VL - Issue 14 - November 2014

REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE
Quarterly Publication
Issue 4 2014
A Publication of Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries
Doin’ Time
For Jesus
Can You Follow
The Leader?
Where My
Brother
Once STOOD

PIERCE THE HEART
OF CAPTIVES
WITH GOD’S LOVE!
There are hundreds of thousands of individuals in the prison system who
desperately need to know about God’s power, love, and grace. With your help and
God’s Truth, Victorious Living can set the captives free!
SEND VICTORIOUS LIVING!
♥ Sponsor a prison
$
400 sends a case of approximately 200 copies of VL each quarter for one year into a prison.
♥ Share your story
Your story has power!
Let others know how God’s redemptive power and love has transformed your life!
♥ Give Victorious Living To An Inmate
For $ 20, you can give Victorious Living to an inmate for one year.
As a special gift, we will send you Victorious Living, too!
CHANGE A LIFE TODAY
visit kojministries.org
or call 352-478-2098 for more information

I WAS IN
PRISON
And You Visited Me.
Matthew 25:36
SEND VICTORIOUS LIVING

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FROM THE PUBLISHER
NO LIMITS!
Boundaries protect, provide order, and show what
is expected. Homes, prisons, businesses, churches,
schools, relationships, finances… nothing can operate
successfully without boundaries. The very heart of healthy
boundaries is to create an atmosphere of victory.
Recently, a friend and I were praying. My friend prayed
something to the effect of, “Lord, help us to dream big.
May we see no boundaries. May we move forward with
no limits knowing that all things are possible with You.”
As I thought about her words, I realized that not all
boundaries are profitable.
I’ve often heard people refer to their boundaries:
I can’t. I don’t have enough money.
I can’t. I’ve never done that before.
I can’t. My past is too tainted.
I can’t. I don’t have an education.
I can’t. I’m a girl.
I can’t. I don’t have time.
I can’t. So and so won’t approve.
I can’t. Others have tried and they didn’t succeed.
I could go on and on listing people’s excuses as to why
the visions in their heart can’t be accomplished.
I’ve also witnessed other people erect boundaries in
the form of “you can’ts.” Along with their “you can’t”
they provide various reasons why someone’s dream will
never be a reality. Here’s the thing: the boundaries of “I
can’t” and “you can’t” aren’t really boundaries at all.
Rather they are illusions created by man and even Satan
to kill, steal, and destroy your God-given dreams.
With God, there are no boundaries of what can be
accomplished. If you stay close to Him, love and seek Him
with your whole heart, and follow His lead, He will give
you success in every area and every season of your life.
(Joshua 1:7-9) Guaranteed. You really can do all things
through Christ who gives you strength. (Philippians 4:13)
You can also overcome; because greater is He that is in
you than he that is in the world! (I John 4:4)
Truthfully, the only thing that can hold you back in life
is you… not your circumstances, past, education, gender,
race, size, experience, or anything else you can imagine.
Every time you agree with the perceived boundaries that
you or others have erected in your mind, you give them
the power to hold you back. You build fortresses that
bind and suffocate your dreams.
There is no limit to God’s power, knowledge, and
presence. There is also no limit to His love. This was
proven over 2000 years ago when He gave His One and
Only Son for you and me. As Romans 8:32 says, “Since
He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for
us all, won’t He also give us everything else?”
The moment you realize that God, the very One who
created this universe and holds it in the palms of His
hands, is on your side, you will realize that there really
are no boundaries. Christ in you equals power, provision,
protection, and victory.
Someone may be sitting in
prison thinking, “Yeah right. Let
me see God get me out of this
boundary.” I can’t for one minute say that I’ve been
where you are, but I can say this with all confidence: the
walls of a prison are no hindrance to your God-given
destiny.
Someone may be waiting in a doctor’s office thinking
a similar thing: “This boundary of sickness can’t be
conquered.” Again, nothing is too hard for God. He can
bring beautiful dreams out of our darkest nightmares.
In my life, I’ve encountered boundaries that people
said would be too hard to overcome. I’ve had dreams
and desires that were far past my abilities, my finances,
and my experience. I’ve heard the “you can’ts” and “it
will never happen.” But amidst all of these things, I am
more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:37)
This magazine you are holding in your hand is a
boundary breaker. When my heart began to stir with a
dream for this magazine, there was no money to back it
up, no articles stacked up on my desk, and no experience
in magazine publication. But hey… God wasn’t looking
for me to have the money, the articles, or the experience.
He was just looking for a willing heart to dream big with
Him. And as I focused on Him, instead of the boundaries,
victory came… or should I say, Victorious Living came!
Two of my children are also living examples of
our victory over boundaries. As we waited for our
international adoption to go through, we faced political
boundaries that, in the natural, erected a wall between
us and our children. But through our faith in God’s ability
to do anything, the walls came down.
These are just two examples. Since my commitment to
trust the Lord and lean not on my understanding, I have
seen the miracle working power of Christ in every area
of my life. I know, without a doubt, that there is nothing
too hard for Him.
When you read these stories, I pray that you will begin
to see past your boundaries. All things are possible in
Christ Jesus. He is a redeemer and a restorer of life.
He can take what the world would say is nothing and
transform it into something beautiful.
As my friend prayed, I now pray: “Lord, may we see
past boundaries and look towards You. Help us to block
out the voices that tell us our dreams are impossible; and
help us to step out in faith. Help us to dream big and to
stay close so You can bring all the desires of our heart
to fruition.”
Dream, my friend. Dream big, God-sized dreams.
Then, with God’s help, step out and step over whatever
boundary sets itself against you. With God’s help, you
can advance against any troop: with our God, you can
scale any wall. (Psalms 18:29)
Publisher/Editor
Kristi Overton Johnson
Assistant Editor
Charlene Hannah Jung
Contributors
George Beasley
Sandy Burdick
Linda Cubbedge
Amanda Cumbass
Bonnie Hagemann
Donna Hannah
Kristi Overton Johnson
Maureen Lendzion
Paul McKean
Nate Miller
Carey Morford
Rob Morford
Robert Odom
Al and Sharon Paquette
Spencer Shultz
Creative Director/Graphic Design
Whispering Dog Design, Inc.
Amy Zackowski
amy@whisperingdog.com
Partnership Support
victoriousliving@kojministries.org
Photography
Cover: Dave Dillman
Champion’s Heart Award photo:
Christy Prowant Photography
Victorious Living
PO Box 120951
Clermont, FL 34712-0951
352.478.2098 • fax 888.837.9153
Victorious Living is a free quarterly publication distributed
to KOJ Ministries partners, at various distribution locations,
and within the Florida Prison System. ©2014, all rights
reserved by Victorious Living. Contents may not be
reproduced in any form without the written consent of
the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any
submission and accepts no responsibility for submitted
materials. All submitted materials subject to editing.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations
are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House
Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
Victorious Living
MISSION
The purpose of Victorious Living is to declare
freedom for the captive through true testimonials
of God’s grace, love, and power in the lives of
everyday people. A captive is anyone enslaved
to their circumstances, relationships, thought
patterns, habits, or emotions. A captive can be
incarcerated or living in a free society. They can
be of any age, gender, race, and socio-economic
background.
www.kojministries.org 5

An Invitation
To Be A Part!
With your support, many
of these dreams can
become a reality in 2015!
Have you ever found yourself in a place you never
dreamed you’d be? That would pretty much describe
what I am experiencing. You’ll soon see what I’m
talking about…
For thirty years my life basically consisted of one
thing –– water skiing. It was my life. Everything I did
revolved around my career as a professional athlete.
But in 2003, after decades of playing tug-of-war
with powerful ski boats, my body began to wave
a white flag of surrender. With my physical pain
increasing, it was obvious my time on the water
competing had come to an end.
During this same time, I felt the Lord leading
me to step out on the water with Him and use the
platform He had given me to touch the lives of
others. With His help, I launched In His Wakes, a
non-profit water sports outreach.
For over a decade, I have faithfully served the
Lord through this ministry. Five years ago, however,
my heart began to stir with a new vision as I sensed
God leading me to begin another non-profit ministry
called, Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries. KOJM
evangelizes, equips, and encourages hearts through
my passions of writing, singing, and teaching the
Word of God. Out of KOJM came this magazine,
Victorious Living.
With no vision for the magazine other than to
inspire people with the truth that God is alive and
powerfully active in the lives of His people today,
I began to write. As I wrote, God began working
behind the scenes, opening doors for Victorious Living
to reach an audience I would have never considered
–– prisoners. Not long after, He sent me to prison!
Here’s how it happened…
In the spring of 2013, a lady who lived in Missouri
received a copy of Victorious Living. After reading it,
she forwarded it to her friend, Bill Doyle, who was
in prison. Bill, a professional wakeboard driver, had
been very involved in the water sports industry
prior to his arrest. She thought he would enjoy this
publication published by a water skier.
Upon receiving the magazine, Bill was moved to
write me a letter. I wrote him back and in August
of that same year, I found myself walking through
security at the Miami Federal Prison to visit him.
Never in my wildest dreams could I, or Bill, have
imagined how that visit would redirect my life’s
course. God was setting me up!
After I left the Federal Prison and navigated my
way north on the Florida Turnpike, tears began
to stream down my face. Although I had left Bill
physically at the facility, he had in many ways come
home with me, as had the faces of dozens of other
men and their families who I had encountered. It
was overwhelming. I literally wept in the car for over
an hour.
What was happening? I now know that the Spirit
of God was breaking my heart with the very things
that break His. He was showing me the incredible
need of people to be encouraged; as well as to
know His love, forgiveness, and grace.
At that point, I had no plan to enter into prison
ministry. I just kept writing the magazine and
praying: “Lord, I want to bring hope to the hopeless.
Use me however and wherever.”
Over the course of the next several months,
God began to answer that cry of my heart as He
supernaturally placed Victorious Living in the hands
of people who have great influence in the prison
system. One by one, various people within the
Correctional Department as well as national prison
ministries began to reach out to me, offering their
hand of fellowship and partnership, inviting me
to be a part of what God was doing in the prison
system.
Next thing I knew, Victorious Living was in 40
Florida Prisons, a KOJM Prison Correspondence
Team was launched, and I found myself standing in
front of hundreds of inmates sharing the hope and
love of Christ. It was not a place I sought
to be, or had ever imagined I would
be, but the very moment I heard
those gates lock behind me, it was a
place I knew I was supposed to be.
This may sound strange, but I felt at
home.
Since my first visit with Bill, God has continually
opened one door after another making it ever so
clear that prison ministry is part of His will for my
life. He’s placed incredible people in my path, many
former prisoners themselves, who have decades of
knowledge in the area of prison ministry and who
have experienced life behind prison walls. I sense
the Lord saying, “Learn from them.”
My new friends are living witnesses of the
redemptive and transformative power of Christ.
People often ask me, do you really think people can
change? Yes, I know they can! In Christ and through
Christ, people can live a victorious life!
Since visiting Bill, God has filled my heart with
a love for inmates that can only be of Him. He’s
opening doors; and He’s giving me dreams and
desires to proclaim freedom to the captives in
unique and powerful ways. Without a doubt, God
is in this; and He’s invited me to join Him on this
amazing journey.
This former pro water skier, now mother of three,
and always a southern girl can only say one thing
about all this, “Who would have ever thunk it?”
Certainly not Bill or me. We are both excited to
know that a legacy is being created far beyond the
legacies we have left in our sports.
6 www.kojministries.org

