Workmen for Christ



Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.--1 John 4:10

We love him, because he first loved us.--1 John 4:19



A Testimony of Grace


As I look back upon my life, those verses above in red pretty much describe it. Hi, my name is Michael. My first name is Christopher, but all my life I've been called by Michael, my middle name. The reason those verses above are so important to me, is mainly because as I look at my life, I see that God has certainly loved me, and even before I lived for Him, He was always loving me and protecting me. . . .

I was born into a family with two sisters, my mother, and my abusive biological father. My biological father was very physically abusive, emotionally abusive, and verbally abusive. Especially toward my mother. I remember in particular this one time my sister and I were locked in his home-office room while he beat on my mother. He would pour hot coffee on her, call her all sorts of names, and even threatening the life of my sister when my mother was pregnant with her.

He had always wanted a son, but when I came along, he disregarded me, neglecting me and instead spending time with one of my sisters. I now praise God for His guiding hand in the matter, because as I look back, if my biological father had spent time with me, I might have turned out just like him.

My mom left one night when I was four years old, with my sisters and me, and we moved in with my aunt in Louisiana, later getting a divorce.

Within a few days after that, through reading a Bible, I said the sinner's prayer. But I honestly did not start living like I prayed, for many years afterward. I lived just as anyone else: as though there were no God. In fact though, I lived worse. I look back and realize I did so many wrong things, I am incredibly shamed. I was looked up to by other kids, those younger and a few older than I was. And I used that to make them do certain things which are shameful even to speak of! I tainted so many others' lives, and put them on a very wrong path. I pray that God somehow sets right those things I wrongfully did to others. I pray that He fixes my horrible actions by leading those souls back on the right path, to Him.

Time went on and I lived like a fool. Though only a short number of years compared to one's life, the things done were not in any way small or few. Yet when I was eight years old, right before I turned nine, God opened my eyes. It was as though I was suddenly able to see everything I was so blind to all my life. I looked around and saw the wickedness of the world around me, and saw the horrible wickedness that was within my own life and actions. I immediately realized what I had done in truly forsaking Him after I prayed the sinner's prayer when I was younger. I prayed for forgiveness for the things I had done, and I gave my life to Him for Him to control. I started actually living for Christ!

Almost immediately though, I started suffering attacks from every side of me. My faith was not accepted (and still is not accepted) by those in my area. I would leave the house and find that every day I had someone treating me hatefully and even threatening to kill me at times. And I've had those attempts on my life come to pass, but God has always delivered me from them. My family seemed to fall apart as well. I would be told to shut up if I ever talked about God and His Word. I praise God though that now my Mother and Sisters are growing closer to God. And I pray, and ask for prayer likewise, that they continue.

My life had grown so horrible that each day and night I would cry and ask God to just let me die. I didn't want to put up with such hardships anymore--afterall, I was just a kid! After some time though, God answered me and spoke lovingly to me. I no longer prayed for death. However, I did ask God to let me get back at Satan for all he had done to me, and to others. God told me that I would lead many to Christ Jesus, and in that way get Satan back for what he had done to me. But, He said, I would have to grow spiritually first. At the time when I asked God, I was thinking more along the lines of God making Satan appear physically to me, so that I could beat him up! But I realize, more now than then, that the best way to cause any pain to Satan is by bringing those souls captive under him to Salvation and freedom in Christ Jesus! Amen!

Since then, I have grown and matured very much. Don't get me wrong though, I am not trying to uplift myself. I am where I am, because of God. It is as the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." I owe my growth to the way God has allowed so many trials and hardships to come my way. Each time, God brought me through and helped me to emerge even stronger than I was before. And today He allows my past experiences, to help me help others who have gone through similar troubles or are going through them now! Praise God Above!

I have always wanted to be a Missionary, to go to other countries--the hard to reach continents of the world, and preach the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have always wanted that, but I feel that God is calling me to the Body of Christ. He has been preparing me and called me to preach and teach the Body of Christ, to wake up those who have been lulled to sleep by the devil, and to tell and teach Christians here in America to wake up, start fighting against the Devil! In the United States of America, Satan has been working diligently to get his key people into the governmental positions. And he has been slowly gaining footing with different cults, even under the guise of Christianity. All this has been done right before our eyes. And Christians have for the most part not even noticed! This is where Workmen for Christ Ministries has come to present. Through God's Guidance and His continued Blessings, He has allowed Workmen for Christ Ministries, to come to be. To Teach, Help, And Edify the Body of Christ!

All this, has been done, because God has loved me and shown me such amazing grace. Where even when I was living horribly, sinful and spiritually decrepit, God protected me against fatal accidents in my life, and even certain influences. And when I started living for Christ, after He opened my eyes, God brought me through the countless attacks and terrible hardships which came full force against me.

All because of Him and His Grace




Definitions

Propitiation--Ransom, Pardon, Sacrifice.
Guise--Mask, Disguise.