VL - Issue 28 - May 2018

REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE
A Publication of Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries
Quarterly Publication
Issue 2 2018
Champions
for God

I WAS IN
PRISON
And You Visited Me.
Matthew 25:36
SEND VICTORIOUS LIVING
AND GIVE THE GIFT OF FREEDOM.
People everywhere are held captive. Some are in actual prisons while others are held captive by
unhealthy relationships, addictions, declining health, financial hardships, or other circumstances.
See the back page to discover how you can receive this magazine while
simultaneously sending hope and help to a captive today.
ARE YOU IN NEED OF
ENCOURAGEMENT?
Our Correspondence Team is here for you. Every day,
people reach out to Victorious Living through letters
asking for prayers, encouragement, and mentoring
to help them grow in their faith and find freedom
from past and present circumstances.
Every person who contacts our Victorious Living
Correspondence Team receives in-depth monthly
Bible studies, personal correspondence, and a
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FEATURES
8 A Better Way
We can try to impress God with our
own efforts…or we can lay our efforts
down, draw close to God, and find He
loves us just as we are.
Luiz Duda Lustosa
14 From Dope to Hope
One choice, one day, one breath
at a time is how Tim Ryan found
victory over the addiction that cost
him everything.
Tim Ryan
18 Don’t Go It Alone
Angry at God for allowing the
circumstances that surrounded him,
McKenzie was determined to pull
himself through the sea of depression,
anxiety, and suicidal thoughts that
threatened his life. He quickly found
self-effort wasn’t enough.
McKenzie Brockington Jr.
20 Champions for God
Friends and fierce competitors,
teenagers Anna Gay and Neilly Ross
talk to Victorious Living about the
one thing in life that brings true joy,
worth, peace, and purpose. And it
isn’t world titles, world records,
money, or fame.
Kristi Overton Johnson
24 Miracles Are Real
God used a faithful middle school
teacher to change the life of a troubled
youth in ways neither expected, even
when all seemed lost.
Nancy Hunter
On the Cover
World champion trick skiers
Neilly Ross (left) and Anna Gay
take a break from training to
share with Victorious Living the
true source of their strength.
Photography by Timothy Smith Honor Photography
HOW TO REACH VICTORIOUS LIVING
Receive a Personal Copy
• See this issue’s back cover
• Visit kojministries.org
• Call 352-478-2098
• Write to Victorious Living
PO Box 120951
Clermont, FL 34712-0951
• Bulk copies available, call
352-478-2098
ALL Inmate Correspondence
Mail correspondence to
Victorious Living Correspondence Outreach
PO Box 328 Starke, FL 32091
VICTORIOUS LIVING MISSION
Victorious Living encourages hearts and equips minds through testimonials of God’s grace, love, and power
in the lives of everyday people. Please consider supporting this incredible outreach of hope and freedom.
4 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018

7 Want to Be First? Be Last
Look for ways to serve others and
love them to Christ. It’s not as difficult
as you think—opportunities are all
around you.
Kevin Jack
11 I Finally Got It
Alcohol took everything from Scott—
his job, his family, his freedom. It
wasn’t until he decided to do things
God’s way that he found freedom
in Christ.
Scott Oberst
12 There’s So Much More
Don’t be satisfied with the
commonplace view of God. Be an
adventure seeker—God has so much
more waiting for you.
Nate Miller
13 Release the Guilt
Too often, we get lost in guilt and
regret over things that God has
already forgiven and forgotten.
Forgive yourself and lose the
guilt. Peace and freedom and the
absence of condemnation is yours
for the asking.
Kristi Overton Johnson
16 Seconds to Impact
“God, help me!” That three-word
prayer saved Navy pilot Jim Porter’s
life—and taught him invaluable lessons
about life.
Jim Porter
27 I Got Off the Dock
Inmate Kenneth Johnson shares the
fears and doubts that kept him from
accepting Christ—and the prayer that
brought him the gift of eternal life.
Kenneth P. Johnson
IN EVERY ISSUE
28 Don’t Miss the Beauty
Every person God has created is unique
and wonderfully made—even when they
don’t meet the standard expectations of
our world.
Kristi Dews Dale
29 Spencer: My Inspiration
Spencer’s focus on the simpler things
helps keep Neilly grounded when life
around her gets crazy.
Neilly Ross
31 Cling to Hope
God allows suffering in our lives to
help us grow. When we trust Him
through it, we find He is the hope that
does not disappoint.
Erin Warren
32 Learning to Trust:
Lessons from
My Grandson
The only way any of us comes
to know and trust someone is by
spending quality time with that
person. Just as Meme Linda longed
for her grandson, Hank, to warm
up to her, so God waits for us to
turn to Him.
Linda Cubbedge
34 A Knothole of Revelation
Witnessing can by tricky. Too often we
memorize a spiel and expect people
to listen, but the world doesn’t need
our agenda. Learn to present the
authentic love of God. That’s what
changes people.
Kenny Munds
35 Say Yes, Today
It isn’t the size of our works that
pleases God; it’s our faithfulness to
the tasks He puts before us.
Tracy Morrisey
REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE
A Publication of Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries
ISSUE 2, MAY 2018
Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him,
and he will help you. Psalm 37:5
Publisher & Executive Director | Kristi Overton Johnson
f
Editor | Rachel F. Overton, Wordscapes
Chief Photographer | Timothy Smith, Honor Photography
Creative Director | Amy Zackowski, Whispering Dog Design Inc.
Social Media | Sarah Ristorcelli, Orlando Content Marketing
Director of Prison Correspondence | Linda Cubbedge
Accounting Manager | Gizzella Guba
Partnership Support | info@kojministries.org
f
Contributing Writers
McKenzie Brockington Jr., Linda Cubbedge, Col. Jerry Curtis
(Carole Engle Avriett), Kristi Dews Dale, Anna Gay, Kent Hartshorn,
Nancy Hunter, Kevin Jack, Kenneth P. Johnson, Kristi Overton Johnson,
Luiz Duda Lustosa, Nate Miller, Tracy Morrissey, Kenny Munds,
Scott Oberst, Jim Porter, Neilly Ross, Tim Ryan (Jocelyn Carbonara),
Erin Warren
f
Cover Photography | Timothy Smith Honor Photography
f
Photography
Des Burke-Kennedy, David Crowder, Bill Doster, Russell Gay, Rob
Goldberg Jr., Mike Hrubes, Jim Jacquess, Marlen Lizeth Luna, A Man
in Recovery, Todd McClennan, Joey Meddock, Tim Moran, Nautique
Big Dawg, Dan Oliver, Josh Palma, Max Ryan, Sara Davis Photography,
Spencer Schultz, Timothy Smith Honor Photography, Vincent Stadlbaur,
Word of Life Island
f
Artwork
Bret A. Melvin
f
Faithful Distributors
Special thanks to Bill Coleman and Tina Brown for distributing
Victorious Living in local areas in Florida and North Carolina
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living
Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Scripture marked NIV
is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
by Biblica, Inc. Scripture marked NKJV is taken from the New King James Version®.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Scripture marked TPT is taken from The Passion Translation®.
Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC.
All scripture is used by permission. All rights reserved.
30 LETTERS OF HOPE | The Power of Remembrance
Sometimes you wonder if anyone cares; if anyone remembers you. Even if no one else
does, God does. He’s written your name on His hands. Colonel Thomas Jerry Curtis
36 KEYS TO VICTORIOUS LIVING | Keys to Victory
Thirteen world-class athletes share important bits of wisdom that have helped
them achieve victory.
39 FROM THE FATHER’S HEART | Floating Feather
Rest in your Father’s arms; float like a feather in the stream of His will.
6 PUBLISHER’S NOTE
An Anchor of Hope
10 HELP ME UNDERSTAND
Teens and Depression
26 MINISTRY NEWS
27 FROM OUR READERS
38 OUR CONTRIBUTORS
kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 5

PUBLISHER’S NOTE
An Anchor of Hope
As a professional water skier for over twenty
years and the world record holder in women’s
slalom from 1992–2010, Kristi Overton
Johnson took to the waters of the world with
passion, perseverance, and a desire to impact
the world of water skiing. This wife and
mother of three now focuses her passions
and experiences to encourage and equip
people for victory in every season of their lives
through Victorious Living magazine.
In a world of chaos and uncertainty, my desire
is that Victorious Living will be an anchor of hope
to you. I don’t know how you’ve come across
this magazine. Perhaps you are waiting for news
in a hospital reception area, serving our country
overseas, overcoming addictions in a treatment
center, or serving time behind bars. Every day
this magazine speaks hope into places like
these, to people facing trying circumstances and
overwhelming odds. Our stories give proof to our
readers that no situation is too far gone. No life is
too far gone, either! There is always hope.
Perhaps you’ve stumbled across Victorious
Living at an event or place of business. Partners
of our magazine leave them in the most unique
places. Or maybe you’ve discovered us at a water
ski event. Our spring edition of Victorious Living
is distributed throughout the summer at various
water ski venues. As you’ll see, this issue is filled
with inspiring and refreshing stories from water
sports enthusiasts. Why water sports? It’s because
for over 30 years, water skiing was my passion,
and I want to share the beauty of the sport and its
competitors with you.
Regardless of how you’ve come to Victorious
Living, I’m thankful. My prayer is that each page
will speak hope into the lonely, discouraged,
broken, confused, or defeated parts of your soul.
I love Hebrews 6:18–19. It says, “So God has
given both his promise and his oath. These two
things are unchangeable because it is impossible
for God to lie. Therefore, we who have
fled to him for refuge can have great
confidence as we hold to the hope that
lies before us. This hope is a strong and
trustworthy anchor for our souls.”
Each story in this magazine tells of a person
who has fled to God for refuge. In His arms, they
have found great confidence that there is hope
for their tomorrows, no matter what the world or
their circumstances seem to say.
You know what is awesome about having hope
in God? Well, for one thing, it never fails. God’s
promises are true—God cannot lie. His promises
are a strong and trustworthy anchor for your soul,
your mind, your will, and your emotions.
Are you ready for something strong and
trustworthy, something that will never fail you?
Are you tired of your thoughts and emotions being
tossed about on the uncertain and destructive
waves of this world? Are you exhausted from
external circumstances dictating your choices?
Friend, there is an anchor that can securely hold
you and keep you from being overcome and
tossed about. Your sea of uncertainty cannot
move that anchor of hope. Claim it today.
Isaiah 43:1–3 serves as an anchor of hope to
me. It says: “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed
you. I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters, I will be with
you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you
will not drown.… For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Never forget—God knows you by name. He is
calling out to you today, through these stories,
to remind you that He hasn’t forgotten you. He
sees you, knows you, and loves you. And He has
a plan! “I know the plans I have for you,” He says.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to
give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
There is no wave, no river, no sea too big for
God. Anchor yourself to Him!
Sincerely,
Kristi
Kristi poses with Neilly (left) and Anna (right) at the US Masters Water Ski Tournament banquet, where both have received
scholarships from In His Wakes, a water sports ministry founded by Kristi. See Neilly and Anna’s story on page 20.
6 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 photo courtesy of The Daily ReflPhotography by Joey Meddock

Want to Be First?
Be Last
by Kevin Jack
My parents provided a wonderful spiritual
foundation for my life. Mom and Dad were
selfless servants of others and great examples
of faith. Mom made sure my sister Amy and I
understood the importance of the Bible and
how to apply it to our lives. Amy influenced my
spiritual life, too, by teaching me how to pray
and comforting me when I was afraid or going
through a hard time. But it was a long time
before my family’s faith became my own.
I didn’t have a personal passion for God when
I was young. I went to church because it was what
we did. To me, Christianity was just a tedious
routine. You went to church on Sunday, prayed
before meals and bedtime, and if you were a
Super Christian, you went to church Wednesday
night—and that was it.
I focused instead on becoming a competitive
water skier, writing and performing music,
getting my education, and simply enjoying life.
Of course, those things weren’t wrong in and of
themselves, but I was doing them without God
in mind. Eventually, I got off course and made
some decisions that could have easily landed me
behind bars.
One day, as I thought about the things I’d
done, I was overcome with guilt and shame. I
was disappointed in my life choices. I was far
from the person I had been raised to be, and I
knew I wasn’t who God wanted me to be. But as
I wrestled with these emotions, I felt God telling
me, “It’s okay. I forgive you.” Overwhelming
peace flooded my being. God’s love completely
wrecked me as I finally understood that God
loved me. He knew me intimately—knew every
mistake—and yet He had forgiven me.
That encounter changed my life. With a fresh
understanding of His love, I was able to turn my
life around and make better choices. I became
passionate about this God whom I had previously
known only from a distance. I yearned to know
“WHOEVER WANTS TO
BE FIRST MUST TAKE
LAST PLACE AND BE THE
SERVANT OF EVERYONE ELSE.”
MARK 9:35
more about Him, to worship Him, and to share
Him with others so they could know Christ’s love
and forgiveness too.
I wanted to be real, to tell others about God
as honestly as I could, to be fully authentic—
as a friend, husband, teacher, athlete, son,
brother, and even a stranger. I set out to create
these relationships with others by serving them.
People are hungry for authenticity. They need to
know that somebody really cares. It’s hard to tell
others about a God who loves unconditionally
if we don’t take the time to show them His love
ourselves. We have to love people to Christ.
I looked for tangible needs that I could meet,
so I could demonstrate the humility and love
of Christ. For example, I learned that inmates
are often released from jail in the middle of
the night, and many have nowhere to go. Some
have no shoes or shirt; they’re hungry. So my
friend and I decided to meet those needs. We
purchased shirts and sandals, filled coolers with
bottled water and hot dogs, fired up a grill, and
began to feed and clothe those newly released
people on the street outside the jail. We were
there most weekends from 8:30 Saturday night
until 3:00 Sunday morning.
Some people avoided us, but most came right
over. They were thankful for this act of kindness.
We didn’t even have to bring Christ into our
conversations, because somehow they knew His
love was the reason we were there. “You must
be a Christian or something to be doing this,”
they’d say. And then we’d share what Christ had
done for us.
Life provides endless opportunities to
demonstrate God’s love. Hurting people are all
One of Kevin’s passions is writing music. His original
song, “His Name,” can be downloaded on iTunes.
around us, waiting to know that God sees them,
hears them, loves them, and forgives them.
We can demonstrate this love through service,
just like Jesus did. He went to the hurting, the
lonely, the discouraged—those seeking to hide
their pain. He loved them and met their needs.
He met them right where they were, without
judgment. The only people He criticized were
the religious ones who proclaimed to love God
but denied Him—both by what they did and what
they didn’t do.
We don’t run blindly into dangerous places or
situations, but we do remain open to new ways
God might have for us to demonstrate His love.
This requires us to move out of our comfort
zones. As Christians, we’re often afraid to go to
those dark places, but when we don’t, we miss
the blessing of being there when God touches
others with His grace.
Many people don’t follow Christ because
they are afraid of Him. But if they’re afraid,
then they don’t know who God is. They don’t
understand how much He loves them. We need
to model that love, to demonstrate Jesus’ selfless,
overwhelming love through our service.
Make it your goal to find ways every day to
serve others and love them to Christ. It’s not
difficult—just open your eyes. Opportunities are
all around you. It’s such a rich way to live. V
Photography by Mike Hrubes kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 7

A BETTER WAY
by Luiz Duda Lustosa
I grew up in Brazil in an athletic family. My
sister played in two Olympic games, my brother
was a well-known Brazilian coach, my father
played beach volleyball, my stepfather was a
professional soccer player, and my mother ran
track and field. So as a youth, it was only natural
that I would be involved with sports. I competed
in swimming, soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
Eventually, I became a professional indoor and
outdoor volleyball player in Europe. Today, I am a
volleyball coach and personal trainer. I guess you
can say sports are forever in my blood.
Ironically, it was through sports that God got
hold of my heart. My uncle held sports camps
every year in Brazil. Youth from various countries
would come to this camp that was supported by
a local Presbyterian church. I began going to and
working in these camps at 10 years old. Every
year, I would hear about Jesus.
When I was 12 years old, I felt God inviting me
into a relationship with Him. I was at my uncle’s
sports camp, sitting around a campfire with my
friends while someone shared about Jesus. When
the speaker asked if anyone wanted to follow
Jesus, many people responded by going forward.
I wanted to go—I wanted to accept Jesus into
my life, but I didn’t. I was stubborn and afraid.
What would people think if I walked forward?
There was such a big fight going on inside of me.
I remember hearing an internal voice say, “You
don’t have to go down there.” So I didn’t. I went
back home and continued with my life.
Not long after, I found myself being drawn to
God once more. This time I was at my church’s
summer camp. Just like before, we were all
sitting around a campfire while someone shared
about Jesus. When the leader finished, he asked
if anyone wanted to give their life to Jesus. This
time I didn’t wait. In front of everyone, I gave my
life to God.
I can still remember the unbelievable sense of
peace that overwhelmed me. Everything in my
life suddenly became different…so alive. Back
home, I immediately told my mother about my
decision and shared Jesus with her. Even at 12, I
wanted other people, especially those I loved, to
know Him too.
In my early teenage years, my sister, who
was a professional volleyball player, suggested
I get serious about her sport. At that time in
Brazil, the sport of volleyball was recruiting new
players. My sister was certain I had the necessary
skills to be successful. I got an invitation from
a club in Sao Paulo to try out for their team.
So, at the age of 14, I moved away from my
family and attended a school where I could live,
study, and play volleyball. My skills developed
quickly, and I made the club’s team. I played there
for five years.
During my time in Sao Paulo, I kept asking
God to bless my volleyball career. I desperately
wanted to be on Brazil’s national team. I worked
hard and lived a godly life. I was convinced that
if I was good, if I worked hard, and if I made
sure everyone knew I was a Christian, then God
would reward me with what I wanted. I was very
performance oriented in my relationship with
God. To make sure everyone knew I stood for
Jesus, I put the Star of David on my uniform. I
got bullied for this action. I wasn’t ashamed that I
was a Christian, and I wanted everyone to know
it—but my motives were off.
Looking back, I can see how offensive my
actions were to people. I was very loud about
my faith, but I didn’t have the love of God to
back up my professed Christianity. Therefore, all
people could see was the star on my chest and
an arrogant person. They didn’t see Christ. Today,
8 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 Photography by Timothy Smith Honor Photography

