Testimonies:
Terry: In this testimony, he shares how his life took a devastating turn after experimenting with drugs, leading to years of addiction, isolation, and broken relationships. Originally from the south suburbs of Chicago, Terry explains how what began as curiosity quickly became a six-year struggle with cocaine that cost him his family connections and sense of stability. After reaching a breaking point, he came to Pacific Garden Mission seeking help and entered the New Day recovery program, where the early days of withdrawal were difficult but marked the beginning of real change.
Tim: In this testimony, Tim shares how a life that once appeared stable, with a career, family, and church involvement, gradually unraveled after a painful divorce and a return to alcohol, leading to deep depression, broken relationships, and eventually homelessness. After losing his home and enduring a traumatic conflict that left him injured and living in his truck during the winter, Tim’s struggle with alcohol intensified until he sought medical help and detox. With nowhere else to turn, he felt led by God to come to Pacific Garden Mission, where he has experienced a profound spiritual transformation.
Sermon: “How to Process the Pain”: In this sermon, Pastor Phil continues the theme of forgiveness by addressing the deeper issue of unresolved wounds and how they lead to bitterness if left unhealed. He acknowledges that many people carry real pain from past experiences such as abuse, betrayal, or injustice, and emphasizes that these are not things one simply “gets over.” Using the life of Ahithophel as a sobering example, Pastor Phil shows how unprocessed hurt can quietly grow into bitterness, revenge, and ultimately destruction, even in someone who appears successful on the outside. He then lays out a clear biblical path forward: first, honestly admitting and confronting the pain rather than masking it; second, trusting God with justice instead of seeking personal vengeance; and third, choosing to forgive from the heart and even pray for those who caused the hurt. The message calls listeners to stop living imprisoned by past wounds and instead find true healing and freedom through surrendering those hurts to God and allowing Him to restore what has been broken.
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