PANAMA CITY RESCUE MISSION IS A FAITH-BASED 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
LISA BURNETT
In June 2024, at the age of 52, I was incarcerated at Bay County Jail. During that time, I was sentenced to participate in the Lifeline Substance Abuse Program, which I successfully completed after four months. Upon release in November 2024, I entered the Bethel Village Transitional Living Program. Prior to my incarceration, I had been experiencing homelessness.
Since arriving at Bethel Village, my life has taken a transformative turn. On December 22, 2024, I rededicated my life to Christ, and just two months later, on February 22, 2025, I was baptized, marking a powerful new beginning in my spiritual journey.
I also began pursuing my passion for ministry by enrolling in online courses through the Christian Leadership Institute, where I am studying Ministry Foundations and Leadership. My goal is to serve others using my lived experiences, training as a Life Coach, and future certification as a Peer Support Recovery Specialist.
In March 2025, I was diagnosed with a significant heart murmur and soon learned I had Aortic Stenosis, a congenital heart defect. In June 2025, I underwent open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve. Following surgery, I experienced complete heart block and required a pacemaker. I am currently recovering at Bethel Village, surrounded by a supportive and faith-filled community.
Throughout my time here, I have remained deeply involved in both spiritual growth and personal development. I attend daily Bible studies and completed the Mentor Program, where I now serve as a Big Sister to other women. I also graduated from the Living Free Program and continue to participate in the “Twelve Arrows to Victory” step study, along with other Christ-centered recovery meetings.
Additionally, I have completed a Forgiveness Workshop and am actively studying Systematic Theology. Before my surgery, I served as the House Mom, maintained full-time employment, and opened a savings account, which are important milestones on my path to stability and independence. My journey has not been easy, but by God’s grace, it has been redemptive. Bethel Village has been a place of refuge, healing, and hope. I’m thankful for the opportunity to grow in faith and purpose, and I look forward to what God has in store next.
GIOVANNI DIAZ
My name is Giovanni Diaz. I come from a troubled background full of depression and addiction. I was born into a family of drug addicts. I grew up in a dope house. Growing up, I had no choice but to live in the streets. It was the only way I would survive. I had to steal, scratch, and claw just to have something to eat. I had to break in abandoned houses just to have a place to sleep. I had to drop out of school at the age of 17 because I had children. I could never keep a job or take care of my family because I was ruled by drug addiction.
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I have stolen from family and hurt a lot of good people who just wanted to help me. I let my kids and my family down. I lost it all. I never thought I would get another chance at really doing something with my life. I contemplated suicide a lot of times.
Coming to the Mission really saved and changed my life for the better. I’ve become a believer in Christ and just a believer in life overall. I have met a lot of very genuine, kind, and loving people. They are helping me get my GED, my license, and they have helped recover from addition. They have helped me become healthy and just be happy. They have helped me turn away from the life of addition. I’ so thankful they believed in me and gave me a chance and opportunity when no one else would.
DERYL TAYLOR
I grew up in a deeply dysfunctional home, one of five children. My father was abusive and controlling, and my mother struggled with alcoholism. Violence and chaos were part of my daily life. My father, an atheist, openly rejected faith, but even as a young child, I felt drawn to something greater. At just three years old, I was found running toward a neighborhood church, where the pastor welcomed me inside. That moment marked the beginning of my lifelong awareness of God’s presence.
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When I was seven, my mother left our family and tragically passed away a year later. Life at home became unbearable. By the age of 12, I made the decision to leave. I entered the juvenile justice system and was eventually placed in temporary foster care. I ran away and made my way to Florida with an older foster child. We struggled to survive, selling plasma for money, and eventually, I ended up in jail since they had no juvenile facility in South Georgia. From there, I was transferred to a juvenile facility in Atlanta and later placed in the Georgia Christian Children’s Home, where I lived for three years and attended a Christian school supported by the Church of Christ.
My father later re-entered my life and convinced me to return home. Unfortunately, nothing had changed, and I soon ran away again, this time heading to Atlanta, where I briefly tried out for Star Search. I spent several months homeless, living under bridges and doing odd jobs just to eat.
At 16, I met the mother of my first children. We had three children and were together for eight years. I later entered other relationships, married, and had more children. One of my children passed away from liver disease during COVID. I played in the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame from 1994 through 1996, voted “Future Star” and performed in the 1996 Olympics. I led a full musical life and had a DJ/Karaoke business for 22 years in Atlanta, FL.
In 2018, I got married again and made the decision to sell my house to travel. However, poor decisions and unfortunate circumstances left me without money, and eventually, I found myself alone again, living in an RV. I faced betrayal and loss. I found myself abandoned again in Clearwater, Florida, and later made my way north, only to be redirected by police to a homeless shelter in Tampa. I helped with finances at the Tampa Shelter during the COVID years.