Here are the dreams that are stirring in my heart:
• Victorious Living in every prison in America.
• A large Prison Correspondence Team faithfully writing to men and women,
renewing their minds with the Word of God.
• Incarcerated men and women discipled in the Word through live webcasts and
written devotionals.
• Inmates drawn to the prison yard, lured by the roar of the sound of the
Ski Nautique’s engine. I see myself standing in the boat with a 360 degree
viewpoint, using the boat’s sound system to proclaim freedom to the captives.
• I see one million souls coming to Christ!
As you can tell, I don’t dream small. Why should I? My God is a big God. Nothing
is too hard for Him. With all my heart, I believe the Lord has put these dreams inside
of me; and I believe He will give birth to them.
How? Through the willing hearts of people like you and me. If there is one thing
I’ve learned it is that God isn’t looking for great people to do great things… He
is simply looking for willing people. And through willing people, God does great
things. To Him be all the praise and glory, forever.
It is going to be amazing to watch God unfold His plans as He brings together
people across the nation and world to accomplish His will. Perhaps you are one of
these people God has in mind. Would you pray about the possibility?
Be a part of what God is doing through Victorious Living.
I’m inviting you to join me on this journey.
Matthew 25:36 says, “When I was in prison, you visited me.” For inmates around
the world, this is the cry of their heart… for you and me to visit them.
You may not have had the opportunity to physically go into a prison; but you
know what? Right now, you can visit incarcerated men and women through your
gift of Victorious Living.
Your financial support of this magazine will expand its territory into every prison
in the United States. The product is ready. You are holding it right now. We just
need your help to get it into the hands and hearts of inmates. With your help, these
dreams will become a reality.
Sincerely,
Table of Contents
Issue 4 2014
6 Be A Part! Kristi Overton Johnson
8 Where My Brother Once Stood George Beasley
9 Attached Carey Morford
10 Be a Light Spencer Shultz
11 Welcome Home! Sandy Burdick
12 Restless for More Amanda Cumbass
13 God 1.0 - The One Thing
That Will Never Change Maureen Lendzion
14 Come Away With Me Kristi Overton Johnson
15 From Death to Life Paul McKean
16 Doin’ Time for Jesus Al and Sharon Paquette
18 KOJ Ministry News
19 From Our Readers
20 In His Wakes Update Nate Miller
21 Why We Care Testimony DIM
22 Rescue Me! Linda Cubbedge
23 A Lesson To Be Learned Kristi Overton Johnson
24 Champion’s Heart Award - Rob Morford
25 Love…Respect…Unity…Power Rob Morford
26 Can You Follow the Leader? Bonnie Hagemann
28 Singing a New Song! Donna Hannah
30 One Big Mess! Kristi Overton Johnson
A New Legacy for Bill by Bill Doyle
Kristi Overton Johnson
So much has taken place since your first visit to see me a little over a year ago.
Wow! I just cannot comprehend how many people in need have been helped
through your prison ministry in such a short time. God is so good!
Every time I read anything that pertains to the KOJM prison outreach, I just sit
in amazement and say to myself, “I was a part of that!”
That said, I want to share something with you. One of the biggest impacts
to my mental health as a result of my arrest is the fact that I will basically have
no legacy in the sport of wakeboarding. No legacy as it pertains to the sport I
loved and was such a big part of until the day I was arrested. Having every bit
of good I ever did be immediately forgotten and tainted… well, that has been
painful to say the least.
But guess what? Let me tell you!!! God has brought me peace. Just knowing
that God is using my mistakes to set your life’s course on this path of prison
ministry means that I now have a bigger, more meaningful legacy that will
continue long after I have departed from this world. That in itself makes ALL
of this pain worthwhile! Seeing how God took my situation and used it for
something so good takes away my anxieties and disappointments and gives me
joy! Isn’t God great?
Thank you again, Kristi, for your recent visit. I look forward to the next time
where we can celebrate again all that God has done.
Share Your Story!
Do you have a story of victory?
Share it with our readers!
Your story has the power to transform lives and bring
much needed hope. Here are the guidelines:
Please note:
• Submissions are not guaranteed to be included in magazine.
• Submission is acknowledgement of your granting KOJM and
Victorious Living Publications rights to produce submission in
magazine and other ministry publications.
• Photos submitted must have photographer’s and each photographed
subjects’ consent of reproduction.
• Photographer’s name must be included. Hard copies of
photographs will not be returned.
• Victorious Living does not pay for submissions.
• Submissions should be a maximum of 800 words and are
subject to editing.
• Mail submissions to: Victorious Living, PO Box 120951 Clermont, FL
34712-0951; or submit online at kojministries.org.
• Victorious Living is a free quarterly publication distributed to KOJ
Ministries partners, at various distribution locations, and within the
prison system.
www.kojministries.org 7

Where My
Brother
Once STOOD
by George Beasley
And the king said, “Turn aside and stand
here.” So he turned aside and stood still. 2
Samuel 18:30 (ESV)
My brother, Chris, died at the young age of 37.
It’s been twelve years since he passed away. He
ran as far as he could and as long as he could but
his pain and suffering always followed. It never
left him. Finally, it took his life.
As children, Chris and I loved to hang out
together at the pier on Lake Waccamaw, a
natural fresh water lake outside of Wilmington,
NC. We had many memories on this pier, sitting
there in the night hours with a dim light in the
back ground, just enough to light up our faces.
The sound of the water was so calming. Our
conversations were always light, never too deep.
Although our home life would come up every
now and then, we mostly just talked about the
future. Chris talked about his hopes and dreams,
and I talked about mine.
Recently, my wife, Lisa, and I visited the pier.
As I stood there, I couldn’t help but think of Chris
and recall the dreams that were born on that
pier. I stood right where he stood and looked out
over the water and listened as if to hear his voice.
There was nothing but silence. I miss Chris. But
the memories we shared together live on.
As Lisa and I sat on the pier reminiscing,
I carved our initials in the wood to leave a
permanent reminder of our time there. There
are hundreds of names carved on this pier. It’s a
testament to all who have once stood there also.
They include the names of children, like Chris and
I, who had formerly lived at the Boys and Girls
Home of NC located at Lake Waccamaw, as well
as residents of the community and vacationers
who had come to the lake. Many dreams were
born on this pier; the carvings tell me so.
As I walked to the end of that pier that day,
and stood where my brother once stood, I was
reminded of the brevity of life as well as the
unexpected journeys our lives can take. My
journey, although rough and tough at times,
became so ever full of hope and adventure.
Chris’s journey, however, ended in pain and
despair and death.
Why the difference? How could two brothers
with the same painful beginning in life have such
different endings? My only answer is this: Christ.
Through my relationship with Jesus Christ, I was
able to unload my past and pain, and in its place
gain a hope and a future. My brother, on the
other hand, held ever so tightly to his pain, and
in the end, it destroyed him. I loved Chris; I still
do. I know God loved Chris, too. Without a doubt,
I know He longed for Chris to achieve his dreams
and most importantly, receive and experience
the love, grace, and hope of God. It is His desire
for us all.
Jeremiah 29:11 promises that God has a plan
for our lives –– a plan of a hope and a future.
God places dreams and desires in our hearts for
our future. But sometimes along life’s way, these
hopes and dreams get lost –– we get lost. They
get buried in our circumstances and eventually
forgotten.
My friend, it’s time to rediscover those hopes
and dreams. Close your eyes and walk out here
on this ‘pier’ for a moment where my brother
and I once stood. Tell me, what were the dreams
and desires that once filled your heart and mind?
Where are they now? Are they fulfilled? Or, have
the circumstances of life caused them to drift
away? It’s not too late, you know. No, there may
not be a way to go back and change the tides
of the past, but there is always a way to move
forward, no matter where you are. God, the
Dream Giver and Dream Fulfiller can make a way.
He just asks you to stand still and allow Him
access to your heart. One by one, give God your
disappointments, failures, and pain. As you let
Him in, He can then go to work resurrecting your
life, your hopes, and your dreams.
As we stand together on this pier where my
brother once stood, realize there is hope. There
is a way. So go ahead, carve your initials in deep;
make a permanent marker of all that stirs within
your soul. And then, with God, move forward one
step at a time. V
George and his wife, Lisa, are Certified Marriage Mentors in
NC. They work with couples to prepare, repair, and maintain
marriages according to God’s Word. George is the author of
“The Invisible Soul.”
8 www.kojministries.org

ATTACHED
by Carey Morford
Recently, my husband, Isaac, and I fostered and
then adopted our two sons. As we’ve read about
adoption and attachment, I’m struck by the many
parallels between adoption and salvation.
When an adoption takes place, both parties (the
parents and the child) are agreeing to be joined
together as a family. There is a legal proceeding that
makes it official, but there must also be a relational
change. The two parties must bond together.
This is called attachment. It takes a great deal of
consistent, difficult work; but the attachment, not
the legal agreement, is where the miracle happens.
I’ve been a part of a few conversations lately that
bounced around a question like this: “If God loves
everyone no matter what, then why do we have to
do something like pray a prayer or even believe to
receive that love?” Here’s my explanation.
In adoption, two things are required for an
attachment to take place… love and acceptance.
The parent’s responsibility is to offer genuine love
in a safe environment, but sometimes even when
a parent does everything they know to do, a strong
attachment may never form because the child is
unwilling and/or unable to accept that love.
It is the same in our relationship with God. He’s
the parent, always offering love, always offering
a safe environment; but for us to really attach to
Him, we have to actually trust Him. That’s easier for
some than others. It also looks differently. Maybe
it’s a prayer, maybe we would call it believing, or
maybe, it’s just this moment when we almost
subconsciously say, “Okay, You win, I’ll let You love
me.” We’ve made a legal agreement.
Some pastors and theologians would tell you
that nothing can change that legal agreement,
others would tell you that we can choose, by our
actions or words, to get out of that agreement. I’m
not sure that discussion even matters; because the
real miracle doesn’t happen in the legal agreement,
but in the relationship that begins in that moment.
Not all adoptions go smoothly. Children who
have been through trauma, whether because of
abuse or neglect or just horrible circumstances that
make a parent unavailable, have a difficult time
learning to trust and form relationships even once
they are provided with a safe, healthy environment.
Sometimes they have temper tantrums and fight
and resist every loving attempt of a parent, or
sometimes they latch on to any person who walks
through the door, giving hugs and kisses to perfect
strangers. Sometimes they act out as an attempt
to get a parent to send them away like every other
adult in their life, or sometimes they work with every
bit of energy to earn approval.
Not all salvations go smoothly either. People
who have been through trauma, and that’s all of
us, have a difficult time learning to trust and form
relationships even once they are provided with the
knowledge that a loving God wants to rescue them
and provide a healthy, joyful life. Sometimes we
throw temper tantrums and fight and resist every
loving attempt of our Savior, or sometimes we latch
on to anything that feels like happiness. Sometimes
people act out because they assume God is going
to condemn and hate them like everyone else, and
sometimes people strive with all they have to earn
God’s love and approval. None of this is necessary.
We’ve made the legal agreement, and all that is left
is that we bond.
The key to being able to trust and bond is letting
go of our fears. When we’ve been hurt, we’ve often
put up walls to protect our broken heart; but to have
a healthy, trusting relationship we must let those
walls come down. We tend to think of taking those
walls down as hard work, and maybe in some ways
it is. But, mostly, it’s just brave work.
It’s not that the work is going to be exhausting;
it’s that it exhausts us to think about doing the work.
So, the key is, to quit thinking, to quit worrying, to
quit wishing for an easier way, and to just let go
and trust.
Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out
on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and
you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a
real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch
how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I
won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep
company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and
lightly.”
Maybe today, you need to make the legal
agreement: that incredible moment where you
legally become a child of God through faith in
Christ. That moment should be cherished forever.
If you’ve already entered that “legal agreement,”
I challenge you to think about how attached you
really are to Jesus. How strong is your relationship
or bond? Do you know, without question, no matter
what happens, that you are loved? When people
look at your life, do they know who you belong to?
No matter where you are on this journey, I
challenge you to trust God a little bit more; because
it’s in the trusting that the miracle happens. V
FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Carey Morford is a Media
Specialist and President of Seeds
of Grace, Inc. Visit their site at
Seedsofgrace-highridge.blogspot.
com. She is married to her very
best friend Isaac Morford, and
they have two daughters, Layla
and Rigby, and two sons, Zaiden
and Gavin.
www.kojministries.org 9

