Travis struggled with a gambling addiction which spanned 33 years of his life. He’d given up trying to give up, even when it cost him everything – his long-term girlfriend, his job, and his freedom.
Travis resorted to white collar fraud to fund his addiction. It led to four stints in prison, spanning 11 years. That’s where Travis experienced the kindness of chaplains from Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy, a Carinity ministry.
“Chaplains play a big role in emotional and relational healing for many prisoners, because they offer a safe, non-judging presence: they listen without condemning, while still taking sin and harm seriously,” Travis said.
“That combination can help someone face what they’ve done without them feeling judged and crushed by it. They assist with processing grief and trauma: chaplains are often there when an inmate gets bad news from home, loses a loved one, or is overwhelmed by regret and fear.
“They also offer hope and identity: many chaplains encourage inmates with powerful scriptures, pointing them back to the idea that they are more than their worst day, that God knows them by name and everything about them and everything they’ve done, but still loves them and accepts them just the way they are.
“This can slowly rebuild an inmate’s shattered self-confidence, self-respect and self-love. For how can we truly love others, if we don’t know what love is and can’t truly love ourselves?”
At his lowest point, Travis had cried out, asking God to end his life. In that moment, Travis was interrupted by a gentle soft voice simply saying, “Trust me”. He replied, “Yeah, God. I know but I can’t stop. You know I’ve tried, and I just can’t.” The voice repeated: “Trust me.” Finally, Travis lay in silence for a while, then he said, “You mean all I have to do, is just trust in you? That’s it?”
All his life, Travis had been searching for the answer to stop gambling and in that moment, the answer was clear: ‘Let go and let God.’ But his desire to gamble didn’t just go away.
Travis says, “In my opinion the two greatest men to live on this earth were Jesus Christ and Bruce Lee. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t put Bruce anywhere in the same vicinity as Jesus, but he was ‘the man.’ And here’s the thing; they both died at the age of 33. So, I wanted my gambling addiction to also die at the age of 33.
“I knew that after my birthday on 17 November 2023, if I ever have another bet again, I wouldn’t ever stop for the rest of my life. So, I had only two choices: never bet again or never stop betting.”
Travis’ last bet was 16 November 2023. For 33 years, he didn’t go one day without an urge or desire to have a bet. With or without money, the urges were constant. But since that date in three years ago, he hasn’t had a single urge or desire to place a bet. His three-decade gambling addiction died that day.
The 17th of November 2023, doesn’t just represent the day he was set free from gambling but also the day he was set free from sin – because he was born-again.
Travis also wanted to say a special ‘thanks’ to one particular Inside Out prison chaplain who he first met in a correctional centre in 2015. A number of years after his release, Travis connected once again with the chaplain who is now Travis’s mentor, life-coach and best friend. Travis describes him as “a true depiction and living example of a child of God.
Words can’t express the impact he’s had on my life, and I thank God for transferring me from one correctional centre to another. The blessing this chaplain has had on my life over these last ten years is truly amazing.”
Today, Travis is living a life free from gambling addiction and full of hope – and encouraging others to let go and let God.
You can partner with Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy, to ensure more people in prison are supported spiritually during their darkest days. Please support the Carinity Chaplains Appeal by donating online or phoning (07) 3550 3737.
