Dallas’ Story

I was born in Royal Oak, Michigan. I grew up in Hazel Park, north of Detroit. Our family lived in a modest home, and we had a general idea of religion and morals, but I was not a born-again Christian. Once, while attending a Bible camp, I began thinking about the Bible. At the time, I thought to myself that one must either believe It all, or reject It all, as in taking It “all-or-nothing”. However, just a short while later in my life, I wasn’t living like I believed the Bible, at all. I was disobeying my parents during my high school years, and I got into an unhealthy relationship, which ended in a breakup during my freshman year of college. Soon after, depression and anxiety took over my emotions, and then I got into drugs and alcohol. Eventually, I ended up 1,200 miles away in Hill City, South Dakota. I was robbed and abandoned by my “friend”, and totally broke, living out of my car, living in a bar, and all the while still spiraling downward in a never-ending cycle of depression, drugs, alcohol, etc.

But, while in South Dakota, I was able to find a job and get an apartment. Then a co-worker invited me to a church service at the Mountainview Baptist Church, in Custer. After attending this church and hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ, within a few months, in December of 2020, I turned to the Lord in repentance and faith, calling out to Him for salvation.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

Since putting my faith and trust in Christ, I’ve had my “ups & downs”, but He has proven faithful to chasten me, forgive me, and mold me into the new man that He wants me to become. In 2021, my sawmill job shut down, and instead of trusting God to provide for me, I spiraled back downward into depression, drugs, and alcohol. I felt so embarrassed and defeated that I even moved back to Michigan, hoping that that would get me back on track— but, things only got worse. However, my church friends in Custer still prayed for me and encouraged me to come back out to the Black Hills, get another job, and attend church, again. I moved back in June of 2023 and I have been sober, ever since. But not only sober, I’ve also really matured as a Christian, as well. The Lord is really changing me into His image (2Corinthians 3:18), and I give Him all the glory for it! For the past two years, I have attended their H.O.P.E. – 4 – Addictions Recovery program, and it has helped me to walk with God—sober, and focused on the plans that God has for me.

My name is Dallas, and this is my story. If you are looking for HOPE, please come and join us!

H.O.P.E. meets every Friday @ 7:00pm, at the Mountainview Baptist Church, in Custer.

12230 Aviation Way ~ Custer ~ 605-673-2498

H.O.P.E. 4 Addictions ~ Custer, SD