Matthew grew up in a small town in South Texas, carrying a lot of frustration about himself. By the time he reached high school, he was really struggling with his self-image, which led to a lot of anger—anger at himself and those around him. He tried to fill the emptiness he felt with family and friends, but nothing seemed to work for long. Eventually, he turned to alcohol and drugs. By the time he was 14, he was drinking heavily, and for the next couple of years, his life felt like one endless cycle of bad habits and broken relationships.

Then, something changed. Matthew had a friend named Daniel who stepped in and encouraged him to take a different path. Daniel told him, ‘Hey man, we need to be better for ourselves, for the people around us, and most importantly, for God.’ Those words struck Matthew deeply. He decided to quit drinking and began working to turn his life around. It wasn’t easy. Not long after, Matthew suffered a knee injury that took away his outlet in sports, and he found himself struggling again. But God had other plans. Matthew ended up attending a Cru getaway—a Christian retreat—that gave him a fresh perspective and renewed sense of purpose. Through that experience, Matthew found clarity, direction, and most importantly, a community of believers who supported him every step of the way.