Duda competed professionally for six years on the
national volleyball team for Portugal.
I WANTED TO ACCEPT
JESUS INTO MY LIFE,
BUT I DIDN’T. I WAS
STUBBORN AND
AFRAID.
(right) Today, Duda shares his volleyball
expertise with students at The First Academy
in Orlando, where he serves as the head
volleyball coach for the boys’ team, pictured
here with Malik Byrd.
I know that Christ’s love in us is what draws people to Him, not our statements or proudly displayed
symbols.
I was so very legalistic, very rule oriented. As I said, I was convinced I had to work hard for God’s
blessings. But despite my efforts, I failed to get what I wanted. I didn’t make the Brazilian team. It was
very confusing for me. Other players who hadn’t worked as hard as me and who didn’t live a godly
lifestyle got promoted, while I stayed at the same level. It made me angry, and I had to ask: “What’s
this about, God?” It just didn’t seem fair why they got good opportunities and promotions, and I didn’t.
I was, after all, the one living for Him.
I was very immature in my relationship with God back then. I didn’t understand anything about His
grace and love. I didn’t understand it wasn’t about what I could do, but what He had already done for
me on the cross of Calvary. I couldn’t do anything to impress God or cause Him to bless me. I still can’t.
I can only come to Him in faith.
After five years in Sao Paulo, I was invited to play in Portugal. There, doors began to open. I played
on a team that consistently moved up the ranking list. Very soon, I made the Portugal national team
and quickly grew famous in that region.
But my time in Portugal was difficult. I was very isolated there, as I had little support for my faith and
was away from my family. I was also going through a divorce. But it was in this place of isolation, in my
loneliness, that I heard God’s voice for the first time. He said, “You are My son, and I know your name.”
In my loneliest moment, God spoke to my heart, reminding me that I wasn’t alone. He saw me, and
He knew everything that was going on in my life. I grabbed a piece of paper, wrote down God’s words,
and put them on my wall. Habakkuk 2:2 says, “Write my answer plainly on tablets so that a runner can
carry the correct message to others.” I knew I needed to keep God’s words of encouragement in plain
sight. I needed the correct message about who God was and who I was in Him. He was my Father, and
I was His son. He loved me and knew me by name. Whenever I felt tired and weak, I would look to
God’s words on that wall. They became my strength.
This revelation helped me lean on God more, instead of on myself. I began to pray regularly every
day and ask God to help me. I became so close to Him. As the scripture says, the more I drew close to
Him in prayer, the closer He drew to me (James 4:8). God was so gentle with me. He never pushed
Himself on me or condemned me for all my mistakes.
God doesn’t condemn you for your mistakes, either. Maybe you’ve been legalistic. Maybe you’ve
tried to earn God’s favor to gain your own promotion. If so, I want you to know that there is a God who
sees you, loves you, and knows you by name—and right now, He wants to show you a better way. He’s
inviting you to lay down your efforts and come to Him. Draw close to Him, and when you do, God will
draw close to you. He will fill you with His love and grace, and that will bring you peace and blessing.
Through Him, you can be a light to this dark and dying world. V
Photography by Timothy Smith Honor Photography kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 9

HELP ME UNDERSTAND
Dear Victorious Living,
P lease help me understand how to help my child. She is struggling with depression and anxiety, and she’s become
addicted to cutting. I don’t know what to do!
~Amy
Dear Amy,
I am not a doctor or an expert in these matters, but I can share what I know from my own experience.
As a preteen, my daughter became extremely anxious, deeply depressed, and used cutting to release
her pain. For two years, my wife and I sought help for her. We prayed, and we took her to Christian
counseling, yet she remained in her emotional prison. We had many dark days and wanted desperately to
pull our daughter out of her misery. But we couldn’t.
Then, one day, she had a breakthrough. It came when she met a dear woman who had a close
relationship with the Lord. God used this lady to minister to the dark pain in my daughter’s heart, and she
was healed. She is now helping others. I praise God every day.
Looking back, I can see many things that helped our family get through the darkness. I can also identify
something that didn’t help, too. Let’s start with that.
It didn’t help when I said to my daughter, “Baby, just don’t think about those negative thoughts. Put a
smile on your face and be happy. God loves you, and we love you. Life is good.” This was probably the
worst advice I could give her. She couldn’t snap out of depression any more than I could flap my arms and
fly! The feelings she was experiencing were real, and discounting that truth was harmful to her healing.
Now on to what helped us…
GET EDUCATED
I had never experienced depression. Neither
had I ever helped someone through it, so I needed
to learn. Focus on the Family provided a lot of
valuable information that helped me recognize
the signs of depression and taught me life-saving
steps to take. Google “Focus on the Family/Teens
and Depression” to find information to help you
understand and help your teen.
GET COUNSELING
When I said earlier that we went to counseling
but my daughter remained enslaved to depression,
I did not mean to imply that counseling doesn’t
help. It does. Our licensed Christian counselor
gave us wonderful advice and specific tools that
helped us in our journey. In fact, we continue to
use these tools to this day. Don’t be deceived;
depression is a serious matter; it needs to be
addressed by a professional.
REALIZE YOU ARE
NOT ALONE
According to Focus on the Family, 28 percent
of adolescents will experience depression of some
sort. Reach out to others to provide the support
you need. My wife and I surrounded ourselves
with a strong community of believers who were
praying for us and our daughter. These were safe
people who laid judgments aside.
MAKE SURE SHE
KNOWS SHE’S LOVED
We had many dark days, but through every
one, we determined to make sure through our
words and actions that our daughter knew she
was loved and that we weren’t mad at her. We
constantly assured her that nothing she could ever
do would cause us not to love her.
ESTABLISH OPEN
COMMUNICATION
We learned in counseling the importance
of maintaining open communication with our
daughter. She learned that when she started to
feel anxiety, had depressing thoughts, or wanted
to injure herself, she could to come to us and not
be judged. We provided a safe place for her to
express herself.
IDENTIFY THE
UNDERLYING PAIN
Through the lady the Lord sent to our family,
we were able to uncover the underlying pain
that was tormenting our daughter. She had
been bullied at school and had had an online
encounter with an older man who was preying
on young kids. Depression is caused by chemical
imbalances and can stem from past pain and
traumas. Those traumas must be uncovered,
acknowledged, addressed, and forgiven, so the
Lord can heal them.
ENJOY THERAPEUTIC
ACTIVITIES
My daughter loves horses, so I found a local
horse rescue organization. My daughter identified
with these abused horses, and the interaction
with them was emotionally therapeutic for her.
It kept her active and kept her mind engaged on
positive things.
SEEK THE HELP OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT
God knows the pain in your child’s heart. Ask
Him to reveal it to you and your child. The Bible
says that our war is not against flesh and blood.
It’s not against our children. It’s against demonic
forces that seek to kill and destroy us. Learning
about spiritual warfare is important. Praying is
an important element of this war. As a parent,
you have authority over your child in the spiritual
realm and against the dark forces that come
against your family. Learn about your authority
in the Bible and take it.
DON’T LOSE HOPE
We experienced many dark days that could
have overwhelmed us all. But by staying close to
God and trusting His promises for our daughter,
my wife and I were able to stand courageously.
God was with us as we walked through the difficult
waters of depression. Today, we are on the other
side of that storm. God will take you through to
the other side too!
Today, our 13-year-old shares with thousands
her story of overcoming depression, anxiety, and
cutting. God healed my daughter. He touched her
and set her free. Now that is something to shout
from the mountaintops! God is alive. He still does
miracles, and He can do one in your family too.
Prayerfully,
Kent Hartshorn, a partner with Victorious Living
* Editor’s Note: This article is not intended as a
substitute for the medical advice of a physician.
Readers should seek the advice of a medical
professional in matters relating to health,
particularly with respect to any symptoms that may
require diagnosis or medical attention.
10 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018

I Finally Got It by Scott Oberst
Jesus changed my life. Here’s my story.
I grew up in Fort Lauderdale. I was the kid who
always worked and played hard. I knew I could be
anything I wanted to be if I just put my mind to
it. I loved sports and exercise. I pretty much had
a normal childhood…except for the physical and
mental abuse I endured from my father when he
was drinking. That abuse led me to a life far from
what I had dreamed of as a child.
I never knew real love from my father. I only
knew broken bones and fighting with him. He was
very physical, and I was scared to death of him.
The abuse grew worse as I got older. My sister
escaped the turmoil of our home by leaving for
college and marrying soon after.
My mom did her best to hold our family
together. She smoothed over the bumps and
made everyone feel loved. She took us kids to
church on Sunday, and I attended occasional
youth activities. But church was just something I
did; God was nothing more than someone I called
on to get me out of trouble.
There was a lot of pain in my heart because of
my father’s abuse, and early in my teenage years,
I became a binge drinker. It helped mask my pain
and confusion. It also seemed fun at the time.
When I was sober, life was good. People
loved Sober Scott. It didn’t hurt that I could fix
just about anything. My friends’ parents loved
me! But when I drank, it always ended badly—for
me and everyone around me. Alcohol and my
self-centeredness ruined every good relationship
I had.
Because of my substance abuse, I had
numerous run-ins with the law in my teenage
years. To straighten myself out, I enlisted in the
Navy immediately after high school graduation. I
hoped military life would change me.
It didn’t.
In the Navy, I continued to use alcohol to the
extreme. Because of an injury, I was honorably
discharged in 1979. The drinking and drugging
continued, and I racked up six DUIs. In 1982, I was
sent to prison. It wouldn’t be the last time.
Not long after my release from my first prison
term, I met the girl of my dreams, got married,
had two great kids, and moved to England. I was
doing very well and was known by those in the
community as “the Yank plumber.” I had picked
up the plumbing trade from my father.
It seemed everyone liked me. But lo and
behold, I patted myself on the back and picked
up a drink…and then another…and another.
Drinking ruined that life within four years. My wife,
understandably, divorced me, and I ran back to
the States.
Unfortunately, I brought me with me. And the
cycle continued.
Because of my behavior while under the
influence, I ended up back in prison for four more
years. When I got out, I did a little of the church
thing, got healthy, and swore I wouldn’t drink
again. I went to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings,
did the steps, and tried to stay in control of my
life, but it wasn’t long before I was right back at
the bottle again. And again, I ended up in prison.
The cycle kept repeating itself. It’s a wonder I’m
not dead because of the life I led.
I had great work habits and had so much to
offer to the world, but when alcohol entered my
system, everything good about me went right
out the window. Alcoholism caused me to be
unemployable. It caused me to lose everything
precious to me and to break every promise I ever
made to anyone.
I wanted to be different, but I wanted to fix my
problem my way. It never dawned on me that I
couldn’t fix myself. I didn’t know yet that Jesus
was the only One who could release me from
my alcoholism and its underlying cause,
pain. Programs are great—I believe they
are essential to a person’s healing
process—but without God, the
program’s success is temporary at
best. God’s healing is eternal.
It was during my most recent prison
sentence (30 years for burglary) that I finally
realized something had to change. Society was
tired of me, and I was tired of me. I decided it
was time to be teachable; to do things God’s way.
I finally asked God to take the controls of my life
and to teach me a new way to live. That was in
2000.
To help me in my journey, Mom got me a new
Bible. I got myself involved in every program I
could. But something was still missing—a personal
relationship with Jesus. In 2003, behind prison
walls, I found this missing piece through a fourday
program by Kairos Prison Ministries that
teaches inmates to walk closely with Jesus.
During this event, God moved on me like never
before. Through His Word and the Kairos team,
the Lord showed me real love. I wanted this love,
and like the men of Kairos, I wanted to bring God’s
message of hope and love to others like me. At
that event, I put my faith and trust in Jesus, and I’ve
been following Him ever since. Praise God, He has
removed from me every desire for alcohol, drugs,
cigarettes, and many other character defects.
For the past 15 years, I have served the Lord
behind prison walls. Currently, I am incarcerated
at Avon Park Correctional Facility. I’ve facilitated
many programs and have done my best to help
others see that Jesus is the answer to all of life’s
problems. Admittedly, I am a work in progress.
I’m grateful that God isn’t done with me yet.
One day, when I’m on the other side of these
prison walls, I hope to continue to impact the world
for Christ and be the man I always wanted to be. I
know as long as I keep Jesus first, it’s possible. All
things are possible with God! V
SOCIETY WAS TIRED OF ME,
AND I WAS TIRED OF ME.
I DECIDED IT WAS TIME
TO BE TEACHABLE; TO DO
THINGS GOD’S WAY.
kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 11

There’s So Much More
by Nate Miller
As a person who loves adventure, I have at
times paid a heavy price in my pursuit of new
challenges and discoveries. I have experienced
countless breaks, cuts, sprains, and muscle
pulls riding motorcycles and mountain bikes.
I’ve fallen off a rock cliff and shattered my
arm, rolled my snowmobile down a mountain,
crashed violently on water skis and wakeboards,
and nearly drowned from surfing wipeouts.
I can’t fail to mention multiple near-death
experiences while snow skiing off cliff areas. (By
the way, if you ski past a sign that says, “extreme
cliff danger,” that’s exactly what it means.)
Anyone who knows me would agree: this is just
a small sampling of my epic-adventure fails.
I am well acquainted with the extreme neck
and back pain that follows my misadventures,
but…I just have this insatiable desire to explore
nature. In fact, I’m willing to risk just about
anything to experience more.
But I am just as driven to explore the nature
of God and to experience more of Him, too. The
truth is, we all have an innate desire to know
God. It’s just a matter of whether we will seek to
fulfill it. Will we seek Him fully with heart, soul,
strength, and mind? Will we risk it all for Him?
Or will we keep playing it safe, settling for the
imitations of this world? How boring!
God wants us to seek more of Him. Hebrews
11:6 says, “He rewards those who sincerely seek
him.” How amazing is that? As we desire more
of God and seek to experience all that He has
for us, we will always be led to greater rewards.
There is an adventure awaiting each of us.
I love Psalm 85:13: “Righteousness goes
before him and prepares the way for his steps”
(NIV). God has prepared a path of adventure
that leads right to His hidden treasures.
Adventures await us, filled with great unknowns
and discoveries. We just have to get off the safe,
well-beaten path of this world to find them.
He doesn’t hide these treasures so we never
find them and become discouraged, but so
that we can experience the joy of discovery. As
a father, I remember playing hide and seek
with my kids. I would hide just long enough
for them to be excited about the search and the
discovery of where I was located, and then I’d
let them find me. It was like a treasure hunt with
a bountiful reward—and it’s the same for those
who take the time to seek God. God promises
that if we seek Him, we will find Him (Jeremiah
29:13). No matter where you are, He is there.
How much of God do you want? Are you
satisfied with just enough, or are you following
the desire He has placed in you to want more
of Him?
First Corinthians 2:9–12 says, “ ‘No eye
has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has
imagined what God has prepared for those
who love him.’ But it was to us that God
revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit
searches out everything and shows us God’s
deep secrets. No one can know a person’s
thoughts except that person’s own spirit,
and no one can know God’s thoughts
except God’s own Spirit. And we have
received God’s Spirit (not the world’s
spirit), so we can know the wonderful
things God has freely given us.” God
has so much more He wants to reveal
to you by His Spirit!
I have never been disappointed
by going on an adventure with God
and seeking His treasures. You won’t
be either. I pray that you will discover
the joy, deliverance, and peace He has
waiting for you along the path He has
prepared for your feet. V
Nate on some
of his many epic
rock-climbing and
snowmobiling
adventures. His
passion for nature
keeps him seeking
more, as does his
passion for getting
to know God’s
personal nature.
Nate Miller has made it his life mission to help others discover a lifetime of adventure with God.
Nate and his wife, Ivy, travel across the country each summer going from event to event where they
help people discover victory, hope, and purpose through the watersports outreaches of In His Wakes,
an organization founded by Victorious Living publisher, Kristi Overton Johnson. Learn more about this
unique and exciting ministry that touches thousands of lives at inhiswakes.com.
12 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018

