Dayton-area man finds peace at Emerge 

XENIA — After 25 years in active addiction, 35 trips to jail, nine prison numbers and countless close calls with death, Mike Kinder says he has finally found peace and a new way to live at Emerge Recovery & Trade Initiative. 

The 45-year-old Dayton man came to Emerge on July 6. 

Previously, he had been to two other treatment centers (the Jeremiah Tree and Woodhaven). 

“This treatment is a lot different,” Kinder said. “It’s more open. There’s more to do. There are a lot of Christian people willing to help.” 

Because of this, Kinder said he recently dedicated his life to Jesus Christ. 

“They are loving,” he said. “They help and care. Not only that, but this is an amazing place. It has been a major life changing process that I’ve never had in my life, so I am going to utilize this to the fullest.” 

After decades trapped in active addiction and the nightmare of a roller coaster ride that brought him to Emerge, Kinder said he is overflowing with gratitude for where life has brought him.  

“I’ve done every major street drug — whatever I get my hands on except for heroin,” he said. “I have burglary charges, breaking and entering, aggravated assault, drug charges — all kinds of stuff. . .  I was getting copper out of the warehouses.” 

All of this, he said, was to finance his addiction. 

“I was running from God,” he said. “I kept running. This last time, I wanted to jump off a bridge. I wanted to end it. I couldn’t deal with it.” 

Facing suicide, Kinder said he was at the end of his rope. 

“I looked down, preparing to jump, and something told me: ‘If you kill yourself, you’ll go to hell,” he said. “I had to drink and use all the time so I wouldn’t shake. I had withdrawals. I got to a point where I didn’t care about my life anymore. My wife has passed away.” 

It was at his lowest point, Kinder said, when God reached him. 

“God pushed his foot down on my neck and made me decide which way I wanted to go,” he said. “I love God and always have. I just didn’t fear him. He made me open my eyes. Now look, I am here. I have a mentor. I am learning to be a youth pastor. I work out. I take communion every day. I pray before I work out. I am honoring my body and honoring him.” 

Looking back now, Kinder said it was as if God had his hand upon him.  

“He was with me all along,” he said. “I am so grateful I don’t have any diseases or cancer or blood clots. I thank God. I quit smoking cigarettes. I quit coffee. I take breaks from sweets. Every Wednesday now I am going to be doing a 24 hour fast.” 

Kinder said his fasting helps him get closer to God. 

He recited a Bible passage in Philippians 4:13: 

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” 

“I am proud of myself that I am able to do this, one day at a time,” he said. “I need help. My higher power is helping me, and I feel proud that I’ve made it this far. I didn’t know how strong-minded I was. God has given me another chance in life.” 

Asked what his goals and dreams are for the future, Kinder said:  

“I want to stay at Emerge. I want to keep working here and move up the ladder. This is my future. I want to be a youth pastor and have hundreds of kids here. I also hope to have a nice house and a family again.” 

Because of the many partnerships on the Emerge campus, the residents in the men’s recovery housing program are making progress in many areas of their lives. Our GED instructor shared that “Michael has steadily increased his reading comprehension while attending my GED program. We are blessed to read the word of God at times to help that growth, both in reading and vocabulary skills.”