rizen1
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- Feb 22, 2007
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This is a letter I received some time ago and kept it.....
Now I want to share the impact Teen Challenge Centers have on lives, growing up my church worked along side a TC center. I didnt receive it by email so I had to type it out, .
Dear Friend,
___For more than 15 years, I made my living scheming,conning and robbing for heroin. By 30, I was a street-hardened, selfish, sullen and broken man - with hardly any teeth.
____I will never forget the awful day I first came to Teen challenge. Panic, nausea, cramps and chills shook my whole body. It had been to long since my last shot of heroin. There was an old abandoned building where other addicts met to get high. Before, long I was shooting a new bag of dope into my veins. But it turned out to be fake. Instead of relief, I was sicker than ever. Despair washed over me.
____That's when I saw the words, scrawled onto the wall of the old building : " Jesus loves you...If you need help call..."and Teen Challenge phone number was written after that. ( those words were like a lifeline to a drowning man )
____I could barely walk. But I managed to stumble out of the building to a pay phone and call. Someone from Teen Challenge rushed out to get me right away.
____I wish I could say my life went terrific after that. But the truth is, my first time at Teen Challenge did not go well. In a few weeks, I went back to the streets- and then back to jail, a place I had been many times before.
____But this time I spent the many hours of time I had in Jail reflecting on the chapel services and bible classes I had experienced at Teen Challenge. When my sentences was over I returned to Teen Challenge. Instead of desperate for a fix, I was desperate for a change.
____What a blessing that they accepted me. They must have seen a change in my attitude and known how badly I wanted to be free from drugs. I could barely read and write. memorizing Bible verses and daily assignments in bible class helped me get better over the course of the year.
____Graduation day was one of the best days of my life. I became the night watchman at Teen Challenge while attending art school. At every opportunity I encouraged other TC students to serve God 100%. They didnt think I was preaching, because they knew I had struggle just like they was struggling.
____One night I heard screams, someone had stolen a purse from one of the staff. I raced down stairs and out the front door after the theft. When I caught him, I wanted to punch him so badly. Thats how I would of handle things when I was living on the streets. But God was in control. I heard myself yell
"Jesus Loves you, now get your life right" You can imagine the shock that purse snatcher was ! He gave back the purse and took off.
____Everyday I rode the bus to art school in those days. Often I would see people with despair carved into their faces. God always seemed to open a door for me to share how Christ transformed my life. Even in every assignment.
____On weekends, I would share a testimony at local churches. I even went back to guys I did drugs with and shared Christ with them. At first no one recognized me, when I called them by name, they stared wondering how I knew them. What did you do, did you do plastic surgery ? this guy asked. I nearly shouted with joy, " No, this is Jesus, Jesus changed me. "
____Although I graduated from art school, I wont be pursuing a career in art. Like many heroin addicts who shared needles, I have been diagnosed with AIDS. But God is still using me in a powerful way to demonstrate his love through me, even from my hospital bed.
____I shared with the nurses, doctors, visitors and especially other patients how Jesus transformed my life. Now that I'm too sick to get out of bed, the nurses bring patients to ME so I can share the secret to my joy.
____By the time you read this, I've probably gone on to meet the Lord. Knowing I am saved means the world to me. Thank you Teen Challenge friends. You gave a precious gift that can never be repaid. But please know God multiplies your investments through lives he changed, one at a time. I am living PROOF !
May God Bless
Ralph Rodrigeuz.
Psalm 42:2-3 (KJV)
2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
Psalm 42:2-3
Now I want to share the impact Teen Challenge Centers have on lives, growing up my church worked along side a TC center. I didnt receive it by email so I had to type it out, .
Dear Friend,
___For more than 15 years, I made my living scheming,conning and robbing for heroin. By 30, I was a street-hardened, selfish, sullen and broken man - with hardly any teeth.
____I will never forget the awful day I first came to Teen challenge. Panic, nausea, cramps and chills shook my whole body. It had been to long since my last shot of heroin. There was an old abandoned building where other addicts met to get high. Before, long I was shooting a new bag of dope into my veins. But it turned out to be fake. Instead of relief, I was sicker than ever. Despair washed over me.
____That's when I saw the words, scrawled onto the wall of the old building : " Jesus loves you...If you need help call..."and Teen Challenge phone number was written after that. ( those words were like a lifeline to a drowning man )
____I could barely walk. But I managed to stumble out of the building to a pay phone and call. Someone from Teen Challenge rushed out to get me right away.
____I wish I could say my life went terrific after that. But the truth is, my first time at Teen Challenge did not go well. In a few weeks, I went back to the streets- and then back to jail, a place I had been many times before.
____But this time I spent the many hours of time I had in Jail reflecting on the chapel services and bible classes I had experienced at Teen Challenge. When my sentences was over I returned to Teen Challenge. Instead of desperate for a fix, I was desperate for a change.
____What a blessing that they accepted me. They must have seen a change in my attitude and known how badly I wanted to be free from drugs. I could barely read and write. memorizing Bible verses and daily assignments in bible class helped me get better over the course of the year.
____Graduation day was one of the best days of my life. I became the night watchman at Teen Challenge while attending art school. At every opportunity I encouraged other TC students to serve God 100%. They didnt think I was preaching, because they knew I had struggle just like they was struggling.
____One night I heard screams, someone had stolen a purse from one of the staff. I raced down stairs and out the front door after the theft. When I caught him, I wanted to punch him so badly. Thats how I would of handle things when I was living on the streets. But God was in control. I heard myself yell
"Jesus Loves you, now get your life right" You can imagine the shock that purse snatcher was ! He gave back the purse and took off.
____Everyday I rode the bus to art school in those days. Often I would see people with despair carved into their faces. God always seemed to open a door for me to share how Christ transformed my life. Even in every assignment.
____On weekends, I would share a testimony at local churches. I even went back to guys I did drugs with and shared Christ with them. At first no one recognized me, when I called them by name, they stared wondering how I knew them. What did you do, did you do plastic surgery ? this guy asked. I nearly shouted with joy, " No, this is Jesus, Jesus changed me. "
____Although I graduated from art school, I wont be pursuing a career in art. Like many heroin addicts who shared needles, I have been diagnosed with AIDS. But God is still using me in a powerful way to demonstrate his love through me, even from my hospital bed.
____I shared with the nurses, doctors, visitors and especially other patients how Jesus transformed my life. Now that I'm too sick to get out of bed, the nurses bring patients to ME so I can share the secret to my joy.
____By the time you read this, I've probably gone on to meet the Lord. Knowing I am saved means the world to me. Thank you Teen Challenge friends. You gave a precious gift that can never be repaid. But please know God multiplies your investments through lives he changed, one at a time. I am living PROOF !
May God Bless
Ralph Rodrigeuz.
Psalm 42:2-3 (KJV)
2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
Psalm 42:2-3
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