From Probation to Salvation

Highway to Hell was popular song when I was a teenager. Sex, Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll I was into it and loving it. The only problem is I felt empty inside. Everything that I thought was going to make me happy did not work. No matter what was achieved in my life or what was accomplished I still felt miserable. Fortunately for me I had a praying mother who had a relationship with Jesus. I will never forget one Christmas asking her what she would like for a present. Her response was, “I want my sons to be saved!” I thought to myself this woman is crazy and that is never going to happen….

Fast forward 4 years later, I had been arrested on three occasions. One time the police came to my school, they read me my rights, handcuffed me, then walked me down the open air high school. Teachers would pause and quit teaching in an effort to see what had happened. I had never been more embarrassed nor humiliated in my life. Another time I was rushed to the emergency room after a Saturday night fight and received 15 stables in my head. Later when my fellow senior classmates where enjoying their small fortune from graduation gifts, I had to use all my money to pay restitution. My high school years were a roller coaster of detention, suspension, and probation. Highway to Hell

At the age of 19 I had finally had enough and wanted to change. I told myself to just quit the drinking and drugging then make a fresh start. Unfortunately, the process of getting clean was a lot easier said than done. So after a few failures with sobriety and the pressure of going back to jail, I called my probation officer and told her everything. No more lies, no more deceit, I just wanted out. She understood exactly where I was and gave me the phone number to Loving Hands Ministry in Bradenton, Florida.  I called the number and began a journey that would change my life forever.

While living in Loving Hands I truly felt the love of God for the first time. I experienced God’s grace and forgiveness in a tangible way. Loving Hands taught us that we did not have “drug” problems but that we had “sin” problems. They taught us that any issue we deal with in life can be overcome by our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We learned lots of bible verses and learned how to walk out being a Christian in a very strict and sometimes stressful environment. We learned that Jesus Loved us and had a plan for our lives and that He will not and cannot allow sin to dominate our actions. We learned what true freedom is and the source of our freedom is total surrender to Jesus! 

I have now been drug and alcohol free for over 21 years. God has blessed me with a beautiful wife and two beautiful children. I am walking closer to Jesus today than ever before and our relationship is awesome. Although this life has not been easy it has been worth it and I would not change a thing. God is simply amazing and it truly is a gift to be alive. I look forward to spending eternity with my Lord Jesus Christ. I can’t wait to meet Him face to face. I can’t wait to see Paul and Moses and all the great Christian men and women throughout the history of mankind.

Would you like to hear more? Simply write us at:

help@wearetheburningones.com