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A Testimony Of God's Power! by Mark Pierce
December 1998 I am testifying to God's power and presence in my life today! I was raised in a Catholic family for the first 18 years of my life. I felt like I had been given an overdose of religion from all the Catholic schools I had attended. I look back now and realize that God was just trying to install some values, and thanks to the efforts of my teachers, they succeeded! However when I hit the legal age to drink my life went straight to Hell! I started drinking almost every night and running around with any woman that would be with me. My family owned a tavern and the bar life was the only one I ever knew. I had a bunch of morals that I was taught going around in my head with alcoholism twisting them away. I was about 5 years old when I had an out-of-body experience ... I cannot remember my age exactly. There was always tension and anger from alcoholism in my home ever since I can remember. However something big went down that night because all I remember is being in a lot of physical and emotional pain and crying. I don't remember being taken to my bed, but I remember sort of being separated from my body and floating up to the ceiling and looking down on myself lying there crying. I can remember mom and dad yelling and screaming at each other in another room...like I said I think it was about him taking me in the shower with him. Anyways, while floating above me everything went black and I remember a voice, one that emanated from every molecule of air around me ask me, "Mark, are you alright?" I remember having a voice and being able to say yeah, and then He asked, "Do you want to go back?" and I said yeah again. I then became conscious on my bed again. To this day I know it was GOD. Since that day I know once that he has shown his love to me, and many times since. I was also led by spirit one day to find a friend who also shared the same kind of experience and since she was brave enough to share it so will I. I was afraid of what people would say about me if I did till I read her account, "Embraced By The Light," by Betty Eadie.
Now I realize that the Lord had sent this angel of mercy to tell me that I did not have to go through any more Hell. But I just wasn't finished. I shot a man in a parking lot a year or two later and was in big trouble. And still this was not enough for me to change my ways and look for God's help. I was living on my own in an apartment and I became
Pastor Jim, on all of my friend's web pages at "Praises and Worship To Jesus," my web site of "Mark's Custom Web Designs" is included. I initially helped make one page, but I want to tell you how we met: I sent a prayer request through your Prayer Room and we started corresponding: I had been accused of some false accusations with the possibility of being sent to jail, but my friend began praying. To make a long story short, I am homeless and living on the streets, and through prayers and God's power I went to court and all the charges were DROPPED! They were all lies but I was terrified of jail time. It was through prayer and my friend's help---money and outfitting me with clothes and shoes and everything I needed---until I later was able to find a job and place to live, as well as the courage to make it through with my friend's and prayers of others. Do not think that no one is feeling the effects of God's power through your pages and ministry. I thought this testimony might bring encouragement to you as well, and I want to thank you for your Prayer Room. (Note: I was saddened to hear that Pastor Jim went Home to be with the Lord early in 2000, and I miss him although I know it is Heaven's gain! Pastor Jim's Prayer Room web site above is still the same, with Pastor Dick and Sister Elizabeth now carrying on the work.)
"Angel Of The Streets ... Six years ago I was homeless, truly nowhere to go. I honestly was helpless, sober on skid row. Every day I faced depression, my only answer, confession. Miserable is how I would stay, in church I would sit and pray. God just let me die," Is what I'd pray and pray. His answer was to "Try to survive for one more day!" It took a while to find, my niche, my place, my life. God knew how to soothe my mind, He gave me His Spirit for a wife. Upon His love I grew, His Love He'd send to me, no longer was I blue, His love had sent me free! Fellowship was the answer, among those just like me. I could admit I was a drinker, just a few, and drunk I'd be! Daily I'd walk to soup kitchens, surviving one more day. God's Love sent by His loving Christians. His Spirit said, "This is the Way." One day appears an Angel, she says that she can aid. Cops, a library, a hassle, God knew I was afraid. We started meeting on Sunday, many were treated the same. I said what I had to say, I was tired of living in shame. Our angel was quite faithful, weekly she would appear. For clothes and food I was grateful, a new path for me became clear. She told me about some housing for those like me, the poor. No more riverbank living, the cold, the rain, no more. Here fill out this paper for a better place to stay. She did not know our Savior worked through her on that day! This morning I woke in a building, warm, dry and protected. A new home, God willing! Given by Angels He selected. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow and flow and flow, and never stop flowing!" One of the greatest blessings is God's giving me a love for computers and designing web pages. Following are web sites to click on about me or by me, by the wonderful Grace of God:
Click on "Recovery from Alcohol
Click on "Mark, Online and off the street, Click on "My Custom Web Designs"
Mark Pierce |