Wow...I have been hesitant to post anything about Kevin but have decided to share a little bit of what God has been up to in our lives. Kevin began living with us on July 17, 2015. God had placed him on our hearts many years ago. He has struggled with drugs and alcohol addictions since his early teens. We know Kevin through Kyle's work. Kyle's dad hired Kevin and continued to hire Kevin on and off while Kevin was struggling with addiction and time in prison for his felonies. I can remember a few years ago, our small group started praying for Kevin and secretly giving him some essentials (microwave, space heater and food) around holidays. Last year, we started being very intentional with our prayers for Kevin and inviting him to our family events. He never showed up but we never stopped pursuing him. On July 17, 2015, Kevin lost his job because he crashed one of Trax's vehicles and left the scene of the accident in the middle of the night. When questioned he initially denied it and refused to take a drug test. At that point, Kyle's dad had decided to let him go. As Kevin was packing up his things in his apartment he wondered where he would live, when his next meal was and as he walked down the street, he prayed to God for Help! We joke about this because little did any of us know that two goof-balls, Kyle and his cousin, Ryan, would be looking for him later that day and showing up at his door step. As Kyle gave me the details about what was happening that day, we both felt God calling us to do something completely out of our comfort zone. Kyle was already thinking it and in a split second, over the phone, I told him that if he finds Kevin, bring him to our house...no exceptions. Around 9 p.m. Kyle got a call from Kevin's sister stating that he was going to be getting the rest of his things from his apartment shortly. Kyle and Ryan decided to leave and meet him there to talk with him and just comfort him and show him Christ's love. After a long conversation between the three of them, Kevin finally agreed to come home with Kyle. This particular night Jamin and Landin happened to still be up, so when I got the call I began to get our guest bedroom ready and the boys were excited to be having a guest stay at our house. They both started making Kevin crafts and pictures to help him feel welcomed (They have such warm and beautiful hearts :)). Little did any of us know that God would begin a new chapter in Kevin's life from that day on. The next day, Kevin drove around with Kyle and Ryan during work. Ryan felt a tug at his heart and remembered a man he had met at church with a similar background as Kevin's and took Kevin to the church, where they happened to be doing a job there, to meet Carlos. God knew that Carlos would be the perfect person to talk to Kevin because on that day in the church parking lot, Kevin accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord! From that moment on, EVERYONE began to see the Holy Spirit transform Kevin. The way he talked, his new found love for life, the way he acted. He desired to go to church and be in community with others. He desired to be baptized and to get involved with Bible studies and friendships...he decided to finally let others and most importantly let God LOVE him! As of July 17, 2015, Kevin has been drug and alcohol free! The weeks that followed were nothing short of amazing as well. Kevin recognized his addictions and the pain and hurt from his past. He began to look for rehab centers across the country that would accept him. After one rejection after another because of his prior convictions and felonies no one would accept him. Frustration would start to settle in but God would always give us hope. Finally, after 6 weeks of searching, Our Master's Camp in TN was the first to truly confess what we all truly believe in, 'Our God is bigger that any of that and He would never turn someone away"! It was expensive but Got gave us many signs that he would provide. One in particular was hanging above our stove and it says, "if God brings you to it, he will bring you through it". Oh how I needed that on several occasions. God definitely provided...through the generosity of our church, friends, family and strangers, Kevin was fully funded and all set to go! So on September 1, 2015 Kyle and Kevin set out on an adventure to Tennessee! Kevin had some legal complications that he had to resolve before finally getting admitted to Our Master's Camp. Kyle dropped him off and headed back to Colorado knowing that God was going to continue His might work in Kevin.
VIDEO: Kevin's powerful testimony and Baptism
We would have regular weekly conversations with Kevin while he was away. It was so uplifting to hear what God was doing in Kevin's life! Truly something that only the Holy Spirit could do.
After 90 days in Tennessee, it was finally time for Kevin to come back to Colorado! The night before Kevin's flight came in, the boys, Ryan's daughter, Abbie and I made posters to welcome Kevin back. We also asked Carlos and those who have supported Kevin through the years to come with us on the Party Bus to go pick him up! Our Church community was also taking notice in Kevin's story that they send one of their camera guys to record Kevin's homecoming! Truly a wonderful day that the Lord had made!
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