Birley's Story

"“In my homeless state, no one else wanted to be bothered with me, or I with them.”

I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, where I lived with my mother, father two brothers and two sisters. I stayed out of trouble most of the time until age 15 when I began drinking and smoking marijuana. I was employed, and only drank and smoked on days off. But in 1986 I began using cocaine, which was the beginning of my downfall. I lost my family and job after job to my addiction. In 1995 my son, Birley, died at the age of 25. Six months later, I lost another son who was only 19. Four months after that, my father died, and I’d already lost my mother in 1988.

Although I felt awful, I kept getting high. I contemplated suicide but, thankfully, God kept me from acting on it. My life was lost in a blur of drugs and alcohol.

My siblings were there for me, especially my oldest sister, Shirley. She was always worried about me and encouraged me to get help. In my homeless state, no one else wanted to be bothered with me, or I with them.

I found myself at a homeless shelter just south of downtown Chicago. Although I graduated from their one year program and worked at the mission as security, I continued at times to go back to my old life. Time and time again I would come across people who would witness to me about God’s plan of salvation. I would hear what they were saying, but never felt led to make a commitment to Christ.

In February of 2002, I lost my position there because of my drug problem. One of the staff asked me if I wanted to get help, to which I could only reply, “Yes”. The next day, I enrolled in the Master’s Touch program at Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora.

After settling in, I got down on my knees and begged forgiveness. I knew without God’s help, I would never have the power necessary to walk through this life. I felt forgiven and rededicated my life to being a servant of God.

After graduating the six month program, the Master’s Touch director asked if I’d consider a position as resident assistant at Wayside House in Elgin. Cognizant of how far God had brought me, I prayed for guidance and felt the Lord urging me to leave my comfort zone and accept the job. Shortly thereafter, I became full-time, paid staff at the Wayside Center, the daytime shelter for the homeless in Elgin, and continued as resident assistant at Wayside House.

At the Center where I am still employed, I help with all daily operations and lead Bible studies. My job is to encourage the poor and homeless to come to Jesus so He can save, heal and deliver them – just as the Lord had done for me. I explain that although they are homeless, they are not helpless, and that they, too, can turn their lives around with God’s help.

By the grace of God I am clean and sober for almost four years. My wife, Nelwyn, is my friend and supporter - my everything. My sister, Shirley, who passed away and went to be with her Lord in August, lived long enough to see her youngest brother come to Christ. “If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36) is a passage I live by daily.