Be a
Light
by Spencer Shultz
As my first semester of college edged
closer, I had a lot on my mind. Was I going
to enjoy living on my own? Would it be weird
waking up on Saturday morning and not be
able to enjoy breakfast with my family? How
hard were my classes going to be? Would I
have time to do anything fun?
One question I never considered, however,
was whether or not I was going to join a
fraternity. I had heard all about fraternity
life; and as a Christian, I was pretty certain
that being involved with something where
men lusted after women and abused alcohol
to the point where one couldn’t even stand
probably wasn’t something I should be
involved with. Furthermore, that lifestyle
just wasn’t for me. Sure the intramural
sports, homecoming activities, and
meeting tons of new people would
be awesome, but I wasn’t interested
in the other stuff that went along
with Greek life.
As He often does, God had other
plans. He started by introducing me
to several older guys on campus
who were using the Greek system
to reach out to people and show
them God’s love. I began to notice
that these guys were a lot like
me. They played sports, were
active, and hung out with their
friends on the weekend. So, in
the spring of 2010, after praying
long and hard during the fall
semester, I rushed the fraternity
I felt God wanted me to join.
Sure enough, I received a bid
and signed it. I was in.
Over the course of the next
five years, I developed strong
relationships with many of my
frat brothers, relationships that
continue today. While at times I
certainly took some heat for not
participating in the ‘normal’ fraternity
activities and going along with the crowd, I
was nonetheless respected by the guys. Many
“And how will anyone
go and tell them
without being sent?
…“How beautiful are
the feet of messengers
who bring good news!”
Romans 10:15
even came to the Bible study God had led me
to hold at the frat house. At first, the idea of
leading this study terrified me! But God gave
me the strength to stand up in front of the guys
and share the message of God’s love.
To me, wherever you are, being a Christian
is about being a light. It’s about showing
the love of God and the grace of God in all
places… even a fraternity. The world is a dark
place and you and I are called to be God’s
light, to show people His love. As we do, God
can flip on a switch and completely transform
someone’s life. He is just looking for a vessel
to make himself or herself available so God
can shine through.
Maybe for you, your fraternity house is
your workplace. Maybe it’s your neighbor’s
or even your relative’s home. Or perhaps,
it’s a local restaurant or hangout. While it’s
certainly easy to just overlook these places
and turn a blind eye, God calls us to go and
serve. He calls us to go and tell. He calls us to
go and love. If we don’t, who will?
As Christians, our goal shouldn’t be to
just stay in our pews or surround ourselves
with people who believe and act just like we
do. We must move out of our comfort zones.
Staying there does nothing to reach the lost.
So, how about it? Where would God have
you go? I challenge you to ask Him. Spend
time in prayer and ask Him to open your eyes
to the dark places in your world. Then, follow
His direction, go where He leads, and shine! V
Spencer Schultz is a 23 year-old recent college graduate from Kansas City,
Missouri. In his free time, he enjoys water-skiing and spending time with
his friends and family.
10 www.kojministries.org

Welcome
Home!
by Sandy Burdick
Have you ever taken some turns in life that you wish you could straighten out?
Ones that have taken you so far away from where you dreamed of being? Ones
that seem impossible to return from? Well, I’ve got good news. There is no road
you’ve traveled that has taken you too far from God. As a good, loving Father, He
is always waiting with open arms to welcome you home. In fact, God dedicated a
whole story in the Bible to this exact thing!
It’s called the Parable of the Prodigal Son (or Parable of the Lost Son). It is found
in Luke 15:11-32. In this story, a rebellious, impulsive younger son of a rich man
believes that his life would be better if he could just do whatever he wanted. He
demands his inheritance before his father dies so he can live his life the way he
wants. He does not want to be under his father’s rules and feels he can make his
way better, and enjoy life more, on his own.
Although it broke his heart, the father reluctantly gave his son the freedom
to choose the life he wanted. Predictably, the younger son enjoyed his life for
awhile but squandered his entire fortune on wild living. About the same time his
money ran out, a great famine hit the land. The young man found himself not only
destitute, but starving to death in a pig-sty.
He wasn’t in this state long before he came to his senses and realized the
foolishness of his actions. He concluded he would be better off as a servant in his
father’s home than living the life he was living. Humbly, he devised a plan to go
back home. He set out walking home, starving, in his tattered clothes, rehearsing
his repentant story in his head, hoping for even a small measure of forgiveness
from his father.
Do you hear
the words,
“Welcome
home, My
child?” It’s
time to see it,
and believe it!
This can be
YOUR story!
While he was still a long way from home, the father spotted him on the road.
(Many feel the father had been watching for him for a long time.) He was filled with
compassion for his son and ran down the road to embrace him.
Did you catch that? The father ran!
The son could not believe what was happening. He apologized to his father
for his sins and declared his unworthiness to even be called his son. Rather than
criticize the son, the father showed compassion and love. He embraced and kissed
his son, and called out to his servants to bring the best robe, a ring for his finger, and
sandals for his feet. Then, he instructed them to prepare a great feast to celebrate
the return of the son who had been lost but who was now home.
The true beauty of this story, as told by Jesus, is the unconditional love of
God the Father, and His incredible willingness to forgive His children of all their
transgressions. Close your eyes. Can you see this beautiful picture unfold? Now,
put yourself in the son’s position.
Can you envision yourself running towards your Heavenly Father? Do you see
His arms opening wide? Can you feel His embrace and His warm welcoming kiss
after being away for so long, doing who knows what? Now, extend your hand. Do
you see Him putting His ring on your finger and His robe of righteousness on your
back? Do you hear the words, “Welcome home, My child?” It’s time to see it, and
believe it! This can be YOUR story! This can be YOUR homecoming.
Like in this story, God is waiting for His strayed ones to come back home. More
than anything, He wants His children to take that first step back to Him. It isn’t hard.
Just do what the Lost Son did –– say you are genuinely sorry and that you want to
be his Son or Daughter again. He will welcome you home. And as Your Father, He
will show you the path to take to recreate your life in the way He intended all along,
no matter what your circumstances.
A quick side note to this story. Notice that when the rebellious son returned
home, the father never once asked where his son had been or what he had done.
The father’s only concern was the true repentant heart of his child. That was enough
for him. This son of his, who had been dead, was now alive. It was time to party!
Through this parable, Jesus is reminding us that God isn’t One to dwell on our
past mistakes. Once we have repented of our sins, they are forever forgiven and
forever forgotten. God doesn’t see our heart from days past, He sees our heart as
it is TODAY.
Not everyone in life, however, will share God’s unconditional love and forgiveness.
Take the son’s brother for example. Unlike his father, the older, righteous son wasn’t
too keen on his brother’s return. In fact, he was downright angry and began to
sulk saying to his father, “You never gave me even one young goat for a feast with
my friends! Yet you give him, a son who squandered your money on prostitutes, a
celebration with a fattened calf?”
This young man couldn’t get past the idea that his sinful brother should receive
anything from his father, much less more than him. If believers aren’t careful, this
same attitude can emerge. We can become self-righteous in our good deeds, church
attendance, and good moral record and judge those who have come from far away.
This is not the Father’s way. Jesus told us there is rejoicing in heaven when one soul
is saved. (Luke 15:10). May we as believers never forget to rejoice with the Lord.
Regardless of whether people around you share the grace of the Father, extend
forgiveness, and welcome you home, don’t let that keep you from running home
and staying there. Receive with joy God’s precious words, “Welcome home!” V
Sandy Burdick has had a lengthy career in marketing, advertising,
and public speaking. She has worked with a variety of Fortune
100 companies, international ministries, and as a consultant to
businesses of all sizes. Along with Maureen Lendzion, Sandy
has created a lifestyle blog from a Christian perspective. www.
cloud9inspired.com
www.kojministries.org 11

Restless for More
by Amanda Cumbass
Amanda is originally from
Keystone Heights, FL. She is
currently residing in Arizona
while serving in the Air Force.
You can follow Amanda at
chosenbytheone.wordpress.com
Five years ago I boarded a plane bound for
San Antonio, Texas, leaving my small Florida town
behind to begin life in the military. It was then that
I began an adventure that I will never regret, one
in which I have learned more about myself, others,
and Jesus.
During this adventure, one that has taken me
to Texas, California, Washington, and Arizona, I’ve
learned to become comfortable in my own skin. I’ve
learned how to bounce back from failure and how
to be resilient despite trying circumstances. I’ve also
learned that there is more to life than achieving
success. I love my job and have enjoyed the last
few years learning and growing and also figuring
out how faith looks in my daily life. And yet, I am
restless, restless for something more.
Have you ever felt like you are missing something?
Felt that there is something more in life that you are
being prepared for? Have you ever felt a stirring in
your soul? A stirring that often makes absolutely no
sense, but that just will not go away? That is the
restlessness I feel. It is an emotion that has set me
on a quest to discover the reason behind this feeling.
“What if you could get past
your fears and insecurities
and spend the rest of your life
running your guts out after
His purposes for you?”
from Jeannie Allen’s book, Restless
As I have been struggling and wrestling and
crying out to Jesus for answers, I came across an
article in Relevant magazine that identified with my
emotions. I was so intrigued that I quickly ordered
the author’s book entitled Restless hoping to
connect with someone who had experienced what
I was feeling.
As I started reading, I quickly realized the main
reason I’ve been restless is that I have gotten really
caught up in work life. I’ve become so focused on
climbing the ladder as well as doing and striving
to be the best I can be. That’s not necessarily a
bad thing, but somewhere in the process I had lost
intimacy with Jesus and had quit being intentional
in my actions and relationships. That’s where
restlessness had been birthed. In the midst of my
strivings I had ignored what I needed most…
intimacy with Christ. What I am feeling is a desire for
more of Jesus, and more of His will and direction in
my life. I am restless to take all that He has given me
and use it for His kingdom, rather than this earthly
one. I am restless for freedom. To be able to just step
out and use what He’s blessed me with without fear
of failure or fear of disappointing people!
In this book, author Jennie Allen says, “What if
you could get past your fears and insecurities and
spend the rest of your life running your guts out after
His purposes for you?” That is what I am restless
for. Restless to know Him deeper than just a casual
relationship. Restless to trust Him to hold my fears,
doubts, anger, concerns, and frustrations. Restless to
trust that He loves me endlessly. Restless to be able
to love and see others as He does. Restless to carry
out His kingdom. Restless to go deeper. Restless for
more. V
12 www.kojministries.org

