Testimonials Archives - WHOLE TRUTH MINISTRIES

Our Founder’s Story

ferrelvs — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:56:31 +0000

From Rock Bottom to Renewed Purpose — a story God used to change countless lives.

Our Founder’s Story … Whole Truth Ministries began in 2013 through the vision of one young man who overcame addiction and found freedom through Jesus Christ. Believing that the path God used to heal him could also help others, Kyle devoted his life to supporting men seeking a new beginning.

With support from the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Montgomery County, WTM grew from a single transitional home for five men into a network of recovery houses that now serves more than two dozen.

Today, the program continues to expand — offering personal development, job training, family restoration, and opportunities for men to discover their identity as sons, husbands, and fathers. Kyle remains as committed as ever, walking alongside residents with the same passion that sparked the ministry years ago.

A Daughter’s Love

“Six years ago, I got my dad back…

“Six years ago he finally decided he was done giving in to the devil and surrendered to God. His recovery didn’t just change his life — it changed mine, and the lives of so many of our family and friends.

He continues to fight for others, spreading the hope and victory God gave him. I am so proud to be your daughter and to watch you fight this battle. Thank you for surrendering to God six years ago.

I love you, Dad. Congratulations on six years clean!”
— Haylee Shaw, Proud Daughter

Kyle’s Testimony

My Life Before Recovery

I lived a life full of pain, brokenness, betrayal, lies, manipulation, broken relationships, broken homes, and broken hearts. I lived without for so long that I didn’t even know what I was missing.

My false sense of pride and ego told me I was a man who had everything I ever wanted. Society and the people around me validated my behavior. The “bad boy lifestyle” was all I ever wanted.

Searching for Identity

I grew up without my biological father for the first ten years of my life. I didn’t fit in with other kids. I stole, lied, and fought to hide who I really was and to appear like I belonged.

I constantly searched for approval — judging myself by what others thought of me.

The Beginning of Addiction

I turned to drugs to fit in socially. Weed helped me feel like part of the cool crowd. Eventually drugs became my identity.

I lived in pain and misery — chasing drugs, withdrawing when I didn’t have them, suffering the consequences that came from that life.

Sickness, Prison, and Loss

At 18, two days after learning I would become a father, I found out I had cancer. Between cancer and addiction, I went through a personal Hell.

I lost friends, family, and my sense of worth. I ended up in prison because of drugs. Loneliness, fear, anger, and heartbreak followed me everywhere.

What God Did For Me

God gave me the grandparents who raised me until my parents were ready. He gave me talents, joy, and small moments of hope even when I didn’t see them.

He kept me alive through years of drug use.
He gave me my daughter — the joy I needed to keep living.
He let me feel the consequences of my choices so I could recognize my need for Him.

God let me suffer, but He carried me through it.
And ultimately, He delivered me.

My Recovery Today

Today, God uses my story as a testimony of His power and grace.
Everything I went through — every struggle, every loss — He now uses to help others find the same freedom.

“What did God do for me?
He gave me this testimony to share with you.
Praise God — to Him be all the glory.”
— Kyle Shaw

The post Our Founder’s Story appeared first on WHOLE TRUTH MINISTRIES.

Meet Scott Freeman

ferrelvs — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 19:32:35 +0000

★★★★★

My name is Scott O. Freeman. I was born in Middletown, Ohio, on May 1, 1971, to a single and very loving mother, Lynna. My father, Eljuan, was not a major part of my life. I would see him in passing, speak with him, and sometimes stay at his house.

Scott Freeman

Whole Truth Ministries

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My grandfather Early, however, played a major role in my childhood. He picked me up every Sunday to go to church with him, where he served as a deacon. I didn’t understand the importance of that until much later in life.

Growing up, I played sports and did all the typical things you’d expect from a small-town kid. I watched my mother, aunts, uncles, relatives, and friends party every weekend and holiday. Naturally, I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to join in.

What I didn’t realize was that those parties would lead to days, months, and years of partying — which eventually led to other things. That path took me straight to the ODRC. My inmate number, 264723, is something I’ll never forget.

A man can age in prison, but growing up intellectually and maturing are different things. I was eventually released from a 15- to 40-year sentence after serving 11 years and some months.

