JESUS KEPT ME!

StartFragment Hello. We all have a story that makes HIStory speak through ours. Mine is quite miraculous. My name is Jon and I have an addictive personality. I grew up in a "Christian" home although my parents spent many years in a cult. I was filled with the Holy Spirit at an early age, but I allowed hurt and distrust to squelch the power that came with Him. By the age of 8, my parents were divorced and I found my first addiction; food. Shortly after, the sexual abuse by my then 11 year old brother began; this continued for about a year to a year and a half off and on. I believe this is when I stopped growing emotionally and allowed hurt to form and influence many of my future decisions. By the age of 12, I was smoking/stealing cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and smoking marijuana. It was easy; my brother was a drug dealer. I found comfort in numb friends who didn't ever dig too deep. I spent a lot of my adolescence on the streets; getting in trouble with the authorities, partying, and gang life. Throughout my junior high and high school years, I struggled with the secret abuse of my youth, as well as low self-esteem from being overweight. I spent those years as the class clown/ druggy who was never supposed to go anywhere in life. My humor masked reality. I moved to a new town in the 10th grade and was introduced to meth amphetamines, acid, mushrooms, E, crack, coke, heroin, etc. I spent the rest of my high school years well...high. I did manage to graduate with honors by the grace of God. In between graduation and reality, I missed death more times than I like to admit, nearly committed suicide multiple times, and finally told someone about the abuse from my brother. Thus beginning the road of freedom from drug addition and the pornography addiction I picked up on the way. By 20, life led me to a Faith-based outpatient treatment program where the Holy Spirit got more time than the flesh. It was here that I realized I no longer wanted artificial highs. I re-dedicated my life to Christ and God took me to places with Him that blew my mind. I spent the next 4 years intimately following the Holy Spirit, traveling all over the U.S., Canada and parts of Europe telling everyone what Jesus had done. Through that, I saw hundreds of thousands come to the saving knowledge of Christ. Fulfilling my purpose has now become my focus. My beautiful wife, Jenika, and beautiful daughter, Tallulah are a huge part of that purpose. It hasn't been easy, many trials and tribulations, many attacks from the enemy on family, but we continue to stand and stand therefore in the midst of them all pressing on to the high calling of Christ Jesus. Here am I Lord. Send me. EndFragment