 This is Pastor Vlad Savchuk at the center of life summer camp here in Washington State And I have a wonderful young man here who has a really amazing story to share of the goodness of God in his life Could you start out by telling us your name and what are you from? My name is Dan Knonahan. I'm originally from Ukraine, but currently live in Spokane, Washington And then could you tell us what was the problem that you were facing in your life? I had a hard addiction to alcohol, smoking and drugs And could you go into a little bit of detail of how addicted you were? How long have you had this addiction and how did it affect your life? Well, I've been addicted to smoking for about seven years. I've been addicted to alcohol for about five years and Drugs I've been doing for about three to four years. Okay, and how did these addictions affect your life? They caused many problems such as My family was turned against me my dad kicked me out three times out of the house and I was failing school. I I didn't really see a point of life Basically, I didn't want to There was nothing for me to strive for so your father actually kicked you out of the house for three times Yes, and you failed school. How many classes did you or how many years? Failed two years of high school. So two years of high school you completely failed Yes, all because of this addiction. Oh all because of drugs and alcohol. Where were you in search of solution for this problem? I've tried Calling it cold turkey for a couple days at work. Then I went back to the same thing cold turkey Meaning you would try to stop on your own. Yes, and it would only last for a few days enough a few days You will relapse and go back. Okay, and so what happened a few years ago when? Evangelist Gary and Fiona came with the anointing water to the area of Spokane. What happened was it was around four years ago and My mom told me about it. I didn't know about it And she asked me out of respect to her to come there and just listen what they have to say so I came there and It was I thought it was a good treatment. I was a little bit buzzed in alcohol and Meaning buzzed meaning you were under influence. You were drunk. Yes, okay So I went there. I listened. I thought it was a good sermon So the next day I go to school to high school to see my friends And they asked me if I want to get a smoke or a beer and for some reason I told them that I'm quitting and They thought I was crazy. I mean For after doing it for so many years that I never gonna quit Did you actually try to use the drugs and smoking after you received the prayer? Like the next day well, I haven't received the prayer that night was just a sermon. Okay, but I Took a cigarette. I don't want to light it. But then I feel like I don't really want to smoke that which never happened before Okay, so just by sitting in the service you already felt like the desire for it was already being defeated in you You no longer had the desire before so you came for the next service. What happened then? Well, the next service I didn't even get invitation for anyone. So I just came there by my own will. Okay, and they start asking whoever wants to pray and start praying for people and I was sitting there started crying and asking God forgiveness for my sins and When their ultra cold was out and they called people to go to ultra cold I came out they sprayed the holy water and I started shaking and I Went back to my seat as I was told and I was just crying for at least couple yeah a couple hours Wow So when the evangelist called for the prayer with you know into water you came up there You started to already be even before that you already started to getting convicted You start to shake and you were crying and as a result of that what started to happen next few months after that? As a result the same day the same night. I did not feel any addictions as in I would Probably smoke at least two packs a day that that same night. I knew I was free So I don't want no alcohol no drugs. I couldn't even say a bad word. I thought it was bad as in yes So you've seen a dramatic change in your heart in your life and now four years later You're serving God you're at this camp and you're walking off the God. How is your life right now? Right now. It's wonderful. I'm a leader of this camp. I have never thought I'll get this far in life Uh just about four or five years ago thought I'd be laying down in a ditch dead so Wow, and what is your advice to people who are maybe facing similar problems or maybe parents who have Children who are facing similar problems. What would you tell them? Uh, one of my advice is if your kid is doing something like what I was doing Definitely pray for them. That's definitely how it's got to bring them to christ and don't ever Kick them out. Don't ever stop loving them because God loves everybody and Try to tell your tell your son tell your daughter that They're still forgiven us because in my situation. I thought that I was never going to get forgiven And uh, what about those who are facing the same situation that you were facing maybe addicted Yeah, those people. I mean you guys still have a chance You guys just go to christ. He'll forgive anything. He can free from anything I've been in such Deep holes that nobody thought nobody believed in me and I didn't believe myself, but God's mighty god He can do anything amen amen all the glory goes to Jesus We thank you so much for sharing your story and thank you so much for watching this in jesus name