I grew up in a single parent house, just me and my mom. My mom was an alcoholic and worked all the time to support me as well as her habits. As for my dad, he wasn't around much. Because he was a drug dealer and addict, he spent most of his time in jail or on the streets. Whenever my dad was around, he was usually high, drunk, or selling drugs out of our apartment. As a result, my mom often times got mixed up in whatever my dad was doing.
We lived most of our lives in a studio or one-bedroom apartment. So, whenever there was shady activity going down my parents would lock me out of the house until they were done, or I wouldn’t be able to leave the bedroom until all their “friends” were gone. I never knew how to feel about my situation. In fact, I used to think it was normal; I didn’t realize that I was being abused.
As I got older, I emotionally detached myself from my parents because it was too painful to be close to them. While all of this was happening at home, I searched for guidance and comfort from friends. My constant need and pursuit of friends led me to become very insecure, self-promoting, and self-conscious. When I was around my friends, we would always try to see what kind of trouble we could get into without getting caught. Things like breaking into buildings, stealing, and ditching school were commonplace. I knew something needed to change or I was going to be heading down the same path as my parents.
One day, as I was walking home from summer school, I saw a really nice "tricked-out" Honda Civic pull into a donut shop parking lot. As I was walking and staring at the car, I noticed the driver in his rearview mirror signaling for me to come over. I walked over trying to play it cool.
As I walked up to the car, the door opened and out came a neatly-dressed man. This guy was Asian, probably in his twenties, and was wearing a tie. I was curious. Then he said something that totally caught me off-guard: “If you were to die today, where would you go?” I thought his question was some weird way of telling someone that he was going to kill him at that moment--I thought he was going to pull out a gun and shoot me, and send me to wherever I thought I was going to go. In the heat of the moment, I deliberately and cautiously answered, “I don't know...I don’t think about those things.” Then he replied, “I can tell you how to know for sure where you will go when you die.” He proceeded to tell me about how I could go to heaven.
As he spoke my mind was wandering, just waiting for this “religious freak” to be done so I could leave. But then he pulled out a little picture book about heaven, and began to explain the first concept: “God loved me and created me for a relationship with him.” I didn’t have a problem with this concept because I had believed that God existed. He proceeded with the next concept: “I am separated from God because of the bad things I’ve done which he calls sins.” I already knew that I wasn’t perfect, I thought. I didn’t need another person in my life telling me I was a screw up! Then he continued with the third concept. He said that someone took the punishment for my sins, and that person was a man named Jesus. At this point, I wrote the guy off as a religious fanatic and wanted no part of it. So I told him, “Sorry man, I’m Jewish,” and walked away.
I thought I was in the clear now, but it wasn’t more than 15 steps away when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and was face-to-face once again with the Asian Jesus freak. I thought to myself, “Oh, man… I'm going to die! I made the religious freak mad.” But to my surprise he said, “This message is for Jewish people, too. And Jesus wants you to hear this.” So, I figured I’d let him finish. The sooner he finished the sooner I'd get to leave.
He continued his spiel. He would go on to tell me that Jesus died for all of humanity and their sins so that they can come back to God. I thought about this for a moment. Then I said, “Well, if Jesus did it all, what do I have to do?” He responded, “You need to ask Jesus to come into your heart.” I thought I heard wrong because that sounded gross. He could tell by my disgusted look that I didn’t understand, He said, “Just pray this prayer after me and really mean it.” So I did.
It wasn’t until I started reciting the prayer that I took what I heard seriously. While I was praying, something changed in me. I suddenly felt that I really wanted to be with God. In my head I was imagining a small Jesus coming into my heart. But more importantly, I truly believed that I was going to heaven when I died because of what Jesus did for me. I was finally at peace, knowing that I was going to heaven when I died. I was excited, so much so that when my new Asian friend offered me a ride home by asking “where are you going,” I exclaimed “HEAVEN!”
I took him up on his offer. During the ride home, I asked him if I could go with him on his adventures to tell people how they can get to heaven. He replied, “Let's get you to church first.”
(There is more to be said about my life, but what I just shared is where my life truly began.)
Fast forward a few years and here I am now. My circumstances didn’t change but I did. I still have less than adequate parents. But ever since giving my life to Christ, I found a new family with God being my NEW DAD. As a result, I’ve spent the last 8 years in ministry, four of which have involved me overseeing high school, middle school, and young adults. I also own and operate a Mobile DJ business. I’ve done Urban Hip-Hop Ministry in Australia and in South Africa with a group called Y.W.A.M. (Youth With a Mission). Today, I’m in seminary working on an M-Div in Pastoral Care and Counseling.
Following Jesus has lead me to places around the world, speaking to drug dealers and prostitutes, the young and old, and here to you--offering you the same opportunity I had when I was fifteen.
If you want to meet with God and receive a new life, I want you to pray with me and receive Jesus in your heart. I want you to make the same life-changing decision that I did when I was in front of a donut shop. Will you give your life to Jesus from this day forward? Will you exchange your life for the one that God offers in Jesus? Will you become someone who meets with God today, tomorrow, and the next until you leave this earth? Will you let HIS presence change you? If this is you, let's pray…
Dear God, Thank you for LOVING ME. I know that my sin cost the life of your one and only son. I believe that your son Jesus died in my place so that I can be made clean from my sins. Thank you for forgiving me, now and forever. Jesus come into my life and lead me from this day forward. Thank you for giving me a new life and a new family. AMEN
Kelly M.
Hey Kelly,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story!