A New Life…
A New Outlook… and A New Desire.

John Szalma was born and raised in Mt. Holly, New Jersey. Being the youngest of eight children, he had six brothers and a sister to look up to and follow. Since the Szalma family was a “non-Christian family,” John did not have the advantage of Christian teaching while growing up. He attended Hainesport Elementary School and Rancocas Valley High School. While a high school student John became addicted to alcohol and continued drinking into his early adult life. In 1985, not long after his mother’s death, John was sentenced to serve a six month jail term because of an assault charge. He felt that this sequence of events was “bad timing.”

However, while in jail, through a member of the Mt. Holly Baptist Church Prison Ministry Team, John was introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as his Savior. He was released from jail in November, around Thanksgiving.

The following February John met a young lady named Beth. After a whirlwind courtship they were married three months later, in May. At the time, Beth was unsaved and struggling with a drug problem, but John felt he could
“rescue” Beth from her addiction. Not long after the wedding, Beth learned of Christ’s love and accepted Him as her Savior, too. The couple moved to Virginia Beach and their first child, Jacob, was born there. At that time, things were not going well on the job scene, and John felt that “life was not going well.”

Unfortunately, he fell back into his old habit of drinking. John and Beth, and little Jacob, returned to New Jersey, but things didn’t change for the better. John was unable to keep a steady job due to his addiction to alcohol. This took quite a toll on the marriage. There were constant battles.

When Jacob was seven years old, daughter Darla joined the family. In May of ‘95 the effects of John’s problems were quite evident. Beth called several agencies for help. By December of that year, John admitted his need for help to overcome his addiction. His sister and brother-in-law knew of America’s KESWICK and the Colony of Mercy. One night John’s sister said to her husband that perhaps KESWICK could provide the help John needed. Shortly after that, on a Saturday evening, they drove John through the grounds at KESWICK. The following Monday he filled in an application, and called daily to see if there was a bed available for him.

It wasn’t long until he was invited to come into the program, and on January 12, 1996 he quit smoking, too. John thought 90 days would be a long time to be separated from his family. But after the first two week period, when he was allowed to have visitors,Beth was faithful and came every weekend. John and Beth became involved in the Families for Christ Ministry, and testify that FFC played a “big part” in mending their marriage. They both appreciate the continued contact they have with KESWICK staff members and the opportunities they have had to share burdens with them and other FFC friends. After John’s graduation from the Colony in ‘96 he found immediate employment with a lumber company. He said “there were many adjustments after leaving the Colony.” The main one was “learning to let God have control.”

The following January John hurt his back and was out of work for a month and a half -- with no income. The financial problems created lots of stress. John and Beth faced hard times, but today both will say their “difficult times served to draw them closer to the Lord.” They are most thankful that their focus on God through the difficult times kept them from reverting to their previous addictions. Many of the moves they had to make because of their finances placed them in poor neighborhoods, but they “made the best” of each situation and began having 5-day clubs, sponsored by Child Evangelism Fellowship, in their back yard.

John and Beth have both taken CEF courses and have a sincere desire to lead children to the Lord so they will not become involved in things of the world. They’ve been thrilled to see real spiritual growth in some of the kids in their Good News Clubs.John and Beth, and Jacob who is now 13, work with the Awana Program at their church. Jacob accepted the Lord as his Savior after John returned from the Colony and Darla was saved in July of 1999. John also teaches a second grade Sunday School class, is a member of the choir and is involved in the church’s drama team. He recently played the part of Thaddeus in the Last Supper presentation based on the painting by Leonardo DaVinci.

Keeping busy with the family is very important to John. Now when problems arise, he turns to the Word for answers. He recognizes his imperfections and desires to keep his eyes on the Lord.