Joe's Story

Prior to his downfall, Joe was married and had two children. He also owned a beautiful home as well as his own heating and air conditioning company. In spite of all this, however, over the course of several years—Joe’s life went from good to bad.

It’s easy now for Joe to look back and see how money did not buy happiness. Unfortunately, he had to learn the hard way! The problems were many and complex: serious marital problems, a life-threatening illness, and home loss due to a “freak accident.” All these things stressed the marriage to the point of divorce in 1995, and subsequent total financial loss as well.

Alcohol and anger were his constant companions, and one by one, Joe gave up everything—including his kids. After his second marriage failed, due to his wrong behaviors, Joe eventually wound up in prison.

Joe served an 18 month DUI sentence, and was release last October. Joe can now look back and clearly see how God was working in his life. A series of unexplainable events brought Joe through the doors of Wayside and to the Master’s Touch Program. Through the teaching and counsel, Joe heard about another way of life—life with Christ. The more he heard, the more eager he was to know Christ more, and on October 24th, Joe professed saving faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior.

That was Joe’s “new beginning” and since then God has been working in so many amazing ways…it’s hard to name them all.

Joe regularly attends church and Bible Studies at Crossroads Community Church in Naperville. He was baptized earlier this year in March and is richly blessed—but not by money! His blessings come from God in the form of many wonderful and wise counselors, mentors and teachers! Weekly, Joe stays connected with those God has put into his life: his mentor, Mike Ristich; his counselors, Bruce Kim and Gary Baer; his teachers, Craig Phillips and Art Wittmann. They provide all these things, plus so much more—they’re his friends.

In addition to all of these blessings, Joe also experienced the most incredible blessing of being reunited with his two children. Following his divorce, after trying for several years and being denied contact with his children, Joe eventually gave up. It had been 12 long years; then one evening when Joe got “stuck” working in the kitchen and had to stay behind while all the other men in the Master’s Touch program left to attend a meeting, Joe received a “special” meeting of his own. Joe’s son Jason called Wayside after hearing from his Uncle that Joe was here –and they met the next day. The following day, Joe was reunited with his daughter Jessica! There is not enough money in the world to buy the joy in his heart, resulting from being reunited with his two children!

Only days later, on March 25, 2008, Joe graduated from the Master’s Touch Program. Both Jessica and Jason attended the ceremony!

Today, Joe is taking life slow and learning to rely on God, and to be patient. He is currently enrolled in the Master’s Touch Phase III Program where he attends daily classes and works in the kitchen. He knows that he wants to stay connected to his church and wants to volunteer using his skills and give back to others. Whatever God has in store, Joe wants his life to be about serving God first. With patience, he will “wait upon the Lord” for what the future holds.