GOD STORIES 34 MAY 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition This story was especially meaningful for me to write. It’s personal; my wife, Christina, and I had a front-row seat to Ashley’s journey through Calvary House. Christina had the privilege of mentoring her, and they built a close, meaningful relationship along the way. My prayer is that Ashley’s story clearly shows how relentlessly God pursues us even when we relentlessly run from Him. His love and mercy are not something we can outrun. Brokenness Ashley’s story is one of deep brokenness, but even more, it is a story of relentless redemption. Ashley was born in Broward County into a home defined by addiction, chaos and instability. From her earliest memories, life was marked by fear. Both of her parents struggled with addiction, and her father’s anger often turned violent. Ashley endured what no child should ever experience. At a very young age, she suffered severe physical, emotional and sexual abuse. She witnessed extreme neglect. She remembers her baby sister being left hungry and in soiled diapers for long periods. Survival became her instinct, even if it meant stealing food just to eat. The very people meant to protect her became the source of her deepest wounds. At five years old, her life took a sudden turn. She and her siblings were removed from their home by HRS and taken seven hours away to an unfamiliar place. It was confusing and traumatic, but it marked the beginning of something different. At nine, Ashley was adopted into a loving Christian home. Chaos was replaced with stability. For the first time, she experienced consistent care, structure and exposure to faith. She saw what she would later recognize as God’s hand — like watching her adoptive mother survive a brain tumor and regain her sight. But healing isn’t instant. Ashley carried deep pain into her teenage years. Questions about her identity, worth and understanding of love followed her. The trauma shaped how she saw herself and others. She sought validation in unhealthy relationships and wrestled with a deep fear of men. By ninth grade, when she opened up about her struggles, it created tension at home. Feeling misunderstood and labeled, she began to withdraw. That isolation fueled rebellion and she started skipping school, running away, drinking and smoking. What started as experimentation quickly escalated. A downward spiral At 17,Ashley left home unprepared for life on her own and the downward spiral intensified. She fell into deep into addiction. Meth and pills became her escape, eventually leading to using needles, selling her body and stealing from anyone she could, including the places she worked, friends and even her family. Her shame and guilt deepened. Hopelessness set in and suicidal thoughts followed. Her adoptive parents never stopped loving her, but eventually her father made a hard decision to stop enabling her. That boundary became a turning point. At 21, Ashley entered a six-month rehab program where she accepted Jesus for the first time. For a moment, it felt like things might change. But after leaving the program, she relapsed and the cycle grew worse. At 27, while still using, Ashley became pregnant. Fear consumed her. She entered the MIST program for pregnant women, where she faced a serious medical emergency, an ovarian cyst that required surgery and risked her baby’s life. By God’s grace the surgery was successful, and for the first time, she felt a real connection to her baby boy. Still, the battle continued. She left the program early and relapsed again. On May 15, 2021, Ashley gave birth to her son, Mason. The moment she saw him, something shifted. She felt an overwhelming love, but she wasn’t able to take him home. DCF placed him with her sister, Penny. Ten days later, Ashley made a life-changing decision, she went back to the MIST program. This time, she stayed. After four months, she regained custody of Mason. The program became more than sobriety, it was about learning to be a mother, building trust and believing a new life was possible. She graduated in November 2021. But the journey still wasn’t linear. After leaving, she relapsed yet again. She lost her job, struggled financially and fell back into destructive patterns. This time it was with Mason in her care. She described the torment: buying drugs, throwing them away, crying out to God but to only repeat the cycle the next day. Eventually, she reached complete desperation, not just wanting change, but finally realizing she needed it. Surrender At rock bottom, she cried out to Jesus and fully surrendered. With the help of her mentor, Mrs. Alita, and the steady support of her sister, Penny, Ashley reached out for help again. Through a connection, she entered another program, Calvary House for Women. This time she was returning to Broward County, not to relive her past but to heal and be restored from it. She fully engaged in the program, doing the hard work of confronting her past. She took ownership of the choices she had made, choices that impacted not only her life, but also her son and her entire family. It wasn’t easy to face, but she leaned into it. And in that surrender, the Lord began to bring real healing to those wounds. Today, Ashley’s life is completely different. She is walking in real healing and transformation. She now sees that even in the darkest moments, God was at work. Her recovery journey hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth it. She often says, “God used my son Mason to save my life.” Today, she has full custody of him. She works at Calvary Chapel. Mason attends school at Calvary Christian Academy. She has her own apartment through City House. And she is surrounded by a strong, supportive community. Most importantly, she has discovered that God’s love is greater than anything she has ever known, and instead of relying on her own strength, she now chooses daily to depend on Him. Ashley’s story isn’t just about where she’s been. It’s about what God can do with a life fully surrendered. Recovery United is a 501c3 non-profit that is committed to delivering hope to families facing addiction by walking side by side with you during this difficult time. If you or someone you love needs help, please visit the Recovery United website. While our site is currently under construction, we’re excited to share it with you soon. In the meantime, you can submit an inquiry form, and a member of our team will reach out quickly. We’re here to help—no strings attached. www.recoveryunited.com - Antony Tchividjian - President, Recovery United, and Director, Calvary House Ashley’s Story of God’s Relentless Pursuit Before and After of Ashley
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