At Pacific Garden Mission, we rejoice in the countless lives transformed through the saving power of Jesus Christ. Every day, men and women come through our doors broken, burdened, and hopeless, but they leave renewed, restored, and redeemed by the Gospel. In 2025 alone, hundreds of guests made personal decisions to trust Christ as their Savior after hearing the message of hope faithfully preached in our chapel.

One of those remarkable testimonies is Aaliyah’s. Her journey from trauma and despair to faith and freedom in Christ is a vivid reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love. Through the compassion of staff and the truth of God’s Word, she found not only healing from her past but a brand-new life in Jesus Christ.

Aaliyah

A PAINFUL CHILDHOOD

“My name is Aaliyah Bankston. Growing up, my childhood was difficult. My parents separated when I was about eight years old, and my mom moved us away from my dad. During that time, I faced years of abuse at the hands of family friends that left me broken and afraid. When I tried to tell my mom what had happened, she didn’t believe me. From that moment, I carried deep pain and shame that I didn’t know how to handle.

“When we moved back to Chicago, I was depressed and suicidal. I felt invisible, bullied at school, ignored at home, and unsure of who to trust. I was eventually kicked out of high school and sent to an alternative school, where I felt like a failure. Still, God placed caring teachers in my life there who showed me love and acceptance I had never known.”

SEARCHING FOR HOPE

“As I got older, my life continued to spiral. I turned to smoking and food to cope with my pain, and my relationship with my mom was strained. One night, after another argument, she called the police on me. I was terrified and heartbroken.

“Later, after another painful, traumatizing experience, I remember walking the streets of Chicago crying out to God for help. I didn’t know where to go or who to trust, but that prayer led me to Pacific Garden Mission.”

A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

“When I arrived at PGM, I was welcomed with compassion and understanding. I was invited into the New Day program and didn’t realize at first how much it would change me. It was not just about recovery. It was about Jesus.

“That first Sunday, I went to church and heard the Gospel message. For the first time, I truly understood that Jesus loved me, died for me, and could give me a new life. That day, I gave my heart to Christ.”

GROWING IN FAITH

“Since then, my life has completely changed. I joined the New Life discipleship program to strengthen my walk with God. Through Scripture study, prayer, and the support of my counselors, I have learned to forgive, to heal, and to trust God with my pain. He has given me peace I never thought possible.

“I now work in the Mothers and Children department, helping with meals and daily needs. I love being able to share my faith and talk about God with others. Watching the children play brings me joy and reminds me that there is always hope in Christ.”

A FAMILY RESTORED

“God has also restored my relationship with my family. My mom, brother, and sister have all been saved, and my mom even travels from Indiana to attend church with me. We never used to talk about God, but now we pray and worship together. Only God could have done that.”

ONE OF MANY REDEEMED

Aaliyah’s story is just one among many at Pacific Garden Mission, one more life transformed by the power of the Gospel. From the moment she cried out to God, He began writing a new chapter of grace, redemption, and restoration.

Every day, guests at PGM hear the same message that changed Aaliyah’s life: that Jesus Christ still saves, heals, and delivers. Each week, more men and women make the decision to follow Him, finding forgiveness and hope that no program or policy could ever provide.

Your prayers and your compassionate support make this possible. Each meal served, each bed offered, and each message preached opens another door for someone to encounter the life-changing love of Christ. Because of you, lives like Aaliyah’s continue to be redeemed, and the light of the Gospel keeps shining in Chicago, one precious soul at a time.

Thank you for anything you can give to help others move into a brighter future.