In an effort to fill the emptiness, I tried all manner of sin, drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, only to experience deeper emptiness and increasing degeneracy. The mental and physical deterioration was gradual but nonetheless devastating. I began to feel there was no reason for living. Yet, I failed to realize that I was slowly and methodically killing myself by my uncontrollable addictions to drugs, alcohol and sex. I was also unaware of the self-inflicted wounds that were festering and oozing a bitterness that was consuming my heart, mind, and soul.

Then on a terrible and tragic night in December 1992, with my own hands I assaulted my wife and 15 year old step daughter. To this day I am not sure why or how it happened, but on that night in a drug demented state of mind I assaulted two women whom I loved and was to protect as a husband and father. If you are one of those who believes drugs do not cause harm, I can tell you first hand; they will and do! A simple drink may seem harmless, "and everyone does it." I thought that once! It is not so much the effects of the one beer, but rather the pattern it sets in your life, which finally places you in the crushing grip of addiction and leads you down the road to certain destruction!

Fortunately for me, a miracle was wrought that broke the bonds of addiction, restored my life, filled the emptiness in my heart and transformed this once wretched soul into a useful human being. A miracle only possible through Jesus Christ.

Friends, if there has been any purpose in my sin-filled life of misery, it must surely be to show others the wonderful healing transformation God will perform if we will only call upon Him. If you, too, have felt as I have, or if you are at this time struggling with addiction, alcohol, peer pressure, or plain loneliness, be assured there is One who can pluck you from the mire of self-indulgence, the grime of sinful lust, and the blackness of an empty heart and wash you white as snow. Your only hope, as was mine, is in the saving grace of Jesus. He and He alone can bring to your life this miracle of redemption and give you the peace you seek for your troubled soul! Trust Him!

(If you have a testimony you would like to share please email Ed Wrather at edwrather@itlnet.net. Your testimonies are needed for the Burning Bush Newsletter and to be posted here on the web.)

"And they cried out to the Lord in their troubles and he delivered them from their distress, Psalm 107. Heal me O'Lord and I shall be healed, save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise, Jeremiah 17:14"

I was brought up in the church, I loved school and was an honor student. A happy child hood I had. I went astray at the young age of 14 years old. I got pregnant so I decided to get married. I was 15 years old when my first son was born. I would eventually have four more children out of wedlock, three girls and one more boy.

I didn't understand and couldn't cope with the responsibilities of taking care of a husband or a child. I strayed even further away from my family responsibilities and God.

At 16, I was introduced to heroin by a neighbor, an ex-marine. I liked the calm, peaceful feelings it gave me. I became immediately addicted and started "shooting up" every day. I left my husband and child to begin a life-style of drugs, prostitution, and shoplifting.

For the next 25 years of my life, I never really lived, but only existed day to day in this human shell. I would do almost anything for my next fix, whenever that pain and want in my body took control. I jumped from one drug to the next, whatever was easily availabel and affordable. Always looking for that numbing warm feeling that gave me that artificial peace.

In a one year period I overdosed and was comatose nine times! I was sent to the State Hospital and was diagnosed as suicidal and certified an addict. I've had many serious operations and a finger removed due to my intravenous drug use. My heart is now damaged from drug abuse. "I've lost everything dear to me."

I tried many drug treatment programs without success. I went on Methadone Maintenance for many years, another addiction, but it was cheap, leagal and it kept me out of jail.

I sit in prison today, 42 years old, and at the end of my five year sentence, a new woman in Christ. My Lord and Savior has pulled me out of the pit and off of Satan's carousel of Hell. I have found a new program for my survival: "THE JESUS PROGRAM". Through him I have that warmth, love and a peace no drug or man could ever compare too!!

Praise the Lord, I was lost but now I'm found, my faith in him will heal me!

Love in Christ,
P. J. Anderson
5/95

The Bible says in Psalm 113:7-8, that "He (God) raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people." You who are chained up in drugs, in crime, and all the curses of this world, I want to talk to you about who delivered me from all these curses. I was lost for many years in drugs, crimes, and all the curses of this world; but now, I don't need any more drugs because I have Christ in my heart.

