
09/18/2025
Out of the Woods and Into the Light.
"My name is Ethan. I’m 24 years old, from Butler, Pennsylvania, and this is my story.
Like many young people, my journey started with hanging out with friends, drinking on weekends, and assuming life would eventually fall into place. But little by little, the drinking grew heavier, the friendships faded, and I slipped further into a life I never expected. Before I knew it, I was drinking every day and living homeless in the woods in Youngstown—empty, hopeless, and wondering if this was all life had to offer.
Then came a conversation that changed everything. My stepdad told me about the Warren Family Mission. I decided to give it a chance, and that decision changed my life completely.
I've been clean and sober for the last six months. My time here has been unlike any other program I’ve experienced. The people at the Mission don’t just talk about Jesus—they live it.
The most significant turning point for me was the day I was baptized. That’s when peace and joy began filling the places that used to feel so empty. For the first time in years, I could honestly say—I was happy.
Today, I stand as a new man: hopeful, grateful, and rooted in an unshakable faith. I’m living in God’s truth and love, and I’m living proof of what can happen when you give your life fully to Him."