Today we’d like to introduce you to Tommy McGee.
Hi Tommy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Kansas City, MO. My father was on crack, both stepfathers manufactured meth, and I got high with all three. My mom was a good woman. I spent over 20 years using drugs, in jails, prisons, and homelessness. I have lost both of my brothers. One of them died in 2023 due to a fentanyl overdose. I got clean in 2015 and, since then, have watched our community lose so many people. Jesus met me almost 11 years ago and made a way out, which included treatment, transitional housing, therapy, NA, AA, and working really hard. Recovery brought me back to my children, mother, and made me a man! Today I am married with seven children and five grandchildren, and I get to be a Father and a PA Pa. I have a successful business in the community, Recovery Auto, and McGee’s Auto. I have spoken in other states about recovery. I am in my third year of Bible school, and now we have Life Recovery Church. Done several podcasts. Often, people ask me why I do this. It’s plain what one’s life is worth? My life was worth everything to my children, and I get to be a father because of God’s mercy. I will give everything to honor those of us who did not make it! What is one life worth? Here are a couple of interview links and an article from 2019. A lot has happened since 2019!
Jackson County Combat interview 2019
https://www.jacksoncountycombat.com/319/COMBAT-Saved-My-Life
Beyond the Strom Interview
Bill Corum Interview
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been smooth at all times. I had to ride the bus for 3 1/2 years while living in a transitional house in the Independence area. I was 50k behind in child support, making 10$ a hour in 2016, and the child support was taking 4$ of it. I had accumulated tickets and warrants all over the city that I had to face one by one and get behind me. I had to face my children for being absent from them while choosing drugs and being in prison when they needed me. I believe that the worst part was not giving up the drugs. It was giving up the identity that I had put so much into making over 20 years. Who was I without gangs? Who was I without drugs? Who was I? To be honest, I did not know; I just knew I could not go on any longer being who I was! There were many struggles like life skills someone should have taught me as a kid, budgeting, paying bills ect. It was also a struggle when getting married; my wife and I did not have an example of a healthy relationship and home. We had to work very hard to create one so our children and grandchildren could have a chance at one! One of the other struggles is the people that we lose along the way!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have been clean for almost 11 years. My first 2 years, I was a cook, and then I was in lawn care for 2 summers while I cooked in the winter season at Denny’s. All the while doing NA, and AA. It was about my 4th year clean when a lady asked me if I wanted a job at the same treatment center I started my journey at 4 years prior. I was astonished, but I showed up and got the job. At the time, it was going to be a pay cut, but it never turned out that way. God had other plans. I got the job as a Mental Health Tech at Comprehensive Mental Health, and they began to teach me computers, classes on motivation in interviewing, and tons of other stuff. I would go on to get my CPS, MADAC II, MARS, and end up at the EPICC program at the very start here in KC. I was getting paid to respond to opiate overdoses or high-risk hospital patients at the ER. I was able to meet people at their lowest and use my experience in recovery to get them connected in the community. It was amazing. My life and recovery began to get really good as I met people from all over the city from different recovery homes, treatment, hospital. All the while taking care of my relationship with God and living out my recovery in NA and AA. I would eventually get a job at the Welcome House counseling while also doing the EPICC program. During this time, I would share my story all over the city. I even had an interview with a Combat. Then Covid 19 happened, and the job was just over the phone talking to people as we were all trapped in our homes. I helped spearhead many Zoom NA meetings because I was familiar with Zoom from my work I was in. I would eventually have to get out of the house, and I was going to a friend I met in Recovery Dan’s car dealership to mess with cars and hang out. I was able to do my work remotely and help him. This led to my eventually managing his car dealership. Dan was further in his walk with Jesus and inspired me to press in. I was attending Reach KC Church and decided to go all in. God began to move in my life. Dan allowed me to go to the Auction and buy a car, and that one car would lead to my family owning a successful car dealership in Independence that has now been open for over 4 years that my children work. That involvement with Reach KC led me to be a part of the Church, not just attend, and Pastor Adam mentored me, as I was a part of leading one of the classes at the Church. I started Biblical School 3 years ago, which has led to the start of Life Recovery Church in January of 2025. We believed that with the overdoses and homelessness being out of control in our area, there is a place for a recovery Church. We have quickly gone from my living room in Jan to a local NA hall in July 2025, to Fairmount Community Center in September, to our very own Church in Sugar Creek in November. We are having 3 fundraisers this year to attempt to buy the building for our church. I have also spoken in other states about recovery and done Gospel rap. My music and a NA convention I spoke at can be found on my YouTube channel “TesTmoneT”. It has been quite a recovery ride, and I am sure I have left some things out. I cannot leave this part out; none of this would have been possible without God. He met me in March of 2015 at 85th and floral strung out on my way back to prison, and made a way for me to restart my life at 37 years old. All the glory is his. This is a Jesus story! I could have never made it this far!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I had bright red hair. Was picked on a bit. I loved baseball. I was quiet and loved my mom. WE moved a lot as kids, so I spent a lot of time with my grandma. My mom was 19 when she had me. My stepfather would whip me pretty bad; it would probably be classified as abuse today, but it kept me in line till they divorced when I was 12. I joined a gang and a year later began to drink and do drugs. I loved baseball cards and cars. Riding my bike!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mcgeesauto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/testmonet816/
- Facebook: Life Recovery Church on Facebook, Tommy McGee on Facebook
- Youtube: LifeRecoveryChurchkc and artist page, TesTmoneT