God 1.0…
The One Thing That
Will Never Change
by Maureen Lendzion
Ugh! My frustration level has neared an all-time
high. I am weeks into trying to set up a blog site and
get it running. If I hear one more thirty-something
say, “Oh, it’s soooo easy — it only takes just a few
minutes. You just (blah, blah, blah)...,” I’m going to
glare into their non-cataract-clouded eyes with all the
venom I can muster. But at that point they’ll probably
be in full-blown techno-talk mode and, unfortunately,
I don’t know how to techno-glare.
I’ve found the one thing you can count on when it
comes to technology is that there is nothing you can
count on when it comes to technology. It’s a moving
target — changing constantly.
Think you know what you’re doing? Wait until
tomorrow. That 1.0 version of software you just spent
months learning will soon be pleading with you to
download its latest 2.0 update. And while it may be
asking you nicely now, it’ll soon grow more firm.
“Ignore my update requests, you fool,” it will seem
to say, “and I’ll make sure your favorite program never
again works on your device!”
With all that said, the blog is finally up and running.
My writing partner, Sandy Burdick, and I have it loaded
and configured. It’s not quite yet ready for prime time,
but soon will be. Thank goodness those same thirtysomethings
who sometimes drive me crazy are more
than willing to share their expertise.
This recent annoyance led me to realize something:
Unlike technology, God is never changing. There will
never be a newer and better version — a God 2.0,
if you will. He has always been and will eternally be
a 1.0. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
He is solidly God and we can count on His love, His
character, His provision, and His promises forever. His
Word is also absolute and unchanging. But, you may
ask, what about the variety of biblical translations
available? Aren’t they updates from God’s original 1.0
message?
Here’s my answer: the many biblical versions found
today simply allow us to understand God’s Word in
the language that works best for us as individuals. The
facts contained within them are rock-solidly consistent.
They don’t change God’s core message. New biblical
translations do not revise God’s marching orders for
living a life on earth that leads to an everlasting life
in heaven.
God’s and His Word’s unchanging nature is
critically important. In our change-in-a-heartbeat
world managed by imperfect, impatient, distractible
people it is vital to know God is the constant we can
rely on. He won’t change His mind and He won’t
make a mistake — ever! His Word is true — always!
Isn’t that an amazingly refreshing relief? God is a
sure refuge from our fast-moving, ever-changing,
technology-overloaded, communication-heavy world.
He is the one thing we can trust and build our lives
firmly upon.
The prophet Isaiah says: Do you not know? Have
you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the
Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired
or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)
Just think — you and I have an everlasting God
with an unchangeable nature Who promises to always
be there for us. So, when frustrations arise and I can’t
figure out how to use all the techno-gadgets in my
car, I’ll remember that God is always a 1.0 God. When
I can’t get my new computer up and running as
quickly as I’d like, I’ll rest assured that God’s Word is
up, running, and timeless. When the latest release of a
smart phone throws me into techno-irritation, I’ll take
comfort in knowing that God’s original smart release
— His Word — remains soothingly unchanged.
All the updates humanity throws my way may
ruffle my feathers from time to time, but they can’t
sway God, His Word, or my trust in Him. After all, I
have God’s concrete promise that He’s a 1.0 — the
one thing in this life (and the next) that will never
change!V
Maureen Lendzion is enjoying selfemployment
as a writer. Her career has
included journalism, public relations, and
public speaking along with special project
and grant writing. With Sandy Burdick,
Maureen has recently created
a blog with a Christian perspective.
www.cloud9inspired.com.
www.kojministries.org 13

REFRESH YOUR SOUL
Come Away
With Me
by Kristi Overton Johnson
With our move to Central Florida, one of my top
priorities has been to assemble a ministry team to
love people to Christ through our publication and
prison outreaches. It’s a legitimate concern as the
vision on my heart is huge and there is no way it can
be carried out alone. But the more I have plotted
and planned, and sought and searched, the more
uneasy I have become in my spirit. I don’t have
peace to move forward with my plans. Instead, I
sense the Lord saying, “Just wait on Me; and in the
meantime, come away with Me.”
“Come away with Me.” These are the words I
hear in my heart and mind as I go about my day.
It is an invitation from God to cease my worry and
activity, to lay aside my to-do list, and simply come
into His presence. As I’ve struggled with actually
accepting His invitation, the Lord has patiently and
gently reminded me of the importance of finding
this place of intimacy with Him. Recently, He used
the testimony of a minister to get this message
through my thick skull.
This minister shared about a time when
he traveled to Africa to join a large ministry in
Mozambique. Although eager to go deep into the
bush with the gospel, and qualified to minister,
the head of the ministry wouldn’t let this man go
out with the team. Instead, he was given orders
to spend time with the Lord walking on a nearby
beach. As instructed, he took a walk, praying with
each step, and then returned the next day eager to
minister.
Once again, however, he was given the task
of walking the beach with God, but this time for
a whole month! In his testimony, he shared how
difficult this exercise was for him as a person who
is always ready to “giddy-up-and-go!” for the Lord.
He had flown all the way to Africa to help people
and experience the Lord working through Him in
amazing ways. Yet, here he was, walking the beach?
As I listened to his story, I felt the Lord saying
to me that I was entering a season of walking the
beach with Him. For days I thought about walking
the beach. To be quite honest, I wasn’t too excited
about it. I’m a “giddy-up-and-go” person myself.
There’s too much to do! The thought of a season
of walking the beach didn’t interest me at all. What
was the Lord asking of me? Did I literally walk a
beach and do nothing? Surely not.
Since I had no idea what walking the beach
looked like to God, I began to pray about it. As I
prayed, this question rose up in my heart, “How do
you feel when you are on the beach.”
That was an easy question. I began to answer
it in my journal: “Lord, when I am on the beach,
I am in total awe of Your majesty and the beauty
of Your creation. I feel so free, so totally free on
the beach! I’m so alive. And, so in touch with You.
With each step, I find myself deeper and deeper in
Your presence. On the beach, it’s only You and me,
God. I have no worries, no fears, nothing… just
pure peace. On the beach, I am captivated by Your
love, speechless by all that I see. I am energized and
become like a child splashing in the waves, digging
in the sand, and floating weightless in the water. On
the beach, I never doubt Your love, power, majesty,
goodness, or Your love for me.”
As I became transparent with God, it became
clear what He is asking me to do. Walking the beach
and coming away with Him wasn’t about dropping
everything and doing nothing. It wasn’t even
about going to an actual
beach. Rather,
it was an open
invitation to enter
into a place of
rest and freedom;
an invitation to
become child-like…
totally excited about
Him and totally free
in Him; an invitation
to become completely
enthralled by His beauty
and overwhelmed by His
love. Finally, and most
refreshing to me, it was
an invitation to come to
a place where I’m not
focused on doing anything but only being who God
has made me to be.
In that place, God will hit me like a tsunami with
His wave of glory and sweep me away to exactly
where He wants me to be. In that place, God will
place answers on my heart and give me the wisdom
and discernment to move forward. In that place, He
will assemble the team He desires to carry out the
visions He has placed on my heart. In that place, He
will shower me with His love, fill me with His peace,
and energize me with His strength.
On the beach, that’s where it’s at! Everything I
need, everything I could desire, everything I could
ever hope for is waiting for me on the beach. And,
it’s waiting for you, too.
Let’s accept God’s invitation to come away
with Him. V
Kristi Overton Johnson is the founder
of KOJ Ministries and In His Wakes.
Kristi currently resides in Florida with
her husband, Tim, and their three
children.
14 www.kojministries.org

