrong reasons. It led him down a path of destruction that ultimately left him where he needed something different, although he wasn’t sure what that was.  He now knows, what was truly missing of each of the previous attempts…God.

The last time Kevin landed in jail, he had an overwhelming sense of relief, he knew he couldn’t do what he wanted to do any longer; that was get high and hurt people who loved him. He was desperate to escape the life that he had created for himself, he truly wanted to die.  He thought about all of the times in the past that he should have been dead, could have been dead, and wished that he was dead. He couldn’t explain why he was still alive.  That gave him a belief that there was a power greater than him. On his way to court, Kevin said a simple prayer “God, it’s quite clear you’re going to send me somewhere, send me somewhere that’s going to work and where I’m going to make friends that I can keep for the rest of my life.” And his journey of sobriety began at Bridges of Iowa.   Kevin is now a BOI Graduate and employee.  He serves as the Housing Manager for the Apartment Program.  In addition, Kevin serves as a role model to the men in the program. 

He encourages them and shares the struggles that he experienced while in treatment. Kevin shared this about Bridges of Iowa,

Tom, September 2008

Tom started using when he was 13, lived a rough life of crime and drug use and served 25 years in prison before coming to Bridges of Iowa.  He was back in jail for the last time, certain he was going to prison when he was assigned an attorney who said to him “I see something good in you.”  Tom could hardly believe it, as he’d not believed in himself before, let alone have someone else believe in him.   He was accepted into the Bridges of Iowa program and was truly surprised by this.  From the beginning, he was sure he would fail.  The structure and discipline were very difficult; he rebelled against all that the program stood for.  Once Tom humbled himself and began to work the 12-steps, he realized there was hope and a future he had never dreamed possible.

Today, Tom is employed by A+ Lawn & Landscaping as the Garden Center Manager.  He also serves as a sponsor to 8–10 men, and regularly gives his time to Bridges & other sobriety programs.  Tom recently shared about the quality of his life,