Brian’s Success Story

Sober, Employed, and Saving Money After 25 Years on the Streets

After 25 years of addiction and life on the streets, Brian Yacks is sober, has a good job in Ogden, and is saving money to get his own apartment.

Last summer, I found myself alone in Ogden with nowhere to go. I was homeless, living on the streets, and using drugs.

One blazing hot day in July, I was walking past the Ogden Rescue Mission, feeling hopeless. After nearly 25 years of drug use, my body was breaking down—I was sick and exhausted. I had reached the point where I was truly sick and tired of being sick and tired.

FINDING THE RESCUE MISSION

That’s when someone approached me and asked if I wanted help getting sober and off the streets. I told them I did, but I had no idea where to start. They pointed me toward the Ogden Rescue Mission. I walked in and learned about the New Life Program. It sounded like exactly the kind of help I needed, so I asked to join.

I was welcomed into the program, and from that moment, God began to change my life.

I started attending daily Bible studies and chapel services. I learned about where I came from—where all people come from—and where we’re going if we put our faith and trust in Jesus. I came to understand that God is the creator of everything, including me, and that death isn’t the end. Heaven is a real place, and God is preparing it for His people.

A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

When I first arrived at the Rescue Mission, I didn’t believe in God. But over time, I came to truly know Him. Today, God is in my life. He’s there for me, He encourages me, and He listens. His steady presence has kept me sober for almost a year now.

Along with helping me build a relationship with God, the Mission also taught me how to care for and about other people. When I first arrived, I was irritated by others and kept to myself. But as my faith grew, my heart changed.

CARING FOR OTHERS AGAIN

As part of the New Life Program, I received a work therapy assignment in the Rescue Mission’s kitchen. Eventually, I became the head cook for both breakfast and lunch, helping to serve hundreds of meals each day to homeless and low-income people in Ogden. I found joy in feeding those who were hungry—it became a real pleasure to make sure people left mealtime full and happy.

That new attitude was a far cry from the person I used to be. It was about 25 years ago when I started cooking, selling, and using meth. I moved between Nevada, Idaho, and Utah, doing roofing and concrete work while selling meth to fund my addiction. Back then, I was helping ruin lives—especially my own.

But through the Mission, I saw how God had transformed me from someone who once filled people up with meth to someone who fills them up with nutritious food. He turned me into a real cook.

EMPLOYMENT AND NEW LIFE

Two months ago, I advanced to the employment phase of the New Life Program. I got a job at a local packaging and distribution company and bought a bicycle so I could get to and from work. It’s a good job, and I’ve been saving money so I can move into an apartment when I graduate from the program in a couple months. I also hope to save enough to buy a truck.

I attend a small Salvation Army church here in Ogden. It feels like family—a place where I’m welcomed and can continue growing in my relationship with God even after leaving the Rescue Mission. After years of moving around and battling addiction, it feels good to finally have a home.

Thank you for supporting the Ogden Rescue Mission. Because of your generosity, I was able to learn about God, begin a relationship with Him, get sober, get off the streets, and find a job. Your support has meant the world to me—and I see every day how it helps so many others, too.