My name is Hayden Barkey, but you may know me as “Josh” from my time in the Rock Solid Refuge program.

I first came to Rock Solid Refuge in the summer of 2021. I had been kicked out of my house, was living with some family friends in the city, had been using cocaine, and was starting to use meth. I was depressed, lonely, and angry at the world.

God used RSR to save me from addiction and self destruction. It changed my life, and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my time in the program. That’s not to say everything was perfect after I graduated. I still had my struggles and troubles, but I was able to graduate high school, get tested for my red seal in carpentry (waiting to hear back!), and start my own small business as an independent contractor. That was my dream!

Wasn’t it?

Fresh out of school, working for myself, advancing in the trades, living in my own place, making good money... “so why do I feel so empty?”

I pulled over on my way home one day, exhausted by this nagging question, and prayed. I had never lost my faith since leaving RSR, but I certainly wasn’t leaning on God. This was the first time in months that I had reached out to him. My first time earnestly praying in a long time.

In that moment, God spoke to me in a way that I had never experienced before. He spoke to me in a way I still can’t fully explain. Not only did He make it clear that His plan for me was back at Rock Solid, but He took away from me the junk that I was still carrying around. His light shone so bright in my heart, and I knew he wanted that light to shine through me into the darkness of students’ lives at RSR.

I’m realizing more and more now that God is using me not because I was doing anything good, but so that I would use my struggles for His good. That’s why I’m back as a staff member at Rock Solid Refuge, so that His light can shine and He can be glorified.

I know that this program works because it worked for me.

Rock Solid Refuge changed me. It changed the entire direction of my life. It’s no exaggeration to say that I believe God used Rock Solid Refuge to save my life. Now, I get to be there for troubled teens like the staff were there for me. I get to shine His light in the dark places. And, who knows, maybe one of these guys will return as a staff member some day, too, and this light will pass, undimmed, to even more lives.

Thank you for your support, and Merry Christmas!

Hayden “Josh” Barkey
Youth Care Worker
Rock Solid Refuge