When April O’Neill was first introduced to Watered Gardens Gospel Rescue Mission, she was an addict serving a 72-hour community service sentence for shoplifting. After spending more than a decade on government assistance, the Mission challenged her to give up her benefits and embark on a new path of self-reliance.
Following a childhood mired in drug use and poverty, April first began using when she was only 11 years old and started receiving government assistance when she was just 16 years old. Her experience at Watered Gardens showed her a better way for her to choose a free and dignified life. The Mission’s belief that work is vital to awakening worth in people fully manifests itself in April’s story. Her remarkable journey led her from being an addict serving a community sentence to starting her own mission; April is now the Director of a Women’s Discipleship House called In His Hands.
Watch as April shares her inspiring story of how she overcame adversity and began living an independent life while helping others do the same.
