My Mother's Day Testimony
Happy Mother's Day! When my mom heard that I had received Christ fifty (50) years ago on May 23, 1975, she rejoiced along with the angels. According to her, I was the black sheep of the family; the prodigal son turning from his sins and returning home to the blessings of his Heavenly Father. Jesus said:
". . . there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away" (Luke 15:7, NLT).
A Mother's Answered Prayers . . .
I had to concede that I needed the mercy and grace of God to change the course of my life.
My mom's prayers caused me to realize that God's grace was greater than all my sins. In the Los Angeles County jail, the Lord appeared as a light to me while in a catatonic state at 106 pounds, saying: "Whether you live or die, you are mine" [Romans 14:8-9]. I ended up condemned on death row, but in 1972, the death penalty was abolished as cruel and unusual punishment in California. Later, I found out that many others were praying as well for me to live and not die. Mom was always so glad to end her letters with a prayer for me to receive Christ. We wrote daily until we agreed to every other day.
In early 1975, Christians wrote letters and showed up from every direction because of her prayers. The Chaplain called me to his office at the California Men's Colony to meet Chico Holiday and the late Chaplain Ray Hoekstra, who witnessed to me on separate occasions. My mom had sent them. Then, I overheard a young woman sharing John 3:16 while visiting her boyfriend. I turned to my girlfriend and quoted it from a childhood memory. "God [did] so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." She responded, "You don't believe that!" I said, "I do!" She stopped visiting me along with another good friend after I received Christ, but that would still be a while longer.
When a fellow inmate on the tier saw that I was open to Christ, he invited me to chapel services. Knowing my mom would be happy, I accepted and began to hear the Good News. It took several months for me to come around, but on the last night of week-long revival meetings, the Holy Spirit convinced me of my need for Jesus. During the altar call, I raised my hand, an usher named Mel saw it, and took me by the arm to the altar. I prayed the sinner's prayer with Reverend Divito and left that night walking on clouds. I went back to my cell, looked in the mirror and my face was aglow with the light of God. I said, "This is ten times better than drugs!" I was free! Later, I found in Daniel 1:20, where it spoke of Daniel and his brothers, "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them 'ten times better' than all the magicians and astrologers who were in his realm" (NKJV).
A New Creation . . .
I became a new creation that night, born again at 29 years old, ". . . old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV). It felt like liquid love, and a week later, I was baptised in water on June 1, 1975. I had been in prison for almost six (6) years, and over the last few months, I had come to realize many "new things." Jesus had taken my punishment for sin. He had cleansed, washed and forgiven me. He had risen from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit to live in me. He had raised me from spiritual death and given me new life [Greek: "Zoe", the God kind of life].
I was no longer disobedient to my parents. The Spirit of humility had taken me to the altar that night, breaking the pride and greed that caused my fall. I was no longer separated from God and making wrong choices because of a lack of knowledge. I began to feel loved, secure and accepted in Christ, no longer radicalized by deceptive beliefs. The Truth had set me free! My dependence was now in Christ, not in a cult and in drugs. The love of God had cast out the fear that had kept me in bondage for years. "For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins" (Colossians 1:13-14, NLT).
Immediately, my life changed course. I began reading the Bible and listening to Pastor Chuck Smith's teachings and Maranatha music on cassettes. The Chaplain asked me to be a clerk, and he allowed me to start a new Christian class. Others were receiving Christ like myself, so I would simply teach them what I had learned from a "Christ For The Nations" booklet named "How To Become A Successful Christian." Desiring more of God, I read the late Dennis and Rita Bennett's book "The Holy Spirit And You" and overflowed in the Spirit, as Jesus said, "If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-38, NKJV). I was installed as a Deacon and eventually a Student Chaplain. The Lord opened doors to greater and greater ministries both in and outside of prison. I mailed out a monthly newsletter, prepared sermons for weekly services and sent cassettes to my parents. Mom and Dad were amazed to hear their son preach. If not for the Lord, I knew this would be impossible. "Therefore, as the Scriptures say, 'If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord'" (1 Corinthians 1:31, NLT)
Finding Purpose . . .
