Brooke’s story is one of strength, faith, and redemption.

Born in Buffalo, Wyoming, to an alcoholic mother and a hardworking but absent father, Brooke’s early years were marked by chaos and pain. Her mother’s abuse led to Brooke being placed on psychiatric medications at a young age. When her parents divorced - her father choosing faith and her mother rejecting it - Brooke was left in her mother’s custody, and the void within her began to grow.

Searching for love and belonging, Brooke dropped out of high school and became a mother at just 16. By 22, she faced her first felony charge and a life that seemed destined for heartbreak. But in 2001, Brooke’s path changed - she found salvation and began to rebuild.

Her moment of clarity came one day in the back of a police car, when she realized she no longer had to hide who she truly was. From that moment forward, Brooke chose honesty, healing, and faith over fear.

Today, Brooke serves alongside her husband, TJ, at VOA Northern Rockies - using her journey to inspire others to believe that no matter how far you’ve fallen, redemption is always within reach.

TJ’s story is one of pain, perseverance, and redemption.

His journey into addiction began at just 16 years old. With a devout Christian mother and an alcoholic father, TJ struggled to find his place and identity. Years of instability followed - moving from state to state, battling inner conflict, and facing multiple arrests, suicide attempts, and felony charges.

Everything changed after an 18-hour standoff with a federal task force in Colorado - a moment that convinced TJ his life was over. But in jail, a Peer Specialist from VOA Northern Rockies reached out, offering hope and a second chance.

After seven months of persistence, TJ entered the program that would transform his life. Through faith, community, and the Native American prayer practice of sweat lodge, he rediscovered God - and himself.

Today, TJ is married, thriving in recovery, and working full-time with VOA Northern Rockies, helping others find the same hope that once found him.

Meet Jon Fenderson, our Pastoral Care Coordinator at Booth Hall in Gillette, Wyoming—the only faith-based adult re-entry center in the state.

Jon grew up in a Christian home and has a deep heart for discipleship. After serving in a recovery ministry for adolescent boys in Arizona, Jon earned his degree in ministry while working maintenance at a hospital. A family dinner conversation led him to VOA Northern Rockies, and for the past 2½ years, he’s been walking alongside people rebuilding their lives after prison, jail, or parole violations.

At Booth Hall, recovery is more than breaking free from drugs or alcohol—it’s about building a solid foundation or restoring what was lost. Jon personally meets every new resident, reminding them they are not alone.

In this episode, Jon shares powerful, real-life stories of people who’ve overcome addiction with faith as their anchor.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11