Jeffrey Planinac

First off, my name is Jeffrey Planinac and I am grateful for the help that The Discipleship Home and LeAire Griffin have provided me with. This program has enabled me to turn my life around. God’s grace pulled me out from the deep, and with the foundation and guidance that the program provides, men like me can change their lifestyle to one filled with God. 

For almost 20 years, I lived a life of addiction that caused all kinds of trouble. Numerous other programs such as AA, NA, and the court system, were all attempts at living a substance-free life that failed me, or I failed them. The truth is, I wasn’t broken enough yet. That truth led me to The Discipleship Home.

After two seizures and two trips to the hospital, with weeklong stays in the ICU, something clicked. I felt like my life was worthless: lying there alone with hopelessness in my gut. A social worker walked in and pointed me to The Discipleship Home. I truly believe God performed a miracle and changed my heart that day.

The Discipleship Home lays a Christ-centered format in front of you. I was willing and determined to be free from addiction and be productive in life for myself, my friends, and my family. Nothing comes easy and hard work was key to getting me to the place I am at in my life now - Over 2 years sober and living a peaceful and successful life. 

The gift of God is free and if we are willing to do the footwork for success, he will pave the road. The Discipleship Home is by far the reason I am still here today. I am still a part of The Discipleship Home family and continue to go back and fellowship with the men in the program. It can turn your life around. My most sincere gratitude goes to LeAire Griffin and his vision to help men like myself.

Robert Torres

In October of 2019, I was court-ordered to stay in a sober living home. I had never stayed in a sober living home before and didn’t know what to expect. Out of all the homes, The Discipleship Home was the one that was picked for me. I immediately felt at home when I got there. Every day I would wake up so thankful to be there. It was such a blessing to finally be in a place where I felt safe and protected.

I knew what the rules were and that the foundation and structure was a Christian-based men’s sober living program. So, I followed the rules happily and in return, I could see the changes in my life beginning to happen. At no point did I ever feel like taking off or running away. Instead, I embraced going to Oasis church and drawing closer to God.

When I entered the house, I literally had nothing, not even a pair of shoes. But as the months went on, I was able to not only stay clean and sober, but I was also able to regain employment, start saving money and buy a car. Being in The Discipleship Home helped me separate from all the things that were destroying my life. This home protected me. It felt good knowing I had a nice Tempur-Pedic mattress to sleep on every night, I could do laundry, shower, and always had food to eat. I honestly felt I could easily stay there forever because of how happy I was. I made a lot of friends during the time I was there and even was able to help a few of them out by getting them hired at my job. While I was in TDH I decided to surprise the guys by buying a bunch of baseball equipment for us, we all loaded up in my car and headed to the park to play some baseball. It was such an amazing feeling to be out with the guys. To see smiles on their faces made me feel blessed that I was able to do that for them. During Christmas, we went out together and cut down Christmas trees ourselves, what a blessing that was. Another thing I was able to do was to go on a trip with LeAire who runs The Discipleship Home, we went to San Diego to go snorkeling and boogie boarding. I really had a lot of fun on that trip.

After being in the house for 15 months, I decided to try and get my own apartment, and what do you know? I got it! And it’s only five minutes away from TDH. I will forever be thankful for the time I spent at The Discipleship Home because it taught me that life is worth living and that I will never have to worry about being alone again. If I could do it all over again, I would. The experience of living there taught me the tools I needed to regain control over my life so that I never have to go back to living in the brokenness I was in before. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my testimony and God bless.  

William Satterfield

Let me ask you a question.... Have you ever wanted more from life, but just felt you were handed the short end of the stick? Like you have tried and tried, but you just keep getting knocked straight to the gutter, losing everything you have gained, relationships, so-called friendships, personal belongings, not to mention your own self-worth, and trust? 

     My name is William, and I am 46 years old. I have been shooting up meth since I was 14 or 15. I have been sent to state prison seven times by San Luis Obispo County, for a total of almost twenty years inside, tried as an adult at the age of 17. You could say, I did not play nice when I went to the playground to play. I was the kid who stole your mom's purse while she was playing with you, so I could go get high. I had no values when I was using and there wasn't anything that would stop me. I wouldn't stop to think, "I shouldn't do this, or this is not right."

   I knew I had a problem, so I tried to go to the Salvation Army (3 times) and was kicked out 3 times. I did a program called Options in the Bay Area and didn't make it. In 2009, I got arrested for a domestic dispute, a very minor offense in most cases, but because of my criminal history in SLO county, the district attorney's offer was 16 years state prison and if I didn't take the offer, he would make sure I got 20 years. The only way I could see to get out of doing a lot of time was to ask the judge to go to Delancey Street Foundation. It is a two-year minimum hardcore behavioral modification program, and he sent me. I stayed there 3 years and graduated and was using again within a year after I left. 

   Since 2014 I have been using really tough at a high level. I met my wife that year and began to drag her through the mud behind me. I lied to her constantly, stole from her, her friends, her family. She tried to run away, but I wouldn't let her. I knew I loved her, but I didn't know how to love. Then all of a sudden, we were going to have a baby, and I still couldn't stop. Finally, she had enough and was able to get away from me. I had to get arrested again to come to terms with God and ask him to step in and help me! (Ezekiel 18:21, But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and DO WHAT IS JUST AND RIGHT, THEY WILL SURELY LIVE and not die.) God did step in and he helped me in contacting The Discipleship Home. I talked with LeAire and was able to get a bed once I was able to post bail, and I showed up. I didn't buck the system he has in place, instead, I gave it my all... and I found a deep relationship with God. I found out for the first time how to trust, I found out what true FRIENDS really are, not just acquaintances. God gave me my wife and kids back, a good job, a good place to live, and it is all because of God's blessing through The Discipleship Home and LeAire Griffin and his staff. 

 I graduated in March of 2020 and am so blessed to be able to say I am clean and sober for 18 months now. So, in closing, I would like to share this scripture with you. I feel it sums up what The Discipleship Home is all about for anyone who will read my testimony.

 Hosea 10:12

“I said, plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.”

 Blessing, William Satterfield

More testimonies coming soon!

We can’t wait to share what the Lord is doing here at The Discipleship Home…