Do you recognize the name David Steffens? Steffens won the Seattle Marathon four times between 1992 and 1997. Ten years ago, this Seattle native had it all. He was sponsored by a famous athletic shoe company. Competed in the Olympic trials. And even won a national championship in 1994. But Steffens was leading a Jekyll-and-Hyde existence. He had a drinking problem. It got so bad that before he realized it, he had lost everything. His job. His home. One day, the police found him on the Eastside, living in his car. “I was living a lie,” he admits. Tired and unable to find a way out of his dilemma, David came to the Mission’s men’s shelter, where he rekindled his passion for God – and for life. First came food, a safe place to sleep, Bible studies and classes on how to break free from his addiction.

Then David moved on to deeper issues, like how to forgive himself. How to experience God’s love again. How to heal wounds from the past and move forward.

“Deep down, I was always ashamed that I could be successful at running and have this addiction at the same time,” he explains. “When I came here, I realized I didn’t have to be ashamed.”

David says that many of his close friends now know what he’s gone through and have stuck by him in amazing ways. It’s the general public that is shocked when they hear about David’s bout with alcohol addiction.

“At the time, I didn’t want anyone to know the demon I was battling,” he explains. “Now, I don’t have to hide anymore. I can move forward.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m a successful runner or not,” he continues. “What matters is to live a Christlike life. To love yourself, and treat others with love.”