FROM DEATH
TO LIFE by
This time of the year is so beautiful in Tennessee.
The leaves are falling and turning brilliant colors, and
the mornings are refreshingly crisp. Fall has arrived.
For me, witnessing these changes is exhilarating; they
remind me of the seasons of life.
The early seasons of life begin with hope and
excitement. As kids, we run and play. Life is fun!
There isn’t a care in the world. We get our education,
set out on our own, and chase after our dreams. We
find our forever soul mate and form a family. Then,
new arrivals come on the scene –– children and pets.
Careers are launched. It’s an exciting time of getting
your act together and hitting your stride.
Then, you enter another season and life gets
hard. The constant cycle of working, raising children
and providing for their needs, paying bills, fixing
things, and focusing on your relationship with
your spouse can become exhausting. But you keep
working hard and it pays off. You get promoted, and
life settles down. After awhile, however, the cycle
catches back up to you and the smooth road once
again gets rough. Parts of our life begin to break
down on your job and in relationships. You may
wonder: is it worth it?
The next season approaches faster than you would
have ever imagined. Your AARP greeting comes in the
mail announcing that you have officially entered the
final season of life: old age. You don’t feel old, in fact,
you still feel like the kid from a half a century ago.
But you pass by the mirror, and find an older version
of yourself staring back. This is a season of reflection
and a realization that you are not able to do some
of the things you once did. Marathons and triathlons
give way to 5K walks and strolls. You enjoy your life
successes, but most of those are now in the musings
and rear-view mirrors of life.
Your body changes. Your blood pressure and
heart scans point to the obvious –– lifestyle
changes are in order. It’s time to adjust your diet
and exercise more. You keep pressing on, making
changes, refusing to cave into those aching knees
or broken down hips and shoulders. You’re aiming
for 85, or better yet, 100!
Paul S. McKean
These portrayals may not completely reflect
your life seasons, but I’m sure you can find some
similarities. Right now, I’m in this final season and
lately, I’ve had plenty of reminders! I recently went
to the 50th Class Reunion of my college graduating
class. Wow! Talk about an eye opener! Although I
recognized some of my classmates, I really had no
idea who many of them were. I’m sure they didn’t
recognize me either.
It became quite obvious as I looked at my
classmates that I’m in the last season of life. And if
seeing all those people wasn’t enough to remind
me of my impending departure from this life, I then
learned of the passing of a dear friend who was my
age. All of this really made me really think about my
next season –– eternity.
In the book of Psalms, David provides a picture
of life and God’s involvement in it. “Every day of my
life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was
laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm
139:16 (NIV) From this passage, we see that God has
numbered every day of our lives. No matter who you
are: there is a time to live and a time to die.
With that realization in mind, I ask myself: How will
I live out my days? What type of legacy will I leave?
What will the next season of eternity be like? Here’s
my answer: I want to live whatever days I have left on
this earth in the presence and power of God, loving
Him, and loving His people. I want to use my gifts
and talents for His purposes so that I leave a legacy
that lasts beyond me. Leaving a legacy of money and
material items isn’t my primary goal; rather, I want to
leave Christ in the hearts of many.
And in regards to eternity? For me and other
believers, that final season will be awesome!
There wil be no more tears, confusion, pain, failure,
struggles, sickness, disappointment, or heartache.
I welcome it!
Does all this talk about eternity seem too dark and
grim? Does the thought of death scare you? It doesn’t
have to. The reality is that no matter who we are,
our season of life will end. Therefore, it is important
that we secure the answers to these questions now,
regardless of what season we may be in.
Take a moment and reflect
on the following:
How will you live out your days? Will they be for
your glory and man’s applause, or will they be for
God’s purposes?
What type of legacy will you leave? Will the things
you do remain, or will they simply rot with time?
Finally, where will you spend eternity? Where
will you go from here? Will you pass from death to
death? Or, will you pass from death to life? Our final
breath on earth isn’t the end; it is the beginning –– of
something. What will it be: Eternal separation from
God or eternal life with Him?
Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their
Lord and Savior and His offer of new life have the
assurance of eternal life. “He who has the Son (Jesus)
has the life; he who does not have the Son of God
does not have the life. These things I have written
to you who believe in the name of the Son of God
(Jesus) in order that you may know that you have
eternal life.” 1 John 5:12 -13 (NASB)
Do you have eternal life? If so, rejoice! There is
nothing to fear. As you wait to enter that final season,
live purposefully and passionately for Christ.
If you are not sure about where you’ll spend your
eternal season, make sure today! The Bible says, “If
you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised Him from the
dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
If this is your desire, with a sincere heart pray:
“Father God, I know that I am a sinner. I know I need
a Savior. In faith, I come to You through Jesus’ sacrifice
for my sin on the cross and receive forgiveness. His
death paid the price for my sin and His resurrection
conquered death. Because of my faith in Your Son,
I now have the assurance of eternal life with You. In
Jesus’ mighty Name, Amen” V
Born in 1941, Paul S. McKean made a early commitment to a life-long ministry of
Christian service. Paul and his wife, Jeannie, served with Campus Crusade for Christ
for 43 years. The last 30+ years, they served in international ministry, in particular
Asia. Retired (yet still serving), Paul resides with his wife of 52 years in Unicoi, TN.
His education includes a BA and MA in Philosophy. He is a consultant to KOJM.
www.kojministries.org 15

Doin’ Time
For Jesus
by Al and Sharon Paquette
Sharon: Twenty-nine years ago, my life drastically changed when my husband, Al, had a true
Damascus Road experience. Literally overnight, the biker I had married 11 years prior was no longer
the man I knew. I was used to the guy who was stoned 24 hours-a-day and who drank until he
passed out every night. Not this straight man who wept and actually started to care about me
and our two young ones.
For years I had witnessed Al struggling to quit excessive partying. Yet, in the end, he would
always break his promises to me. It was a constant burden to me. I really don't know why I
stayed with him; we were crazy in love from the beginning is my only answer.
I prayed in desperation countless times, and I was on the verge of giving up when this
transformation occurred. We had started going to church, but Al didn’t seem to be hearing the
message. As soon as he would come home, he would head straight to the garage to do his
normal activities –– get drunk and get high. One Sunday evening while in the garage, however,
Al had an encounter that changed our lives forever.
photos
courtesy of
Dave Dillman
Al: Our neighbor, Jerry, had come over to the garage to talk to me. It was the first
time someone had actually described hell. Outwardly, there didn’t seem to be
an immediate change. I did not get down on my knees. In fact, I just smoked
another joint. I’m sure Jerry went back home thinking I hadn’t heard a thing.
But something had happened that night. God had used Jerry’s words to pierce
my hard heart in ways I could have never imagined.
I woke up the next morning with a real physical pain in my chest. I
actually thought I was having a heart attack. As I look back, I am certain
it was God ripping Satan right out of my chest. At that moment, my
desire to get high and drunk was forever gone. Completely.
Sharon: That night Al woke up with a horrible pain in his chest. He
left for work and came home a new man. He told me he was never
getting high again. I could see in his eyes that this was a promise he
was going to keep. It was the miracle that I had longed for.
Al: It took me two days to figure out what had happened. I was
raised in a Catholic family, I had gone to nine years of Catholic school,
and I had known about God and Jesus. But those were just somewhat
warm, fuzzy stories. They had never really applied to my life. At that point, I was
31 years old. I had been a criminal most of my life, totally addicted to drugs,
alcohol, and pornography. Overnight, however, something had happened. No
longer was I angry, nor did I have a desire to get high, drink, or hurt people.
Even cuss words had disappeared from my vocabulary. The strangest
things were happening to me. Not only were my normal desires gone,
but I even found myself smiling on the way home from work. This
was my first authentic smile in years. It actually made my jaws
hurt!
To say those around me were a bit taken aback by
my behavior would be an understatement. When I refused my
coworker’s invitation to join him in the rafters to smoke a joint,
(something we had done daily at work for ten years), he just kept
asking, “What is wrong with you?” I didn’t know.
16 www.kojministries.org

photos
courtesy of
R.O.O.T. Prison
Ministry
Sharon was just as shocked. That evening
she had gone bowling. As usual, I had taken the
kids to McDonald’s to get some food. When we got
home, however, something incredible happened. I
found myself actually playing with my kids, and,
enjoying it!
Once I put them to bed, I went out into the
garage for some pot. But when I looked at all the
marijuana, I just didn’t feel like rolling a joint. I went
to the refrigerator to grab a beer, but I didn’t feel
like drinking either. I had no idea what was wrong
with me. For sixteen years, every minute I existed,
every minute I breathed, I was smoking, drinking,
and doing drugs. There must be a reason. Could it
have to do with God?
Sharon and I had been attending a Ray Stedman
Authentic Christian Bible class. I took out the class
book. I had never read it before. I never read any
books that didn’t have pictures in them. I quickly
noticed Bible references, so I began to look them up.
Sharon: When I came home from bowling,
I knew something was up. The house didn’t smell
like pot, and Al wasn’t drunk. When I saw him
reading the Bible, I thought for sure he was tripping
on drugs! He assured me he wasn’t. (I made him
follow my finger with his eyes just to make sure.)
When I saw him reading the Bible, all I could ask
was, “What is wrong with you?” With a smile he
answered, “I don’t know.”
AL: That night was so
beautiful. I had a peace
about me that I could have
never achieved with any
drug. The next morning as I
was riding my bike to work,
I heard the audible voice of
God saying, “I’m going to
carry your burden of needing
to get high.” At that moment
I knew I had had an encounter
with the Lord. He had changed
my life, miraculously taking
away my desires so I could be
used by Him in a powerful way.
Sharon: We never looked back from that day
on. We started fervently seeking God’s will in our
lives. Al met with our pastor, John Christiansen,
every Wednesday morning. He listened and grew.
1 Peter 4:10 became our passion: “God has given
each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual
gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
AL: When I read 1 Peter 4:10 and understood
that I am to use whatever gifts I have to help
others so I can faithfully administer God’s grace in
various forms, I knew this verse was for me. At first,
however, I had to accept that God could love me
–– a screw-up who had destroyed everything in his
path. I had to be one of the worst husbands in the
world, and most definitely, the worst role model of
a father. Yet as I read the Word, I realized that He
indeed did love me, forgave me of all my sins, and
desired to use me for His glory.
Many tears were shed by this grown man. God
had changed my life. I knew He was real, and I knew
He loved me right where I was. I told God that night
that I would go anywhere He wanted me to go, and
talk to anyone that He wanted me to talk to.
www.HD4JC.com
Sharon: Al worked full-time and we devoted
every spare moment and any extra money we had to
go into prisons and use our gifts to serve others. My
mother who lived next door to us was a great help
with our children. One night during Al’s quiet time
the Lord spoke to him and told him to go to school.
After much discussion, Al stepped out in faith. He
started by getting his GED and then his Bachelor
of Arts. Then he went to seminary and graduated
with a BA in religion. He was ordained in 1997. This
process took 15 years!
In 2000, the Lord led Al to quit his job as a frontend
mechanic and go full-time into ministering
to inmates and bikers. He obeyed and formed Al
Paquette Ministries. Ever since answering his call
to serve others, we’ve been riding our motorcycles
across the country sharing the love and power of
Christ. We’ve also joined other national prison
ministries such as Kairos, R.O.O.T. Motorcycle and
Prison Ministry, Inmate Encounter, and Bill Glass
Champions for Life.
One day while in prison, we watched as the
inmates drooled over our bikes. They looked over
every detail, really appreciating seeing a bike upclose.
For many inmates, it had been years since they
had seen one. Al went home and started building a
prison-themed motorcycle called, Doin’ Time. Eight
months later, Al was riding this motorcycle into
prisons across the country. To date, he has ridden it
into over 120 prisons.
AL: I built Doin’ Time for the inmates. As I built
that bike, I prayed earnestly for the Lord to use it
to touch many lives for His Kingdom. When I speak
to the inmates, I tell them that I prayed over that
bike just like God prayed for them when they were
being created. The correction officers also enjoy
Doin’ Time. That bike has given much joy to many
and is an incredible tool for connecting with people
in order to share the Gospel.
Sharon: God is so good. He answered my
prayers, and more! Through our life story, I pray that
you will realize that no matter what your current
situation may be, no matter what you are going
through, or have gone through, Jesus is the answer.
Grasp the truth that He sees your heart, knows your
desires, hears your cries, and loves you more than
anything. Then, keep believing for your miracle. The
transformation may not happen as fast as Al’s, but
it will come. And God’s miracle, just like Doin’ Time,
will be specially designed, just for you. V
Sharon & Al have been together since 1973. In 1985, Al was called out of the fast paced biker lifestyle. Al was freed from his addictions over night. They
both went through a healing process that brought them to the start of an exciting journey. Since 1986 they have served in many different ministries and
have helped coordinate motorcycles to go into prisons all over Florida. They know the healing power of Jesus Christ first hand and they want to share this
information with everyone they meet.
www.kojministries.org 17

