At the Mission’s annual Banquet on May 29, David Ray thanked everyone who supports the Mission, acknowledging how your compassion helped change his life forever. David was our keynote speaker, and revealed a transformation of a seemingly hopeless addict to an impactful man of God.
David spoke of his roots in Baltimore, where his early life was marked by dysfunction and pain. He was a victim of sexual abuse as a child, and for much of his youth, he yearned for acceptance, safety, and love—needs that nobody ever met. In his attempt to escape the trauma and emptiness, he turned to drugs. What started with marijuana quickly spiraled into addiction to crack cocaine and heroin.
“My addiction took control of my life, and I became consumed by darkness,” he recalled.
In those years, David did whatever it took to feed his addiction—lying, stealing, and ultimately losing himself. He cycled through 16 rehabilitation programs and served four prison sentences. He was homeless, broken, and hopeless—until one life-changing moment.
While driving a stolen vehicle on his way to commit a crime, David was pulled over by police. But instead of fear, he felt a strange peace—what he now recognizes as God stepping in. He said he heard God whisper, “Enough is enough.” At the Baltimore County Detention Center, David began a transformation that would lead him to freedom—not just from jail, but from addiction and shame.
On November 6, 2003, David experienced a spiritual awakening; that day, he flushed his drugs down the toilet. Just four days later, he walked into the Frederick Rescue Mission. Surrounded by brothers in Christ and mentors who believed in him, David started rebuilding his life on the foundation of God’s love.
David went on to complete life-changing training at the Mission, and during that time, he met his future wife, someone who had also walked the hard road of addiction. Together, they began a new life grounded in faith, healing, and grace.
With God at the center of their marriage, they built a family filled with love and redemption. David’s sons have never known the man who was lost in addiction; they see a dad who shoots hoops with them, shows up every day, and leads with love.
Because you supported the Mission, David and his wife were able to find freedom and purpose. Today, he now lives a life he once believed was impossible. He is not only a husband and father but also a business owner and a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. David faithfully volunteers with the Mission’s residents every month and hires CLRP graduates in his business.
