Positive Footprints Story told by Craig Ross
My name is Craig Ross. I am 27 years old and currently volunteering at Impact Direct Ministries. I work closely with Pastor Roger Petersen on the Drug Prevention Programme.
My Duties
Part of my duties include: counselling, developing programmes for drug addicts or potential users, mentoring and empowering young men. I was privileged enough to attended various training courses through Impact Direct namely: Leadership, Mentoring, First Aid, Listening Skills, Life Skills Facilitation, Marketing, Finance Workshop, Computer Training and Coaching skills. I just completed a soccer coaching course and am currently facilitating a soccer holiday camp for 60 young boys from the local community.
My Story
You might think, what an amazing young man! He has achieved so much and is helping others and giving generously of himself. This is not where I started out. My journey goes back to 8 years ago in high school where I saw a bright future ahead of me with my sports and education. While excelling in sports, my team mates and I were often celebrating, that was where the introduction to alcohol happened.
I lost track of time with all the partying and before I new it I was experimenting with drugs. Eight years of my life passed without remembering much or pursuing any of the goals and dreams I set out for myself. Only when I was in so deep that nothing mattered to me any more did I grasp the harmful effects drugs and alcohol had on my life. Due to drugs and alcohol I failed matric and did not go back. I went all through my schooling and did not finish the final year. Imagine running this long race just to stop short of the finish line. By this time whatever future I had in soccer was long gone. The time I should have been spending on my studies I was spending it on my habit. I regret it now but I lost interest all together in everything that meant something to me.
I thought I had the drugs under control but I was deceived. Before my eyes my life was spinning out of control. The next step for me was to get involved in gangsterism and started to partake in certain gang related activities. I also started selling drugs to the community. At this stage my mind told me that my lifestyle was right, this is how it should be even though I had no inner peace. Yet, as I watched the drugs destroy my life and there was no future for me, I just went deeper and deeper into it.
My Salvation
Praise God for two of my friends (they were like me but then became Christians and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal saviour) they invited me to attend a meeting at the Impact Centre. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. That was where the transformation and turning point in my life happened. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal saviour and that was what I was looking for. The peace I was searching for I finally found. The Lord is just so good to me. Everything I lost I am gradually getting back. Since then my life has been reconstructed not only my life but my family, friends and community.
In the past I have left negative footprints in the community, and now I am striving to leave positive footprints.
Personal Details
NAME: Craig Ross – Bridgetown, Athlone
AGE: 27 years
NO.OF YEARS ON DRUGS: 8 years
TYPES OF DRUGS USED: Alcohol, Cocaine (crack), Tik, Ecstacy, LSD (acid) and Dagga
