(His mom is telling his story because he is not able to go online at this time).
He had a girlfriend from high school for about 2 1/2 yrs. They broke up just before the prom (2005) but went together anyway. They really didn’t speak to each other for the last year or so until one day they started talking online. They had a great chat and Justin said to us “I think we will be good friends from now on.” It must have been a burden of his heart for a long time how they had ended and didn’t resolve some issues they had from the past, but through time and prayer, God brought them together by chatting on-line. She actually is dating one of his good friends right now! (maybe this part should not be mentioned!) What an awesome, forgiving God who helps us bring to light our denials and helps us through them to bring about peace and contentment for our lives.
God had done a miraculous work for our family in selling a car that was not advertised, but simply prayed about. I was so in awe I wanted to “re-pay” him by serving as a leader of a team to China that coming summer. I wanted to do this for Him, but it did not work out that I could go. The week the team was gone I was at a fancy resort for business. The first night after dinner I went back to my room on a beautiful summer night and prayed. I couldn’t leave the room because I was questioning why was I here when I wanted to be in China. I remember pulling the covers up before I turned the lights off at 9:00, thinking rather harshly…”What do you want?” (The ‘you’ here being God.) To make a long story short, I had a chance to talk with several people from other areas of the country. Two ladies in particular shared quite a bit with me. We spent another beautiful summer afternoon inside talking about spiritual things. Before she left early the next morning I told her I had to ask if she would like to accept this Jesus into her heart? She nodded yes. So that morning, in the parking lot before she drove back to Chicago, this young lady accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. Her name was Hong…she is Chinese. God didn’t take me to China…He brought China to me. That still awes me.
I fell into a life of drugs and alcohol at an early age. This led me down a horrible lifestyle and for years I found myself living a rough life apart from God.
Then I ended up getting into trouble and went to prison. While in a maximum security prison cell I saw the Light of the glorious gospel of Christ. I heard the gospel and realized that Christ Jesus did all the work on the cross and that I couldn’t save myself, and so I trusted in Him. He then gave me eternal life, but also transformed me then and has continued to transform me.
I have since gotten out of jail and have lived the last two years for the Lord.
I have a heart to speak to youth and those who are in meth and things to tell them that there is Hope and that Hope is in Christ Jesus Alone.
I used to be so depressed because I didn’t have any purpose in life. But now I have a purpose, and that is to grow closer to my Lord, and to live for Him, to be a witness for Him.
The reason I want the tickets is because I have a handful of really close believers that have been my backbone of support these last few years. They helped me when I got out and have been always close by to encourage me. I would like to share the tickets with them and give back in some way for all they have done for me!
God has given me such a great peace these last 9 months as both of our sons have been activiated and are spending a year serving over seas on a special ops mission. In light of losing a young man that was like another son stationed in Iraq over a year ago and knowing that they are serving in a war zone and having the peace that God is in control. No matter what happens!! We pray for the best and you can never prepare for the worst and yet we rely on Christ for peace and mercy. He has been gracious in providing that peace. Trusing in His love and leaning on Him has been a great comfort and this is a peace that passes understanding. God is Good.
