My name is Matt Haviland, and I am the father to a BEAUTIFUL little girl , whom I love with all of my heart.
I grew up in a single parent family myself, living with my mom. I saw my dad on a somewhat regular basis, but never developed a strong bond with him, or spiritually. I attended church occasionally as a kid, but never anything concrete.
Beginning in my high school years, and lasting the next decade or so, I began a long pattern of drug and alcohol addiction and sexual immorality. During this period I completely destroyed my body through drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, through alcohol, money, and women. I suffered a drug overdose in 2001 and another in 2002.
Also, on November 11, 2002 I was in a horrible traffic accident and should have been killed (but was saved by God's grace). I had given my life to Jesus Christ in 2001, but never pursued Him the way that I should have. I would do the bare minimum when it came to church and fellowship, and never really changed my environment. In March of 2005 I met a girl, who would soon turn out to be the mother of my daughter. The relationship did not last long, and my daughter was born in 2006.
Shortly after my daughter's birth, I knew something had to change. I didn't want to be "that guy"- a dad that my daughter would not respect and couldn't look up to. I began attending a new church on Jan 7, 2007. As the pastor spoke, I felt my heart begin to burn in a way that I had not felt for a long, long time.
At the end of the service I marched down to the altar and recommitted my life to Christ- I have not looked back since. I was baptized a few months later, and became a member of my church that fall. Since then I have gotten involved in multiple ministries, become friends with godly men and women, and completely surrendered my life over to Jesus.
John 10:10 states, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." THAT is the life I am living today, and the same is available to you. My prayer for you today is that He will touch your life the way (or more) that He has touched mine. I pray that we all continue to grow in the light of Christ and become the godly fathers we were meant to be!
