My name is Charles Booker. I was born in Kingston, Jamaica. I came to America at an early age due to some unforeseen circumstances. I had a lot of struggles coming here and adapting to the American way, and I quickly fell into the unlit ways of this world. I had this God sized hole in my chest and would fill it with anything that made me feel better ─ drugs, alcohol, money, and broken relationships ─ all things of the world, trying to fill that hole in me. I did this for many years, and it came with harsh consequences.
Fast forward to 2016. After several incarcerations, a divorce, and a loss of trust with everyone in my life, I found myself homeless, hopeless, and hungry. After 27 years in active addiction, I was now living behind an animal shelter and a storage bay! Lying, cheating, and stealing was my norm. I was eating from 7-Eleven garbage cans, smoking discarded cigarettes, drinking from empty beer cans, using any drug I could get my hands on, and wanting to die out there. I remember praying on May 31, 2016, asking God to fix me or take me, but not to leave me here in this condition. That very morning, He delivered me as He had done before ─ in handcuffs, to the Joseph V. Conte Facility, a jail that houses inmates awaiting trial.
While incarcerated, I was placed in several program units ─ the SAP Substance Abuse Program and Conte B5, the spiritual dorm. Between the two units I was given hope for the first time in my life. Men came in bringing messages of hope and a means to follow up with them. Men from Calvary Chapel Prison Ministry were bringing Jesus Christ and Celebrate Recovery into the dorms. These men had something I wanted! They had joy, peace, and contentment. They had the love of Jesus in their hearts, and I was willing to do whatever I had to do to gain this freedom!
Two years into my recovery, I had been coming to Calvary Chapel, but sat on the sidelines. I heard a message from Pastor Doug about Calvary’s recovery ministry through its Vision 2023. The Lord drew me in that very night. I got involved with the recovery ministry − then Celebrate Recovery and the prison muninistry here! In doing so, I came to serve alongside many of the men who had encouraged me while I was in jail. So not only did these men sow seeds, but some got to be involved in the work God had started in my life! And many others have come and discipled me in the ways of the Lord since then.
Coming up on six years from my release date and my sobriety anniversary, I realize that I could not have done anything without Jesus Christ as Lord of my life and the Calvary Community that He placed me in. Today I serve as the Saturday night New Believers coordinator, as a prison minister, as a leader/ encourager coach at Celebrate Recovery, as a gatekeeper, as a baptism minister, and so much more! I serve our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully because He is worthy! He set me free and is still working on me! For anyone out there struggling with addiction or any sin, know that there is hope! And if you are willing to surrender it all to Jesus, we have a saying here that, “A relationship with Jesus changes everything!” But don’t take my word for it ─ come and see! God Bless You!
