If Bill Greguska Can Become Saved, How About You?

• Do You Want To Be Unshackled?

• Born Again

• Alcohol And Drug

• Overcome Anger

• Control Your Anxiety

• Depression

Ten Ways To Discover Encouragement For Yourself:

1. Encouragement for Relationships
2. Encouragement to End an Addiction
3. Encouragement for Your Faith 
4. Encouragement from Many Topics
5. Encouragement to Pray Daily
6. Encouragement from our Ideas List
7. Encouragement via Chatting
8. Encouragement from our Sitemap 
9. Encouragement from a Free Bible
10. Encouragement from My Book

Find out what God’s Word says about the situation you are in, and what to do about it ~ Click here.

• Basketball Testimony 1

• Basketball Testimony 2

• Testimony Of Bill Greguska

Bill Greguska

Too Many Things Were More Important To Me Than God:

1. Basketball
2. Drugs
3. My Drug And Alcohol Problem

God showed me a better way, so I gave up my old and d I became Born Again!

I Pray that My Faith Can Help Influence Your Faith:

I had a good start in life with two good parents. My mom and dad stuck by me through thick and thin! They were married for over 50 years, not unlike couples today to get divorced when things get complicated.

I Was A Good Son…

I wish I had listened to them better. But my mom always told me I was a good son because she knew my heart. My faith in God started at the age of six. My parents took me to church every Sunday. They enrolled me in a private school—St. Gregory the Great Grade School and Pius High School. God and my parents met my needs. I was very fortunate to be blessed in many ways.

My First Real Memory Of My Faith In God

When my dad gave me a penny to put in the basket at church, I thought it was so special to give money to God that I had a unique way to do it: I put the penny in my left hand and closed my fingers on it. Then, I made a cross sign with my right hand over my left hand. To me, it was both meaningful.

God Is Good All The Time!

I liked the holiness in the church, but it was often hard to sit through the service because sometimes it got boring. That did not mean I did not love God. I became an altar boy and got a religious award in Cub Scouts. That was a sign that, at a young age, I had a deep love for the Lord. Have you decided to follow Jesus Christ in your life?

Do not ever give up your childlike faith because it is so important. Matthew 18:3  And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Basketball Was The Center Of My Life!

Bill Greguska’s high school basketball days at Pius XI.

Basketball, drugs, alcohol, recovery, building wheelchair ramps, being a caregiver for my mom, recovering from a divorce, being a caregiver for Ben Hersh, starting up needencouragement.com, and living my Christian faith have been a few of the highlights of my life.

Do Not Let Anything To Be Your God!

From when I was nine, basketball became very important to me through high school.  On the one hand, basketball was fundamental to me in grade school. I struggled with behaving and paying attention in class, but when my mom introduced me to basketball, she used it as a carrot to motivate me to behave and pay attention in school. That motivation turned into an obsession which was all I thought about. Eventually, I became so obsessed with basketball that it turned my life upside down and squeezed God out of my life, which I believe got me heavy into drugs and alcohol. It was not until I was 26 that I finally looked at my life and realized I needed to change things. I played basketball during the summertime (and throughout the many years) until I was going into my junior year at Pius XI. Even so, then, unfortunately, I traded this love for basketball for the love of alcohol and drugs. It devastated me when God allowed the door to be closed on basketball.

Trust And Obey, There Is No Better Way!

You, too, I am sure, have had the door to certain parts of your life closed. Sometimes, this is just a part of life. We live and learn. Because of my faith in God, I knew that God still had a plan for my life, even though it hurt. I have learned to put life into perspective and hold everything and everyone with an open palm. That is what my pastor’s wife, Sue Sauer, taught me. Putting everything in an open palm is because if God wanted to take something or someone out of my life, it would not hurt so much. God created this universe and everything, including you and me. He has a right to do what His will is to do. I have learned that even if we have something we love, like I loved basketball, God wants us to keep our lives in perspective and love God more than anything or anyone here on earth.

High School Became A Big Problem!

This website ministry I started back in 2005. Before then, I had a 24-hour phone helpline. God has been excellent and faithful to me, so I want to encourage others! ~ Bill Greguska

Fast-forward to high school. My faith in God took a beating. First, I was very involved in basketball; later, I got heavily involved in partying, which ended my basketball career. It was tough to juggle my drinking and wild lifestyle with the responsibilities and life of the church and worship God. Something had to go; Many years of regret. I had been taught godly principles to live by, yet Satan, my flesh, and this world got the better of me. I did not have the “ears to hear” that scripture mentions but lived on reactions and impulses that caught up to me and turned my life upside down for almost ten years. Alcohol and drugs tempted me, and I fell hard on my face! Is there something particular that has seduced you to get off the right path?

God Provided a Life Preserver for Me!

