Don's Testimony

When I was ten, I joined the church. You know, walked down the isle, got baptised, everything I was supposed to do. Needless to say it takes more than that.

I soon found myself involved in the drug world, and by the tender age of 14, I was an addict and an alcaholic as well. I ran away from home and got arrested several times as a teenager.

I left for good when I was 17 and joined the Navy. Boy that was fun, travelling all overto the best drug capitals of the world.

I remained in that life style until I was forty.I had been strung out on cocaine, heroin, crystal meth, you name it.I drank about a fifth of Jack Daniels a day.

My first wife of 17 years left me in '92, and of course I went into depression. To tell the truth, I was already depressed. I went into treatment (to try and get her back-- wrong motive). It didn't work. I drankand drugged more.

In '94 I went to treatment again, and God began working on me, but I was very strong willed. (Not any more thank God!) I soon left treatment. Boy I thought I had it goin on!

I started reading the Bible and praying, but I was still into me, and trying to make Him bow to my will. I had it backwards. Well it wasn't long before one of my A.A buddies and I came to the great conclusion that we could smoke weed and be ok. WRONG!

The world came tumbling down on Christmas Eve of '94. I had a big fight with my second wife of six months. I went out for a walk, as she pleaded with me not to go get a bottle. The liquor store was next door. I didn't listen, and went and got a fifth of Jack Daniels, killing it in four drinks. Then I went crazy, and pulled out my hunting knife, slashing my forearm. In fact, I almost cut it off. It took seventy stitches to sew it up. That was about 4:30 p.m.

I came to about twelve hours later, 4:30 a.m., tied down in leather restraints, and could not remember anything. The doctors told me I was lucky to be alive, since I had I had cut every artery, vein, tendon and so forth...but it had not bled like it should have. I had even had a fight with the police at the apartment.

About 5:00 p.m. Christmas day they moved me to the psych unit. As I sat their thinking about my life, I began to weep. I cried out "God! I don't want to live like this!"

That's when the room opened, and there was Calvary and the crosses. A wonderful light came, then a nail pierced hand came out of the light. A voice spoke to me and said, "Don, you don't have to live like this. Follow Me."

I had never felt such peace or love! I said "I'll follow."

The light and hand left, but the peace remained. I left the room and the nurse stared at me and said,"Whats wrong with you?"

Of course I said nothing, I mean I didn't want them to think I was nuts! They told me I didn't belong there, and wanted to know why I had done this thing to myself, but I couldn't give them an answer. I asked if I could use the phone, and called my best friend.

He wanted to know if I needed anthing, so I told him to bring me a Bible. "A Bible?" he asked.

I said "Yeah, a Bible".

Thankfully, he brought me one, and I went back to the room opening it to the book of Jonah. The Lord said to me, "I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple." (ch. 2 v 2&4).

Well that was three years ago. I have followed Him and He has worked in my life many miracles and wonders. He has opened doors at the jails,and allowed me to speak of His wonderful saving grace, and His blessed Son Jesus! I am also training to counsel those who are in the same boat.

The blessed hope is JESUS CHRIST..

Well Thats what happened, Praise God.

Back to Testimonials
Back to the Homepage