My name is Ryan Roth, and I am a child of God. I did not always feel this way. It has been a
long-broken road. But God…

Growing up, I was the youngest of five children. My oldest brother is twenty-six years older than
me. My biological father died when I was four years old. I have some faint memories of him, but
mostly of my stepdad who raised me. I have heard a lot of stories of my dad driving, and
working on race cars with my oldest two brothers.

I am 4 years clean and sober, one day at a time. I am a work in progress and still work on my
anger issues, that might be the result of things I experienced in the first four years of my life
when my father was alive.

My addiction history started at the age of 15. I would sneak beer from my parents. Eventually I
started hanging around with older kids, and partying and drinking. I found out that I liked how
alcohol made me feel. I would go to parties and end up in fights. It got to the point that my
friends didn’t want to go places with me because I always got in confrontations. This continued
throughout my high school years. This is what I knew, or what I had learned at an early age.

My mom eventually remarried. My stepdad was the example of meek. LeRoy was a very good
father to me, and I had good parents to raise me.

In high school I was very active in sports, but partying was my main focus. I didn’t concentrate
on a plan after high school. When my friends left for college, I stayed in Bancroft. My drinking
continued to get more excessive and eventually I experimented with cocaine. This was the
beginning of an even bigger trainwreck, soon leading to methamphetamine. My two oldest
siblings are still active in their drug use today, and this is what bridged the gap in our
relationship. We had nothing in common until it came to our addiction for meth.

I would stay up for days. I stole, cheated, lied, and did whatever I needed to get my fix. I got
married, and my wife and I had two children. I eventually lost my life due to my addiction.
I was an adult now and still fighting and stealing. I went to prison twice. I never went to prison
on drug charges, but ultimately it was due to my addiction; I was stealing to get drugs. And, like
always, fighting. Before I went to prison the second time, I was in county jail.

Marty Riehle and Ray Mahnke visited me in jail to minister to me. God put Marty and Ray in my life to help in the
process of changing my heart. At that time, I had no idea what the Power of Jesus could do in my
life. God put Aaron Trimble in my life. I knew of Aaron in high school. His friends and my
friends didn’t get along, we went to rival schools. It is amazing how God works. He worked
through Aaron, Marty, and Ray and it started to change my heart and mind.

They helped me realize that there was a different way to live.

When we don’t have God in our life, or believe in Jesus, we are missing something. Something huge. When I was caught up in my addiction, I
didn’t know what I was missing. The only thing I wanted was to get high and be numb to life.

Aaron came to jail and met with me one on one. He talked about Jesus and taught me about the
Bible. Aaron taught me about repentance, about how to forgive people, and that I needed to
forgive myself first; To trust and believe in God.

After several months in county jail, I was sentenced to prison. When I was in county jail I
thought I was going to treatment, but God had a bigger plan. He doesn’t make mistakes.
While I was in prison I met a lot of people, but one in particular that I worked out with, and we
pushed and encouraged each other. God put Rob in my life to help me with my next chapter. I,
like in high school, didn’t have a plan for what I was going to do after my release. This time had
to be different from the first or I would end up here a third time. First I went into transitional
living in Hastings, Nebraska, to complete some additional programing. Rob and I talked about

keeping in touch after our release, and we kept our word to each other. Rob visited me in
Hastings, and he brought along his friend, Stephanie. She was also in recovery, and a believer.
We became friends and soon our friendship grew closer, and we knew that God had a great plan
for us. Stephanie and I were married a year after meeting at Bristol Station, and Rob was our best
man.

After completing five months in transitional living, I moved to Nebraska City. When I first
moved, I struggled to find employment. Society isn’t always accepting of someone with my
history of violence. I am very thankful that Kory Lind took a chance on me in the summer of
2018. I enjoy what I do and appreciate all that he has done and still does for our family.

On August 26, 2019, I was baptized by my high school rival, and now great friend Aaron
Trimble. All Glory to God, my life has changed. None of it would be possible without God, my
sister Shelly praying for me all of the years that I was lost, my brother and sister-in-law, Marty
and Gina’s support, and the ministering at the jail.

Stephanie and I not only support one another, but we have great support from our families, and
our church families at Lifehouse, Lincoln Berean, and West Point Family Worship.

Stephanie and I like to give back. We want to help others who are broken, like we once were, to
know it is possible to live sober lives. We want to give others hope, to be a light in a dark place.
I have a passion for running. God made me a runner to save my life. I started running when I was
in prison. When I run I have a smile on my face, Christian Contemporary music in my ears, and
God in my heart.