For thirty-six years since I was twelve, I lived a sinful lifestyle and was addicted to alcohol and drugs. I appeared to have everything on the outside—a family, business, home, and two cars. Yet, I felt empty and struggled with thoughts of how unacceptable I was to God. I was filled with depression, shame, and guilt. The burden became so heavy that I thought of escaping by taking my own life.

I came to a point where I just wanted to die to end all the bad inside of me so that I could be free from all my problems. I didn’t succeed in my great escape plan but ended up in a hospital’s mental ward. The feeling of doom grew greater. Subsequently, I was transferred to the alcohol treatment center where I stayed for two weeks and reflected upon my life in utter discouragement.

After being released, I returned home only to find that everything I had was gone. The business was taken away and my wife asked me to move out. There I was—forty-eight years old and all I had left were two suitcases full of clothes, a set of golf clubs, and a pickup truck.

I rented a room to live and at that time, my sister sent me a present for Christmas. Feeling unworthy to receive the present, I only open it six weeks later. When I finally did, I discovered it was Joseph Prince’s book, Destined To Reign. As I started reading the book, the message opened my heart to a Jesus and God I never knew.

Each page I turned to revealed more of Jesus and God’s love for me. I had to unlearn what I had been taught throughout my life because I don’t ever remember hearing about a God who loves me. My perceptions of Jesus and God started to change, one day at a time. I finally felt accepted for who I am, by my God who has a masterplan for my life and who wants the best for me.

Gradually, my life started to improve by the grace of God. Now, I’m back home after three years away and my marriage is restored. It’s also been nearly four years that I’ve not had to take a drink or drug and that’s truly a miracle!

I continue to listen to your messages twice daily, once on my way to work and once on my way back home. The revelation of His love for me continues to flow. I have to remember what you have said that if God wants all the glory, God has to do all the work. And He continues to work in my life.

Once I was empty, now I am whole. Once I was lost, now I am found. As I tell my friends, “I’m not a Jesus freak, I’m just a freak who knows Jesus.” What a wonderful gift from God to have His Son pay for all I thought I had to endure.

Pastor Prince, thank you so much for opening my heart to the real Jesus, and a kinder God who I know is by my side.