The true story of Conorris "Keng" Henley and the fight to reclaim his life!

Rising Above: Keng’s Journey from Survival to Purpose

“I shouldn’t be alive. But God had other plans.”

That’s how Conorris “Keng” Henley describes the moment that turned his life upside down and eventually right side up. It was a night like too many before: chaos, panic, blood. He found himself crouched behind a gas station in Georgia, high and spiraling. But something was different this time. Through the noise of fear and struggling, Keng cried out to God.

And for the first time in a long time… he felt like God was listening.

That cry for help sparked a journey one that led him 1,000 miles west to a fresh start, and eventually, to a calling bigger than anything he imagined.

Life Before the Light

For years, Keng lived in survival mode. Struggling, street life, broken relationships it was all he knew. He pushed people away and buried his pain under the weight of it all. On the outside, he was hardened. But inside, he was worn down and silently searching for a way out.

Then came the night everything unraveled. Alone and bleeding, he looked at his life and knew something had to change.

“I didn’t know where I was headed, but I knew I couldn’t stay where I was.”

In a small but pivotal moment of grace, his partner handed him a lifeline: “Call this place in Texas.”

The Long Ride Toward Redemption

That’s how Keng found himself on a 30-hour Greyhound bus bound for Abilene, Texas. He carried almost nothing with him just a bag and the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, he still had a future worth fighting for.

He had no idea what to expect when he arrived at Rise Discipleship Home. What he found wasn’t judgment. It wasn’t cold stares or lectures.

It was grace.

Brotherhood, Bible, and New Beginnings

From day one at Rise, Keng was treated like a brother not a case, not a project. No one cared about his past mistakes. They saw him for who he could become.

The structure was unfamiliar: early mornings, Scripture, prayer, service, shared meals. But it created a rhythm that his soul craved. Slowly, the chaos began to quiet. The guilt began to lift.

He began to believe that his story wasn’t over—and that God could actually use it for good.

A New Legacy Is Being Written

Today, Keng isn’t just clean he’s clear. He’s grounded. He’s a father again. A leader. A friend. A mentor to men walking the same road he once walked.

“God didn’t just give me my life back....He gave me a reason to live it. I’m not just surviving anymore. I’m building something.”

Keng’s story isn’t just one of recovery. It’s one of restoration, purpose, and hope the kind that only comes when someone finally believes they’re worth redeeming.

Want to Help Rewrite More Stories Like Keng’s?

Every man who walks through the doors of Rise carries a story full of pain, shame, and loss. But when you give, you’re doing more than offering shelter. You’re helping rebuild lives from the inside out with faith, structure, and true brotherhood.

Just $25–$50/month provides housing, meals, mentorship, and discipleship tools for one man at Rise.

Join the mission by giving here.

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You’re not just donating.You’re stepping into someone’s comeback story.

Final Word: There’s Always a Way Back

Keng’s story is still unfolding. It’s not wrapped in a neat bow but it’s real. And it’s filled with evidence that God still moves, even in the darkest places.

There are more men out there like Keng....hurting, lost, and praying for a way out.

At Rise, we believe no one is too far gone.And with your help, we’ll keep proving it.