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The Foundry — Ben outside the Foundry’s main offices. Photo via Matthew Niblett for Bham Now

Imagine being given drugs at nine years old and told this is how your life is going to go—you will be addicted to drugs, you will go to prison and you will live a hopeless life with no purpose. This is what Ben heard from the very beginning, and he did it all until one day he decided he could be different. Drug addiction is an impossible hole to dig yourself out of alone, but thanks to The Foundry Ministries Ben had help. Read his incredible story, and find out how The Foundry saved his life.

Ben’s Story

Ben started the long road of addiction at only nine years old. He became addicted to cocaine when he was fifteen and found himself in and out of prison for years. While in prison, a fellow inmate told him about The Foundry. Ben got out of prison for the final time five years ago but stayed sober for only one year before returning to old habits.

“All I could remember when I went back to using drugs was the name, The Foundry, and something drew me here.”
Ben, The Foundry participant, Birmingham

He left his job as a mechanic and boarded a bus in Mobile to head to The Foundry. It took him three days to get there, with several mishaps along the way. Ben showed up starving with nothing but the clothes on his back and a hand damaged beyond repair from drug needles.

Where he is now?

Ben playing pool at The Foundry. Photo via Matthew Niblett for Bham Now

Flash forward and Ben has been in the recovery program at The Foundry for months now. You can already see the immense change in his life not only mentally but physically. When looking at his ID photo from when he first got there to now, he is almost unrecognizable with fifty pounds of healthy weight gain, nice clothes and a miraculously healed hand.

“I feel comfortable in my own skin for the first time in my life.”
Ben, The Foundry participant, Birmingham

Ben goes to work every day with men in the same situation as him and finally feels comfortable around people. He says he slowly realized that he wasn’t alone and that there is a whole life left for him to live.

“I’m not where I should be, but I’m not where I used to be and every day I learn more and more. I didn’t even have any clothes when I got here and now I have a closet full of clothes, and I have hope.”
Ben, The Foundry participant, Birmingham

Where he’s going

Ben came to The Foundry at his lowest, but he is already so far along the road to recovery and is becoming the man he always dreamed he could be.

“I didn’t think there was much hope. Satan’s a liar and he’ll tell you ‘it’s over; you’re too old; you don’t have many years left; you’re washed up’ but I realized that my best years are ahead of me.”
Ben, The Foundry participant, Birmingham

Once he’s graduated from the program, Ben plans to get involved with a local ministry, so he can help young people who are in similar situations like the one that he came from.

Learn more about the Foundry + how to help

The Foundry Ministries helps provide men and women with the resources and tools they need to beat their battle with addiction. They focus on transforming people’s lives through a Christ-centered ministry.

2021 marks The Foundry’s 50th anniversary. Over the years, they have helped over forty thousand people recover from addiction and are excited to continue to help many more in the years to come. You can help this ministry save even more lives by donating or signing up to be a volunteer.

To read even more about The Foundry and how you can be a part of their efforts, check out their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

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