Peter Gatto is the executive director at an organization called R-Hub, an incredible vision where faith and recovery collide. Here is a piece of his story:
By the time I was eighteen years old, I was a full-blown alcoholic and drug addict. My addiction led me to a place of utter hopelessness and despair— to a place of emotional, physical and spiritual bankruptcy. I tried everything I could to break the chains of my addiction on my own. I spent time in rehabs, detoxes, and even a homeless shelter. Each of these experiences played a role in my recovery, yet I always returned to my addiction.
One day during an AA meeting, I was trying to apply the third step to my recovery. “I made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understood him.” I had no idea who God was, nor did I know what His will for my life could be. In fact, I believed if there was a God, He wanted me dead. That night, I offered the question to the group. After an hour of many sharing their own experiences about God, I was even more confused. As I walked out of the meeting that night, one man approached me and said, “Peter, I know who God is and what His will is for your life. Let’s have a cup of coffee.” He shared the Gospel with me, and I got on my knees and cried out to God to save me. He did. I didn't have all the answers then. I don't have them now. But that day changed my life forever. By God’s grace, I have not had a drink or a drug in 28 years, happily married for 26 years, the proud father of five beautiful children and have served in Christian leadership for 22 years as a missionary, pastor and effective developer of cross-cultural ministries to the broken and marginal segments of our population.
My call to ministry began from a place of desperation and absolute brokenness that led me to Christ. Today my life calling is to offer my personal story, gifts, and ministry experience to fully develop the vision of Recovery-HUB. A place where faith and recovery collide. A place where addicts are set free in the Name of Jesus and equipped to set others free.
