“The biggest thing that has come out of all of this is so far my ability to start walking the way that Christ would want me to walk,” said Brook. ” I want to live today, I have peace in my life. M28 Ministry has welcomed me, it feels like a home. I finally feel like I belong someplace.”
THE DESCENT
Brook Reese was the oldest of three boys, raised in a single-parent home with a mother who did her best to provide for them. But from an early age, the absence of a father figure loomed large in his life. Underage drinking was an acceptable part of family gatherings, so by the time he was 12, Brook was already experimenting with substances. He felt an undeniable pressure to fit in, and by 15, he had traded the occasional drink for heavier drugs.
The pivotal moment came when his mother, after a serious accident, began taking pain relievers. She shared one with Brook, igniting a spark that quickly became a wildfire. The high was everything he had been searching for—a way to numb the pain of abandonment and resentment toward his siblings, who had father figures in their lives. At the age of 17, Brook’s mother made the difficult decision to send him to a group home, believing it was the best choice for him. But once he turned 18 and signed himself out, he found what he believed was true love: heroin. The drug enveloped him, filling the gaping void within, and in a tragic twist, he introduced his mother to it when her pain meds ran out. Her eventual overdose marked the beginning of an overwhelming wave of guilt and shame that would follow him for years.
TRIALS OF THE HEART
Brook’s world spiraled rapidly downward. He found himself manufacturing drugs, dodging the law, and ultimately fleeing to California to escape the consequences of his actions. But even in California he found his fair share of trouble and drugs. When he returned to Pennsylvania for his mother’s funeral, the shame weighed so heavily that he contemplated ending it all. Arrested at the funeral, Brook’s life took yet another hard turn, leading him into drug court—a lifeline of sorts that introduced him to rehab.
For the first time, Brook began to glimpse a different path. “I started learning who God was,” he recalls, a revelation that initially filled him with hope. That hope led to 2.5 years of sobriety and a life that started to resemble something beautiful—he got married, was building a roofing business, buying a home, and even imagining a bright future. But as COVID-19 swept the world, it brought with it an avalanche of pressure that crushed his fragile recovery. The losses—his business, his marriage—sent him spiraling back into addiction, and for a time, he lost sight of everything he had worked to rebuild.
His struggles intensified, leading to a reckless existence that culminated in five near-fatal overdoses. Disconnected and desperate, Brook had nowhere to turn. He finally realized that rehab was his only option.
RISING TO FREEDOM
Entering the Susquehanna Recovery Initiative in Harrisburg felt like a final chance. Here, Brook met the support he desperately needed. He immersed himself in the 12-step program and began exploring a deeper relationship with Jesus. For the first time, he applied biblical teachings to his life, working to combat the destructive impulses that had haunted him for so long.
But the journey was not without setbacks; he experienced relapses that threatened to drag him back into darkness. Yet, Brook remained steadfast, fueled by newfound hope and accountability from his recovery community. He got involved in AA, found a mentor, and even began mentoring others, feeling a calling to help those who shared his struggles.
Now, as Brook prepares to move into his own two-bedroom apartment, he reflects on how far he has come. “The biggest thing that has come out of all of this is my ability to start walking the way that Christ would want me to walk,” he says. “I finally feel like I belong someplace.” His journey proves that healing is possible, and through surrendering to a greater purpose, Brook has found peace and a sense of belonging he once thought was impossible. With the help of M28, he was able to receive a car, which has opened up new opportunities for him. Now, he actively finds ways to serve others, using the blessings he has received to give back and contribute to his community.
