By Cindy Fetters

David Ivey was drunk when he walked into Crossroads for the first time with a small bottle of whiskey tucked in his pocket, for extra courage. Dodging his cousin Juniors’ years of urging to go to church, he opted, instead,  for another round with his “bar buddies'’. On this particular Sunday in early March, something was different. He had come to the end of himself, seeing only hopelessness in his future. After many years of rejecting the invitation, David finally conceded. Reeking of whiskey, he climbed in the car with Junior, never anticipating what he would soon encounter.

“That was an incredible day! I heard a call and I was in a very very dark point in my life. I didn’t even know it was going to be as bad as it turned out to be”, David explains. Near the end of the service, he stumbled down the aisle toward the altar. “I went to my knees and basically, God took the wheel from there. I let everything go that was in me. I told the truth. I left that bottle of whiskey I had in my pocket, sitting on the altar. I remember, my eyes were closed and I felt a spirit come over me. I felt very powerless.  It was my turn to turn this around - if I could. I had nothing to give. I could barely walk in and walk out.”  Surrounded by praying men he had never met, David fell into the arms of Jesus, surrendering all his heartache and loss.

Only a few days later, he was admitted to ICU in a large downtown Phoenix hospital. David’s liver and kidneys had failed after years of excessive alcohol abuse. “My body was in chaos and shutting down completely.” He endured three horror-filled weeks of alcohol detox. “The visions in my head, the things I saw, were going so fast in my head when I was laying’ in ICU, It was like watchin’ a movie of my life. I remember stopping the movie and asking God to keep me around…and He listened.”  Grueling kidney dialysis treatment was mandatory to keep David alive! The only long-term path to life for David’s condition was a Kidney transplant, but his name could not be added to the organ transplant waitlist until he remained sober for an entire year. 

A third-generation Chandler resident, David was an only child. Raised in a devout Catholic home he had a close relationship with his parents. David developed a deep recognition of God.  Attending parochial schools, and graduating from Chandler High School, he was always the life of a party. David began drinking with school friends at a young age. His drinking grew more frequent as he experienced success in his small landscape business, filling a life-long cavern of loneliness.  Alcohol and his “drinking buddies” offered a temporary sense of belonging he had often longed for as an only child. He drifted into a life of self-gratification and indulgence.  When the party was done and David went home, loneliness always penetrated his heart. 

The dark pit of alcohol consumed David further during the ten years he cared for his elderly parents. Both parents’ kidneys had failed due to unrelated medical complications. Both required life-sustaining dialysis. David didn’t care about anything beyond his parents and numbing himself with alcohol from the moment his feet hit the floor. He let go of his business, his “friends” disappeared, both parents passed away, he lost his life partner of twenty years and now he had lost his health. David was alone with nothing to live for. 

Today, just one year later, David celebrates more than 365 days of sobriety. One step at a time. One day at a time. David shares his miraculous story of divine healing with profound gratitude.  His medical team has no scientific explanation for his recovery. “My condition has made no sense to the medical world! There still is no medical explanation for me.” Within a few short months, his liver began to regenerate. His kidney function was improving. Doctors began reducing his intense dialysis schedule. His kidney function has continued a slow uphill climb.

David shakes his head in amazement as he shares his miracle story with unrestrained emotion. God has healed him! There is no longer a need to have his name added to a transplant waitlist, instead, his name is permanently etched in God’s Book of life. Kidney dialysis is no longer required. His liver is restored and his kidneys are functioning at normal levels! 

Crossroads has given David a new-found family.  “I found hope in Jesus and I found that in Crossroads as well. Crossroads, to me, is a family I never knew was out there. It’s a great family. Everyone welcomed me with open arms.” He describes the people of Crossroads as warm and sincere. “It’s just exciting. It’s a new journey.  None of us are given a promise of tomorrow. I’m definitely gonna take advantage of it today.”  David feels an eternal indebtedness to the people of Crossroads. “They were there and they were always praying. There are REALLY good people here, willing to help and pray for a stranger they’ve never known. To me, that is everything!”

“If you don’t believe in the power of prayer, you are sadly mistaken, I am living, walking proof!” “I do know why I am here, and that is because of the man above! I do know that without a doubt, I would not be here at all if it wasn’t for my Lord - Jesus Christ. I will do whatever he wants me to do.” “I want to be a better person. I wanna be kind. I wanna pay back what was given to me. No strings attached. Give thanks for the blessings that were given to me, against all adversity.

Thank you, Jesus!”