Shortly after my salvation, Chaplain Ray asked to co-author my testimony book "Will You Die For Me?", which was released in March 1978. My future wife read it in New Jersey and was born again, while sitting on a rock on the beach. After we were married in late '79, the Lord led us to set up Abounding Love Ministries, Inc. to distribute my book, brochures and cassette messages. They were sent to prisoners, chaplains and to people in many parts of the world, even African countries [Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Swaziland, Malawi and Zimbabwe]. To my surprise, the Africans set up their own Abounding Love Ministries. I was ordained in 1981 as an associate Pastor, having developed an intimate personal relationship with the Lord [See: Life Learning].
"And now, just as you accepted Christ as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that comes from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ" (Colossians 2:6-8, NLT).
The "powers to be" insisted that I see a psychiatrist and get into recovery. I was mocked for my beliefs in prayer and changed life without professional help. So, I made Christianizing secular groups fun, such as setting up a Christian 12 Step program with multiple groups, bringing recovery to hundreds of men, and now available under "Resources" on the website for the world to take part. The site was created in 1997, to provide my book, brochures, Bible charts, resources and the entire outreach online. In May 2023, the Lord made it possible to digitize my cassette messages, which led to the creation of the Abounding Love podcast. "Where there is no vision [redemptive revelation of God] the people perish . . ." (Proverbs 29:18, KJV).
A Redemptive Vision . . .
Throughout the years, I've developed "The Christian Toolbox" to keep in remembrance the redemptive revelation of God. It's a place in our hearts where we have God-given tools for transforming our lives. Using these tools, we build our faith, renew our minds and prepare our lives to reach others through planting seeds. These tools are: The Word of God; The Attributes of God; The Finished Works of Christ; Confession of the Word; Our Identity In Christ; The Blood of Jesus; The Name of Jesus; The Baptism of the Holy Spirit; The Fruit of the Spirit; The Gifts of the Spirit; Spirit, Soul and Body; Spiritual Warfare; Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship; Prayer, Meditation and Memorization; and God Loves You. As you come up with other tools, keep adding them to your toolbox.
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory" (Colossians 3:1-4, NLT).
Redemptive vision takes place by spending time with God, practicing His presence, hearing His voice and making disciples. These fifty (50) years have passed like a flash before my eyes in the Lord. Today, I have only a few more years to serve, unless Jesus returns before I go home. I agree with the apostle, "As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remains faithful. And now the prize awaits me -- the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:6-8, NLT).
Tips For Witnessing . . .
In this Abounding Love podcast episode #208, I share how Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom [Mark 1:14-15], which is the Kingdom of love, light and life. It's the Kingdom we now live in as born-again believers. Jesus told folks to repent [turn from sin to God] and believe the Gospel because the Kingdom of God is present. He didn't sugar coat it, but told them that all mankind were sinners, living in the kingdom of Satan in this world. They needed to repent and abandon the worldly, satanic kingdom to come into the Kingdom of God. All the great evangelists follow the same model. Billy and Franklin Graham, Greg Laurie and Chuck Smith always start their messages informing folks they are sinners in need of a Savior. To get the only Savior, Jesus, all of us had to repent and believe, which is the only way to become empowered by the Holy Spirit, to come out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of light, love and peace. We are called to be ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. That's a great honor! Join me in this message to help you be a better ambassador. Selah! [Click here for the Abounding Love podcast episode #208, "Tips For Witnessing," dated 04/25/'25].
"Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone" (Colossians 4:5-6, NLT).
A Prayer For You . . .
Father, I thank You for leading me to confess the word of my testimony of the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, so I can be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power through the presence of the Holy Spirit. I choose to put on all of Your armor so that I will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. Therefore, I put on every piece of Your armor so I will be able to resist the enemy in the times of evil. Then after the battle I will still be standing firm. I choose to put on the belt of truth and the body armor of Your righteousness. For shoes, I put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with You so that I will be fully prepared in every situation. In addition to all of these, I hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the evil one. I choose to put on salvation as my helmet, and I take the sword of the Spirit, which is Your word -- the word of my testimony of the blood of Jesus. I commit to pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion and to stay alert and be persistent in my prayers for all of Your holy people (See Ephesians 6:10-18, NLT). Amen!
"Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints" (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, NKJV).