- I resented my father.

I wanted nothing to do with him.

I really don't have goodmemories of my father.

- [Narrator] That's because,

when Brennan Wegener was just a boy,

he and his family wereverbally and physically abused

by his alcoholic father.

- And I recall being in my mom's arms

with her holding a butcherknife protecting us

when he was trying to kill her, kill us.

I hated myself because of that.

I felt guilty and responsible

for not protecting my mom or sisters.

- [Narrator] When Brennan was five,

his dad and mom divorced,but the abuse continued.

This time, he was molestedby several babysitters,

including a female relative.

- It left me feelingempty and broken inside.

I was told it was my fault and threatened

that, if I said something,something would happen to me

or my family.

- [Narrator] The abuse finallyended when Brennan was 12.

His dad died and his mom remarried

and it wasn't long beforehe was addicted to opiates.

- That's when I started that,

and that was when I felt complete peace

and like everything had gone away,

completely numb.

- [Narrator] Finally, Brennandecided his only chance

to be free from drugs was to get away.

At 18, after four years of addiction,

he stopped using drugs andenlisted in the Air Force.

- I ended up becoming second since 1947

in fitness standards andbecame Warhawk status,

actually accomplished a lot.

I was very proud of myself.

I actually had some self worth for once.

- [Narrator] For the next two years,

Brennan would stay drug-free.

In that time, he served a tour in Iraq,

but one night, while on leave,a man brutally attacked him

at a bar for no reason, leavinghim with a crushed mandible.

After surgery, he was prescribed

eight different narcotic medications

that quickly refueled his drug addiction.

- At this time, I felt likeI had become a failure again.

Not only were the pain medsmasking the physical pain,

now they were making all theemotional pain go away again

and feeling that feeling of escape.

- [Narrator] Brennan married

and later got medically discharged.

He and his wife had two sons, but now,

he was turning into theperson that hurt him the most.

- There was a lot ofphysical and verbal abuse

on both ends.

I felt like I had become my father,

which was the one thingI didn't want to become.

It made me feel like I failed in life.

- [Narrator] Now, withno medical insurance

or access to pain meds,he turned to heroin.

- My whole world changed.

It sped everything up.

It made my withdrawals quicker,

I'd come down quicker, I'dneed more or want more,

and it would hit youimmediately so you could escape.

- [Narrator] Unable to hold down a job,

Brennan eventually lost his marriage

and ended up living on the streets.

- My self worth was so lowand I didn't care anymore

that I felt morecomfortable sleeping in cars

and on park benches thanbeing a part of my family.

- [Narrator] Then in2012, Brennan was arrested

and charged for heroinand weapons possession.

He was released on probation.

At this time, Brennan thoughtthe only way to find peace

was to take his life.

- The pain that led meto want to kill myself

was having no self worth, no purpose,

and having absolutely noidentity or reason to live.

- [Narrator] He wouldsurvive two suicide attempts

in the coming year.

Then an infection from a dirty needle

landed Brennan in thehospital with septic shock.

- Brennan!

- [Narrator] Althoughin critical condition

for two and a half months, he survived.

- And they ended up strippingand removing veins in my arm.

And the blood infection hadgone to my brain and heart.

- [Narrator] While there recovering,

Brennan hanged himself with a belt.

He says it was then Godcame to him in a vision.

- I teleported like toa beach and hot sand

and it felt somebodytook a hot jar of honey

and just poured it on the top of my head.

It went throughout my bodyand to my fingers and toes.

And when I looked up, it was the Lord,

He's there with His hand on my head

telling me that everythingwas gonna be okay.

- [Narrator] A group of nurses revived him

and he woke up with a new perspective.

- What changed in my heartabout God is that He was real

and that there was somethingout there bigger than myself

and that I had a chance.

- [Narrator] After a month of drug rehab,

Brennan decided to go toa Christian rehab center

in California.

At a Saturday night worshipservice in March of 2016,

Brennan walked forward at an altar call

and surrendered all to God.

- I finally had made the choice

to go up and surrender at the altar

that I was gonna give my life to Him.

The two biggest things forme was, first, repentance,

and then asking for forgiveness.

I wanted a completely clean slate

and I wanted to be forgiven

and be able to live a happy,joyous, and free life.

I was addicted to drugs andalcohol for almost 15 years

and it felt like God justhad taken that all away.

- [Narrator] Brennan says

as his relationship grew with Jesus,

he was able to forgive all of his abusers,

including his father.

- I realized that I'vealways had a father.

I didn't necessarily need anearthly or physical father.

I've had a heavenly father.

And for once in my life, that'sall I feel I really need.

- [Narrator] Today,Brennan is newly married

and enjoys being a father to his two sons.

He now knows his identity in Christ

and the heavenly fatherwho gave it to him.

- God is a savior, God is a redeemer,

and He's my rock and He is everything.

My identity in God is I am free,

I am no longer a slave,and I am a child of God.

(gentle piano music)