How Patrick Found True Freedom in Christ

Patrick Stansbury grew up in a good Catholic family in the Crafton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Both parents were solid citizens – blue-collar workers who divorced when Patrick was an infant. His mother worked at a hospital, balancing life as a single mom until she remarried six years after the divorce. Patrick’s dad was a roofer his entire life – but 44 trips to rehab never solved his obsessions. The family was “dirt poor,” so having an older brother, seven years senior, prospering as a drug dealer while affording things the family could only dream of – only increased Patrick’s exposure to an illicit world.

Cocaine was the first substance Patrick tried at age 11. He and his brothers were stealing fancy clothes from JC Penney by that time. At age 13, he was stealing cars, and by 15 he was kicked out of high school for an entire year. He never could emulate his brother’s “success” because, as he would tell you, “I was not a great drug dealer even though I tried my best – my personal addiction got in the way.”

Watching the towers fall on 9/11, Patrick felt an urge to serve his country and perhaps rise above his addiction. At 26, he was finally accepted into the US Air Force and served for four years refueling aircraft. It was a fulfilling job as he had always been fascinated by planes. But two months before he completed his service, he and 10 other servicemen were arrested for OxyContin use and spent a year in military prison.

Over the next ten years, drugs would continue to plague Patrick as he moved from job to job seeking relief from relentless pain and hopelessness. In 2022, he found a meaningful relationship with a woman who revealed that she was married after they had been together for several months. She put an end to the relationship, which sent Patrick into a spiral of depression and more drugs. The end came when he was arrested for violating the terms of the PFA – Protection From Abuse order that forbids any contact. Traffic cameras had tracked his license plate – indicating he had been in her neighborhood – which, along with text messages he had sent, was sufficient evidence for violation of the order. The arresting officers arrived at his home, finding Patrick in the middle of a five-day sleepless binge of crystal meth. Facing misdemeanor charges, no one realized things were about to explode.

Upon arrival at the courthouse for booking, Patrick felt completely lost. Depressed and out of his mind that day, he still doesn’t have a clear recollection of the next several hours. Most who were present could not believe what he attempted. When the handcuffs and shackles were removed for fingerprinting, Patrick made a run for it – with four officers in the room! He exited the booking room, navigated down several hallways, proceeded through the lobby, past the metal detectors, and out the front door into the courtyard. There his brief escape was suddenly halted as a crew of officers and the canine unit tackled him, driving his face to the concrete, the impact of which resulted in his ear scraping along the ground to the point it was nearly severed. The next thing Patrick remembers was lying in a hospital, begging the doctor not to use staples to reattach his ear as the situation was triggering a lifelong fear of stitches. The doctor resorted to a “glue” product which allowed the ear to be reattached. Hours later, Patrick returned to the courthouse for booking – this time facing three felony charges, including resisting arrest, assault, and attempting to flee. If there was rock bottom – this was it.

The first month in jail was miserable. For 10 days, Patrick could hardly move, simply laying on his bunk as his body detoxed. The staff at the jail, medical in particular, did an exemplary job monitoring him and recognizing that he was “dope sick.” Their unique actions ensured he was hydrated and fully supported for recovery.

During the second week, physically drained and emotionally exhausted, a friend suggested that he attend a Bible study mostly just to get Patrick moving.

At the second class he attended, a volunteer by the name of Steve was leading, and the class began with the singing of Amazing Grace. The words “I once was lost, but now I am found” penetrated Patrick’s heart as he realized that he was not a lost cause – salvation could be his through Jesus Christ. Chaplain Mike Pierson encouraged Patrick to read John chapters 1-21 in order to understand who Jesus Christ is. As a result, Patrick trusted Christ and has never looked back.

Patrick was introduced to Isaiah 59, which is a picture of his life.

Verses 1-4 “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save. But your iniquities have separated you from your God Your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with guilt Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things.”