At the age of 11 years I was lost, an alcoholic, and a drug addict. My mother was 26 years of age and lived in prostitution day and night. I remember when I was 12 years old I was left alone on the street in the Guatemalan Republic because my mother went to jail. She stabbed a man in a bar, and he lost his eye. Together with another woman my mother was senteced to five years in prison without parole.

Now I have the Lord Jesus in my heart and the sin has disappeared from my life, and the Holy light of Jesus shines. Today in 1996 I praise and glorify Christ because He has brought peace to my life in abundance. My mother who was lost in prostitution, she now too glorifies Jesus, the Son of God. I want to tell you that no matter where you are, no matter what sin you may have committed, if you cry out to Jesus with all your heart, He will listen to you and will take you away from drugs, away from crime, and the slavery of sin.

Beloved friends, young man, young woman, you that have read these lines, if you haven't made your decision for Christ, this moment, I invite you to come to His feet. God wants to save you and move you to the Kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ. He wants to liberate you from the slavery of sin and give you life and life in abundance. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20)."

(Carlos is from the Republic of El Salvador and in 1996 when this testimony was written he was in a federal prison in Canada. If you would like to share your testimony please email me: edwrather@itlnet.net. I need testimonies for the Burning Bush Newsletter and for this website as well.)

The Bible says, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way fo death (Proverbs 14:12)." On the day of my arrest, August 27, 1991, I was running full speed ahead on that way of death. In fact, up until that day my whole life was caught up in the way that ends in death. Gangs, drugs, women and the fast lane of the streets of Los Angeles were the way which seemed right to me. But God in His infinite mercy and grace sent the LAPD's "Crash" Unit (Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums) to arrest me and take me out of the fast lane.

Looking back, I actually do believe that it was God's grace that sen the "Crash" Unit to arrest me. Because as reality hit me in the face with a prison sentence, God was able to get my attention. I began to see events of my life pass before me. As those scenes passed through my mind I realized the futility and emptiness of the road that I had been traveling.

The apostle Paul wrote, "But God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)." Where no prison, institution or self-help program could break or change me, God's love brought me to my knees in a jail cell and He gave me newness of life. I NOW HAVE A SONG IN MY HEART AND A NEW DIRECTION IN LIFE!!! I have written this testimony to share the truth of the gospel, that Jesus Christ died so that we might live. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23)."

My prayer is that all who read this testimony will receive eternal life in the name of Jesus Christ. "Neither is there slavation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12)." Amen.

(If you would like to share your testimony please email me: edwrather@itlnet.net. I need testimonies for the Burning Bush Newsletter and for this website as well.)

Copyright 1998. Ed Wrather. All Rights Reserved. (Copies may be made and reproduced on a non-profit basis for reaching the lost with the Gospel.)

Anonymous Testimony - Indiana Prison

In 1992, I was arrested in New York City and while fighting extradition was placed on Rikers Island. I go involved with the "paint gang" (crew). I had to do something for money.

I was all alone. So, there was "Tiny," he was rather large and some guys called him "Fridge." Anyway, we were at a church service because I was told that there were supposed to be girls ther. I didn't want to hear the message, just check out the girls. The girls had to cancel and instead there was this little guy up on the stage.

Since we were there we were forced to stay for the entire service. The little guy on the stage was talking about salvation. I remember him asking, if we were to die today, where would we go. I kept silent, but thought that I would be going to hell, for, for torture, for all of the torture of all of the people that had tried to help me.

Finally, he came to the "altar call." Tiny tried to get me to go up for the altar call. I would not budge. Maybe he knew me well enough, that he knew I should have gone up. I don't know what prompted him but he picked me up and carried me down front. Thank the Lord for that, other wise, I would not have gone. But once I was there I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

I remember walking back to my seat, with tears coming from my eyes. Not tears from pain, but tears of joy. I felt like everything was lifted from me. It was like I was brand new. All of the hurt, pain, anger, and everything else was gone.

(If you would like to share your testimony please email me: edwrather@itlnet.net. I need testimonies for the Burning Bush Newsletter and for this website as well.)

Copyright 1998. Ed Wrather. All Rights Reserved. (Copies may be made and reproduced on a non-profit basis for reaching the lost with the Gospel.)