Stories From The Union Mission

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Michael Johnson

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Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson came back to Norfolk from Washington, D.C., after being stationed here with the Navy in the 1980s. After a failed marriage that left him with feelings of depression, inadequacy and rejection he turned to, as he puts it, “the rocky road to misery” through crack cocaine and alcohol. He moved back to D.C. to live with his mother and to get his life back together and entered a rehabilitation program through the Veteran's Administration. With medication and help from God, he was able to suppress his negative feelings for a short time, but life had more in store for him.

In May of 1995, something drew him back to Norfolk. After two weeks of living on the streets and back into drugs with no direction for his life, he found himself in a "crack house" in Ocean View. While there, someone told him about the Union Mission. He decided to check it out. Welcomed by the staff of the Mission, Michael says, “I was so thankful that I had a place where I could rest.” In June of 1995, Michael responded to the invitation at the Sunday morning Gospel Breakfast at the Mission and rededicated his life to God. “I was very grateful to be living in a place where I knew someone cared about me.” He soon entered the Mission Rehabilitation Program only to fail once again. He looks back at that time and says, “I loved God, but I didn't have a relationship with Him. I didn't know Him.” Through his struggles he kept praying and seeking counsel with Reverend Gray, his mentor and spiritual counselor at the Mission.

Today Michael says he doesn't know what his future will bring, but he wants to grow in his relationship with God and be used by Him to help others find the joy he has experienced. He recently wrote a letter to his mother and said, “I thank God every day and I praise Him every morning.” The New Life Center gave Michael a fresh start in life and with God's help and your support, he will succeed. In 2003, Mike accepted the position of manager of the Union Mission kitchen.