My name is Patrick Dore and I am 21 years old. On March 24, I turned 21 and it was the best birthday ever. I spent it in church on a Tuesday night prayer service, not in a bar or in a house party but with my Father who is in Heaven. I was born and raised in Brooklyn. I was brought up in a Catholic church, received communion, went through confirmation, and was baptized as an infant. But it meant nothing because there was no application of the Word in my family’s life.
My father was a drug dealer and my mother was a high class escort. I really don’t remember much about my childhood, but I do remember looking into my father’s eyes after he beat me and all I saw was death. All I saw in my family’s eyes was death, pain, no hope and fear. So, with all that I have seen within my own house I ran in fear of my father and ran to the streets for comfort. All I wanted was love but I was searching in all the wrong places; drugs, girls, parties. I have done almost every drug out there from, crack to LSD; all temporary satisfactions that only took the pain away for a moment. It got to a point where I was running from my self. I didn’t even know who I was anymore. I got arrested and went to jail. I was in jail for 30 days and then was released on probation.
Within a month I violated my probation and went on the run because I didn’t want to go back to jail. But God has a plan. I ran into a Christian, who knew about Teen Challenge. I contacted them and I am still there today. That was almost 9 months ago. I have learned so much in these months. I have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I have the Spirit of Truth living dwelling inside of me. I have restoration with my family. I have a future to look forward to. I will either stay on as staff or go to Bible College. My desire is to be a Youth Pastor. I want to preach to youth all over the world and give all the Glory to God. His grace and mercy has been upon me my whole life. Thank You God.