Dear Family Member:
Every conversion is a miracle! Robert Hassler is one of God’s miracles. As we leap into March, a month often associated with rebirth and growth, we are excited to share Robert’s powerful testimony that embodies the spirit of overcoming daunting adversities and finding new beginnings, a real sense of renewal. Robert’s journey is a testament to the challenges many face, but also to the hope and redemption that can be found through love and community support. Join us as we delve into Robert’s inspiring story of his transformation and the impact of DAP in his life.
Greetings DAP family! I am excited to share my testimony with you.
First, I never knew my father. His absence left a void in my life that I struggled to fill. However, I met the Lord as a little guy of 11 years old at Bible camp. Satan was quick to begin tearing up our family with divorces and fights and darkness. I easily lost sight of God and by the age of 13, I was already smoking cigarettes and marijuana, drinking, and looking at pornographic magazines. Soon I was smoking crack, meth, skipping school and completely addicted.
At the age of 14, I gave my mother her first hit of crack and it was not long before there was no food in the cupboards and rent was not being paid. Our relationship was so strained. Mom ended up dating a man I brought over that had money to get high on. She stayed with him three years. With not enough room for everybody, I knew I would not be around too much longer. I got depressed and angry, smoking and drinking anything that would take away the misery.
In 1992, I went to the Set Free Men’s Home to try to get help and to my delight I found Jesus. I repented and really wanted to start over again. Within a couple years, at 18 years old, I was off to God’s Bible College to learn how to preach. I wanted to be an evangelist and win people to Christ. School was so hard for me! My third year I drank alcohol during winter break and all the strongholds of addiction came to life again.
I left Bible College and started a career hustling in the streets, getting high any way I could. This led to two prison terms and multiple parole revocations. While in prison, my mother was hospitalized and died from hepatitis because of her addiction to heroine. Her death brought profound guilt and pain to my heart, a weight I carried as I navigated my own journey of recovery.
In 2015, at the age of 35, I came to DAP desperate for change and freedom from that old life of addiction and madness. I stuck around DAP for two graduations and a total of 11 years! I worked as a lawn supervisor until the Harris’ moved the program to Alabama in 2017. DAP donated one of the trucks to me and I had my own lawn business for two years. Today I am employed at Southern California Edison doing traffic control.
We are blessed and high favored of God.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris are my spiritual parents, giving me light and direction and showing me how to live a life free from my past. I learned how to enjoy work and recreation. I was taught how to appreciate myself and others and most of all how to love Christ and thrive living sober and happy.
In 2016, I met my wife Abby and we were married four months later. Abby received a Master’s Degree in Social Work and works as a social worker for Child and Family Services. Life has had some intense twists and turns but God has seen Abby and me through it all. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have continued to be there encouraging us with calls and letters and even ‘over the phone-groups’ with my peers. It does not get any better than that!
I am blessed to be going forward with life and its duties, free of the addictions I once knew. God has been so good to me! I am so thankful to have experienced the Drug Alternative Program and to have been a part of the amazing life changing blessings that so often occurred because of the free grace of God and the faith and determination of Mr. and Mrs. Harris to go forward regardless of the cost. Thank you, Lord!! – – for the great sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross and for Mr. and Mrs. Harris for never giving up on me.
Sincerely, 
As we conclude, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to you, our faithful family member. Your generosity is what enables us to continue our vital work, providing hope and healing to those struggling with hopelessness from addiction. Your support has always been instrumental in helping men like Robert Hassler find a new direction in life. As we move forward in faith, we ask for your continued support and partnership. God entrusts us daily with His means, we can make a huge and positive difference in the lives of those in need. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to DAP’s mission. We love and appreciate you and words cannot fully capture the depth of our gratitude. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
With warm regards,
