Steven never thought that he would consider suicide. He was a strong boy. But desperate circumstances left him hopeless. His dad left. His mom and grandpa died. His uncle sold the family property, kept the money, then raped and sold him. Steven was afraid his new boss would do the same, but instead he was forced into dangerous slave labor.

Climbing up scaffolding and cranes to tighten bolts—one misstep could be fatal. When he saw one of his colleagues fall to his death, an idea formed and gradually grew. It would be an easy way out. He would do it the next day. But that night, someone from Project 365 rescued him, cut his hair, bought him clothes, and took him to school. The boy who once climbed cranes could now safely allow his dreams to soar.

Today, Steven looks back at that night and is thankful that God saved him from the dreadful choice he almost made. He says, “Life is so good. I can’t believe I almost killed myself.” For Steven, freedom wasn’t only the difference between despair and hope…it brought him from death to life.