Mike Grubbs: From meth to manhood  

Although he is in his early 30s, Mike looks several years younger. He could be your lanky teenage neighbor. But looks are deceptive- Mike has been through something tougher than many people experience in a lifetime.

Over four years ago, Mike admits, “I was childish, selfish. I didn’t care about anything except myself and doing drugs.”

Mike was using and selling meth. His life was a wreck, when he could hold a job as a cook he was using his paycheck on drugs and was not paying his bills; he was lying and was not responsible in his life. When he was selling drugs, he was paranoid for good reason, because who knew what a volatile “customer” strung out on meth might do?

His drug use and sale eventually landed Mike in prison. The second time he was jailed he realized something had to change. He knew a guy named Eric, who had graduated from a recovery program called LifeChange at Union Gospel Mission.

Coming from Roseburg to Old Town in downtown Portland was a bit of a shock for Mike.

“I was looking at where the Mission was and thought it was crazy. How am I going to get well with all the drugs and the homeless people all around me?”

That was not the only surprise in store for Mike. Life in LifeChange is highly structured. Residents have busy schedules working and living at the Mission, working at the Thrift store and attending academic classes and Bible study. One of the harder aspects for Mike was looking at the issues underlying his addiction.

“In LifeChange the cover is peeled back and you are exposed. It’s hard to look at yourself and see a lot of things you don’t want to see. I used drugs to medicate myself and not see those things. I think I started using drugs to cover my low self-confidence, and I was angry, was too proud, and very selfish.”

Oddly enough, it was the thing that Mike felt would be a barrier to his recovery- the drug users and homeless around the Mission that turned out to be the cornerstone of his recovery.

“Getting to know these people and getting a chance to serve really help me not to focus on myself and to practice unselfish behavior, I wanted to help people and show them, like me, they could overcome addiction.”

Now, after four years in LifeChange, Mike will be graduating. Among the things he is grateful for is his Christian faith, his transition from selfishness to a desire to serve, and the time bonding on camping and fishing trips learning to have fun without drugs and developing real, committed friendships. From this experience Mike is certain he will want to mentor others in LifeChange.

About graduation, Mike says, “I’m happy I stood by my commitment, and I’m happy that now I’m a man of integrity.”

What is LifeChange?

LifeChange is a community. Each member of LifeChange lives and works together at the Mission. The cornerstone of LifeChange is faith in the transforming power of Jesus Christ. LifeChange is a peer-based, each resident helps each other to identify issues and grow in their recovery. LifeChange is self-governed, as residents work together to make decisions as a community. LifeChange is long-term, and goal– oriented. Most residents spend two to four years to complete LifeChange.

DOWNLOAD a copy of the LifeChange application. (260k adobe acrobat .pdf file requires adobe acrobat reader to view. Download a free copy of Adobe Reader by clicking here.)

DOWNLOAD a copy of the LifeChange Handbook. ( 3.9meg adobe acrobat .pdf file requires adobe acrobat reader to view. Download a free copy of Adobe Reader by clicking here.)

DONATE NOW to support men and women in LifeChange.