At first, things went well. I found a job at Riley’s Furniture. Riley knew my story and saw potential in me. He created the M.A.P. — the Management Apprentice Program — to teach me the furniture business from the ground up. I learned how to work, talk effectively, and listen.

Money came quickly, and people who didn’t know me thought I was selling drugs. Old behaviors came rushing back. (But that’s another story.)

What I need to say here is this: when God calls you, you’d better answer — or be prepared to deal with some things. For me, those “things” meant another stint in prison, this time in Kentucky. Ohio prisons are physical. Kentucky prisons are more mental.

Twelve years at 85% meant nearly 10 more years behind bars. But this time, things were different. I went in determined to make the most of it.

I took some college courses, but vocational horticulture was life-changing. Studying plants, vegetables, soils, and weeds gave me knowledge that shaped me in ways I never expected.

We come to Earth as servants of God. Our job is to serve Him in whatever way He calls us. Apple trees produce apples because that is their job. Orange trees produce oranges because that is their job. Men of God should do the same — be men of God and serve.

Today, alongside Whole Truth Ministries, I am serving God and continuously evolving.

May God keep me moving on the stairways to Heaven.

The post Meet Scott Freeman appeared first on WHOLE TRUTH MINISTRIES.

Meet Gary Freeman: From Despair to Hope

ferrelvs — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:49:44 +0000

Gary Freeman

My name is Gary Freeman. I’m 46 years old. I grew up in a broken home where my dad beat on my mom. My parents got divorced when I was young. After that, my mom got with another man who raised me, but my grandfather became my person.

He was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, the Eagles, and he had his own bar. I grew up in these establishments, spending many nights and weekends there, which led me to start drinking at a young age. This led me down a horrible path, causing harm to myself and my family for over 25 years.

I ran from state to state, using and abusing every drug in my path to get what I needed. I lost my parents, wife, kids, jobs—everything, including my soul, heart, and feelings. I turned into a wild person, only caring about myself. I’ve been to jail, institutions, and death. I’ve done it all over and over again.

In 2019, I was sent to prison for two years. After getting out, I went right back to the path of destruction. Ten months later, I was in trouble again with a D.O.E. case and on my way back to prison. I told them I had a drug problem and needed help. Instead of sending me back to prison, I was sent to a drug program in Dayton, Ohio, called Woodhaven. I completed the program in 75 days, where I found out about A.A., N.A., and God.

From 2021 to 2025, I’ve been in and out of treatment, with four overdoses—two requiring life support for several days. This is my fourth time at Whole Truth. The first three times, I wasn’t ready. I manipulated my recovery to fit what I wanted and never worked the program correctly. I just did it my way, taking advantage of all my duties at Whole Truth and only playing the part without fully surrendering.

Once I was able to fully surrender, start doing what I was supposed to do, and put everything in God’s hands—putting Him first—I was able to turn my life around. My God is good, and He has given me my life back.

I’ve been at Whole Truth longer than I ever have before. I’m loved by many, and I have people who hold me accountable. They’ve given me back Whole Truth, where I have several brothers in God. I have a recovery family, a great support system, and several friends in recovery who have loved me until I could love myself.

Now I work in retreatment, giving back what was given to me. I pay my bills, I have a car, and I’m rebuilding relationships with my family. I’ve grown tremendously as a man. I go to meetings, church, and serve. I do whatever I’m asked, and all glory goes to God. Thank you, Jesus.

Gary is 110 days sober. He has been a part of Whole Truth since 2023; this is his third time here with us. This go-around is different for Gary. He is very serious about his recovery and truly wants to live a different life. He believes that with God and support, it’s possible.

He helps all the new guys when they first come in and has been a positive role model for them. He supports his House Manager, Robert Edwards, in a big way. We see a lot of growth in his dedication to finding and working a program that works for him. He is no longer seeking the instant gratification of the past.

His relationship with God is stronger, and he is leaning more on his faith and trust in Him. Recovery is not linear—we slip, we get back up. As long as there is breath in our lungs, we keep trying, learning from the bottoms we find ourselves in due to relapse, what we did that took us there, and what we could have done differently.

We are proud of Gary and his accomplishments and look forward to seeing what God has planned for him in the future.

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