Release the Guilt by
Kristi Overton Johnson
It was just a little after 5:00 a.m. I fumbled my
way to the bathroom, knowing that in a few hours,
I’d be encouraging the hearts of incarcerated
women in a local jail.
“Lord, I need to know what You want me to say
to these ladies,” I prayed.
Two words dropped into my spirit. “Forgive
yourself.”
“A perfect subject,” I thought. Many of the
inmates I’d meet that day probably struggled with
guilt in some way. I was excited to tell them about
forgiveness and about the importance of being
free from guilt and shame, so they could move
forward with God.
But the Holy Spirit redirected me. “It’s not just
for them…it’s for you, too. Forgive yourself, Kristi.”
It’s hard to explain, but somehow, in that brief
moment, God took me on a tour, showing me
some of the ways I subconsciously condemn
myself every day.
My eyes focused first on my scale—a big ol’
doctor-style scale with metal weight balances. I
suddenly realized how much that scale taunts me,
reminding me of the weight I’ve gained and the
unhealthy foods I often eat.
“Forgive yourself for not weighing what you
used to,” the Holy Spirit whispered.
Next, my eyes shifted to a framed picture of
my son, Ty. For months, that photo had remained
wedged between the bathroom scale and the wall.
Another whisper came:
“Forgive yourself
for not hanging
that picture and
for not having
a perfectly
put together
house.”
We’ve lived in our home for seven months
now, and it still isn’t in order. Everywhere I look,
I’m reminded of things I haven’t yet done. It
makes me feel unsettled, and frankly, it makes me
feel like a failure.
God continued to speak to me through that
picture, this time through my toothless, thenfive-year-old
son, Ty. “Forgive yourself for all the
mistakes you have made as a mother.” So many
times, I’ve wished I could go back and do things
differently as a mom.
Lastly, my eyes shifted to a bronze plaque, also
waiting to be hung. “Be still and know,” it says. It’s
a reminder from Psalm 46:10 to be emotionally
and mentally still—to remember that God is in
control.
“Forgive yourself for all the times you’ve failed
to be still, to trust Me. Forgive yourself for not
already being in the Word this morning and for
not having a message already prepared.”
God knew the pressure of self-judgment that
had been building within me that morning. And
all before I’d even brushed my teeth!
Oh, how I long to be an excellent wife, mom,
ministry leader, housekeeper, Christian, friend,
and daughter. I long to be healthy and to live a life
of impact. Every day I strive for perfection, yet I fail
in so many ways.
Still—God loves me enough to remind me that
it’s okay to not be perfect. “I forgive myself, Lord,
for all these things.” I said.
The heavy weight of guilt lifted, and peace
settled in its place. I was free and better positioned
to go forth and love others.
Jesus commands us to love others as we love
ourselves (Mark 12:31), but it’s hard to do that
when we’re overwhelmed with guilt. Guilt causes
us to focus on ourselves and our shortcomings
instead of on our Savior and His love. That kind of
makes guilt an idol, doesn’t it?
Did you know that God is not the source of guilt
and condemnation? Guilt and condemnation are
tricks of our enemy.
Satan wants us to wallow in feelings of
unworthiness and failure, to constantly judge and
compare ourselves to others so we feel less than.
He doesn’t want us to know how special we are to
God; he certainly doesn’t want us to realize that
God can use us despite our imperfections. Satan
wants us to feel like we just don’t measure up. But
God says differently.
Even in our sinful, imperfect state, we are worth
everything to God—even the life of His precious
Son (Romans 8:32). While we were yet sinners,
Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8).
What condemns you; what taunts you? Guilt?
What do you need to forgive yourself for? Not
being perfect? Not finishing that Bible study you
started months ago? Maybe you’ve hurt a friend
or let someone down. Are you upset because you
weren’t chosen for something, maybe because
you aren’t as talented as someone else or don’t
have a degree? Maybe you blame yourself for the
loss of your job.
Maybe you haven’t achieved your goals or your
marriage is failing or your child has abandoned
God. Maybe you’re in an abusive relationship, and
you can’t let yourself leave. Maybe you’re gaining
weight, struggling with addiction, or maybe you’re
just not able to do what you used to do.
We could make lists all day of the ways we deny
the gift of freedom God offers us.
Listen—whatever it is that stands between you
and that gift, you should know it is not from
God. He’s already forgiven you. Forgive yourself.
Lose the guilt and find God’s peace, so you can
love yourself and, ultimately, love others as God
intends. V
Kristi is dedicated to helping others find freedom
from guilt and other deadly emotions so they can
experience a victorious life. Pictured here sharing her
story of freedom at a recent event in North Carolina.
Photography by Marlen Lizeth Luna kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 13

From Dope to Hope
I DUG DEEPER INTO MY
RECOVERY. I NEEDED MY
HIGHER POWER, BECAUSE
TIM RYAN WAS AS LOW
AS THEY COME. AS I
GOT CLOSER TO GOD,
I DISCOVERED THAT HE
DIDN’T SEE ME AS LOW
AND WORTHLESS. HE
SAW ME AS HE SAW ALL
HIS CHILDREN: I HAD
VALUE AND A PURPOSE.
Tim’s passion for turning tricks on the water was no
match for the tricks he turned to get high. His addiction
cost Tim everything he loved…his family, career,
freedom, and his dream of becoming a professional
water skier. Here, Tim poses while barefoot skiing.
14 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018
“There is a God, and His name is not Tim
Ryan.” Those are the words I eventually
uttered as I found myself in a cold prison
cell for a crime I had committed.
For years, I’d lived as if I were God.
Except, instead of creating things of
beauty, I birthed chaos. Instead of helping
others, I was a major source of suffering for
those I loved, including my saintly wife and
four beautiful children.
Sure, I had it all together on the outside.
I had a beautiful house with an expensive
boat sitting on the lake. I had a great job
in downtown Chicago—well okay, jobs,
since I seldom kept one for long. Once,
when I still thought I was God, I jumped
on the desk of a female coworker and
said something pretty crass. I thought I was
untouchable because I always made my
company lots of money. So yeah, I was high
on myself—and a lot of other things.
I would love to blame my parents for my
descent into addiction. But I can’t. They were
good Catholics who raised me right. They
adopted my brothers, sister, and me and
showed us real love. They supported my
waterskiing—which allowed me to become
nationally ranked. I loved getting up on the
lake and skiing barefoot, showing the world
my tricks.
I loved that almost as much as the tricks I
pulled to get high—and the beer and drugs I
consumed as soon as I got off the lake.
Those years of “Tim as God” stopped when
my heroin addiction led me to seek just one
more high—and that left me on the side of the
road in my car, unconscious. I woke up on a
gurney with a lot of yelling around me. The
nurse said, “I think you killed two people.”
And guess what I thought: At least they don’t
have my blood and urine; I can beat this
thing.
It would be hours before I’d learn that, while
I hadn’t killed anyone, I had put four people in
the hospital, including a nine-month-old baby.
God started chipping away at me. I began to
realize that maybe I wasn’t in control after all.
But I still didn’t see things clearly. I dabbled
at recovery, but I did it so I could find a way to
by Tim Ryan with Jocelyn Carbonara
drink and drug responsibly. That thing called
“sobriety” didn’t sink in with me. Why would
I want to do that? I liked my drugs more than
sobriety. I had no problem talking to God—
except I did all the talking and no listening. I
kept telling Him how things would be instead
of asking Him how I could be of service.
I remember lying dopesick in the bathtub
one day. My oldest son, Nick, walked in and
plopped something down on the counter.
“Here, Dad. This ought to help.” Looking over,
I saw a bag of heroin. My heart dropped.
“Nick, you shouldn’t be doing this crap.”
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m only dealing a little.
Besides, you’re a successful drug addict.”
His words stopped my pulse. How could my
own son think there was such a thing as a
successful drug addict? Sure, I was successful
as measured by income. And I was a drug
addict. I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
But I took his bag of heroin and stuffed my
dopesickness for another day.
In a matter of weeks, Nick and I were doing
heroin together. I offered it to his friend. The
kid refused. God was protecting him. I wish I
could say the same for Nick, whose choices
were pulling him down a path of destruction.
As I faced trial, something began to stir in
me. I began to see that I was not in control.
Tim was not God. In researching the options
for prison, I learned that Sheridan Correctional
Center in Illinois had a strong recovery
program. I have to get into Sheridan, I told
myself. It became my new obsession. I have
to recover…or I will die. For the first time, I
realized I was already dying.
On the way to my sentencing, I bought 60
bags of heroin. I snorted ten on the way and
tried to stuff the rest in my jacket and various
places where no one would find them. Yet I
desperately hoped that when I got to jail, I
could detox properly.
“Three-three-one,” the judge said. I had no
idea what that meant, but my attorney said it
meant I had seven years. With good behavior,
I could be out in 18 months.
“God, I need you,” I prayed. “And I need
recovery.”
A lot of people wanted to get into Sheridan,
but not all of them were serious about
recovery. God was protecting me—and my

“Where there is life,
there is hope.”
Tim Ryan at a recent book-signing event for his
biography, From Dope to Hope. As a leading
advocate for addiction recovery, Tim is a hope
dealer to thousands across the country. Tim has
been featured in many media outlets including Fox
News’ Varney and Co., The Doctors, and The Steve
Harvey Show. He is also the outreach director for
Transformations Treatment Center.
Photography Courtesy A Man in Recovery Foundation
heart. By what I now see as a miracle, I got into
Sheridan. And I got a cellmate whom God knew
would nurture my recovery. I called him Big Perk.
He was a known gang member. He could bench
500 pounds. And he was serious about recovery.
We spent countless hours talking about the
things God could do in our lives. We wanted to
start a ministry to help those stuck in addiction
and violence. Perk’s own son had been shot by
gang members. Hope pulsed through my veins,
replacing the heroin that had scarred them not
long ago.
I lived and breathed those 12-step meetings. I
saw how God had been with me the entire time.
Though I had denied Him, He hadn’t abandoned
me. I realized He’d always given me a choice—to
walk away from Him, into destruction, or toward
Him, into His promises.
I began to see beyond myself for the first time.
God could not only save me, He could help me
serve others. It was not a concept I’d considered
before, and it gave me a new reason to live.
I began to put together plans for a nonprofit, A
Man in Recovery Foundation. I would help people
out of addiction and into hope. Perk and I often
talked into the wee hours of the morning about
our recovery and the things we’d do when we got
out. I had found a purpose beyond serving myself.
As my spiritual life took form, my physical
world began falling apart. “Tim, I’m sending you
something,” my wife said on the phone one day.
Oh, goody, I thought. I love packages. But she
anticipated that I’d be clueless, so she told me, “I
want a divorce.” My heart fell out of my body, but
I could not blame the woman. I had caused us to
foreclose on our beautiful home. I had neglected
her and the kids. My sweet and innocent daughter
had to experience her 12th birthday while her
daddy was in prison. I was a loser, by all worldly
accounts.
I dug deeper into my recovery. I needed my
Higher Power, because Tim Ryan was as low as
they come. As I got closer to God, I discovered
that He didn’t see me as low and worthless. He
saw me as He saw all His children: I had value and
a purpose.
The time came for me to be released, and I
knew it would be tough to maintain sobriety. I also
knew that if I didn’t, I would not make it. I clung to
sobriety like I used to cling to drugs. The difference
was, this time, my life was getting better. I had
found something I’d never had before—hope and
the love of a community who loved God more
than themselves.
As my foundation took shape and I began
reaching out to help other addicts, my own son
began slipping further away. Nick was in and out
of jail for various drug-related offenses. At one
point, he seemed to be turning a corner. “Dad,
we can go speak around the country and help
people out of addiction,” he stated. I could not
have been more thrilled.
Months later, I got a call from my ex-wife. “Nick’s
in the hospital,” she said. “He’s overdosed.” My
blood stopped. I dropped my coffee and jumped
into the car. We walked together into the ER
and down the hall toward his room. A chaplain
walked out, and I knew in that moment. After what
seemed like an eternity of being shuffled around
by doctors, I went to see Nick. Tubes still hung out
of his mouth, but the machines were silent. He
was gone.
Nothing could prepare me for losing a child to
an addiction that I knew I not only hadn’t helped
stop, but I had helped to feed. In that moment,
I could have ignored all the work that God had
done in my life and reached for my drug. Instead I
told myself, “I need to get to a meeting.” And I did.
At that meeting, I shared what had happened.
Things started to shift. People were moved toward
sobriety when I shared my story. The newspaper
continued on page 17
Photography Courtesy Fox News & The Doctors kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 15

Seconds to Impact by Jim Porter
I should have been killed in a plane crash on
January 22, 1971. I was flying a Navy T-28 Trojan
aircraft on a training mission as an instructor. The
weather was horrible; a storm was moving up into
the area from the Gulf of Mexico.
All aircraft were recalled to land except me. I was
ordered to complete my 2.6-hour flight as I graded
my two students flying solo in close formation. We
completed the flight and were ready to land just
as the storm reached the field from the south. We
couldn’t get in, so the controller instructed me to
see if we could beat the storm by flying around
and entering the field from the north.
As we approached from the north, I could
see that if we made it, it was going to be very
close. I increased my airspeed to rapidly get into
position with my two students, but they suddenly
disappeared into a cloudbank. I lost sight of them
at a 40-knot closure rate, and I was directly behind
the two aircraft and at the same altitude. I radioed
the lead student and asked if he could still see the
ground.
“Barely, Sir,” he replied as I flew into a complete
whiteout.
I had less than ten seconds to react or I knew I
would hit them. I closed my throttle, activated my
speed brake, and hung a hard left turn to avoid the
collision. As I was doing this, I continued talking
to the students, instructing them to make an
immediate right turn and telling them what they
needed to do to get out of the storm.
With zero visibility, power off, speed brake
down, and in a high angle of bank left turn, I was
completely out of balanced flight. I lost control of
the airplane. My left turn and instruction for the
students to turn right had avoided the collision, but
my problems were not over.
My actions and instructions saved the students—
when I had them turn right, they flew out of the
storm to safety, but I had turned directly into
the worst part of it. I experienced a pilot’s worst
nightmare, vertigo.
Vertigo is a temporary spatial disorientation
during which you completely lose your bearings.
The senses give wrong information to the brain,
and you cannot tell up from down. It is utter
confusion, to put it mildly. I could not read the
instruments and couldn’t see outside the cockpit.
By this time, I had retracted my speed brake,
but everything I did only accelerated my descent.
My altimeter spun closer and closer to zero. I
tried everything to stop my descent, but nothing
worked. I knew I had to bail out, but just before
I initiated bailout procedures, I glanced at the
altimeter and saw that I was already below 1,000
feet. My parachute would not open before I hit
the ground. I would have to stay in the airplane,
struggling to gain control, until I hit the ground.
And that was literally a few seconds away.
I pressed my ICS (intercockpit system) button,
which is normally used to communicate with a
pilot in the rear seat, and I prayed out loud. I said
in a loud clear voice, “God, help me!” I know He
would have heard me without the ICS, but I think
I just wanted to hear the prayer myself. With the
engine noise in the T-28, you can’t hear without a
microphone and headset.
God’s answer came instantly.
It was like He raised a shade and instantly
closed it—but in that split second, I saw the ground
directly out the left side of the cockpit and real
close to me.
That moment of clarity instantly cured my
vertigo, and I knew I was in a 90-degree left turn
with my wing vertical to the ground. I rolled right,
and as I did, I was able to read my instruments. I
was still in a complete whiteout, but the vertigo
was gone.
Praise the Lord for answering that three-word
prayer!
It took several seconds for the aircraft to
respond, and I watched as my altimeter passed
500 feet, then 400 feet, still descending. It finally
leveled off at 300 feet above the ground and
began to climb. The nightmare was over—I had
control of the aircraft and was climbing.
I climbed higher and higher, thanking God the
whole time. I was still in the storm, but without
vertigo. I decided not to turn until I saw blue
sky and sunshine. I didn’t care which way I was
heading or how high I had to climb. When I finally
came out on top, I was over Crestview, Florida,
flying at 5,000 feet.
My students had turned out of the storm safely
and were circling the oil refinery at Jay, Florida.
They had to stay at 900 feet to be below the storm.
I prayed again that God would help me with what
I had to do next, which was to reenter the clouds
and descend again in zero visibility to join up with
my students.
I did that with no trouble since the vertigo was
gone, but I’ll admit it was uncomfortable. I got
a little nervous as I neared 900 feet, not able to
see until I got below the cloud ceiling. The storm
lingered over the field, so we couldn’t fly to our
base. We were very low on fuel by this time. All the
airfields along the coast were closed.
My squadron got permission for us to fly to
Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama, but we
did not have enough fuel to do that. I elected
to declare a low-fuel emergency, chose a closed
Navy field near Brewton, Alabama, and led my
students to a safe landing there.
When I radioed the tower to let them know I
was going to land at Brewton, the tower operator
said, “You can’t go there; the field is closed. The
crash crew has already left and locked the gate.”
Jim preparing for
his first solo flight in
the US Navy.
16 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018
Jim pictured on
his first solo flight
in a T-34 Mentor,
March 1966.
Jim pictured with his mother, Grace, in
front of a T-28 Trojan airplane. He was
flying a T-28 Trojan when he faced the lifethreatening
storm described in his story.

