The Vine News

Today, I introduce myself now as Christian. But not far from my memory is the time when I was not.

This is an introduction to an occasional series of articles about people who have come from harsh circumstances, yet they decided to turn away from their sins and give their lives to Jesus. It’s called Redeemed by Grace.

For me, redemption came seven years ago.

I stood in a Michigan hospital room, watching my father cling to a respirator in order to breathe. Admitted for knee surgery, blood clots that moved through his body afterward now threatened his life.

Though the moment was life-altering for me, it was not the first time I’d faced difficult circumstances.

At the age of 18, I faced many – from fights, to gangs and near death. I was hanging with the wrong crowd, and allowed them to negatively influence my life.

That year, I stared down the barrel of a loaded pistol held by a security officer who caught me vandalizing property.

I saw trouble so often at that point in my life, the thought of living past the age of 21 was a joke to me.

But I survived those events because my grandmother was praying for me. And that is how I was first introduced to the Lord.

My strong grandmother, Olllie May Ruffin, would worship the Lord when her arthritic body would allow her to. Everybody has somebody in their life praying for them, its important to recognize that.

Some years later, I stood in that hospital room praying for my father. Through tears and in the face of death, I acknowledged Christ as my Lord and Savior.

I asked God to spare my father’s life on the same day. He did that and more.

The Lord spared his physical body, and later, the Lord also saved his soul as he later accepted Christ as well.

I am still growing in Christ, and often face obstacles. My old friends think I have changed and those I know in church don’t believe I’m true. Regardless of this battle I continue to learn the word and strive to be a better man in Christ than the day I was born.

Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for what the Lord has given me. I pray for others to gain the same feeling.  Because the reality is I am not alone.

Many people have overcome difficult situations through God. And we’ll share their stories here.