Sally shares how Jesus found her after decades battling the pain of addiction.

Sally’s journey began in West Wales, where her childhood was marked by hardship and violence at the hands of her stepfather.

“My stepfather was pretty violent to me,” she recalls. “So I ended up running away from home, drinking, and then I moved to London.”

Moving to London and into deeper despair

In her early twenties, Sally hoped for a fresh start in a new city, but instead found herself homeless and trapped in a cycle of pain - battling abusive relationships and numbing her hurt with alcohol and drugs.

London felt overwhelming.

With no support, Sally found herself “going in and out of a really bad, violent relationships,” and using drugs and alcohol to cope.

“I ended up using [drugs] to hide the pain, drinking more to hide the pain, getting more and more angry with myself for the situation I was in.”

Though Sally had once prayed and read the Bible as a child, years of loss and grief hardened her heart. Surrounded by death, she grew bitter and angry, even hating God. Life felt hopeless, and she believed no one cared.

Things changed when Sally came to Webber Street

Everything began to change when Sally walked through the doors of Webber Street, a centre run by London City Mission to support people experiencing homelessness. There, she encountered kindness and acceptance - people who listened without judgment and reminded her of the hope found in Jesus.

“They sat down and actually talked to me, and then just accepted me as I was,” Sally says.

Through conversations, Bible readings, and prayer, something stirred in Sally’s heart.

Her connection deepened when volunteers from a local church – Grace London – started helping at Webber Street, trained and supported by LCM staff.

During one of their first chats, Sally discovered she shared a birthday with one of the volunteers, Bisi.

“I’ll never forget it. She gave me a card, and I went, ‘Wow, that’s so special, because no one got me a card for ages,’” shares Sally.

That simple act of kindness opened the door to real relationships and a sense of belonging.

Sally started attending church, and eventually, she made the life-changing decision to follow Jesus.

“I’ve been going to Grace London, and I got baptised,” she says with joy. “I’ve been following Jesus for a year and a half, and it has changed my life totally.”

The day of her baptism was unforgettable for many reasons. It was a day filled with joy and emotion for everyone who had walked alongside her. It was the day she found peace and purpose in Christ.

“I stopped using, stopped drinking. [Jesus] gave me a new beginning – a new life,” Sally shares.