When your life
is spinning out of
control, ask God for
help. He is always
in control.
My last words to him were, “I don’t need a crash
crew. I need a runway. Out!” We landed safely, and
late that afternoon, the storm passed. They opened
the field for us as we took off and flew back to home
base at Whiting.
I learned some lessons that day, that I’d like to
share with you.
When your life is spinning out
of control, ask God for help. He
is always in control and will help you get right-sideup.
He makes no mistakes.
God will direct you, but you must ask
Him to do so and then follow His leading. He has
already promised that if you ask Him, He will direct
your path. God clearly showed me my situation, and
I followed the only way out of it without crashing.
He’ll do that for you as well.
Thank God for your victories.
I had reached the end of my ability to salvage my
situation. My efforts were not working. I asked God
to help me, and He did. God is due all the credit for
our victories in life.
There will always be another
storm to face. The storms of life certainly
come to all of us, but God gives the courage to go
on. I didn’t like the thought of it, but I had to reenter
the storm and fly down through it to get back to
my students. I prayed again and asked God to help
me through it a second time, and He did. I did not
experience vertigo that time and made it safely
through the storm. Don’t be afraid to face your
storms. You are not alone; you will emerge on the
other side victoriously, with God leading the way. V
DOPE TO HOPE | from page 15_____________________________________________________
Recovery does not come
like a hurricane...
like a gentle wave...
It comes
You must be
willing
to walk into it,
even when it feels
unnatural.
ran a big article on Nick, and his funeral was packed.
His loss brought people to recovery. Doors opened
for me to tell our story in bigger ways. God was
somehow using the most painful and broken parts
of my life to build something beautiful.
The pain of losing Nick never leaves me. I carry
his ashes around my neck as a reminder that
everything I do must be with recovery and God at
my core. I know that one bad decision could put me
right back where I was.
Recently, I walked back into Sheridan—but not to
be placed behind bars. I went to minister to those who were there. It wasn’t the first time
I’ve been there since I was released, but I was the first ex-prisoner they’ve ever had speak.
God continues to bring opportunity for me to share my story through the ministry He has
built for me. I am honored to have been invited to the 2016 State of the Union address. Real
Leaders magazine named me one of their 100 Visionary Leaders of 2018. I’ve been featured
in Newsweek, HLN, Fox News, The Steve Harvey Show with Dr. Drew, The Chicago Tribune,
USA Today, and more. I have a book—From Dope to Hope—that thousands of people have
read. I speak nationally and help guide people into recovery. A&E aired a special about my
work called DopeMan. I am the national outreach director for Transformations Treatment
Center. But none of it is me. It’s Him. God speaks through me, and any resulting good thing
is because of Him.
I’m known for saying, “Where there is life, there is hope.” If you are wondering if there
is hope for you, look at my life. I lost everything. Only when I surrendered my life and will
over to God did I find the love and purpose I needed to know. And let me say, sobriety
does not suck.
Recovery does not come like a hurricane, taking over everything you are in an instant. It
comes like a gentle wave, that at first you might not notice. You must be willing to walk into
it, even when it feels unnatural. You must trust Him. The road to recovery is not easy; it feels
shaky at first. But it is the road to life.
One choice, one day, one breath at a time—God wants to recover your life. He wants to
give you hope to live another day, to contribute to others’ lives in positive ways. It doesn’t
matter if you are free or in prison for life, He wants to make your life matter. My life had
meaning, even when I was behind bars. Yours can too. Cling to your recovery, cling to Him,
and watch Him change your heart and life. V
Jim in his official
US Navy photo.
Photography by Max Ryan kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 17

Some time ago, I went through a period of
deep anxiety and depression. It got so bad that,
for a brief time, I contemplated committing
suicide.
I had experienced several traumatic situations,
one right after another. Instead of practicing what
I had been preaching to others, however—things
like trusting the Lord with all your heart and not
leaning on your own understanding—I did just
the opposite. I allowed my pride to govern my
responses. I convinced myself that I was tough
enough and knew enough that I could handle
everything on my own. Everything!
By the time I was ready to acknowledge that
I couldn’t handle those things alone, it was too
late. Through my pride, I had allowed Satan into
my life, and he was bombarding my mind with
thoughts aimed to destroy me.
“You know, you really don’t deserve all this
stuff you’re going through,” he would say. “If God
loves you so much, why is He allowing you to go
through all this mess? If things get any worse,
you might as check out of here and go be with
the Lord, seeing as how you already know where
you’re going.” Satan’s deception was very subtle;
he knew it wouldn’t take much to permeate my
entire mind.
AS I HUMBLED
MYSELF BEFORE
GOD, HE GAVE ME
THE STRENGTH TO
RESIST THE ENEMY
AND HIS LIES.
Don’t Go It Alone
by McKenzie Brockington Jr.
I CONVINCED MYSELF THAT I WAS
TOUGH ENOUGH AND KNEW
ENOUGH THAT I COULD HANDLE
EVERYTHING ON MY OWN.
I have to admit, Satan’s lies appealed to my
natural senses. Why would a good God allow me
to suffer such hardships? Why shouldn’t I check
out of this life and head to my heavenly home? I
was so tired of the fight.
Looking back, I can clearly see that Satan’s aim
was to take me out—to steal, kill, and destroy my
life. It’s his plan for every believer. Satan knows
he has no claim over those who are born-again
believers, for they have been sealed in Christ
unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
But even though he can’t get us—because
he can’t get us—he does everything he can to
make us ineffective for God’s kingdom. He is
determined to shut us up any way he can. And
that includes tricking us into taking our own lives.
Satan’s main tactic against God’s children is to
get us to question God’s love for us. He tries to
convince us that God’s promises aren’t for us,
that He has abandoned us, and that we have
no hope. He also attacks us with sickness and
other physical trials, all with the intent that our
thoughts and energies will be focused on our
circumstances, and not on God.
Now, I have taught others that the stronger the
test that God allows, the more confidence He has
in our ability to endure it. I’ve reminded people
that God has promised He won’t allow us to be
tempted beyond what we are able to bear, but
with every temptation He will also make a way of
escape for us (1 Corinthians 10:13). I knew that.
I’d preached it.
But when it came to my own life, it was a
different story.
By the time I admitted I couldn’t handle the
things I was going through on my own, I had
been diagnosed with an advanced case of anxiety
and depression. The doctors told me I was too
far gone for any solution other than medication.
And I was determined not to go there.
I was furious that God had allowed this to
happen to me. I was a prime example of those
written about in Proverbs 19:3, who ruin their
lives through their own foolishness and then
pour out their anger on God.
I refused to take antidepressants. I believed
taking them would be acknowledging that I was
losing my mind, and I was never going to do
that. Taking pills seemed to me to be an act of
weakness.
So I devised my own solution to my problems.
I never once consulted God or considered for a
second that medication and doctors might be
something He could use to help me. Instead, I
did things my way, and my way gave Satan an
even stronger foothold in my life.
I began drinking wine and smoking marijuana
to help me relax. My anxiety was so bad that I
couldn’t sleep for more than two or three hours
at a time. I also couldn’t eat. I was too nervous. I
justified my self-medication methods, convincing
myself that it was okay for me to use these things
to help me sleep and eat better. It was for my
health.
But Satan knew my former battles with drugs
and alcohol, and he knew that bringing these
substances back into my life would open a door
for my destruction. His plan worked. It didn’t take
long for my addictions to rear their ugly heads.
Then came the guilt. I’m telling you, the guilt
and addictive behavior quickly outweighed all
my previous issues put together. Now I was really
angry with the Lord.
18 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 Photography by Timothy Smith Honor Photography

Before this depression thing came up, I had been clean for 27
years. Twenty-seven years! I just couldn’t understand why God
would “allow me” to fall into yet another cycle of addiction after
being clean for so long.
In my eyes, everything that happened to me was His fault—
everything. I reasoned that, being a sovereign God, none of this
would have happened if He hadn’t allowed it. Crazy, isn’t it, that I
would blame God for causing me to become addicted again? Did I
really blame Him for putting the wine glass to my lips and the joint
in my mouth? Yeah, I did.
In my deception, I began to bargain with the Lord. “Okay, Lord,” I
said, “if You take away this anxiety and depression, I’ll stop smoking
this pot.” After all, I wouldn’t have broken my sobriety if He’d have
protected me like He was supposed to. It was His fault.
Well, as you can imagine, that didn’t work out too well. Things
got progressively worse. I continued to blame my struggles on God,
and again, suicidal thoughts attacked my mind.
Praise the Lord, I didn’t succumb to them. God, in His great
mercy, gave me the strength to endure. With never-ending
patience, He called out to me, even in the midst of my rebellion
and pride. What a good God He is!
Looking back, I can see that my trials did not lead to my downfall
and suffering. I know for certain God didn’t desert me. There was
no lack of protection on His part. Rather, I allowed my own spirit of
pride to deceive me into thinking that I was strong enough and that
I knew enough to handle life in my own strength.
I learned the hard way that I have no strength outside of God’s.
It’s only in His strength that I can do anything (Philippians 4:13).
Apart from Him, I can do nothing (John 15:5).
Praise the Lord, when I finally stopped blaming God and trying to
negotiate with Him, when I humbled myself before Him, He lifted
me up (James 4:10). He lovingly gave me a place of refuge. He
became my source of strength. He became, as He always was and
is, the ever-present help in my time of need (Psalm 46:1).
You know what else happened? The devil and his depression and
anxiety lost their hold on me. James 4:7 says, “Humble yourselves
before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” As I
humbled myself before God, He gave me the strength to resist the
enemy and his lies. And that’s when I found victory and peace. The
enemy was defeated.
You may not have experienced the same level of depression and
anxiety that I did, but I’m sure in some way you can relate, even if to
a small extent. Have you felt overwhelmed by life’s circumstances?
Have you felt like God has abandoned, forgotten, or held out on
you? Have you been tempted to face life’s battles in your own
strength, agreeing with Satan’s lie that “you’ve got this”? Or have
you listened to Satan’s lies that say, “It will never get better. You
might as well check on outta here”?
If that’s you, please learn from my story. Don’t attempt to face
your trials on your own and in your own strength. That leads to
nothing but loneliness and despair. Instead, let God help you, and
let others help you too. If you need medical help, get it. Don’t
attempt to go through this journey of life alone. Ask for help. Accept
help. Don’t cut short the life that you’ve been given. Live it with and
for Jesus Christ. V
McKenzie, now free
from depression and
suicidal thoughts, helps
others find freedom from
whatever enslaves them.
Photography by Timothy Smith Honor Photography kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 19

Champions
for God
by Kristi Overton Johnson
Every sport has them—young
athletes who rise to the top with such
power and grace that it boggles the
mind. In the sport of water skiing,
Anna Gay (18) and Neilly Ross (16)
are two such athletes. Already, these
teens have each been crowned world
champions and have won every major
water-skiing title in the trick event, an
on-water version of gymnastics.
In 2015, the water-ski community
was put on notice that there were
some new kids on the block when
Anna, at the age of 15, won the 2015
World Championships in Mexico,
while Neilly, then 14, captured the
silver. At the most recent 2017 World
Championships in France, Neilly came
home with the gold. The two have
traded the number one world ranking
position back and forth, each pushing
the other and their competitors to new
heights.
But more impressive than their
accomplishments on the water is
their character. These two aren’t just
beautiful faces with amazing talents
to water ski; they are beautiful to the
core. From the top of the podium, they
reflect a spirit of humility, perseverance,
kindness, joy, peace, and purity. They
are strong in faith, wise beyond their
years, and willing to take a stand
when the rest of the world settles for
conformity. They have courageously
chosen the road less traveled, though
very few go with them.
When I asked if they’d like to share
their faith in Victorious Living, they
immediately responded, “Yes!” Even
after I explained to them the possibility
of judgment and criticism from others
who don’t share their faith, they were
still committed and excited to share
their faith stories. In a moment you’ll
see why. These two champions have
discovered the one thing in life that
can truly bring joy, worth, peace, and
purpose. And it isn’t world titles, world
records, money, or fame.
~Kristi
20 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 Timothy Smith Honor Photography

KRISTI: For years, you two have been each
other’s greatest competition, yet you remain close
friends. Tell me about your friendship.
ANNA: I’ve known Neilly my whole life. Our
dads went to college together and competed in
water skiing at a world level. Through the years,
our families have grown close—we’re like family.
Neilly’s like a sister to me. She understands all
that I go through as an athlete, student, and
Christian. And she even understands what it’s
like to have your father as your coach. (Laughs.)
It’s so nice to have someone you love standing
with you, someone who honestly wishes you
well and isn’t hoping you fall.
NEILLY: Sure, there’s a rivalry between Anna
and me, but it’s a good one. We push each
other to be better, on the water and off. I’m
a better skier because of her, and I also have a
stronger relationship with Jesus Christ because of
her. We want the same things in life, so we keep
each other grounded, accountable, and focused.
KOJ: When did you two first learn to water
ski? Was having a water ski career always on
your radar?
NR: I started water skiing when I was two. My
dad was a slalom skier, so my early years on the
water were focused on that discipline. But then
I learned to trick ski. Anna and her family taught
me, and that changed everything. Tricking was my
true passion, although I continued to compete in
the slalom event. You know something is your
passion when no one can pull you away from it.
I’ve always wanted to be out on the water, logging
more sets. I loved it; I still do.
AG: I learned to ski at age two also. I did it
because it was what my parents did. My mother
and father are both world-class skiers, so it was
natural that I would ski too. But when I was six, I
caught the ski bug for myself. I developed a love
for the sport, the people, and just being out on the
water in general.
KOJ: Not only do you two train and compete
at a world level, you are also involved heavily
with school and volunteer activities. How do you
balance it all?
NR: Water skiing in general has made me
aware of the need for time management skills in
every area of my life. I try to be very conscious
of where I spend my time; and that I spend it on
something worthwhile and important to me. To do
this, I have to know my priorities and keep them
in check. I have learned that, with good focus and
time management, I can do way more than I think
I can. I believe a lot of people underestimate what
they could accomplish if they’d just put forth the
effort and manage their time well.
AG: I agree. Life in general is a balancing act. I
can’t do everything at one time, so I have to make
choices. For me, I evaluate my priorities every day
and determine what I need to focus on for that day.
Some days I need to focus more on my studies, so
I put them first. Other days, I need more on-water
I have learned that, with good focus and time management,
I can do way more than I think I can. I believe a lot of people
underestimate what they could accomplish if they’d just put
forth the effort and manage their time well.
Photography by Des Burke-Kennedy
Anna soars through the air
at Moomba Masters in Melbourne, Australia.
time to prepare for an upcoming event. I try to be
flexible and give myself the grace and space to do
what needs to be done. Like Neilly said, if you put
your mind to something, you can achieve more
than you know. You just have to schedule it out,
manage your time, and make choices that will lead
you to your goals.
KOJ: You two have accomplished so much.
You’ve reached every goal you’ve ever set for
yourselves. You’ve won every title possible on
the water, and you’re so young. What have you
learned about accomplishments, achievements,
fame, and trophies? Are they everything you
thought they would be?
NR: Anna and I never imagined we’d get this
far, this young. Already, we’ve each accumulated
US Masters titles, World Championship titles, and
set world records. When I was little, I hoped I’d
be the best trick skier in the world…someday. I
continued on page 22
Neilly has flipped her
way to every major
title in the women’s trick event.
Pictured here in a practice set on her
home lake near Orlando.
Photography by Vincent Stadlbaur kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 21

CHAMPIONS FOR GOD | from page 21_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
never dreamed that someday would come before
I’d completed college—but it’s already happened.
It’s all been very strange. You think being a
world champion will totally change your life,
but it doesn’t. It might bring you happiness
and excitement for five minutes, and then it’s
like, what now? I’ve already learned that if your
whole life is wrapped up in accomplishing some
title or goal, you’ll never be happy. You’ll always
be chasing something, but you won’t know what
you’re chasing. You’ll think, “If I can just win this
tournament (or accomplish this or that), I’ll be
happy.” But you won’t. Accomplishments can’t
make you happy, they only put you in a cycle of
ups and downs, and there is no end to the cycle.
AG: Yeah. I remember when I won the world
championships in Mexico. I was 15, and suddenly
I was standing on top of the podium with Neilly
by my side in second place. Someone came up
to me and said, “Do you realize that you are the
world champion?” Evidently I didn’t look excited
enough. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy; it was
just that it wasn’t what I had expected. As I took
it all in, I suddenly realized that water skiing isn’t
everything. It’s so fleeting. It can’t bring me lasting
joy. There’s no joy in life if all I am working for is a
medal and the title of being number one.
KOJ: So what have you found that brings you
lasting joy? What is life truly about?
AG: It’s simple: it’s Jesus. He’s the source of
my joy. He’s my strength. He’s what this life is all
about. After my gold medal in Mexico, I realized
that, although I enjoy water skiing, I didn’t want
to do it for me or for trophies. I wanted to do it
for God. I wanted to glorify Him with my talents.
I wanted to share His love with my peers and
hopefully impact lives through the platform I have
in this sport. God gave me this life and all these
resources, abilities, and opportunities. It’s the least
I can do.
NR: Same with me. After I won my World
Championship title in France this past September,
I knew there had to be more to life than
accumulating water ski medals. I have a greater
purpose. My mindset has changed in the last few
years. My focus isn’t about being the greatest
skier anymore; it’s about making what I do, on
the water and off the water, count for God. Like
Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it
with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for
human masters” (NIV).
Skiing isn’t everything; it’s a tool to touch lives.
I’m so thankful that at end of the day, skiing isn’t
what fulfills me. God is. He is always with me, and
He loves me. Unlike a medal or title, He will never
disappoint or fade away.
KOJ: I have walked the same journey you two
are walking right now—like you, I experienced
early success in water skiing. I was ranked
number one in the world when I was still a teen.
I too had a parent as my coach, and my family
was heavily involved in water skiing. I also share
your faith, and I know it isn’t easy to stand strong
as a Christian.
I so admire you both for standing for your
faith and moral convictions so early in life. I wish
I could say that I did the same, but I didn’t. I was
so eager to have people like me that I often
gave in to pressure. I didn’t want people to think
I was “different,” so I joined in the crowd and
went against my own convictions for the sake
of people. How do you stand strong? I know the
pressure that comes at you.
AG: It’s not easy for either of us. There are
temptations and pressures around every corner,
and we don’t always stand perfectly. We are
human and make mistakes. But with God’s help,
we try our best. And when we do fail, God helps
us get back on track.
People don’t always understand our belief in
God or the choices we make. Sometimes they
pressure us to join in, or they make fun of us. Last
year at a ski event in Poland, some people said
I thought I was better than them because I’m a
Christian. I don’t even know how to respond to a
statement like that. I don’t, by any means, think I’m
better than anyone else. I just want to live a life that
is in line with my beliefs and moral upbringing. It’s
how my family raised me. It’s important to me.
NR: I don’t think I’m better than anyone, either.
Nor do I judge the decisions of others. It’s just…
the things of the world aren’t important to me.
They aren’t going to move me forward, so I don’t
want them in my life. Honoring God with my life
choices is what is important to me, and I do the
best I can. And no, I don’t always get it right.
When people do poke fun, I wouldn’t say their
remarks don’t hurt. They do. But I guess that’s
just part of living a Christian life. Thankfully I don’t
have to face it alone. God is with me and gives
me strength. My parents are also there to help.
My mom is such a source of comfort to me. She
shares scriptures with me all the time, reminding
me who God is and who I am in Him. She helps
me keep everything in perspective.
KOJ: How does your faith help you in life? Why
is it so important to you that you would choose
being made fun of over giving into pressure?
AG: My faith means everything
to me. It helps me every day.
It brings purpose and peace.
Studying the Bible and applying
it to my life helps me know how
to handle situations on and off
the water. It helps me know how
to relate to people in a godly
manner. It also helps me know
Anna is all smiles after winning the women’s trick
event at the 2015 World Championships in Mexico
with her best friend, Neilly, in second.
22 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 Photography by Russell Gay

