The only reason I'm alive today is because my mother and aunt prayed for me for 30 years. So never give up on anyone, because God doesn't!

I would always work the ghetto stores with the most armed robberies. I had many close calls, and was even stupid enough to get shot and decorated for valor in '73. This was a real joke because inside I was always scared, alone, and miserable . . . and always drugged out. I just wanted someone to kill me and end my miserable existence. I (at that time) knew hell couldn't be any worse than facing another day.

In 1977, I got on a police department until 1981, when I was finally busted on a drug felony. In the mid-80s, I was involved in drug distribution in Florida when I got felony #2 for 'shooting into an occupied motor vehicle.' Not to mention shooting cocaine many times a day.

In the mid 90s, I was still wanting to die and began to wonder why I was still alive. Over the years I had tried every drug, woman, and violence - but still felt empty and worthless. I tried Buddhism, Satanism, Hinduism, etc. Nothing was working to help me so I decided to go to different churches each week and see if there was any hope there, because I'd tried about everything else.

About 50 churches later, I came into my church and heard about a Jesus who loved me just as I was. I had never heard of His unconditional love and figured this was another cult. So I came back to prove this church was a liar, but instead Jesus opened His arms and loved me enough to help me change, because I couldn't do it on my own without Him.