“Don’t go it alone. Stay plugged into your recovery and church communities.”
Jesse is a June ’21 graduate of our Long-term program at Hudson House in Minneapolis. After graduation he started off as a Recovery Navigator and now this last year, he was promoted to working for MnTC as a Regional Outreach Manager for the Rochester area. Jesse also founded Sons Of Light, Inc. and became VP of the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Certification Board.
What brought you to MnTC?
During my last incarceration, my little brother was in a devastating motorcycle accident. He was under the influence of drugs when he nodded off and crashed his motorcycle. He now has a Traumatic Brain Injury, is confined to a wheelchair most of the time, and lives in a group home. I knew that I had to dramatically change my life if I was going to be of any good to my brother, so I decided to ask for help. I began with programs within the prison and then came directly to MnTC the day I was released.
What have you been learning and working on since graduation?
I have been keeping busy. I’m participating in a discipleship program and preparing for a career in full-time ministry. I became a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Reciprocal with Forensic Endorsement and Approved Supervisor, as well as a Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator, providing others with Peer Recovery Support Services training. I love my job and hope that in some small but impactful way I am making a difference that will benefit others.
AND… I was married to my childhood sweetheart 2 months after I graduated, we bought our first house, and celebrated our 2-year anniversary on Sept. 5th!
What is your encouragement for other alumni?
1) Don’t go it alone. Stay plugged into your recovery and church communities.
2) Have 3 people that you confide in, that hear from God, that you are willing to listen to and follow their advice.
3) Remember: Be patient with yourself and others and always give grace. God’s grace is the ability to live out and be His righteousness. His Love is new every morning! He is always with you and for you!
What is a favorite verse or spiritual habit you have been working on?
Favorite verse: Ps 116:1-2 “I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.”
Spiritual habit: 2 Tim 3:14 “You, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them…” It has been so important and beneficial to continue in the habits I formed in the program: Staying in the Word, devotions, community, church, exercise, eating healthy, sleep, etc. It is something I continue to need to be intentional about and keep my accountability partners in the loop.