Photography By Spencer Shultz
Anna (left) and Neilly both
learned to water ski at the age
of two and have shared many
common experiences on the
water. Already as teens, both
have captured every major
title in the sport of water skiing
for the trick discipline.
Anna in a practice run for the slalom event. She is one of the world’s top water
skiers in all three disciplines: slalom, trick, and jump.
God in a personal way through His Son, Jesus. God is always with me. He
loves me. This comforts me. Unlike people who push me away and hurt me
with their actions and words, God never hurts me. He never abandons me.
Life isn’t always good. It’s not always easy. But God helps me through every
situation.
NR: My faith keeps me strong in heart. God is so present in my life; I sense
His presence everywhere I go. I can be standing on a water-ski dock, ready
to take to the water, and I pray to God. Overwhelming peace fills me up. It’s
amazing. I know that He is standing on that dock with me. As Isaiah 43:2 says,
He is with me as I pass through the water. I am never alone. He is my source
of strength. He alone gives me the peace and ability to ski in confidence.
Because of my relationship with God and the way He encourages my
heart, I have stopped looking at life as a series of coincidences. God is always
at work in my life. Nothing is by chance. He sends me daily encouragement,
reminding me that He sees me, loves me, and cares about what I am going
through. I can be having a problem, and the Lord will send someone or a
scripture, sometimes even by way of Pinterest, to lift me up. That particular
scripture will speak exactly to what I am going through. I know all these things
are God sent.
I want to
be known as
someone who not
only dedicated
herself to her
sport but who
was “different.”
I want to be a
reflection of
Jesus Christ.
times. But I’m trying to realize that my worth, in
God’s eyes and in my parents’ eyes, isn’t based on
my performance.
KOJ: You two will be listed in the record
books long after you retire. How do you want to
be remembered in this sport?
NR: I want to be remembered for the small acts
of kindness I try to do for the people I encounter
each day. I’ve been very fortunate. God has
blessed me with achievements that have placed
me at a level of real recognition, even though I’m
young. I hope my life will serve as a testimony that
honors God; that I can serve as an example to
others as I continue the path and keep the faith.
AG: I want to be known as someone who not
only dedicated herself to her sport but who was
“different.” I want to be a reflection of Jesus Christ.
Of course I want to be thought of as a good skier,
but I believe that God gave me this gift as a way
for me to spread the gospel. I want others to know
that there is a God who loves them and who will
help them; I want them to cling to Him. Having
a strong relationship with God is more rewarding
than any title anyone can ever win. V
KOJ: Have either of you fallen into the trap of letting your performance
on the water dictate your sense of self-worth?
AG: Oh yes. Social media creates a big temptation to get caught up in
being “Anna the skier.” I noticed this a couple of years ago. I was getting a
lot of attention on social media and in magazines. It felt good to hear people
say, “Awesome job, Anna,” and comment on my skiing abilities. I enjoyed
seeing myself on social media posts and reading all the comments. But then
I noticed I began to look for those comments. I was waiting with my phone in
hand, ready to read what people said about me. I was even posting pictures
so people would applaud me more and more. It was addicting. Finally, I came
to my senses and did some soul searching. I asked myself why the comments
of people were so important to me. I discovered it was pride. I was far from
the humble person I wanted to be.
NR: I am often tempted to find my worth in my performance. I don’t
like not performing well; I feel like I am disappointing my parents, even
though I know I’m not. They’ve sacrificed so much for me to be a great skier.
Water skiing isn’t cheap! So I put a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself
to do good, just so I can please other people. I’m very hard on myself at
At the 2017 World Championships in Paris, France, Neilly, age 16, was crowned world
trick champion Also pictured, Erika Lang (left) and Natalia Bernikava (right).
kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 23

MIRACLES ARE REAL—Even Today by Nancy Hunter
I believe in miracles—not just the ones the Bible
tells us about, but the ones that happen today that
are most often labeled coincidence. I can’t tell this
story of faith, hope, and love without giving credit
to my heavenly Father.
More than 20 years ago, I was a middle
school teacher in a small town with its fair
share of troubled youth. I had a passion to help
these students, and it’s one that still burns within
me. But the day Anthony Conyers, a small,
unkempt boy, walked into my classroom was the
beginning of a life-changing journey that brought
him from a shy student to my loving son.
Any teacher will tell you, if you get a student in
the middle of January, there’s a story that comes
with the kid. Tony had been placed in foster care,
and the first miracle we experienced was that our
lives crossed in the first place. He was from a town
15 miles away, and he was only in my class for
three months. But that was long enough for him
to burrow deep into my heart.
I knew life had been horrible for this little boy,
but it wasn’t until many years later that I learned
just how bad things had been for him. He tried
hard to hide his past, but he was keen enough to
know my concern was genuine. I found the foster
home he was in to be lacking many of his and his
brother’s basic needs.
Tony and I bonded tightly in the few months we
had and continued to keep in contact, exchanging
letters through a guidance counselor at his school.
I lost contact with Tony the next school year,
because he withdrew from school and moved
to another county when his mom was released
from prison. I thought about him often and was
shocked when I received a phone call a year
or so later, telling me Tony had been arrested.
Our school resource officer had also bonded with
this child and had heard on the local news that
four youths—including Tony—had been arrested
for a murder in a neighboring town. I couldn’t
believe it until I turned on the television and saw
him, handcuffed, being led into the back of a
police station.
I can’t explain the emotions I felt that day, but I
knew I had to contact Tony. I assumed that no one
else would be there for him, and I was right. He
was a 14-year-old kid who’d been with the wrong
people at the wrong time. I didn’t know the details,
but I knew I had to let him know that someone
still cared. I was not allowed to visit the juvenile
facility he was in, but I could write him letters.
We wrote back and forth for a short while. He was
adjudicated as an adult because of the seriousness
of his charges and was soon transferred to our
county jail. At that point, I began weekly visits and
maintained them for more than three years before
he went to trial.
As we talked on filthy phones through Plexiglas
etched with initials and doodles from years of
jailhouse visits, I got to know how amazing this
kid really was. I couldn’t help but compare how
seldom he complained, compared to my students
at school and even my own two teens at home.
We were given one hour to visit, and sometimes I
struggled with things to talk about to get his mind
out of incarceration and back into the world I was
in. I read several books to him, and he remembers
them even today, including the voices I used when
reading The Indian in the Cupboard.
We laughed a lot. I watched him grow from that
14-year-old boy to a young man heading toward
his 18th birthday during those visits. I experienced
much frustration, as door after door was slammed
in my face while I tried to help this kid. He wasn’t
charged with killing anyone, but he was charged
with being there when someone else did.
Nancy has written countless letters to her
son, Anthony since his incarceration in 1999.
We never discussed what happened. I knew we
were being recorded every visit, and I didn’t want
to jeopardize his case. I only knew what I heard on
the news and read in the papers. Tony was charged
with principal to murder. He was with three older
boys when they broke into a home they said they
assumed was unoccupied. But there was someone
in the home. An elderly gentleman lost his life that
night. I was told that Tony was on the porch when
this all happened and that he didn’t know about it
until later that evening. To be honest, I didn’t know
what to believe, but I couldn’t give up on the kid I
sat across from week after week.
We saw God move in our lives when my
mother met Tony’s birth mother where she was
incarcerated. My mom was a pastor who had a
prison ministry that met once a month with a
group of women at Lowell Women’s Prison. One
day, an inmate asked for prayer for her son who
was incarcerated and awaiting trial. As she spoke,
my mom realized that she was speaking about
Tony. Mom told her that I had been visiting him
each week, and Mary, Tony’s mother, wrote to ask
me to contact his attorney. I explained that the
attorney wouldn’t speak to me because I was not
his family. She then offered to give custody of Tony
24 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 Photography by Timothy Smith Honor Photography

to me. It took months
for the paperwork to get
from her to Tallahassee
and then back to me,
but I eventually took legal
custody of the kid I had
been taking care of anyway.
By this time, Tony was
nearing his trial date, but still,
my phone calls to his attorney
were not returned.
Tony went to trial and was
found guilty. When I heard
he’d received life, for the
first time in my life, I felt
an overwhelming sadness
that wouldn’t go away. I
had spent my life helping
children and was used to
seeing positive results. I
had never felt so helpless.
I began writing letters to
anyone I thought might
help us. Door after door
was slammed in my face,
or I was ignored all together.
In the meantime, I kept writing Tony letters
of encouragement to help him survive in an
environment that I knew just enough about to
make me worry. As always, his letters and phone
calls were all about trying to make me feel better.
I stayed on him to continue his education but
soon discovered that option was not available to
someone serving life. Another miracle happened
when someone at the prison gave him a GED
book to study, even though he wasn’t allowed
to take the classes. The best gift I ever received
in the mail was Tony’s GED certificate. The note
attached said that his scores were the highest the
test administrator had ever seen.
Years passed, and my kid became a man. We
continued exchanging letters and phone calls to
keep in touch. In one letter, Tony thanked me
for always being there for him and not giving up.
He said I acted more like a mom than a teacher.
I reminded him that his birth mother had given
me custody, and from that moment on, he began
his letters with Dear Mom, rather than Dear Mrs.
Hunter.
Around this time, I transferred my teaching job
from the middle school to our local high school.
I taught freshmen, and Tony began writing letters
to my students for me to read at the beginning of
the semester. He encouraged my students to think
about their choices and how the consequences
Nancy helps a young Anthony with his homework. Nancy first met Anthony when he came
into her classroom mid-school year. It wasn’t long before her role changed from teacher
to mom. A recent picture of Nancy and her son, Anthony during a visit in prison. Now 34,
Anthony has been incarcerated since he was 14 years old.
of bad choices could affect
their lives forever, just as they
had his. His story grabbed the
hearts of my students, and I used it with every
new group that walked into my classroom. Tony’s
letters have had such an impact on my students
over the years. Many have told me that those
letters directly changed the way they looked at life
decisions.
Things began to change when I received a
phone call from a New York City news reporter.
She was doing a story on kids who were serving
life in prison for crimes they’d committed when
they were younger than 16 years of age. I consider
this lady to be our angel. She helped us realize that
there were others in the world who thought Tony
deserved another chance. The miracle in all of this
was that she chose Florida to do her investigative
study and picked two young men out of almost
300 to focus on—and one was Tony.
This reporter got my name from his sister and
came to interview and film me reading one of
Tony’s letters to my students. She went to South
Florida and interviewed Tony for her piece. And
she sent me an email that made my heart skip
a beat. She said that after meeting Tony, she
couldn’t get him or his story out of her mind. She
told me she had a friend who was an international
attorney, and that she was going to speak to him
about Tony’s case.
Miraculous is about the only word I can use to
describe the next part of our journey. The attorney
this reporter was speaking of was John Lauro. At
first, he told us there wasn’t much he could do,
since Tony was already sentenced and serving life.
Months went by, and then one day, at the end of
school, my phone rang. The call was from New
York, and the excitement in the reporter’s voice
was evident. She was in her newsroom and had
just received news that the United States Supreme
Court had decided that a mandatory life sentence
without the possibility of parole for a juvenile was
unconstitutional. Neither of us knew exactly what
that meant for Tony, but within weeks, she had
talked with Attorney Lauro. Then she gave me his
cell phone number.
I must admit, I knew nothing about John
Lauro when I made that first call, except that he
was genuine and willing to do what he could
to help Tony out. Later that evening, after our
conversation, I Googled his name and realized just
how blessed Tony was to have this celebrated and
much-honored attorney willing to take on his case.
John’s staff immediately began researching and
investigating Tony and his case. He went to meet
him, then called to tell me he was determined to
do all he could to help after getting to know Tony.
Within weeks, he sent three wonderful, supportive
attorneys to my house to learn everything I could
tell about Tony and our journey together. Over
the next several months, John kept me informed
on everything that was going on with the case.
continued on page 37
Photography by Timothy Smith Honor Photography kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 25

MINISTRY NEWS
The
Process
Do you need encouragement?
If you are in the military, the hospital,
assisted living, an addiction recovery
program, or incarcerated and find
yourself in need of encouragement,
our Correspondence Team is here for
you. Here’s what you can expect:
Send a letter to us at:
Victorious Living
Correspondence Outreach
PO Box 328
Starke, FL 32091
You’ll receive:
✚ Welcome letter from founder,
Kristi Overton Johnson
✚ Timely, prayerful responses from
our Correspondence Team
✚ Monthly devotionals from
Kristi Overton Johnson
✚ Personal subscription to
Victorious Living magazine
✚ Prayer support from our Victorious
Living Correspondence Team
Victorious Living | Real People, Real Stories, Real Hope!
Filled with marvelous stories of God’s faithfulness and the truth of His Word, Victorious Living brings
proof that God is alive and working in the lives of His children today.
When I started this magazine in 2011, all I knew was that the Lord wanted me to start telling people’s
stories, so I did. In 2013, He opened a door for Victorious Living to be distributed in the prison system.
(Visit kojministries.org to learn how God turned a simple visit with an incarcerated friend into an evergrowing
prison outreach that today includes monthly mentorship and personal correspondence with
thousands of inmates.) Victorious Living is truly a light in the darkness.
Beginning in 2018, Victorious Living will also be distributed to military personnel at home and overseas,
as well as in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and assisted living facilities. We want
to bring hope, help, and freedom to people who are isolated, overwhelmed, and facing challenging
situations. We know that the God-stories contained in this magazine can encourage and equip people
for victorious living in every season of life.
Maybe after you’ve finished reading your copy, you’ll consider supporting this life-changing outreach
of hope and freedom. We would appreciate your help.
Kristi Overton Johnson
PLEASE NOTE: Those who write to our ministry team
will receive a personal response from our team signed
“Your Victorious Living Family.” Our team of writers love
the Lord and are committed to encouraging you in your
life journey. Due to the volume of correspondence, we
are unable to assign specific writers to individuals. Also,
we cannot handle legal cases, contact people on your
behalf, or disperse items such as money or stamps. Please
write your personal information neatly and include your
DOC number if you are incarcerated. PLEASE NOTIFY
US IF YOU ARE TRANSFERRED FROM YOUR
FACILITY OR BASE. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE
A RESPONSE FROM OUR TEAM WITHIN ONE
MONTH, IT MEANS EITHER WE DID NOT RECEIVE
YOUR LETTER, WE COULD NOT REPLY BECAUSE WE
COULD NOT READ YOUR NAME/DOC#, OR YOUR
FACILITY HAS REJECTED OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO REPLY.
Kristi sharing Victorious Living magazine and an
encouraging word behind prison walls in Florida.
So encourage each other and build each
other up, just as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Carry It Out. Shine Bright & Write!
Please tell others about Victorious Living magazine and our correspondence outreach. Also, consider hosting a
Shine Bright and Write Event at your home, church, or organization. Together, through this letter-writing
endeavor, we can touch many lives! See kojministries.org for more information.
Waiting in the hospital reception area
while her husband undergoes heart
bypass surgery, this lady finds hope
and encouragement in the pages of
Victorious Living.
26 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 Photography by Todd McClennan