MINISTRY NEWS
As I look back over 2014, I am truly amazed.
In many ways, it would seem to some that I have
taken steps backwards. I have moved from an
incredible facility to a new location in Central
Florida where I am working out of my home as
I did a decade ago. Over the past 4 months, I’ve
once again become responsible for the majority
of administrative activities for both KOJM and In
His Wakes including paying bills, answering the
phone, database entry, picking up the mail, and
making bank deposits.
Yet, as I’ve been faithful to do what needs to be
done, an amazing thing has happened. God has
been at work opening doors and bringing about
supernatural connections that have made 2014
the most fruitful year ever since KOJM’s inception
five years ago.
For years as a ministry leader, I tried desperately
to bring about the visions in my heart. Even upon
my recent move to Central Florida, I immediately
thought, “I’ve got to go do something … build
a team, get the magazine out to this new
community, meet pastors, etc...”
Those thoughts came to an abrupt end during
my prayer walk a couple of months back as I heard
these words: “Kristi, I have freed you from the
yokes of your past. If you aren’t careful, you are
going to run right back out and hitch yourself up
again.”
One thought of that yoke from years past and I
knew without a doubt –– I did not want to go back
there again. I like my newfound health, sanity, and
relationships. My family likes it, too! With those
words ringing in my mind, I made a commitment
to wait on the Lord, to draw close to Him, and to
be faithful to whatever and whoever He placed
in my path.
As you’ll see from the following praise reports,
it’s been a good combo. I praise the Lord and I
thank our supporters who have made all of the
following possible in 2014!
UPDATE FROM KOJ MINISTRIES FOUNDER,
KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
KOJM: 2014 Year In Review
• VL is currently funded by individuals like YOU
who desire to see men and women experience
a victorious life.
Prison Ministry
• Upon joining KOJM in 2014 as Prison
Correspondence Director, Linda Cubbedge
formed a team that meets weekly to write to
and pray for inmates. Policies and procedures
have been developed for this correspondence
outreach.
• In 2014, KOJM corresponded with 200
inmates on a consistent basis. Each inmate
received personal letters from our Prison
Correspondence Team, monthly devotionals
from Kristi Overton Johnson, and personal
copies of VL. The number of inmates on our
correspondence list is growing daily.
• In 2014, Kristi Overton Johnson spoke to
inmates in 11 Florida facilities.
• In December, Kristi will once again join Bill
Glass’ Behind the Walls Ministry as a platform
speaker in Jacksonville, FL prison facilities. She
will also join Murf the Surf in Orlando facilities.
International Orphanage Outreach
• In 2014, KOJM donated $6,000 to Favour the
Helpless. This money was used to buy essential
supplies for orphaned children in India.
• Kristi visited Glazov, Russia where she
presented toys, gifts, medical supplies, and a
medical transport van to the local orphanage.
Champion’s Heart Life Center
Located in Keystone Heights, CHLC served
hundreds of local residents in 2014 through its
resource center before closing in May. Currently, the
center provides space to various local organizations
who offer physical, spiritual, and mental health
services.
“We Care” Sponsor Page
Beginning next issue, we will launch a We Care
Partner Page that will recognize businesses
and individuals who are supporting the Victorious
Living prison outreach. In the course of the next year,
you will notice VL moving away from individual
business listings with a few sponsor exceptions.
There is room for your name on this list! To become
a partner, email victoriousliving@kojministries.org.
Address Correction
In the last issue (Issue 3, 2014), there was
an address error. Below is the correct address
information:
All Inmate Correspondence:
Victorious Living Prison Outreach
PO Box 968
Keystone Heights, Fl 32656
Donations or General Correspondence:
KOJM/Victorious Living
PO Box 120951
Clermont, Fl 34712-0951
Victorious Living Magazine
• 64,000 total copies were distributed in 2014.
• Of this amount, 36,000 copies were mailed
directly to 40 Florida prisons. Additional copies
entered the prison system through partnering
prison ministries who are using VL as a
resource to reach inmates for Christ.
• Unlike the general public, copies of VL
within the prison system have a continuous
readership. Magazines are shared and read
multiple times among the prison population;
thereby increasing the potential impact of
each magazine.
Orphans from India send a warm thank you to KOJM’s supporters for helping provide their basic needs.
18 www.kojministries.org

FROM OUR READERS
Words From Heaven
Dear Faithful Sister, (member of Prison
Correspondence Team)
I received your letter on September 23. I was in
my room reading the most recent publication of
Victorious Living when the mail was given out. I
was grateful and thankful to God when I saw who
the letter was from.
After reading your letter, I was touched and
brought to tears of spiritual joy. My roommate and
another prisoner were sitting on his bed playing
chess. They saw me wiping the tears from my face
and got concerned as they thought something was
wrong.
When I shared your letter with them, they
too started nearly the same. My roommate said:
“Man, it’s been more times than I can count! Only
God knows how many times they have spoken
the right Scriptures to me and many more of us
prisoners right when we needed it, comforting
us in Christ. You need to sit and write this Godsent
sister back and thank God for speaking to her
heart about you.”
He just kept going on and on about how right
and true your words were. I just let the tears of
joy flow freely. The three of us joined hands and
prayed. Sister, the power of the Holy Spirit was
so strong: not only in our room, but in the entire
dorm.
I didn’t know it at first, but the majority of
the prisoners were looking at this television
show called, “The Voice.” I was told that when
we started praying, another prisoner got up and
turned the volume down. Some prisoners outside
my room door and other prisoners fell silent. I
didn’t know what to make of it. But, I gave thanks
and praises to God.
Once again, thank you for your spiritual
uplifting and encouraging letter. Only the Holy
Spirit could have led you to write so truthfully and
beautifully for His sake. You and your family are
lifted daily in my prayers. I will write more as God
opens the door for me in my next letter. God loves
you, and so do I, in Christ Jesus’ name.
God is an on-time God. He may not come when
we want Him to; but He will always be there right
on time. We just need to wait on Him. Amen
A Prayer For Our Team!
Dear Friends at Victorious Living,
I picked up a Victorious Living magazine at the
Union Correctional Institution Chaplains’ library a
few days ago. Although not the first time, it was
the first time I have read it with enthusiasm.
Like George Beasley, the author of The Old
Rope Swing (Issue 3 2014), I also have a memory
of failure from 58 years ago. This failure began
haunting me many months back. It consumed
many hours. Satan was pulling me away from the
Jesus that had saved me many years ago. But like
George said, “There’s no fixing the wrong.”
The Holy Spirit hauled me out of the dump and
drug me to Isaiah 43:18-19 and said, “But forget
all that Ken — it is nothing compared to what I am
going to do. For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?”
He began by leading me to the chapel library
and to the magazine rack. Then, he made my eyes
focus on the fork in the road on your cover. Next,
He gave me the desire to bring Victorious Living
back to my room.
The rest is history, a lesson learned.
Thank you, Jesus, for the friends at Victorious
Living. Lord, continue to fill their hearts with the
unconditional love of God. I pray that you grow
the prison correspondence team and allow their
families to understand and support them for this
great mission.
Redeemed from the past at the cross,
Inmate Kenny
PO Box 120951
Clermont, FL 34712-0951
352-478-2098
www.kojministries.org
THE HEART
OF KOJM:
Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries
seeks to love people to the
Life-Giver, Jesus Christ, through
its various publications,
speaking, teaching, singing
ministry, prison and orphan
outreaches. KOJM equips minds
and encourage hearts with the
Living Water of God’s Word.
Scan the QR code to Like
Kristi Overton Johnson
Ministries FaceBook
page and receive
inspirational devotions.
YOU CAN HELP BY:
• Becoming a monthly
financial supporter of
KOJM so we can evangelize
the Gospel, encourage
hearts, and equip minds
with God’s Word.
• Sponsoring a prison or
inmate to receive
Victorious Living.
• Distributing Victorious
Living in your area.
• Sharing your story of
God’s faithfulness in
Victorious Living.
• Inviting Kristi or Linda
to speak at your church
or group.
• Praying for us!
Inmate Daniel
A very special THANK YOU to the ladies who faithfully serve on our Prison
Correspondence Team. Please continually lift these ladies up in prayer as they
encourage the hearts of many with the Love and Truth of God.
www.kojministries.org 19

MINISTRY NEWS
Just Be Willing
UPDATE FROM IN HIS WAKES
DIRECTOR, NATE MILLER
I heard a message on Gideon recently that
reminded me of exactly how I felt as I was
planning for the In His Wakes 2014 Tour. In
Judges 6:11-16, the Lord instructs Gideon to
go and deliver Israel from their oppressors, a
calling way over his ability by human standards.
Gideon basically responded, “God, I am too
small and too young. How can I possible pull
this off?”
To which the Lord responded, ”I have sent
you, go in My power and strength.”
Facing a season of over 50 “A Day to
Remember” events, organizing other unique
outreach events, coordinating a second
traveling team’s schedule, and all the logistics
involved with a multi-faceted ministry caused
me to feel a bit unqualified to pull off what the
Lord had set before me to accomplish.
“Are you sure you got the right guy, Lord?”
I wondered.
Although my situation was very minor in
comparison to what Gideon was facing, I still
felt inadequate. I knew that only through God’s
power and strength could I lead In His Wakes.
Now, many months later, I look back and
celebrate the victory of completing all that the
Lord had put on our hearts to do. Amazingly,
everything I had envisioned during the preseason
happened… and more! With God’s
help, and the help of hundreds of volunteers
and faithful partners, lives were forever
changed.
Even though our on-water ministry season
has ended for 2014, our ministry team hasn’t
gone into hibernation. There isn’t an off-season
anymore.
Since our last “A Day to Remember” event
at USA Water Ski Headquarters on September
26, we have been busy holding follow-up
events with some of our participants, as well as
partnering with other ministries to hold youth
outreach events. Two of these events took place
the first weekend of November in Bend, OR and
Sacramento, CA.
I’ve been the director of In His Wakes for 8
years now. I’ve seen a lot of amazing things,
but the Sacramento event topped them all.
For over a year, I’ve dreamed of a large
outreach event. During the planning process,
however, circumstances would always arise
preventing the event from occurring as I’d
envisioned. Several months ago, however, an
opportunity arose to try again. After prayer,
I stepped out in faith and joined like-minded
ministries who had a similar vision to reach
youth with the Gospel through sports.
As the event approached, multiple last
minute obstacles arose that threatened the
outcome of the event. We stayed the course,
however, and continued to pray. The Lord
heard our prayers and showed us once again
that He has everything under control. I should
know by now that God is not surprised by the
unexpected; after all, these are His events. We
are simply the hands and feet He uses to carry
out what He has already put into place.
Prior to the event, we had absolutely no
idea how many people would attend. We
prepared the best we knew how in regards
to planning our schedule as well as providing
adequate seating. What I wasn’t prepared for
was the response that occurred at the end
of the event.
We opened the event with praise and
worship and then showed exciting videos
from our 2014 “A Day to Remember” events,
as well as The Purpose Film. Pro wakeboarder,
Kirby Liesmann, brought the event to a
powerful close with his personal faith
testimony.
In His Wakes is a separate non-profit. If you
desire to make a donation to IHW, please
go online at inhiswakes.com or send
donations to the address below.
PO Box 120987 • Clermont, FL 34712-0987
Nate Miller • 352-745-0283
www.inhiswakes.com
MISSION:
In His Wakes introduces people to the
life-changing power of Jesus Christ
through water sports.
YOU CAN HELP BY:
• Purchasing Bibles, dog tags, medals,
and other resources to be used in our
2015 “A Day to Remember” program.
• Becoming a monthly supporter. We need
100 people to commit to $50 a month.
• Sponsoring a child to attend an event.
($100 per child)
• Helping us purchase a replacement
motorhome for our second travel team.
• Helping us sell our boat! We have a
Malibu ’06 I Ride for sale.
IHW 2014 YEAR
IN REVIEW:
• IHW held 51 “A Day to Remember”
on-water events in 20 states, plus
unique outreach events .
• Over 1000 at-risk youth and adults
heard the gospel and experienced a day
of victory on the water.
• Hundreds gave their life to Christ,
making the commitment to “Get off the
Dock” and follow Him!
• IHW launched a second team to help
conduct our D2R Tour!
Children from Edgewood Ranch
visit USA Water Ski Hall of
Fame prior to learning to ski
themselves!
photos by Lynn Novakofski
20 www.kojministries.org

