jason swanson

“God delivered me from drugs and alcohol in an instant”

Jason, a Southern California native, has a journey of overcoming homelessness
marked by God's voice, provision, favor, and blessing. A few years ago, he found
himself living on the streets of Orange County Public parks would often be
where he laid his head at night to rest. "I liked parks because I could always clean
myself up in the public restrooms." Substance abuse kept him bound to his
circumstances and away from family and friends, especially his daughter to whom
he dearly missed.
One special day on Jason's birthday, he woke up in a park he lived in. Another
man experiencing homelessness asked him, "Sir, are you from the Garden of
Eden?" Shocked by the question, Jason responded with a "no" and proceeded to
go on about his day as he walked by a dry water drainage in the park. Confused
and dumbfounded by the mans question, Jason meandered long enough to spot
a twenty dollar bill in the drainage ditch. Followed by a fifty, a hundred, and so on,
totaling over four hundred dollars. On this very special birthday, Jason looked to
up to God in gratitude and began a journey of hearing the Lord's voice and
obeying his commands. He spent the remainder of the day, asking God who to
bless with the money, and how to spend it wisely. Jason's ears were open to God.
Now a friend of God, Jason used this opportunity to build faith and
embark on a personal and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. "In order to
not look crazy, I would walk around with ear-buds in all day long, speaking to
God out loud, and listening to his responses. Most people thought I was talking
on the phone", Jason shared. "During this time, God began to teach me how to
recycle." Jason's life of substance abuse, began shifting as he woke up everyday
with God to recycle during regular work hours, only Jason was working for
himself. I would even schedule an hour lunch break during the day. I would pay
for my food with my recycled cans. God was teaching me how to work."
Jason's walk with the Lord eventually led him to the Bridges shelter in
Anaheim. His newfound discipline in hearing and obeying landed him a job at
Disney Land soon after his personal recycling business. Prior to his employment,
Jason followed God's voice weekly to the Disney Campus to pray as he traveled
up and down the large garage escalators outside the park. His prayers turned
into provision.
Jason credits his relationship with Jesus for the breakthroughs he has
experienced thus far. "God delivered me from drugs and alcohol in an instant",
Jason exclaimed. He just celebrated one year working at Disney Land and the
Lord has been speaking new dreams into his silent headphones he still wears.
Jason is now dreaming and praying for the day he reconciles with the mother of
his child, allowing him to reconnect with his daughter. "I want her to see her new
dad, so she can see what God did in my life. I want to take her to Disney Land
someday!'