FROM OUR READERS
Every day, our Victorious Living Correspondence Team receives letters from people who love the Lord and who desire to encourage us in our faith journey.
These letters lift our spirits, strengthen our faith, and spur us on to continue the work the Lord has put before us. We hope these letters will encourage
your heart as well.
Dear Victorious Living,
After discovering one of your magazines behind
prison walls, I decided to write to you. It wasn’t
long before I received a beautiful, handwritten
letter from your correspondence team. And it
came at just the right time! Tears flowed as I read
the encouraging note, along with the powerful
verse from Isaiah 41:10. It says, “Don’t be afraid,
for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am
your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I
will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
In my moments of despair, doubt, fear, and
worry, that verse always, always, always appears.
I just wanted to say thank you to the member of
your Victorious Living correspondence team who
wrote to me. It means the world to me that they
would take time out of their busy day to send an
uplifting letter to me, a stranger. Whoever you
are, God has abundant blessings for you and
your household. Since you lifted me up when I
needed it, God will exalt you and show you favor.
Thank you for your love, patience, and kindness.
It is truly refreshing.
Together in Christ,
Raphael
Dear Victorious Living Family,
Thank for your magazine and for the personal
correspondence. I look forward to your quarterly
publication, monthly devotions, and personal
letters. I wanted to share with you something I
have learned behind prison walls.
Sometimes in prison, it’s easy to think about
the future and ask ourselves what we want to
do when we get out. We wonder where we will
go, what goals we’ll achieve, and what jobs or
careers we want.
We forget about the unconscious decisions we
make during a normal day. I am learning to stay
focused throughout the day, to be conscious of
all my decisions and not focused so much on
the future. This helps me be refreshed in God’s
presence and not be overwhelmed. I’m also
learning how to put on my spiritual armor every
day and take up my shield of faith, just like it says
in Ephesians 6.
Athletes would never take on a competition
without warming up and putting on their padded
uniforms. Yet as Christians, we often face the
world and our enemy totally unprepared and
uncovered.
I think back to my competitive days. I stretched,
twisted, turned, and ran around to get ready for
the game. I studied the plays and suited up to
protect myself. Similarly, reading God’s Word,
praying, and thanking God keeps me warmed up
and ready to tackle any situation together with
Him. Walking in His Word and trusting in it also
protects us and helps us fight our battles. I want
to encourage your readers to remember this:
Stay in the present with God, and He will give
you His presence right where you are.
I have been sending you prayer requests; one of
them is that my roommate would find the Lord
or at least acknowledge Him. God is answering
our prayers. He asked me for the first time the
other week if I would mind praying with him. Of
course, we prayed together! A few nights ago, he
asked me again. God is good, isn’t He? Thank
you for partnering with me on this prayer.
Continue the great work, Victorious Living.
May God bless you!
Until next time,
Jonathan
I Got Off
the Dock
by Kenneth P. Johnson
I became a convict in 1987, in my 40th year of destroying myself in sin. Prison was not a nice place. I arrived as a
new inmate, and the predators watched me get off the transport bus. If you have read Victorious Living for any length
of time, you know what prison life can be.
In prison, the last place I wanted to be was church. Yet I found myself spending hours in the chaplain’s library. Many
afternoon and evening services found me in attendance. Jesus was calling, standing at my door as He promises: “Look!
I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20).
The thing I feared most was the baptismal tank. It would be too cold. Maybe a fungus would be thriving in the water.
I could experience heart failure in the process and become flotsam. Maybe a host of hecklers would yell “hypocrite” at
me as the chaplain plunged me under the water. How embarrassing that would be—after all, I’m in prison!
One day, I confessed my faulty fears and asked some Christian brothers to lay hands on me for healing of those
fears. I asked them to pray that I would open the door and let Jesus come into my life with power. A week later, as water
skier Kristi Overton Johnson would say, I “got off the dock” and into the water. I was baptized into Christ’s church, and
no one criticized. The life jacket that Jesus promised held me up. That day I became free. A new life began!
But even better than all that, if I were to die today, I know for sure that I would go to heaven to be with Jesus for
eternity. Jesus’ words in John 6:47 are what this convict is trusting for His eternal life: “I tell you the truth, anyone who
believes has eternal life.”
You can have this, too.
Thirty years ago, I realized that what I was doing for God was falling short because of my sin. So I repented of my
sins and transferred my trust from myself to Jesus Christ—from what I had been doing for God to what He has done
for me on the cross.
To receive eternal life, you must transfer your trust from yourself to Jesus Christ alone. You can do this right now.
Confess to Him your sin and shortcomings. Invite Him to enter the door of your life and become your Savior. Then
thank Him for your gift of eternal life. V
kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 27

Don’t Miss the
Beauty
by Kristi Dews Dale
“They were relentless,” her Sunday School teacher said.
My heart ached as the teacher described my daughter being
cornered at church by a brother and sister who were new to the Sunday
School class and who had never seen a child who was missing a hand.
My five-year-old daughter tried to explain to them that God had
made her special in this way. But they persisted. “You’re creepy and
scary. Why do you look like that?”
The teacher intervened several times, but the kids wouldn’t stop their
jeering. Finally, the mother and teacher talked to the pair, explaining to
them about differences in people. They stopped being cruel to my
daughter, but the damage was done. And it didn’t take long for me
to notice.
Because of my daughter’s undeveloped hand, I usually alter her
long-sleeved clothing to fit her properly. But the next Sunday, my
daughter wanted to leave the sleeve long, so that the fabric would fall
over her arm and conceal the missing hand.
My heart sank.
We adopted our daughter when she was one, and we have watched
her grow into a confident, beautiful, and joyful child. Every day we
have encouraged her and built her up for these very moments that we
knew, sadly, would eventually come. We have explained to her friends
that she can do almost anything they can do; she just has to do it a
little differently.
Our family, extended family, and friends have come alongside us
to make our daughter feel special. But as she gets older and we are
forced to release her into the world, she will be faced with these hurtful
moments more often.
Perhaps you’re reading this and thinking, “How could those kids
have been so mean? That’s awful!” But if we are honest with ourselves,
haven’t we all judged someone for how they looked? Dressed? Talked?
Judged them for the color of their skin? For their disability?
No, maybe we didn’t back them into a corner and yell hurtful things
to their face, but in the secret spaces of our brains, we did nearly the
same. And maybe like these kids, we didn’t even feel bad about it.
All people, including people with special needs and disabilities, are
wonderfully made—as is all of creation. A God who “counts the stars
and calls them all by name” is a detail-oriented God (Psalm 147:4). He
doesn’t make mistakes.
Moreover, He is a planner. God knows the plans He has for each of
us (Jeremiah 29:11), and He says, “Everything I plan will come to pass”
(Isaiah 46:10). He made a plan for our world before time began. And
all of us are part of that plan. We all have a race set before us to run
(Hebrews 12:1).
28 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 Photography By Sara Davis Photography

I may never know until I reach heaven why my daughter
was born without a hand, but I can tell you what I have
learned from parenting a child with a disability.
Spencer:
MY INSPIRATION by Neilly Ross
People with special needs and disabilities bring
joy to our world. They find happiness in everything,
and that happiness is contagious. Strangers smile as they
watch my daughter push a tiny shopping cart around
the grocery store, giggling as she goes along. She is
determined to fill it to the brim with groceries to help
her mama.
They teach us endurance. I watch my daughter
hurtle forward over and over, attempting to learn a
cartwheel in gymnastics class. And over and over again,
she falls. But she gets up…and she gets up…and she
gets up. How many times have I given up or wanted
to give up when frustration and hardship blocked my
path? Yet here she is, persisting in her goal and trying her
hardest. It’s a lesson we all need to learn.
They are patient. I was told early on by hospital
staff to let my daughter struggle to do tasks by herself.
Watching a two-year-old with one hand learn to
dress herself and not help her was hard. But she
patiently learned to accomplish this task, along with so
many others.
They are full of love. You can see it on their faces.
They have enough love for every man, woman, and
animal on the planet. They are overflowing with this gift,
and it is a blessing to the world.
You’ve read my story on page 20. I want to
tell you that much of my inspiration comes
from my thirteen-year-old cousin, Spencer,
who has Down syndrome. Spencer’s disability
has never caused my family to treat him
differently, but the rest of the world is not
as accepting of him. Most people’s reaction
toward Spencer is to avoid or exclude him,
but that means they miss seeing the kindness
in his heart and knowing the amazing kid he
is. Witnessing the harsh reality of Spencer’s
life has made me aware of the ignorant and
sometimes cruel world that we live in.
I am so grateful God allowed Spencer into
my life, because it has given me an awareness
of those who may not be considered “perfect”
according to society’s standards. Because of
him, I have a greater understanding that we
are all created in the image of God. All Spencer
needs to be happy is for someone to say hello
to him or to include him in a game. The little
things make such a big difference to him. He
reminds me to enjoy the simple pleasures of
life when I’m tempted to get swallowed up in
the pressures of the world.
I only wish you had the opportunity to
meet Spencer. He would inspire you too, no
doubt! But you know what? There are people
like Spencer all around you. Take the time to
speak to them, love them, and interact with
them—your life will be richer for it. V
Our cover feature, Neilly Ross,
poses with her brother Charlie
(right) and her biggest inspiration,
her cousin, Spencer (left).
People with disabilities and special needs possess so many
qualities that God values. The very ones I just shared are
listed in Galatians 5:22–23: “The Holy Spirit produces this
kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Oh, if I
could have just half of the qualities that my daughter exhibits
every day!
It’s time we embrace each other’s differences—it’s the
differences that make us beautiful. Think about it. A forest
filled with only oak trees would certainly bore the eye. But
a forest with a variety of trees both big and small, sporting
brilliant green, red, and golden leaves adorns the landscape.
People with special needs and disabilities adorn our world.
They are gifts from God. All people are gifts from God. Every
person from every race. Every generation. Every nation.
Everyone! Don’t miss out on the beauty of others. Learn to
embrace and appreciate each tree in the forest. And don’t
forget to pass this truth on to your children. V
kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 29

LETTERS OF HOPE
the power of Remembrance
by Colonel Jerry Curtis with Carole Avriett
WHERE DO WE TURN WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS? DOES GOD CARE
WHEN WE FACE DIFFICULT TRIALS? CAN HE REALLY HELP IN TIMES OF NEED?
THESE ARE QUESTIONS WE OFTEN ASK WHEN DESTRUCTIVE EVENTS
CONFRONT US. WHEN WE AREN’T FOCUSED ON THE ONE WHO
WILL HELP, WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES WONDERING IF ANYONE
REMEMBERS US AND IF ANYBODY EVEN CARES?
Bret A. Melvin
The date was September 20, 1965. The
place was a war zone in North Vietnam.
Rescue helicopter pilot Jerry Curtis received
an SOS distress call at his base in Thailand:
a fighter pilot had been shot down in
enemy territory and needed to be pulled
from the jungle.
Captain Curtis had done this many
times before, always successfully rescuing
the men whose planes had been shot out
from under them. But this day would prove
different. This day would define the rest of
his life.
Jerry and his helicopter crew neared
the site in North Vietnam where the pilot’s
location had been detected by radio. The
crew chief spotted him through the thick
jungle canopy. The crew lowered the hoist,
so the pilot could get into it. Then they
began raising him toward the helicopter.
About that time, however, small-arms
fire erupted. Jerry and the crew found their
helicopter plunging over 100 feet from the
sky through trees, limbs, and bushes. They
crash-landed on the jungle floor.
The men attempted to hide, but they
were soon discovered. Forty heavily armed
North Vietnamese soldiers captured the
airmen, stripped them of their dog tags,
tied their hands behind their backs, and
marched them for a week-long journey
through the jungles and dirt roads to
Hanoi, North Vietnam.
For the next nearly eight years, Jerry
endured brutal treatment, daily hunger, and
the bitter loneliness of solitary confinement.
Only his faith in God sustained him through
the hardships of 2,703 days as a prisoner
of war.
Here now is a letter from Jerry to you:
Dear Fellow Traveler:
Today, I’d like to talk to you about the power of
remembering. Remembering became a constant
subject for those of us who were in captivity during
the Vietnam War. But it’s something we’ve probably
all thought about at some time in our lives, because
everybody likes to be remembered. You receive an
unexpected card in the mail or a phone call from a
friend you haven’t heard from in a long time, and it
makes you feel special.
But when I was a prisoner in Hanoi, North
Vietnam from 1965–1973, I wondered if people
in the United States remembered those of us
who were in captivity. Sometimes, I was so lonely,
my mind played tricks on me. I even wondered
if my own family thought about me or if maybe
they were beginning to forget me.
When we finally returned home, we were
overwhelmed to learn about an amazing
“remembrance” campaign that was underway. It
began when some of the prisoners’ wives, mine
included, began producing metal bracelets with
the name of a prisoner of war (POW) or a soldier
missing in action (MIA) engraved across the cuff.
They sold the bracelets for a few dollars to cover
production costs, then they asked the buyers to
wear their bracelets until “their” prisoner returned
home.
I was astounded by the program. I was even
more amazed after my return home when people
mailed to me the actual bracelets they had worn for
nearly eight years with my name on them—family
and friends, yes; but also, complete strangers.
Even today, nearly 50 years later, I still receive
bracelets with my name. In fact, just a few weeks
ago, someone returned one to me. They were in the
process of moving from one house to another and
came across the bracelet with my name engraved
on it in an attic storage box. They began a search
and finally found how to send it to me. You can
Since his release in February 1973, Col. Curtis has
received over 600 engraved bracelets from people
across the nation who prayed for him by name during
his time as a POW in Vietnam. These bracelets served
as a reminder for people to remember soldiers who
were MIA and POW until their return.
imagine my surprise when I opened the small box
and saw it. It brought back all the memories again
of what those bracelets meant to each of the POWs
when we got home. To date, I’ve received over 600
bracelets, and I’ve tried to answer each one with a
personal note.
No one understands what it means to be
remembered better than I do.
When I was in prison, lonely and unsure if
anyone was thinking about me or cared about me,
I would remember what the Bible says. The truth
is, even if we think there’s no one else in the world
who remembers, God always does—and He wants
us to know that.
One of my favorite verses that I counted on in
prison was Isaiah 49:16. It says, “See, I have written
your name on the palms of my hands. [You] are
continually before me.” That’s almost like the POW/
MIA bracelets, isn’t it? God never forgets us—even
though we may forget Him sometimes.
Think about that—Jesus Himself has our names
engraved on the palms of His hands. That means
He knows my name, my circumstances—my very
life is etched across His palm. I am that important
and that close to Him. And so are you.
In Psalm 103:13–14, King David reminds us
that, not only does God remember us, but He
understands how weak we are: “The Lord is like a
father to his children, tender and compassionate to
those who fear him. He knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.”
We’ve all given in to our weaknesses; we’ve all
had times when we didn’t live up to the ideals we
30 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 Photography by Timothy Smith Honor Photography

The unfailing promises of God’s Word enabled Col.
Curtis to survive almost eight years as a POW in
Vietnam. Remembering God’s promises was an
anchor of hope for the colonel and other captives.
would like. But these verses help us understand
that God knows all about those times—and
He’s still ready to help us grow in strength and
wisdom, to overcome weaknesses, and to conquer
our failings.
God uses the beautiful rainbow we see in
the sky after a storm to show us that He has not
forgotten us. In Genesis 9:13, God says He placed
the rainbow there so we would recall His promise
that He would never destroy the earth again
by flood.
But perhaps the most incredible moment in
the Bible where we witness the power of being
remembered occurred during the final few
minutes of Jesus’ life on earth. Jesus was nailed
to the cross, and there were two thieves crucified
there too—one on His right side and one on
His left. Both heard and witnessed all that was
happening.
One of the dying men, after hearing Jesus clearly
say He forgave those who had turned against
Him, looked at Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember
me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus
replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in
paradise” (Luke 23:4–43).
“Remember me.” With those two words, the
dying man received everlasting life, because if
Jesus remembers a person, he or she is never
forgotten.
What an amazing concept! Even if we feel
there’s no one left on earth who thinks about
us or cares for us, there’s Someone we can ask
to remember us, and He will! And this is not just
anyone—Jesus is the ruler of the universe!
When that thief died on the cross that day, he
awakened in paradise. He’d probably never done
anything in all his life that was religious or in line
with what most people think of as “living a good
life.” Yet, because he turned to Jesus and asked to
be remembered, he instantly received the promise
of eternal life in heaven. Jesus didn’t tell the thief
he’d have to prove himself worthy; He simply said
that on that very day, that poor, destitute robber
would be with Jesus Himself in paradise.
But there’s another important aspect of
this remembering business: God wants us to
remember Him, too. The Bible makes it clear that
when we remember Him, God releases blessings
from heaven—more than we can ever imagine—
and He gives us the power to meet our daily
challenges and life’s difficulties.
How does this work?
As we remember God, believing His Word
and trusting Him, He comes to us with blessings,
wisdom, and strength. When we turn to Him,
relying on His ways and praying for His guidance,
He opens doors for us. He turns our battlefields
into blessings.
Throughout my life, God has been my friend.
Sometimes He’s been the only friend I had. He has
always been there for me—and He will be there for
you. When you ask God to remember you, and
you trust Him to do that, He will help you.
Sometimes I think back on those years I spent
in prison. I won’t kid you—that time was not easy.
We suffered and had many moments of feeling
down and helpless. But I kept remembering
God, praying to Him and, yes, even praising Him.
Sometimes I would sing hymns I remembered
from church or from youth groups, and they
helped me remember Him. And that filled me
with new hope that God would remember me.
And He did…the same way He’ll remember
you. Just ask Him.
I’m praying for you today.
Je r r y
Thoughts from Colonel Thomas Jerry Curtis
with author Carole Engle Avriett. Read more
about Jerry’s prison experiences in his memoir,
Under the Cover of Light, available on Amazon or
wherever books are sold. V
Cling to Hope
by Erin Warren
It’s been a hard week. A really hard week.
And in the midst of the mess and all the
emotions that came with it, I lost sight of
God. I took my eyes off Him and locked eyes
on my circumstances. I lay in bed, trying to
pray but instead found my mind swirling
with coulda, woulda, shouldas.
Then, on Thursday, I walked into my
son’s chapel presentation and saw five cards
across the stage with big, bold, red letters:
T-R-U-S-T. The theme was “trusting God
when it’s hard.”
Timely.
As his teacher introduced the theme,
she said they were going to tell the story of
Abraham.
The first girl stepped up to the microphone
and said, “God promised Abraham that
his descendants would become a large
and mighty nation. God always keeps His
promises.”
Timely again.
In Romans 4, Paul talks about Abraham
and shows us how he was called righteous
because of his unwavering faith. In fact,
verses 20–21 put it this way: “Abraham never
wavered in believing God’s promise. In
fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this, he
brought glory to God. He was fully convinced
that God is able to do whatever he promises.”
I’ve read this passage often, but I’m
embarrassed to admit that I’ve often
misunderstood it. This time, studying it, I saw
the grace in it. Abraham wasn’t perfect, but
he trusted God when the situation seemed
impossible, hopeless, confusing, and hard.
I watched these sweet kids share, one by
one, how they trust God when it’s hard—
in the dark, during spelling tests, during
competitions, during math quizzes, when
they’re scared. I watched as they retold the
story of Abraham with conviction. I listened
as they quoted scriptures, including the verse
that I go to first when I’m wavering in trust:
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust
in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is
the eternal Rock” (Isaiah 26:3–4).
continued on page 33
Photography by Timothy Smith Honor Photography kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 31

