You Can’t Fake Out The Lord
Erik’s Story
Q: When did you first come to know Christ?
EM: I grew up in a great family. I was raised in church, and we went to Hobbs First Assembly.
Q: What is your testimony? What provoked your heart to turn to Christ / come back to “the church”?
EM: I had a great childhood, thanks to the Lord and the parents that he gave me and my sister too. Everything was normal in life. We went to Hobbs schools growing up until I got about 17 and decided to move to College Station with my mom, because my parents had a divorce. I was down there about a year when I met some friends, not really a good crowd. One night me and my buddies met up with some girls and that night one of the girls introduced me to methamphetamine for the first time. Shortly after, I was a meth addict. We ended up having a daughter. Years went on of addiction that never stopped. We split up and I moved back to Hobbs. I had my first son and switched from meth to heroine. By then I was overdosing all the time, almost dying every time. I had another girlfriend by then; we ended up having four boys within about ten years. At the same time I’m stealing, lying, cheating, ruining my life with everyone. Both of my parents did all they could do to stick by my side, after all I had put them through. I wanted to quit drugging but it was too late for me I thought. I tried multiple secular rehabs that didn’t work. I usually got kicked out of them.
I finally couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to die. I think I didn’t believe I could quit. I had turned my boy’s mom into an addict also. After burning all bridges except my mom, I moved to Azle, TX with my mom. She helped me get in an Adult and Teen Challenge - Discipleship Program that was a year long. I ended up staying two years there while God was changing my life. Even when I didn’t know how to be loved, he was trying to love me. It has been five years now since the ATC program. I now have my boys back and have had them as a single dad for three years. All praise and glory to Jesus Christ.
Q: What are some of your giftings that came from your particular walk/experience in life?
EM: Speaking in tongues, serving, and discerning of spirits.
Q: What is your prayer for people who may be where you once were?
EM: My prayer for people that have been or going through what I’ve been through is that they stop running and give it to God. Let Him take you out of that life. He is the only one that you can surrender to, and He will take you out. Sometimes you have to ask for help from a Christian based discipleship program like me, and you really have to want to change, because you can’t fake out the Lord.
