Doug Westbrook
No Longer a Slave to Sin

Douglas Westbrook was a young man with a vision. The youngest of nine children, Douglas received Christ as his savior at an early age, completed high school, served his country for thirteen years and completed one and a half years of college.

Douglas' oldest brother had set the standard for he and his siblings to follow. The family name was well known, especially for their commitment to family values.

Unlike many caught up in the bonds of drugs and alcohol, Douglas did not start doing drugs until he was 32. For this man of strong family values and a family name that evoked community respect, it was the worst decision of his life.

Westbrook's downward spiral began with bouts of alcohol and eventually escalated to Crack Cocaine. Douglas' addiction led him down a path of horrible living conditions. His painful past caused him to forget all family values and morals. "I remember stealing from family members, my children and even my mother", states Westbrook. He knew there was something terribly wrong and that he was separated from God, the very source that could give him life. He recalls trying every avaliable service from Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, and even the substance abuse program offered by the Veterans Administration, but none of the organizations filled the void he so desperately wanted filled.

After living in a state of complete abandonment, which included sleeping in vacant homes both winter and summer, Westbrook came to the doors of the City rescue Mission. "I wanted to change, needed to change, and hoped I could change." Though desparately wanting a new way of life, there was an uncertainty that his life could ever be whole again.

In 2002 he entered the Mission's long term Discipleship Program. There he rededicated his life to Christ. It was that little mustard seed of faith that dramatically changed his life. He is a new man and his new spiritual walk has allowed him to be a better father and friend. He is not only drug and alcohol free, he is free from a nicotine addiction that many think one could never give up. Westbrook rejoices that he is no longer a slave to sin. His relationship with his family has been restored and he is a productive person in society. He is spiritually stronger and says that today he is no longer depending on Douglas, he's depending on Jesus!