Ben Walker

The Day Ben Stayed

My name is Ben Watson, and I’m a member of Convicted 4 Christ Ministries.

Before I came to C4C, I was homeless for seven and a half years. I was drinking and using drugs. Alcohol was my main struggle, and I would use drugs along with it.

My sobriety date is August 3, 2023.

Not long after getting sober, I went to Calvary Chapel Living Hope looking for something very simple: a blanket.

They didn’t have one at first. They had two sweatshirts, but about five minutes later, someone came out with a blanket for me. That blanket kept me warm all night.

Two gentlemen named Tony and Timmy told me there were men across the street at the church who had a sober living home. If I was serious about getting off the streets, they told me I should talk to them.

So I did.

I met Snake first. Because I was dealing with a gallbladder problem, I wasn't medically cleared to move into the home yet. But he told me his partner might be able to help me find somewhere to go.

Then I met Michael.

After the service, Michael told me he had a couch I could sleep on. He told me to wait at the church and that he would come back for me at four o'clock.

When he came back, he thought I might be gone.

But I was still there.

Michael brought me back to the Mardi Gras house, and that couch became the beginning of something new for me.

I slept on a couch for several months. At one point, I spent two weeks at the Navigation Center before Michael brought me back. Eventually, I got a bed in an upstairs room.

Today, my life looks very different.

I get to serve with Convicted 4 Christ Ministries. I help with feeding people experiencing homelessness at Fireside Park. I serve with shower outreach. I help with donations. I also participate in shower outreach at MiraCosta College.

The same community that helped me when I was trying to get off the streets is now the community I get to serve alongside.

My life is wonderful.

First of all, I thank God. I thank Him for putting C4C in my life and for keeping me sober and clean.

I am three years sober and clean from alcohol and drugs.

Life is beautiful.

It makes me happy knowing I can put smiles on people's faces.

It brings joy to my heart.