A Day to Remember’ participant from
Teen Challenge shares how the program
changed his life at a recent outreach
event in Oregon.
As we began to sing the closing
song, “Break Every Chain,” we offered
an opportunity for those who would
like prayer to come forward. You could
sense the overwhelming presence of the
Holy Spirit moving through the room.
It quickly became evident that a seven
member prayer team was a drastic
underestimation on my part. The Lord had bigger
things in mind!
Soon, each prayer team member had a line of
individuals seeking prayer for salvation, physical
and emotional healing, as well as healing of
broken relationships. For 30 minutes we prayed for
one hurting person after another. It was such an
incredible way to finish out the 2014 season!
Although we spent a lot of time driving, and spent
little time sleeping, we left the event energized by
what the Lord had done and excited about what
He is going to do in the near future. I’m telling you,
we could have started the 2015 season right then!
www.inhiswakes.com
As I begin prayerfully scheduling the 2015 Tour, I
am humbled. Like Gideon, I don’t feel equipped to
do this job, yet the Lord has invited me to partner
with Him in such a powerful way. I encourage you,
whatever you sense the Lord asking you to do,
accept His invitation. Lay aside your fear and doubt
and just be willing. Trust me, you’ll be amazed at
what the Lord will do in your midst! V
Why We Support
Victorious Living…
by Discount Inboard Marine, LLC
Faith is stored in our hearts, in our mouths,
and in our hands as we obediently give The
Word of Life to a lost and dying generation.
At Discount Inboard Marine, LLC, we
support Victorious Living because we know
that it is here that The Word of Life and Love is
being given! And hearts are being made new.
This magazine is making endless ripples
of impact; we are blessed to be a part of
what God is doing! Nothing compares to the
promises of God!
May you be blessed as you read the words
of testimony which prove beyond a shadow
of a doubt that God is at work in lives and
hearts and mouths everywhere, every day, for
His Glory!
Thank you KOJ Ministries for the light you
shine and the wake you make!
It is our pride and joy to assist you in adding
power to lives, through the glorious Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
~Karen Dougherty
Discount Inboard Marine, LLC
www.kojministries.org 21

MINISTRY NEWS
Rescue Me!
UPDATE FROM PRISON COORESPONDENCE
DIRECTOR, LINDA CUBBEDGE
Sometimes life can be downright overwhelming.
It often feels like you are running your race with the
Lord, seeking His face, praying, reading His awesome
Word, and yet still, it is as if you are all alone. No one
seems near to really feel your pain. This is how I felt
a few months ago.
In February, my precious 86-year-old mother came
down with pneumonia. Her little 99 pound body put
up quite a fight, but just couldn’t win the battle.
On Monday, March 3rd, 2014, Mother entered her
Heavenly Home –– another precious Saint finishing
her race –– receiving that glorious body Paul
describes in 2 Corinthians 5. I am so happy for my
mother, but at that same time, I’m heartbroken.
My mom was my hero. She was so strong in her
faith, such a prayer warrior. Just like my husband,
Steve. As I thought back to the grief I experienced
when I lost Steve a few years ago, I began to think,
“Okay, I’ve been here before and I made it through.
This shouldn’t be so hard.” Goodness, was I wrong!
I began to have feelings towards God that I had
never experienced. My mind began to entertain
thoughts like, “God has abandoned me. He has my
husband, and now, my mother, too. The two strongest
people in my life are no longer here with me. I’m all
alone.”
I knew better than to believe that God would
ever forsake or abandon me; yet, thoughts like these
continued to surface. I began to pray: “Why, God?
Why am I feeling like this? I know there is no truth in
what I am thinking. It is indeed a lie. But the pain and
the realness of my loss is overwhelming. My heart is
breaking. Please dear Lord, help me overcome these
feelings of being alone… of being abandoned.”
One evening while watching a Christian Network,
a lady named Wendy Alec began reading from her
book, Visions From Heaven. As I listened to her words,
I knew I had to read this book. Thank goodness for
smart phones. I placed my order right there from my
couch! When the book arrived a few days later, I felt
an urgency to begin reading. Only my Heavenly Father
knew the anguish of my soul. Only He understood
what I was going through. Only He knew what would
‘rescue me’ from this attack of the enemy.
I wasn’t even through the introduction before
my heart was touched. She wrote, “…if you have
recently been through a season of severe adversity
and testing and found yourself at the sheer rock face,
facing some of the fiercest trials and testing of your
life head on, I believe with all my heart that it is no
coincidence you are reading these pages, but that
the Father Himself loves you so intensely, that He has
done everything He can to put this book into your
hands.” Now for me, this was a God moment. You
know, those moments when the Creator of Heaven
and Earth takes the time to orchestrate a divine
rescue for one of His children. In this case, that child
was me!
I kept reading: “Maybe you or those you love have
experienced a crippling bereavement… (She lists
several devastating experiences.) And yet you have
loved the Father, the Lord Jesus, and His Holy Spirit
with all your heart and soul. You have served Him
these past years to the very best of your ability. (Here
comes the powerful statement of my own mindset)…
And so, secretly, your heart has been breaking with
bewilderment and abandonment.”
Her words were filled with powerful truth and fresh
revelation. I wasn’t even through the introduction
and already I felt an inward release of deep assurance
that this fierce trial would soon be over.
Wendy Alec went on to say: “In our greatest
seasons of adversity, Satan tries to imprint his own
character onto our Father’s faultless, flawless one.
And in the searing heat of our battle, this sometimes
outworks itself in his accusations to our souls to
accuse our own omniscient Father in our minds and
our hearts.”
That was me! I had accused my Heavenly Father
of being something He wasn’t –– an abandoner.
I had attributed character to my Lord that was the
character of another –– Satan.
“Our Heavenly Father is The Faithful One, The
Kindest and most tender One of all. The very Balm of
Gilead Himself, who reaches out His arms toward you
today. Tenderly entreating you out of abandonment.
And bids you…Come…” Her anointed words
penetrated my heart and rescued me from this
anguish of my soul. After reading it, I was not only
totally free from every feeling of abandonment;
but my love for the Lord was greater than ever. He
became more real to me than anyone or anything in
this life.
As the director of the KOJM Prison Correspondence
Outreach, I can’t help but praise God for how He is
similarly using Victorious Living magazine to rescue
others. Just as He used Wendy Alec’s book to touch
my anguished soul, He is using the stories within this
magazine to bring freedom to the hearts of men and
women who are not only incarcerated physically, but
who are overwhelmed by loneliness and despair.
Every day our ministry team receives powerful
testimonies from inmates who share how the
anointed words of Victorious Living pierced their
hearts. Here’s an example:
I just read a story from your magazine called, “Get
Real! Fear Not!” (Issue 3, 2014). It touched my heart.
I instantly prayed to God. This story changed my life!
I had many fears, but I gave them to God and I was
filled with peace and love. I want you to know that your
words are touching the hearts of prisoners and they are
accepting Jesus. Your brother in Christ, Floyd (inmate).
We also receive testimonies of how Kristi’s monthly
devotional letter and the individual letters from our
Prison Correspondence Team release the soothing
balm of God’s Spirit to minister hope and healing to
discouraged souls. Over and over again we hear, “It is
as if the Lord Himself is speaking to us.” He is –– right
through the heart and words of our precious writers.
Thank you to those of you who support KOJM’s Prison
Ministry Outreach. Because of YOU, thousands upon
thousands are being touched with the precious love
and Truth of God.
Before I close, I want to encourage you –– whoever
you are. I do not know the grieves of your heart, I do
not know the pain of your situation, but God does.
And He has led me to tell somebody –– perhaps you
–– that you are NOT abandoned. You are not alone.
You are not forgotten.
God sees you. He hears you. He loves you.
Psalm 34:17-19 says, “The LORD hears His
people when they call to Him for help. He rescues
them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the
brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are
crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.”
Is your heart broken? Call to Him. Is your spirit
crushed? Tell Him how you feel. Be honest, totally
honest. He will never scold you or shun you. No! The
One and Only Victorious Redeemer longs to deliver
you, to heal you, and to set you free from all the lies
and powers of the enemy.
So go ahead. Call out, and give God permission to
rescue you today. V
Three generations of precious ladies: Linda (right)
and her mother and daughter.
22 www.kojministries.org

