Matt & April Byrd
"If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would be proclaiming how the Lord brought me out of bondage from addiction,
I never would have believed it."
If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would be proclaiming how the Lord brought me out of bondage from addiction, I never would have believed it.
I grew up in a Christian home with parents who displayed what a life serving the Lord should look like. Although I went through the motions of Christianity, I never had a genuine relationship with the Lord.
I chased the things of the world and assumed one day, I would grow out of my destructive lifestyle, but before I knew it, 15 years had passed.
Those 15 years revolved around lying, stealing, arrests, broken relationships and everything else that comes with running from the Lord down the destructive path of addiction. Eventually, I lost everything…not only did I lose my job, my vehicle, and my home, I also destroyed my family and lost custody of my son.
Homeless, in fear of facing jail time, and nowhere to turn, I made a decision to go to A Place of Restoration. This is where the Lord revealed to me what a relationship with Him is really about. He met me at my lowest when I wanted nothing to do with Him. He met me when I cursed His name and when I blamed Him for where my own decisions had gotten me. In His kindness, He came and rescued me and set me free.
After graduating APOR, I completed Servant Leadership Training and I am now able to teach and speak into the lives of men that come through the program. In March of 2023, I married my wife who also works in addiction ministry. What a privilege to serve alongside her while fulfilling the Lord’s plan for our lives. I recently adopted our daughter Marielle and gained my bonus daughter, Aylyanna.
When my life was divinely interrupted, it was hard to imagine that He would do as His word says and work all things together for good but I am living proof that He is faithful to keep His promises. I want everyone to know that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and my life is His to do with what He wants. He is no respecter of persons! What He did for me, He is more than ready, willing and able to do for you!
Joey Mongrue
"I have always heard that voice in my ear"
I have always heard that voice in my ear, and the Lord has always been knocking, but I was never interested in answering that door. I come from a divorced household, and never knew how to handle situations. The only thing that helped me with acceptance, rejection and resentment issues was the use of drugs and alcohol. Throughout the years, it continued to get worse and worse, and my life turned into a downward spiral. This turned into a lifetime of broken relationships, lying, stealing from the ones who loved me In and out of jail and a failed marriage. I became the person that I did not want to be. Looking at a lot of jail time and a sense of hopelessness the Lord showed up and freed me from that. I finally answered that knock, and the Lord became real in my life. Throughout the program, the Lord has showed me how to love and forgive myself, restored all the relationships back in my life and gave me brothers and friends for a lifetime. Also, in that, he restored my passion for cooking again, in which I lost and now I am able to cook for the ministry and Living Word Church and has freed me from addiction and bondage. Now, when I deal with situations or struggles, there is a new source I run to, and it’s the Lord who gives me peace to overcome anything. Today is so much different. I have a wonderful relationship with both my mom and Dad, the relationship with my sister, Christine has been restored and her beautiful baby Danica is my godchild. I am able to share how much the Lord has done for me with these men and have true joy.
If He, did it for me, I know he can do it for you.
Love you.
Don and Jessi Daniels
"At 13 I started using recreational drugs"
My name is Don Daniels JR. I am 34 years old, I am from Larose, La. My wife, Jessi, and I have been married since April 2017. Together, we have two beautiful daughters, Karah who is 14 and Karsyn who is 7. Growing up I had a very blessed upbringing. There was always just one thing missing and that was my mom. My mom passed away in a car accident when I was seven and that loss and grief led me to a lifetime of pain I could not handle on my own. At 13 I started using recreational drugs and from that point it led me into a full-blown active addiction. In my 30s I was still in denial about my addiction because I had a good job, a nice home, and a loving family but even with all that one thing came first, that was the drugs. My addiction really showed up when my mother-in-law was on her deathbed, and I was at home overdosing. This was the beginning of my downward spiral. I lost my job, and my home. I overdose close to 20 times and had two rehab stays; my wife was finally fed up. She took the kids and left. I was at the point where I was hopeless and did not even believe there was a God. That was until He showed up. After I finally agreed to go to Apor I was still in such bondage I overdosed and ended up in the hospital on a ventilator. I did not know it, but that’s when my life changed forever and my walk with the Lord began. In my journey at Apor I learned accountability, to take ownership for my destruction, to have a relationship with God and to be relationship with my brothers in the program. Learning to let go and give it all to the Lord. He gave me back everything I had pushed away. I got my family back. My wife’s support during this entire journey, God blessed her with an opportunity to also get some healing here at Apor through marriage counseling deepening her relationship with the Lord as well. Apor has been such a blessing to my entire family. It has shown me that you are never too far gone for the Lord to come in and save you. It is through Him that we gained the strength to keep going and because of His grace and mercy we are allowed to keep fighting, I give all glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"Our marriage had fell apart "
My husband, Don Daniels Jr, went in to APOR in February 2023. Our marriage had fell apart and I had completely lost all hope that he would ever change. His addiction took over right when my mom passed away in June of 2021. I was just as lost as he was. I felt like there was no hope for my marriage or even myself. While my husband was finding his faith and accepting Jesus Christ, I was home and felt alone but not for long. The Lord showed up, He saved me when I was at my weakest. The Lord used my husband’s time at APOR to not only heal him but me and our kids as well. Going to counseling with Buster and Maria allowed me a chance to heal in the right way, turn me to God for everything, saving our marriage, directing each other to Jesus, and restoring all that was lost, giving us even more than ever expected. Seeing God work in our lives and our hearts is nothing short of a true blessing straight from God!
Jessi Daniels
Graduations
JaN 23, 2019
Tyler Kehn
Doug Hall
Matt Hamilton
Sept 19, 2018
Erick Blois
Jack Evans
Robbie Delaney
JunE 6, 2018
Taylor Gautreau
Mar 7, 2018
Reggie Scott
Cedric Vaughn
Nov 8, 2017
Danny Dupre
Zach Uzee
Paul Thompson
Aug 2, 2017
Jeremy Corban
Brett Scotto
Heath Williams
Bryan Hall
Mar 8, 2017
Lucas Brown
Brandon Noel
Walt Arnold
Matt Conradi
Sept 21, 2016
May 4, 2016
Heath King
Justin Vasques
Matt Trahan
Willie Windham
Beaugh Sweezy
December 9, 2015
Josh Marshall
Joel Carroll
Josh Furr
Leo Reeves
Ray Jenkins
Nick Price
Slade Henry
July 15, 2015
Ray Ronquillo
Thad Hebert
Robby Tullier
Shane Blois
March 25, 2015
Brandon Acosta
Jason Ghianda
Scott Benfield
Marcus Mckenzie
Jeff Brittingham
May 29, 2013
Richard Bove
Ryan Guilfou
Ray Jenkins
Jason Knox
Travis Vicknair
Cody Smith
Ryan Guilfou
Ray Jenkins
Jason Knox
Travis Vicknair
Cody Smith