Michael’s Story

I was born in South Africa and grew up in Jhb Gauteng. I got involved with drugs at an early age and was using drugs through my teenage years up to the age of 25. I tried everything to get free from drugs and attended at least 16 rehabs and nothing worked. I left South Africa to get away from the mess I had made, immigrated to the UK and found myself in the exact same mess there. In the UK I heard about Betel from a soup kitchen and decided to go.

It was different from anything I had tried before. The people were loving and caring and the thing that amazed me was that they were all recovered addicts. I desperately wanted what they had – freedom and victory over drugs.

I was with Betel for 7 months when I was offered the amazing opportunity to serve in South Africa. At the time I didn’t see it, but God was about to start something in my life that was going to change me forever.

We left the UK to come to South Africa. Serving under Eduardo and Jenny’s leadership we started Betel in South Africa. It was amazing to watch people from another nation come to South Africa and lay down their lives for other people. Since we have been here we have seen many miracles of God’s faithfulness and Betel South Africa has impacted many lives. Most of all I recognise the awesome change in my life today – I am free from drugs and have an amazing life in Christ. I lead a house full of men to the same freedom and impart work skills and ethics into their lives. I am a capable tree surgeon and a brick layer, I am also a proficient sales man. All this I have learned in Betel under the discipleship of the leaders in Betel.