After more hardship and another failed relationship, I came to Panama City, Florida, where I was introduced to the Panama City Rescue Mission. This has been a turning point in my life.
Since arriving at the Rescue Mission, I’ve rededicated my life to Christ. I’ve found stability, community, and a renewed sense of purpose. Today, I proudly serve as the House Dad at the Men’s Facility, offering support and encouragement to others walking difficult roads like mine. I’ve also invested in karaoke equipment and am working toward launching my own entertainment business—a dream born from my lifelong love of music.
My journey has been long and painful, but through faith, resilience, and the support of the Panama City Rescue Mission, I’ve found hope again. I am living proof that no matter how broken your past, healing and transformation are always possible.
JOHN SHIRAH
John had a normal happy upbringing. He met a wonderful woman and had two children together. He never drank or did drugs. He met a new group of friends that he starting socializing with. John was driving his newfound friends through town one night on the way to a social gathering. He was pulled over at a routine scheduled Police Check Point. Unbeknownst to John, his passengers had illegal drugs on them and hid them underneath the seats when they were pulled over. All four were arrested, his car was impounded and he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
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John’s wife and children moved on with life while he was in prison. John lost his home, his car, and his family. Upon being released from prison, John came straight to Panama City Rescue Mission. He accepted Christ as his Savior and is a role model for our young men in our Program.
John obtained a very good paying job with local government, paid off all his fines and received his Driver’s License. He loves to cook, so John volunteered to be the cook for the Men’s Program and prepares all of the evening meals. He has saved more money than any other client in the Program and is mentoring our young ones in discipleship, leadership, and budgeting.
TIANA CRISMAN
Before coming to Bethel Village, I was living with my mom, pregnant and sharing a room with her, going through a DCF case with my 5-year-old daughter. My daughter was taken from me because her father was abusive towards me.
I lived in South Florida while my daughter was living in Panama City, FL. I asked on Facebook if anyone knew where I could go for a fresh start in Panama City so that I could be closer to my children. A few different people suggested Bethel Village, so I called and was approved to stay there.
I drove 500 miles to get here. Since being here, I have grown closer to God, saved money, and gained stability. I have received a promotion at my job at Longhorn’s Steakhouse, from waitress to manager. I have saved enough money to make a down payment at a place that I can call home.
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Thanks to Bethel Village for providing me with all my basic needs and more. Unfortunately, I did lose custody of my children, but I have a good relationship with the people who have my children, and I am looking forward to the restoration of our relationship in God’s timing. Bethel has taught me that as long as I keep my faith in the Lord, anything is possible. My Life has been completely turned around for the better.
VETA WALKER
For more than 40 years, I struggled with the grip of addiction, feeling like I sold my soul to the devil. In January 2025, I took a courageous step toward change by entering Florida Springs Wellness and Treatment Center.
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After completing my rehabilitation program, I came to Bethel Village, where I encountered God’s grace and rededicated my life to Christ.
During my time at Bethel Village, I not only received support in maintaining a drug-free lifestyle but have also been guided toward living a Christ-centered life.
Now, as I prepare to move into my very own apartment, I reflect with gratitude on the compassion and dedication of the staff at Bethel Village and the Panama City Rescue Mission.
I am deeply thankful for the support I’ve received on this journey. Through their guidance, I’ve found a new beginning and a renewed purpose in Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
MEGAN SIMS
Hello, my name is Megan Sims. I am a single mom with a healthy and thriving 4-year-old boy. I work as a cook at Gyro Café and am currently studying social work. I got sober on May 10, 2023. I was a client at Bethel Village from August 2023 until July 2024.
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To begin this testimony, I want to give a big thank you to God, to everyone who played a part in my recovery, and to the staff at the Panama City Rescue Mission. Bethel not only gave me another chance at life but also allowed me to be a mother to my son.
During my time at Bethel, we were required to attend daily Bible studies and groups that taught us how to turn to God with our finances, everyday life problems, and even when we just needed a friend. The key to recovery is community, and the Panama City Rescue Mission provides a supportive and healthy community for people seeking guidance.
Before I went to rehab, I was lost and addicted. There was no one to guide me in the right direction, and I honestly didn’t know how to guide myself at the time. I didn’t start finding healing in rehab; it was when I moved to Bethel Village and began to grow my relationship with God that I started to heal from the addiction and trauma I had experienced in my life. While I was at Bethel, I was reunited with my son, got baptized, and God healed my mind and my life from drug addiction. The Panama City Rescue Mission is making a difference in the community by investing in people and guiding their clients toward healthy and successful lives.
Believer's Baptisms