Things were pretty bad in my life. On the one hand, I felt God was watching over me, but he was providing me with food, shelter, and people who seemed to care about me — it was me that was making my own life difficult. Times were tough, but looking back, I see the hand of God and the many ways He showed his faithfulness to me. I always loved God but wasn’t near Him because of my life. I had thoughts of suicide that entered my head when I was 16 and again when I was 43. Satan was doing everything he could to steal, kill, and destroy me, but I kept trying to cling to God; I believe He is my life preserver. Do you need a life preserver in your life, too?

Reaching Out To Help Others ~ Helped Me Too!

When I got involved in AA and NA by attending meetings and talking with others, my faith grew, and I took small steps. NA gave me the support and fellowship to get off alcohol and drugs. Praise God that the last time I used any drugs or alcohol was on June 25, 1986, when I was in long-term drug and alcohol treatment and was born again.

Long-Term Drug And Alcohol Treatment Was What I Needed!

I realized I could not help myself but needed God’s help. I got very serious about my faith in God, and with the support I was getting, I grew by leaps and bounds. Did you know you can get help by praying and asking God to put the right people in your life? My faith grew more after I got out of long-term drug and alcohol treatment. The Lord opened a door for me to get involved at Elmbrook Church, where I worshiped for 23 years.

I got involved in a good Bible study at Mark Mallwitz’s house from about 1991 to 2020. The fellowship of other believers has been a source of encouragement for me. I experienced much growth, which I am very thankful for. If you are not attending a church or Bible study, why not try it? Church and Bible study opened the doors in my life. I built wheelchair ramps for Faith Indeed for my boss, Ron West! I enjoyed building wheelchair ramps and got good at doing it for ten years. ~ Bill Greguska

Storms and More Damage Still Came!

In 1997 I took the step of getting married. It was a great challenge that I felt prepared for, but it turned out that my wife chose not to continue. We received counseling from Pastor Ron Sauer and his wife, Sue Sauer. They spent many months trying to help us piece things together in our marriage, yet my wife gave up hope. That was devastating since I had had the lion’s share of raising her son Chris from four until fourteen. It took quite a while to get over that. It was one of the two most difficult times in my life.

The other time was during high school, getting messed up on drugs and alcohol and having problems with the law. I was diagnosed with a nervous breakdown and felt like giving up. I cried a lot; unfortunately, my desire to live was shallow. Thankfully, my mom helped me out a lot. I remember many times when I started crying; my mom used to say, “There she blows.” That made me smile, and sometimes I laughed and cried simultaneously. Right around that time, my mom was having problems with her health, and my stepdad Charley had recently died, so I took care of my mom from 2006 until she passed away in December 2014.

My Eyes Stayed on the Lord!

I am a man who truly understands the struggles of addiction, and we want to help others overcome their obstacles, too. Life can be tough; sometimes, it feels like no one else gets it. But I know that reaching out for help is crucial when we’re feeling discouraged or alone. We believe anything is possible with the right support, guidance, and encouragement from caring people and God’s help. That’s why we encourage anyone struggling with addiction or any other issue to get in touch with us – whether you have questions about your life or just need someone to talk to who understands what you’re going through. We are available 24/7 because he knows firsthand how important it is not to suffer in silence. Don’t hesitate – reach out today and let us show you the possible hope and healing with faith, determination, and a little encouragement along the way!

I admit that these setbacks discouraged me, but I still had faith that God would continue to watch over my life as he has since I was born. My life reminds me of what it says in 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” My life experience has been like a roller coaster, yet I always seemed to stay on track somehow. I give God credit! Who are your eyes focused on?

I Took Good Care of My Mom!

It was a blessing to take care of my mom for the last eight years of her life until she died at age 93. She was a tremendous support while I was growing up, even during my problems with drugs and alcohol. Taking care of my Mom was an honor and seemed the right thing. Mom told me that she did not want to go to a nursing home for years, so I did everything to keep her at home, even though my family was considering it. But I kept my word to my mom and took care of her.

Wheel Chair Ramp Builder!

I built wheelchair ramps for Faith Indeed with my boss, Ron West, and I enjoyed building them and got good at doing them for ten years. During that time, I made two ramps for my mom, one at her original house and one at my stepdad’s house. It was my pleasure and honor to build them for her; she loved them. She lived a good life. She loved watching “her” Brewers, going to church with me, going out to eat, playing cards, going to movies, etc. After all she did to keep me together when my life was in a shamble, I couldn’t imagine her going to a nursing home. Do you understand that when you help someone is like putting perfume on them–you can’t help but get some on yourself? Could you give it a try? ~ Bill Greguska

What is the Next Chapter in My Life?

I have put in some miles and learned some hard lessons. I have also experienced God in a meaningful way. Lord willing, I will continue to walk close to Him. I want to encourage people through my website, needencouragement.com, to learn from what I did wrong. I strive to keep healthy and spiritually fit and have fellowship with my friends who love the Lord and those I call “pre-Christians”-those who don’t know the Lord yet. Since I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I know my final resting place will be heaven. It can be your last resting place if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Have you considered how you plan to live the rest of your life? Who are you going to live it for? ~ Bill Greguska