When Gerald Snell walked through the doors of Gateway Gospel Rescue Mission in Jackson, Mississippi, his life was at a crossroads. After years of battling addiction and a devastating relapse during the COVID-19 pandemic that followed the loss of his father, he was desperate for change. The mission’s New Life program became the turning point that restored hope. Just six months later, Gerald was invited to join the staff as Evening Shelter Manager, a powerful reminder that God was not finished with his story.
With the encouragement of Gateway’s director, Gerald enrolled in City Vision University’s Christian Addiction Counseling program. Through his studies, he gained tools to design treatment plans, conduct assessments, and provide Christ-centered care. More than that, his coursework gave him a deeper understanding of his own journey and why relapse happens, what sustainable recovery looks like – how faith in Christ transforms both hearts and habits. For Gerald, City Vision has been more than an education; it has been a vital part of his healing and calling.
Today, Gerald serves not only as a leader at Gateway but also as a living testimony that God restores what is broken. He dreams of creating an aftercare program to ensure men completing New Life remain connected to a community of support. As he reflects on his journey, Gerald shares: “City Vision gave me more than knowledge – it gave me confidence, faith, and the assurance that I am not defined by my past, but by God’s grace and His calling on my life.”