B.C. Courage to Come Back addictions award recipient says God told him to quit drugs
Posted June 12, 2023 6:28 am.
Last Updated June 12, 2023 11:54 am.
Twenty-five years of celebrating ordinary British Columbians living extraordinary lives. Our series of Courage To Come Back award profiles begins with a look at the recipient in the Addictions category.
From the day he took his first drink at the age of 10 to the day he took his last, at the age of 50, John Oakley’s life was controlled by his addictions.
Today, at the age of 65, Oakley is an example to others, using his faith to steer those like him to the path of recovery and a better tomorrow.
“I got into drugs at like 13. I started doing marijuana and hashish and stuff. And so, I needed to supply the money I needed to get what I was doing so I got into some pretty shady stuff, stealing and breaking into people’s houses and things.”
From the day he took his first drink at the age of 10 to the day he took his last, at the age of 50, John Oakley’s life was controlled by his addictions. Today, at the age of 65, John is an example to others, using his faith to steer those like him to the path of recovery and a better tomorrow. (Supplied)
It wouldn’t take long until Oakley got into to trouble with the law. First, it was juvenile detention and then full-on jail for six months by the time he was 18. He would be in and of trouble for years trying to get clean.
“Things ended up happening, I was sleeping under a bridge for like three years, and I was in and out of detox, just trying hard, and it wouldn’t work.”
Then one fateful day when he had a vision.
“Well, I was using drugs one night and I had a visit from God actually. Everything went totally quiet. And I just heard a voice say, ‘John, this is not what I want you to do with your life. Stop.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Wow. That’s got to be God, right?'”
“When I reached over to grab my crack pipe, something threw me on the ground, and I couldn’t get up.”
Related Article: Courage To Come Back Awards return in-person Friday for first time since 2019
Armed with his newfound faith, Oakley went back to school, got his GED at the age of 53, was reunited with his estranged children, and today heads up a street ministry with his wife. The couple is preparing to move to Mexico to spread the word there full-time.
Oakley shows not only the Courage To Come Back but the courage to give back.
“I’m a firm believer [in] if you don’t give back then you’re going to end up going back, right? Once you come out of it yourself, you could see people coming and getting help and see their life change, it makes your life better.”
“The life I live today, I could never have dreamed of it.”
City News is a proud sponsor of the Coast Mental Health Courage to Come Back Awards, celebrating 25 years of raising critical funds for British Columbians living with mental illness.
