September 2020

 I am a faithful follower of Jesus Christ that struggles with addiction, my name is Tony Peterson. I was introduced to Listen, Love, Pray on January 27th 2019. I remember the exact day and circumstances during that time. I had just become a resident of the Frederick Rescue Mission’s Changed Life Recovery Program on the 21st. The Listen, Love, Pray Foundation was volunteering a prayer service the fourth Sunday evening of every month, so it was then that I was introduced to the amazing healing prayer provided by the volunteers. 

The circumstances of my life at that time were not great, to say the least. Leading up to this date I had been struggling with alcoholism and drug addiction over the past decade of my life. On September 2nd of 2017 I married the woman of my dreams, only to overdose three months later, just before Christmas. Following that incident, I would have the worst year of my life in 2018.  Not only, did my wife leave me due to my addiction, but I was starting to lose all of those closest to me because of my addiction and poor decisions. We would spend the next 327 days with no contact between the two of us. During that time, my wife would spend her time working on self-care, continuing to work diligently, and praying fervently for her struggling husband. During the same time, I would spend my time blaming my bad circumstances on my wife leaving me, as well as, convincing those closest to me that she did not have my best interest in mind. In addition to that, my addiction was spiraling out of control. 

After being separated all that time, my wife felt the Lord calling her to reach out to me. After seeing my wife’s perseverance in prayer for me and our marriage, my heart was beginning to change, and I had the desire to really get honest help for the first time in my life. After making the decision to get the help I needed, I was introduced to Listen, Love, Pray shortly after. Over the next 12 months of my life the volunteers would consistently lift me, my wife, and our marriage up in prayer to our Savior. It is my belief that the powerful healing prayers offered up on the behalf of my family and I by the volunteers of Listen, Love, Pray have lead to the radical transformation of my heart, and to the reconciliation of my family. 

I gratefully and humbly announce that my wife and I have experienced a powerful reconciliation in our marriage, and we have been beyond blessed. On February 11th 2020 we welcomed our first child, Rylee Marie Peterson. Today, not only do I live my life walking by faith, but the circumstances of my life have been radically transformed.
This month I will be celebrating 21 months of sobriety with my wife and little Rylee. I currently attend college on a scholarship where I will be graduating with my AA degree this spring, and headed to seminary next fall. Currently, I serve as an intern pastor for the Frederick Church of Christ. I have been beyond blessed, and I am forever grateful for the consistent prayers of all the amazing people of the Listen, Love, Pray Foundation.

Forever Grateful,

Tony Peterson

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16