She was born in Japan on a naval base. Her mom had a massive stroke after delivery, so she and her mother basically grew up together. She really raised herself. She started using drugs and sleeping with grown men at age 13, moved out at age 14.
She then had six children. The first one she gave up for adoption. The next two were taken away because drugs were still her main focus. She left the next son at the hospital without ever holding him. Another son was born when she had endocarditis, which left her temporarily paralyzed. Social services took him away. Her sixth child was born at Pewee Valley correctional institution while she was shackled to a bed.
That is how Megan Hatton’s story began. But, thankfully, that is not how it ended. She says the best thing that ever happened to her was a 2014 arrest.
“That’s where I met the Lord. I didn’t set out to meet him. I had a hardness in my heart about religion. But He changed everything. It’s the first time I felt peace and hope. I didn’t know those things existed. Then I went to Hope City. The directors taught me lots of things – but mostly, they loved me.
“I’ve been serving the Lord for more than four years. He has blessed me. He gave me peace, hope and joy. He’s given me a lot of other things – but they wouldn’t mean anything without that.”
Megan, who went to HopeCity in Barbourville with a UNITE treatment voucher, now has full custody of three of her children, who are ages 7, 6 and 4. They pray together and individually every night. She also is working toward getting her other children back.
Megan is married and working at Hope City as a state-certified adult peer support specialist.
“I give my testimony in jails – even the one where I once stayed. Jesus doesn’t save us because we’re good. He saves us because He’s good.”