Learning to Trust: Lessons from My Grandson by Linda Cubbedge
This past November, my youngest son, Tyler,
and I traveled to North Carolina to visit my
middle son and his family for Thanksgiving. I
had not seen my grandson, Hank, since he was
a couple of months old, and he was turning one
on Thanksgiving Day. I could not wait to hold him,
squeeze him, and layer on some Meme kisses.
When we arrived, Tyler and I made our way
through the front door and then, finally, we were
face-to-face with precious little Hank. Grandmother
Gini was holding him. She came close to pass
him to me, but Hank held on tight to her. I totally
understood. Hank had not seen me in so long—he
had only heard my voice over the computer and
phone. He knew me only from a distance.
I realized that I had to allow Hank to warm up
to me, at his pace. He had to get to know and trust
his Meme Cubbedge from Florida.
The next morning, we got on the floor with
Hank and played with his toys. Tyler and I had so
much fun watching him crawl around and pick out
32 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018
certain toys that made noise or played music. Little
by little, Hank began to relax and enjoy Meme
and Uncle Tyler. Before long, I was feeding him,
changing his diapers, reading books to him, and
even rocking him when he was ready for a nap.
Before he went off to sleep, I laid Hank down
in his crib, closed his bedroom door, and went
downstairs. My middle son, Clint, and his wife,
Lindsey, have one of those baby monitors with
night vision so they can watch Hank while he
sleeps. Watching him from the kitchen, I could
see every move he made. He jibber-jabbered and
tossed and turned until he found his comfortable
spot and fell into a deep sleep. It was precious.
I’ve realized recently that the Lord used my
little grandson to teach me something about my
relationship with my heavenly Father.
He reminded me of how I’d had to be so very
easy around Hank. I couldn’t force him to let me
hold him. Even though Hank is my grandson, part
of my bloodline, this didn’t make him trust me.
WE FIGHT FAR
MORE BATTLES
THAN WE NEED
TO, SIMPLY BECAUSE
WE IGNORE THE PERSON
AND POWER OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT; WE LEAVE
HIM OUT OF OUR LIVES.
Hank had seen pictures of me and had heard my
voice on the phone. He’d even heard my name
mentioned over and over. But we hadn’t spent
time together. It wasn’t until we did that our
relationship began to flourish. In fact, the only way
any of us can come to know and trust someone
is by spending time—real time, focused time—with
that person.
The Holy Spirit reminded me that, just like
Hank, I needed to go through a process of getting
to know and trust Him too. God patiently waited
for me to cry out to Him. He never pushed Himself
on me, but He was always watching, ready to draw
me close. Just like I watched baby Hank, God
watches me closely too, waiting for me to cry out
to Him. And when I do, He comes to my rescue.
He picks me up, loves on me, and helps me grow.
I invited Jesus into my heart at a Billy Graham
Crusade when I was ten years old. I knew
something happened inside of me as I responded
to the invitation to accept Christ. That day in
January of 1961, I became what the Bible refers to
as “born again.” (See John 3:3–8.) But, like Hank, I
was an infant…a baby in my faith.
I started going to church and reading the Bible,
but getting to know God wasn’t a priority in my
life. I went through the routine for a while but
eventually stopped going to church and reading
my Bible altogether. Sure, I still believed in God,
but He wasn’t first in my life. He wasn’t even
second or third. Honestly, He wasn’t important to
me for many years, and it breaks my heart to even
say that.
After I graduated from high school, I pursued
other things, and I left God out of all of it. I wasn’t
doing bad things—I was spending my time being
a wife and a mama, working and playing softball—
but in my busyness, I neglected to nurture my
faith walk.
Praise God for my praying mama! I’m certain
that because of her faithful prayers, I began to
attend church again and to draw closer to God.
(Mothers and fathers, don’t give up praying for
and setting an example of faith for your kids. They
will come home to God.)
I began to draw close to Him through studying
His Word on my own, going to church, attending
Bible studies, praying, and watching the faithful
lives of others like my mother and grandparents.
All those things helped me know God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit better…and
I learned to trust Him.

Our heavenly Father can be trusted. You just
have to get to know Him. You have to study His
Word. There’s no way around it. The more you
know the Word, the more you will know God and
Jesus. After all, John 1:1 tells us Jesus is the Word.
Did you know the Lord has given us someone
very special to help us understand the Word of
God? He is the Holy Spirit. (See John 14:16–17.)
Many people know about God the Father and
His Son, Jesus, but they often ignore the person
of the Holy Spirit and forfeit all He has to offer. For
so long I, like many other believers, thought of the
Holy Spirit merely as a heavenly influence, a kind
of breeze, floating in and out of my life.
The reality is that the Holy Spirit is God, and
He lives in us, equal with the Father and the Son
(1 Corinthians 3:16–17). Jesus Christ Himself
depended fully on the Holy Spirit while on this
earth; how much more should we? It was in
the power of the Spirit that Jesus preached (Luke
4:14), prayed (Luke 10:21), and forgave those
who killed Him (Luke 23:34). And it was through
the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus brought
healing into people’s lives (Luke 5:17).
I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit’s role in my
life. He teaches me how to live a Christian life and
helps me become more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit
is my Source of wisdom, power, and strength.
He is my Comforter, Counselor, and Help. He
guides me into all truth. He fills me with joy and
peace, even in the most trying circumstances. The
Holy Spirit unveils God’s Word to me and helps
me know the will of God and His voice, as well
as the love of His Son. He teaches me from the
inside out because He lives within me, just as He
does every believer. (See John 14–16.)
We fight far more battles than we need to,
simply because we ignore the person and power
of the Holy Spirit; we leave Him out of our lives.
We try to solve things with our own ideas or
strategies without asking the Holy Spirit for His
wisdom and His strategies. And we struggle.
Many seek the gifts of the Spirit, yet
fail to seek the Giver of these gifts.
When you and I purpose to talk with
the Holy Spirit, when we ask Him to tell
us more about Jesus, He will.
At first, baby Hank was leery of his out-of-town grandmother. But
after spending some quality time with his Meme, little Hank was
eager to snuggle right up in her lap.
Zechariah 4:6 says, “Not by might nor by power,
but by my Spirit, says the Lord.” We need the
help of the Holy Spirit to accomplish anything
worthwhile on this earth.
The Holy Spirit will also help us mature
spiritually, so we can stand strong in this world.
Galatians 5:16–17 from The Passion Translation
says, “As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic
life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon
the cravings of your self-life. For your self-life
craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and
hinder him from living free within you. And the
Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your old
self-life from dominating you.” The Holy Spirit
empowers us to live out a victorious life of faith.
Are you tired of trying to live for Jesus but
falling into the same old traps of defeat? Get to
know the Holy Spirit. A person who knows the
presence of the Holy Spirit will always glorify and
magnify the Lord Jesus Christ.
You can begin today to walk in close
communion and fellowship with the Greater One
within you. He will develop the fruit of His Spirit
that abides in you—things like love, joy, peace,
forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).
He will make you a new person.
Many seek the gifts of the Spirit, yet fail to seek
the Giver of these gifts. When you and I purpose
to talk with the Holy Spirit, when we ask Him
to tell us more about Jesus, He will. Your love
for the Lord Jesus Christ and your heavenly Father
will deepen and, even greater than that, you will
believe that God loves you and He is for you, not
against you. And you will long for Him more and
more. Just like Hank longs for Meme.
Like the hymn writer, Daniel Iverson, I pray that
the Spirit of the living God will fall fresh on me
every day. I pray that for you, as well. “May the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
all” (2 Corinthians 13:14). V
CLING TO HOPE | from page 31_____________
Then with tears welling in my eyes, I
watched my son share his testimony about
trusting God during his daddy’s sickness. For
the last two years, my husband has endured
a battle against a chronic disease. It’s been
tough on our entire family. It required us to
make changes and live life in a new way—
changes that were sometimes hard for an
eight-year old to grasp. But God has drawn
us near. He’s deepened our faith in the
valley. And He didn’t just work in my life or
my husband’s life; He used the hard journey
to draw my son closer to Himself as well.
I walked out of there with renewed
strength. I asked myself, “what are the
promises God has given me? What am I
fully convinced God will do because He
promised?” Here’s the list I came up with:
• I am fearfully and wonderfully made
(Psalm 139:14).
• I am not condemned (Romans 8:1–2).
• I am covered by the blood of Jesus
(Colossians 1:21–22).
• He never leaves me or forsakes me
(Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Hebrews 13:5).
• He is working good in my life, even
when life isn’t good (Romans 8:28).
• He forgives me (Colossians 1:13–14).
• He has made me part of a beloved
family (Ephesians 2:19–21).
• My worth is found in Him, and He is
conforming me to look more like Him
(2 Corinthians 3:18).
• I am alive in Christ, no longer dead in
my sin (Colossians 2:13–14).
• He made me a masterpiece and has
a role only I can play for His kingdom
(Ephesians 2:10).
• He gave me His armor to fight the devil
(Ephesians 6:10-20).
I have clung to the promise found in
Romans 5:3–5 these last few years—the
promise that the suffering in our life will help
us grow. It will build endurance and deepen
our character and lead us to hope—and
not just any hope, but a hope that doesn’t
disappoint.
My son’s class was able to tell the story of
Abraham because God kept His promise. I’m
sure it was hard sometimes for Abraham to
keep trusting, but that’s what difficulty does.
It builds trust—a trust that our God will do
what He promises. V
kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 33

A Knothole of Revelation
by Kenny Munds
I’d just finished performing an
afternoon program at a Florida
correctional institution. An inmate
approached me and introduced himself.
He went on to say how much he enjoyed
my songs. As he spoke, I reached into my back
pocket for the little booklet I’d been trained to use
when leading people to Christ.
When I saw an opening in the conversation, I started in on
my trained presentation. Immediately he stopped me and said he
had already gone through that booklet with another ministry team
member that morning.
“Could we just talk a little?” he asked.
I put the booklet back in my pocket, and he began to tell me how
he had studied theology at a well-known Christian college and had
worked in ministry for several years.
“I know all the lingo you guys use—I’ve even used it myself, but it
never meant anything to me, personally. I never really got it. You see,
I’m one of those intellectuals who believes if I can’t see it or touch it,
it’s just not real.” He paused, then said quietly, “I wanted to believe
and thought I did at one time, but it didn’t happen.”
As he spoke, I listened carefully for the Holy Spirit to give me the
words to say to this man that might break down his wall of resistance.
It was tempting to grab my little booklet and just blurt out scriptures,
but I didn’t. Instead, I decided to remain silent while I waited to hear
from God.
I didn’t have to wait long.
Suddenly, a picture flashed in my mind of a beautiful wooden
house. The only thing missing was a door. Off to the side, lying
on the ground, was a door that appeared to have been discarded.
Then I saw the reason why—it had a huge knothole right in the center.
In my vision, I saw this man walk over to the door. He began
to carve out the knothole. When he had finished removing it, he
reached over and picked up a window that fit perfectly into the
opening. He finished installing the window, and then he attached the
door to the house. It was finished; the construction was complete.
I had no idea what the vision meant, but I said to him, “Sir, I
believe God has shown me something I need to share with you.”
I told him what I had seen in my vision. He winced as if he’d been
struck a blow. Tears welled up as he said, “I really need to think about
that.” Then he thanked me and turned and walked away.
I didn’t push him any further because I knew that somehow,
something I had told him struck a nerve in his soul. God had told
him what he needed to hear in a way far beyond any practiced words
I could have said.
Now, I’m sure some trained soul winners might criticize me for
how I handled that opportunity, but I believe there are times when
the conventional approach should be set aside long enough to hear
from God and meet the person where they are. Whatever that vision
meant, God had met that man where he was and had spoken to him
in a way that only he would understand.
By no means am I saying not to use scriptures. The Word of God
is powerful and will not return void. Just be sensitive to the Holy
Spirit, for He may prompt you to use a different approach. Look at
the life and ministry of Jesus—He witnessed to every person in a
different way. His message of salvation was always the same, but it
was presented to each person in a different manner.
“ When you pray, I will listen. If you look for
me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”
Jeremiah 29:12–13
Too often we follow a trained pattern. Yes, that pattern can be
effective, but it can also come across as lacking authenticity. It can
make people feel like they’re just part of our agenda. The world
doesn’t need to be our agenda; it needs the authentic love of God.
It’s God’s love that changes people.
Jesus loved people. He had time for them. He didn’t go to them
with an agenda, He went to them with love. And He always had a
listening ear. He listened to His Father and spoke only what He heard
Him say. John 12:49–50 tells us this clearly: “I don’t speak on my own
authority,” Jesus said. “The Father who sent me has commanded me
what to say and how to say it. I know his commands lead to eternal
life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” He also listened to
those He ministered to and responded with authentic conversation.
We should, too.
Now, if you’re one of those “intellectuals,” let me challenge you.
Don’t depend on what you can see or touch. Reach out in faith;
you’ll get your answers. God will turn every knothole of doubt into a
window of revelation. Give Him a chance to show you who He is. V
34 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018

Say Yes, Today by Tracy Morrisey
For years, I prayed for God to use me in a
special way to change hearts and win souls for His
glory. I sang in the choir, worked in the nursery,
and taught toddlers on Wednesday nights, but I
still questioned my purpose. Was I really making
a difference? Was I doing everything God wanted
me to do?
I doubted myself at every turn, and I allowed
Satan to convince me that I could never do
enough in the eyes of the Lord. In my mind, my
works were small in comparison to what others
were doing for Him. I continued serving faithfully,
yet I never felt fulfilled. Deep in my heart, I yearned
to do more.
Finally, through prayer, daily Bible study,
and gaining wisdom through my mentors, God
showed me that it isn’t the size of my works but
my faithfulness in doing whatever He sets before
me that pleases Him. I remember a dear friend
saying, “Tracy, show God you can do the little
things, and in His timing, He’ll give you the bigger
things.”
Sounds like Luke 16:10, “Whoever can be
trusted with very little can also be trusted with
much, and whoever is dishonest with very little
will also be dishonest with much” (NIV).
God taught me that little things do matter. They
prepare us for the bigger things…yet I don’t know
if we’re ever fully prepared. That’s where faith
comes in.
The time came for God to trust me with more.
When He revealed His purpose for me, boy, did
I not feel prepared! I should be happy right? Be
careful what you ask for.
My daddy had passed away just a couple of
months prior to the profound night when the
Lord made my purpose known. I was rocking my
precious daughter to sleep and having my prayer
time. Suddenly, I was overcome with emotion.
Filled with excitement and fear, I shook all over. It
was a moment like no other.
There are times in life when you just know God
is speaking to you. He speaks through different
means to different people. In my case, the Holy
Spirit placed a thought in my mind, a feeling in my
heart, and an urgency in my soul. God wanted me
to share the testimony of my daddy’s battle with
addiction. He wanted me to share intimate details
about my incredibly dysfunctional family—but
most importantly, how He worked through all of
that for our good. The Lord was very clear in that
He wanted me to share it all in a book.
A book?! I’m a nurse of over twenty years. I
don’t write books. I don’t even like to read, truth
be told. Maybe God had stopped at the wrong
house that night.
Isn’t it just like us humans to always doubt? I
prayed for guidance, discernment, and that God
would…maybe…send down a bolt of lightning
to let me know this was of Him.
I just couldn’t see how I could write a book.
A couple of nights later during my prayer time
in the same room, the Lord revealed more to me,
along with the title of the book, Just in Time. I had
my confirmation. I knew I had truly heard from the
Lord. And now, I had a job to do.
The rest of that year is a blur. I worked a fulltime
job and spent the rest of my time writing.
Even with all the technology around me, I chose
to write out the entire book on paper. It was my
devotion time with the Lord.
At times, it was a struggle. I felt inadequate,
incompetent, and downright unworthy. It’s easy to
get discouraged when you’re thinking about your
own limitations. But I learned that God’s strength
and capability are limitless. His strength was made
perfect in my weakness.
Prayer got me through those moments of doubt.
God never failed to give me the encouragement I
needed.
In May 2015, Just in Time by Tracy Morrisey—
me!—was published. I’m still in awe of what God
did. I may have penned the words, but truly,
God was the author. Many hearts have been
changed by reading this book. It has won
souls for God’s kingdom—and that was
my prayer! But amazingly, writing
with God was also a healing
experience for me. God
set me free from so
much pain.
Are you searching for your purpose? God’s will
for everyone on this earth is to share the Good
News of Jesus Christ. For me, this meant serving in
a nursery, singing in a choir, serving a meal…and
writing a book. How you do it might be different,
but one thing is for sure—it always involves telling
someone else how God has worked in your life.
Many people will never make it inside a church
to hear a sermon, but through your testimony,
through your words and your acts of love, they
can hear and see the love of Jesus and come to
know Him.
When God comes to you and reveals your
purpose, you’ll have a choice to make. You can
choose to obey, or you can say no. You’ll be
overcome with many emotions—fear,
excitement, doubt, peace—but if
you trust Him, He’ll be with you
through every step. And
your yes will be the most
fulfilling sacrifice you
will ever make.
Say yes,
today! V
There are times
in life when you
just know God is
speaking to you.
In my case, the
Holy Spirit placed
a thought in my
mind, a feeling in
my heart, and an
urgency in my soul.
kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 35

