A Prodigal Turned Preacher: From the Pigpen to the Pulpit

Reared in a broken home with much turbulence and rage, I grew up a troubled child. As a rebellious youngster, I lived on the edge. But the day came when I made the greatest of life's decisions by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. However, in my late teens, I drifted back out into the world and was captured by its ways. Struggling in my misery of displeasing my heavenly Father while trying to please myself, I sank deeper and deeper into a gulf of despair. The parties, the drinking and all that goes with it was my way of life and I was unable to escape from it. I did what I did not want to do, and did not do what in my heart I really wanted to do. Thankfully, God doesn't leave one of his wandering sheep out in the wilderness, and He doesn't leave a lost son down in a pigpen. So the Lord came after me and rescued me from being stuck in the quicksand of sin, leading me back home and into fellowship with Him. Here I found true peace, joy and prosperity. I trust that you will be strengthened and inspired as you read of God's patience and mercy in rescuing this prodigal and turning him into a preacher. May you be encouraged as you learn how God's sustaining grace lifted this unworthy servant over numerous personal and ministerial obstacles. "To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (IPeter 5:11).