KEYS TO VICTORIOUS LIVING
I have been blessed to meet many world-class athletes in a variety of sports over the years. I’ve also experienced being a world champion myself
in the sport of water skiing. I’ve found that every champion has common traits. Traits like discipline, sacrifice, perseverance, mental focus, positive
mindset, commitment, teachablity, and vision. Interestingly, these same traits bring victory to a person’s life. I reached out to some dear friends
who are world-class competitors and asked them to share their keys of victory with you. Below are these keys, as well as one of my own. Apply
them to your physical, emotional, and spiritual life, and you’ll discover victory in every area and in every season.
~ Kristi
KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
World Champion Water Skier
Learn from your mistakes; make corrections and
move forward with your head held high. Victory
doesn’t come to those who live in a sea
of regret or defeat. Forget about what might
have been, get a vision about what can be,
and then move toward it.
EMILY COPELAND DURHAM
Ninja Warrior Finalist
X-Games Champion Wake Boarding
Change the way you think about yourself and
your situation. Make it your practice to not allow
any thought in your head about yourself that God
wouldn’t have about you. You aren’t a victim; you
are a victor equipped by God with everything you
need to win any battle.
BOJAN SHIPNER
World Class Water Skier
Focus. Passion. Dedication. Have a goal. Surround
yourself with a strong support system. These are
the keys to becoming a champion. When you
know that you’ve done everything and given
everything you can to reach a goal, you will be a
champion regardless of the scores.
ANNA GAY
World Champion Water Skier
In all you do, remember that people are watching
how you respond. Your responses prove your
character and show the world the
person you truly are.
SHAUN MURRAY
X-Games Champion Wake Boarding
Let your joy be found in the journey, not in your
performance or the results. If praise of man and
accolades are your main motivations,
you’ll quickly burn out.
NEILLY ROSS
World Champion Water Skier
Never allow what you are feeling to dictate your
choices. If you let them, your emotions will cause
you to spiral out of control.
KC WILSON
World Class Water Skier
Lay aside excuses and quit casting blame.
Don’t always try to be better than everyone else,
but never stop trying to be the best you can be.
36 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018
JEFF RODGERS
World Champion Water Skier
Be prepared. Be patient. Be strong.
Do everything with passion and purpose.
Make the most of every opportunity.
KAREN TRUELOVE
Pro Water Skier
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Surround
yourself with people who give you energy,
not take it away.

MIRACLES ARE REAL | from page 25___________________________________________________________
DEENA MAPPLE
World Champion Water Skier
In everything you do, hold close to your
heart these 3 Cs and 4 Ds: confidence,
concentration, consistency, determination,
dedication, desire, and devotion.
REGINA JACQUESS
World Champion Water Skier
In your quest for success, don’t forget to
encourage others and treat them with respect.
Remember the Golden Rule: “Do unto others
as you’d have them do unto you.”
GREG DAVIS
Enduro National Motocross Champion
You must first believe you can be victorious.
If you don’t believe it, you’ll never see it. Once
you get a vision of success, reach for the stars.
You may not get there, but you’ll never come
up with a handful of dirt!
I marveled at the fact they seemed to leave no
stone unturned. For the first time in many years,
I didn’t feel alone when it came to my kid. I knew
God had sent me the best, and my gratitude for
His blessings is indescribable.
One of the best parts of the time we spent
awaiting the resentencing hearing came when
Tony was transferred back to our county jail to be
available for court there. I visited him each week,
and we picked up our conversations through the
jailhouse phones that looked the same, smelled
the same, and had the same static as before. The
only difference was I was talking to a 32-yearold
man now, instead of the kid who had stared
across at me all those years ago. The same grin,
the same sparkling eyes—but now they were
accompanied by a manly voice and muscles.
We still shared the same sense of humor that
had made us giggle like little kids. The biggest
difference was that we now shared hope that
there might be an answer coming for all those
years of prayer.
On September 8, 2016, Tony’s hearing finally
began. It was an incredible experience. The team
John Lauro had put together was phenomenal.
For two days, I sat amazed as expert witnesses
and regular citizens testified on Tony’s behalf.
Attorneys who were brilliant, caring, and on top
of every aspect of this trial gave Tony their all. A
counselor from the Orlando Salvation Army met
with Tony before the trial and testified that Tony
was guaranteed a place in the program there for
a year to help him adjust to life outside prison.
My former students testified how Tony’s story
had changed their lives. After all those years of
feeling alone in trying to help my son, I now felt
supported and blessed beyond words.
I prayed silently as the judge reentered the
courtroom after his deliberations at the end
of the second day. The room was full of hope
and support. Honestly, I was afraid to let myself
imagine Tony walking out of that county jail. I
had to remind myself to breathe. I couldn’t make
myself look up when the judge began to speak.
And when he did, it wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
Tony’s life sentence, with no chance of parole,
had been reduced to 27 years. At first I couldn’t
focus on anything but the disappointment on
the faces of those around me. We all watched as
Tony was led out of the room by a bailiff, then we
left in courtroom in silence.
Timothy Smith Honor Photography
Karen remains steadfast in her faith that
God will perform a miracle for her and her
son, Anthony
At the beginning of this story, I told you I
believed in miracles. I still do. I also believe that
I must trust God’s timing. Tony grew up behind
bars—he’s been incarcerated since he was 14
years old. Many of those years were spent as a
lifer, with no chance of ever getting out. For so
many years we had to live in faith; we had no
real hope that Tony would be released. But that
is no longer the case! I am constantly amazed
at the man he is today, but I don’t believe his
heart and mind were ready for freedom. God
is now allowing him to grow and plan with a
different path in view.
I believe that God has given us this time to learn
to live a life of hope. Tony has served 19 years of
his sentence and, just like any nagging mother, I
constantly remind him of the world available to
him if he keeps making good decisions. God has
proven Himself to us over and over again, and
He is not through with us yet.
You may have read Proverbs 3:5–6 before, but
I want to encourage you to see these verses as
a promise meant just for you. “Trust in the Lord
with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways acknowledge
him, and he shall direct your paths” (NKJV). V
Thank you to our contributing photographers: Kristi Overton Johnson photo by Rob Goldberg Jr.; Emily Copeland Durham photo courtesy of Word of Life Island; Bojan Shipner photo by Dan
Oliver; Anna Gay photo by Spencer Shultz; Shaun Murray photo by Josh Palma; Neilly Ross photo by David Crowder; KC Wilson photo by Bill Doster; Jeff Rodgers photo courtesy of Nautique;
Karen Truelove photo by Des Burke-Kennedy; Regina Jacquess photo by Jim Jacquess; Greg Davis photo by Tim Moran.
kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 37

OUR CONTRIBUTORS
MCKENZIE C. BROCKINGTON JR. p. 18
McKenzie gave his life to Christ in November 1989,
while waiting to be sentenced in federal court
for possession of cocaine. McKenzie became an
ordained minister while behind bars and served
the Lord during his ten-year sentence. Today,
McKenzie serves the Lord in free society and is in
the process of publishing his first book, For His
Name’s Sake.
LINDA CUBBEDGE p. 32
Linda is passionate about the Lord and leading
others to Him. She is Victorious Living’s Prison
Correspondence Director. Linda has four children,
ten grandchildren, and two great-grands.
COLONEL JERRY CURTIS p. 30
Col. Curtis was held as a POW in North Vietnam
for almost eight years, His wisdom and insight
encourages many to overcome even the most
dire circumstances. Col. Curtis writes his regular
column, “Letters of Hope,” with the aid of his
biographer, Carole Engle Avriett.
KRISTI DEWS DALE p. 28
Kristi is a wife and the mother of four amazing
children. She holds a master’s degree in public
health and is an adjunct business instructor at a
local college in North Carolina. Kristi is passionate
about encouraging others with Christ’s love.
ANNA GAY p. 20
Anna learned to water ski at the age of two and
began competing at the age of six. In 2015, she won
the World Championships in the women’s trick
discipline. As Anna travels the world competing,
her goal is to make an impact for Christ. Currently,
she is a senior in high school and plans to attend
college in the fall, where she will pursue a degree
in medicine.
KENT HARTSHORN p. 10
Kent is a professional knee boarder with ten
national titles and three Ryder Cup World
Championships. He is a board member of In His
Wakes Ministry. Through his daughter’s experience
with depression, Kent and his family gained
valuable insight and experience that enables them
to help other struggling families.
THEY HAVE DEFEATED HIM
BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB
AND BY THEIR TESTIMONY.
REVELATION 12:11
NANCY HUNTER p. 24
Nancy recently retired from teaching and now
spends her time working with troubled youth
in her community. She has been named Lake
County Florida’s Teacher of the Year, Lake/
Sumter State College’s Distinguished Educator of
the Year, and was one of five teachers given the
Distinguished Educators award by the University
of Florida in 2013. Her passion is to help teachers
develop relationships with children who seem
unreachable.
KEVIN JACK p. 7
Whether competing at a world-class level in
water skiing, teaching math and science to fourth
graders, writing music and leading worship, or
ministering behind prison walls, Kevin seeks to
demonstrate and share the unconditional love
of God. He is a worship leader for Kairos Prison
Ministry and is married to his best friend, Kathryn.
KENNETH P. JOHNSON p. 27
Kenneth serves a life sentence at Union
Correctional Institution, Florida where he teaches
men to share the gospel through the Evangelism
Explosion ministry, then encourages them as
disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. He completed his
theology degree by correspondence and enjoys
writing articles to encourage fellow inmates.
KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON p. 6, 13, 20, 36
A former world champion water skier, Kristi is the
founder of In His Wakes and KOJ Ministries. She
encourages and equips people for victory through
her writings, speaking engagements, and prison
outreach. Kristi is the publisher of Victorious Living
and a multipublished author.
LUIZ DUDA LUSTOSA p. 8
Duda is a Brazilian native who now lives in
Florida. For over 20 years, Duda was a competitive
volleyball player, playing 10 years in Europe. He
competed in European and World Championships,
representing the country of Portugal. Today, Duda
shares his expertise while serving as the boy’s
volleyball coach at The First Academy in Orlando.
NATE MILLER p. 12
Nate is the president/director of In His Wakes. He
and his wife Ivy live in Bend, Oregon. Contact Nate
at nate@inhiswakes.com to learn more about the
In His Wakes water sports outreach.
TRACY MORRISEY p. 35
Author, wife, and mother, Tracy is also a registered
nurse. Her mission is to obey God’s calling in
her life. Her first book, Just in Time, is available
online at tracymorrisey.com, amazon.com, and
barnes&noble.com.
KENNY MUNDS p. 34
Since January 1998, using Hebrews 13:3 as
his guide, Kenny has taken the Good News of
God’s love and forgiveness into prisons all across
America. To find out more about his ministry, go
to kennymundsministry.org.
SCOTT OBERST p. 11
Scott is currently incarcerated at Avon Park
Correctional Facility. For the past 15 years, he
has served the Lord behind prison walls and
has facilitated many programs to help other
inmates understand that Jesus is the answer to all
life’s problems. One day, when he’s outside prison
walls, Scott hopes to continue to impact the world
for Christ.
JIM PORTER p. 16
Jim and his wife of over 50 years reside in North
Florida. They have 5 children and 13 grandchildren
of their own, and were foster parents to over 70
newborn babies, keeping them from birth until
adoption. From 1965–1972, Jim was a naval
aviator; his last two years, he served as a flight
instructor. Jim is the president of the Men’s Barn
Meeting and founder of Trophies of Grace. For
more information, visit mensbarnmeeting.com.
NEILLY ROSS p. 20, 29
Neilly is passionate about using the platform God
has given her in the sport of water skiing to impact
her peers. Neilly is the 2017 World Champion,
2017 International World Waterski Federation
Female Skier of the Year, and the 2017 US Masters
Trick Champion.
TIM RYAN p. 14
Tim is a recovering heroin addict, convicted felon,
father, keynote speaker, and national thought
leader on recovery and addiction. He is the national
outreach director for Transformations Treatment
Center, director of A Man in Recovery Foundation,
and is regularly featured on national media for his
truth-talking solutions to the opioid epidemic. His
mission is to help one addict at a time find lasting
recovery. See TimRyanSpeaks.com. Mr. Ryan’s
article was made possible by his ghostwriter,
Jocelyn Carbonara, of SpiritusCommunications.
com.
ERIN WARREN p. 31
Erin is the women’s ministry leader at First
Baptist Orlando. She is a wife and mother who
is passionate about helping women discover a
hunger for the truth of God’s Word. She loves
Jesus and really good coffee.
38 kojministries.org Issue 2 2018

FROM THE FATHER’S HEART
Floating Feather
My precious child,
Are you experiencing victorious living?
Is your life filled with
purpose, love, joy, and peace?
Do you have hope for your future?
Forgiveness for your past?
Strength for your tomorrow?
Right now you might be thinking, “Are you kidding me? Joy, peace, purpose? Worth,
strength, forgiveness? I’ll never have those things! Look at where I am! Look at what I’ve been
through. Look at what I’ve done. Look at what has been done to me.”
Friend, right now, no matter what your past or present,
all of these things can be yours. You can have peace that passes
all understanding, joy in the midst of hardship, love and acceptance despite your failures,
forgiveness, and a fresh start. Your life can have purpose.
It doesn’t matter if you are sitting in a mansion or in a jail cell or somewhere in between,
a victorious life can be yours TodaY!
How? Through a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
If you do not currently have a relationship with God, begin one right now. Romans 10:8–10
nkjv explains how: “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart…that if you
confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him
from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
As you accept what Christ has done for you and put your faith in Him
alone for salvation, you are then free to have a relationship with God and
experience His peace, power, presence, and love. You don’t have to do anything to earn God’s
love and forgiveness. It’s yours for the asking!
After you’ve received this free gift of salvation, guess what? You are then able to step into
the life of victory Christ died to give you—an abundant life of peace, joy, worth, love, and
purpose. As you grow in your relationship with Him through studying and applying the Word
of God and by trusting Him, these things are released in your daily life.
Will you pray with me right now and receive
all that God intends for you?
Dear Lord,
I confess that I am a sinner in need of salvation. I thank You for sending Your Son,
Jesus, to save me from my sins. Thank You that He laid down His life for me so that
I could have a new life in Him. I receive, by faith, this forgiveness of sin. I now give
my life, my past, and my future to You. Guide my steps and speak to my heart, Lord.
Amen
Your life is so precious to Me. I know your innermost
concerns, thoughts, and desires. Rest, My child. I want
you to know that life isn’t about what you can do for
Me. It is about what you can do with Me. It’s about
communion—our being together every moment of
every day. It’s about sharing our day and experiencing
life together with absolute trust between us…total
confidence.
I have made it all so simple. Think of a feather floating
down a stream. It doesn’t struggle. It simply allows the
movement of the water to direct it, and the current takes
it around every obstacle it meets. As you do life with Me,
you will be like a feather. I will take you where you need
to be. I will help you go around every obstacle in your
life and give you joy in your journey.
Never forget. You are My beautiful feather. You are
unique and one of a kind. I love you so much. I am
always with you.
All My love,
Your heavenly Papa V
kojministries.org Issue 2 2018 39

GIVE
HOPE
GIVE
VICTORIOUS
LIVING
People everywhere desperately need to know about
God’s power, love, and grace. With your help and God’s
truth, Victorious Living can bring hope to those isolated,
overwhelmed, and enslaved.
Victorious Living
PO Box 120951
Clermont, FL 34712-0951
NONPROFIT
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PAID
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PERMIT #1795
Donate now to receive your own personal copy of
Victorious Living and give the gift of freedom to your
loved ones and others. Your support helps us distribute
Victorious Living in drug and alcohol treatment centers, prisons,
assisted living facilities, hospitals, and to our military.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
$
25 Donation
You’ll receive VL for one year (4 issues).
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You’ll receive VL for one year (4 issues) and enable
us to send a personal copy to someone in prison or
drug/alcohol rehabilitation. You may provide the name
of anyone you’d like, or we will send VL to one of the
thousands on our list who have requested it.
$
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Enables KOJM to send one case (approximately
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A monthly gift of $ 20
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