A_Lesson_To_Be_Learned
by Kristi Overton Johnson
Homework. For years, I’ve had nightmares where
I am back in college desperately searching for a
missing project that I somehow overlooked. I’ve even
dreamed that I have missed entire classes that were
needed to graduate, classes I should have had in
high school. I’m telling you, those dreams freak me
out! What a relief it always is to wake up and realize
school is really over.
Or is it? As a mom of three kids, I’m here to tell
you school isn’t over. Especially with two 7th graders
who experience learning challenges and don’t
absolutely love school work. Don’t get me wrong, I
love teaching, and I love helping my kids understand
what they are studying. But, I don’t love the constant
nagging that flows from my mouth, the begging
of them to pay attention, the frantic searching for
missing homework, and the attitude I sometimes
receive from the ones I’m trying to help. It can make
me feel like I am losing my mind, not to mention my
Christian testimony!
Recently as we studied for an upcoming Bible
test, I found a perfect teaching moment to talk about
godly attitudes and the art of honoring one’s parents.
How convenient for me that the lesson was on the
qualities of the wise and foolish child. Man, I was
into it! With targeting eyes and a lifted voice, I taught
about the actions of a foolish child; highlighting, of
course, disobedience, talking back, procrastination,
poor friend choices, laziness, among other things. I
shared the rewards of obedience pointing out the
promises of a long life where things will go well for
them.
Then, I taught, according to Proverbs, the effect
disobedient actions have on parents. Things like
shame, broken hearts, frustration, death, and grief.
Did you know that in the Old Testament children
could actually be killed for disobeying their parents?
Boy, that added some fuel to my fiery message!
Finally, I reminded them, as the lesson taught, that
parents are human and make mistakes and need to
be shown grace.
I really thought it was a great lesson until I woke
up the next morning and got a little spankin’ from
God. As I lay in bed, He showed me how I took His
precious Word and had pridefully used it like a sword
to tear my children apart, to judge them, and hurl
insults and condemnation towards them. It was a
disgusting and shameful sight. Then, He gave me a
snapshot of myself praying out loud, in the presence
of my kids, for the Lord to help them be obedient,
to love one another, and to become the men and
women of God they are destined to become. UGH!!
That, too, was an ugly picture. What’s a Christian
mom to do but repent? I asked the Lord to forgive
me and then I asked for the forgiveness from each
of my children.
Without a doubt, God showed me that my
‘preaching’ at home is an area where I really need to
work, as are my correction techniques. To quote one
of the verses from their homework lesson (the one I
should have been focused on): Fathers (and I assume
mothers) do not provoke your children to anger by
the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with
the discipline and instruction that comes from the
Lord. Ephesians 6:4
Are my children right in the way they act at times?
No. They need correction. But I’m not always right
either. My discipline and correction aren’t always
from the Lord. Not even close. More times than
not, they flow out of frustration and irritation. Oh, I
start out good, but with every roll of the eye, slam
of the door, and disrespectful word, my inners begin
to boil and then, I explode. And, as we might say in
the south, “It ain’t no explosion of I Corinthians’ 13
love!” Love that is patient, kind, and gentle. Love
that is never proud or rude, never irritable, and never
keeps a record of wrong.
Parenting the right way is the hardest thing in the
world. Becoming a world champion water skier was
way easier than the daily rearing of three kids. But
with a humble heart and the Lord’s help, it can be
done. And, it can be done right.
As parents, let’s determine not to discipline out
of anger and frustration, but out of the instruction
that comes from the Lord, instruction that flows from
the spirit of God within us. Let’s refuse to cause our
children to feel condemned or less than and instead,
build them up with the Word. The Word has the
power to change even the most rebellious of hearts.
And when it comes to prayer? Let’s pray over our
children, not at them. It’s time to get on our knees in
our prayer closets and pray, pray, pray until we see the
change we desire.
If we are not careful, our well meaning intentions
can take the powerful, treasured Word of God and
the beautiful act of prayer… two things that are
meant to bring life, encouragement, and freedom…
and turn them into something to be hated, rejected,
and detested. Now, that’s a lesson to be learned. V
Find Weekly Encouragement HERE!
www.facebook.com/KOJMinistries
www.kojministries.com
www.kojministries.org 23

CHAMPION’S HEART AWARD
The Champion’s Heart Award Presented to Rob Morford
Oftentimes when we envision a champion, our
mind brings forth the image of an athlete. Of course,
an athlete can easily fit the dictionary definition of
being the victor, the prize winner, or the title holder.
To me, however, a champion is much more than
someone who brings home wa trophy. A champion
is one who leaves a legacy in this world… a legacy
of integrity, perseverance, humility, generosity,
excellence, and love. Champions are heroes who we
can aspire to be like for all the right reasons.
In each issue of Victorious Living, it is my privilege
to honor individuals who exhibit the heart of a
champion. Why? To let people know that their
heart, passion, and efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.
This small, written acknowledgement and the
Champion’s Heart coin serve as permanent reminders
that that person’s life is making a difference in this
world, and that they are appreciated.
In this issue, the Champion’s Heart Award is
presented to Rob Morford. Rob, or Pastor Rob, as
many call him, is a true champion for God. For
nearly a decade, our family was under the
leadership of Pastor Rob when we attended
Community Church in Keystone Heights,
Florida. During that time, our family grew in
our knowledge of the Lord, and we grew in our
love for God and His people.
Ever since I was a young child, I have had the
privilege of being taught by wonderful pastors.
But never before meeting Pastor Rob have I met
a man with such passion to know God and to
make Him known in such applicable ways. From
the first time Tim and I heard him speak, it was as
if we had known him all of our lives. His openness
to share his struggles and live out his walk with
God in front of his congregation made us love him,
and the Lord, even more. Only a true champion can
be so transparent in hopes of helping others find
victory in Christ.
Pastor Rob brought the Word of God to life in
our lives. It was so obvious how much he treasured
the Word and also how much he respected the
Holy Spirit. Time and time again, we’d watch Pastor
Rob lay aside his plans to follow the leading of
the Holy Spirit –– whether that meant turning the
microphone over to someone else he felt God was
going to use, changing the order of the service, or
stopping in the middle of his sermon to pray about
something God was putting on his heart. More than
words, we received a lesson on humility and servant
hood.
From the moment Tim and I stepped into
Community Church, Pastor Rob embraced our family
and our ministries. He supported each outreach in
every way possible from personally supporting the
ministries financially to volunteering at our events.
He served on our board and faithfully shared our
ministries with his congregation. In a world where
even ministries can
become protective of their turf, Pastor Rob simply
opened his heart and his resources, and he gave.
Thank you, Pastor Rob, for your friendship and
partnership. Thank you for your life: a true example
of faith, hope, and love. Well done, good and faithful
servant. You are a true champion for God! V
We Have Moved!
Send All Inmate Correspondence To:
Victorious Living Prison Outreach
PO Box 968 • Keystone Heights, FL 32656
Donations or General Correspondence Should Be Mailed To:
KOJM / Victorious Living
PO Box 120951 • Clermont, FL 34712-0951
24 www.kojministries.org

Love… Respect…
Unity… Power by Rob Morford
The basic building block of society is the family
unit. Before the church or work or governments,
God created the family. It was to be a teaching tool
of how we are to interact with one another and
ultimately, interact with God. God wanted children
to get their first glimpse of Him through their moms
and dads. He wanted kids to see how the law (dad),
and grace (mom), could work together as equals
to build a home (which is a picture of heaven on
earth).
With every generation, however, this picture
has become more and more distorted as it has
moved away from God’s original design. What has
happened? The family structure has been attacked.
The simple truth is that Satan hates God, and he
hates all that God has created –– especially the
family. From the very beginning he has presented
opportunities for division by tempting various
members of the family unit to resist authority.
Think about it –– neither Adam or Eve submitted
to the authority of God. Both partook of the fruit.
Their son, Cain, didn’t submit, either. Rather than
obeying the Lord and letting go of his hatred
towards his brother, Cain followed his flesh; a
foolish act which led to death, destruction, and
division.
Satan used man’s freewill to cause him to disobey
God. This ultimately brought the sin nature upon all
mankind. The sin nature is birthed in disobedience
or rebellion to authority. The flesh hates authority.
It hates being told what to do or being told it can’t
have something. Have you ever noticed one of the
first words a baby learns is “no”? From an early age,
a battle emerges within the family unit as various
members resist submission and fight for authority.
God ordained authority to bring order, success,
and believe it or not, freedom to the home and to
the hearts of each member of the family. God is the
author of authority and all authority comes from
Him. (Romans 13:1) Satan has perverted authority
and caused it to become something that is rebelled
against.
As a pastor, if I told you how many women ask
me to omit the words “wives obey your husbands”
in their marriage vows, you would be shocked.
Although I agree not to use the word obey, I do
explain that I will use the word submit.
Contrary to popular belief, submission isn’t a bad
word. It’s a good word. In the Greek, it means to
“put oneself under.” It is the woman’s choice to
come under the leadership of her husband for the
betterment of her family. Submission isn’t about
the wife becoming a doormat for the husband to
walk over. It isn’t a license for Him to rule over
her and his home however he chooses. God tells
the man he is to lead his wife from a foundation
of love. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave Himself for it.”
Ephesians 5:25 (KJV) A man’s leadership is based
upon his love for his wife, not a prideful desire to
be in charge.
So how did Christ love the church? He laid his
life down for it! He was patient, kind, gentle, and
He gave His all for the ones He loved. I’ve learned
that as I give to my wife the love that she needs
(not necessarily deserves), she begins to follow my
leadership.
When love is absent and obedience is demanded,
slavery is formed. Slaves can be made to obey, but
they cannot be made to submit. Submission is a
choice and it is an attitude. Slavery is not a choice
and the attitude is hidden until it rebels.
On the other hand, God tells wives to submit to
and respect their husbands. See Ephesians 5:22-25.
He won’t always deserve it, but nonetheless, he
needs it. And in a healthy relationship,
the more respect he gets, the
more love he will pour
out upon his wife
and children.
So how does this interchange of authority and
unity play out in the home? Submission is based
upon respect. Respect flows from a sense of being
loved. And when love and respect work together,
unity is formed. And where there is unity, there
is power! A unified family becomes a force to be
reckoned with and no weapon forged against it
can prosper. Authority and submission within the
home opens the floodgates of God’s blessings to
the family.
Homes are destroyed over misconceptions of
authority and submission. Furthermore, salvations
of souls are impacted. Think about it. A child’s first
glimpse of God is their parents. If a child does not
see authority and submission working together in
their home, how will they ever get Born Again? If
they’ve never witnessed or experienced the blessing
of authority and submission, how will they ever
submit to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? The
home is the training ground for the children of God.
It’s where they witness the order and power of God
that they will then take with them into their own
home, work place, and church.
Right now you may be saying, “Easier said than
done! You don’t know who I live with or what
they’ve done to me!”
You’re right, I don’t. And it is true that God puts
authority in the hands of imperfect people who
don’t always handle it properly. That is why God
asks us to pray for all of those in authority. See I
Timothy 2:1-4. It takes faith to submit. And it takes
love to lead. But with God’s help
— love, respect, unity, and
power can flow and
overtake your home!
V
Rob Morford is pastor of Community
Church of Keystone Heights. He and
his wife, Dotty have three children
and four grandchildren.
www.kojministries.org 25

INSPIRING LEADERSHIP
Can You
Follow the
Leader?
By Bonnie Hagemann
Bonnie Hagemann is a member
of the Board of Directors for
KOJ Ministries. Bonnie is the
CEO of Executive Development
Associates, a 29-year-old
internationally known boutique
consulting firm that specializes
in executive development,
executive coaching, and high
potential development. To date,
Bonnie has 11 published works.
In my experience as an executive coach, I’ve
discovered there are many people who want to be
in positions of authority; few, however, understand
that leading people isn’t about ruling over others,
nor is it about getting your way. Regardless of one’s
position in life, every person has to be willing, at
some point, to lay down their own plans and follow
the plans of others. If not, they will not be successful.
Every position in life has a higher authority, and an
unwillingness to yield to it will cause a multitude of
problems whether in a political, religious, or social
organization.
Consider a large publicly-traded company. The
high potential employee dreams of being a vice
president. The vice president dreams of making it
to the ‘Suite Seats.’ The C-Suite dreams of being the
CEO. But once there, the CEO quickly learns that
instead of one boss, he now has 12 – the board of
directors. And the BOD? Well, they have shareholders
–– thousands of everyday people who have a vote in
what the company does and who runs it.
In a small business, not even the owner has the
last say. They have to answer to investors and/or
the bank. They should listen to their employees who
witness firsthand every level of the daily operations.
Regardless of whether this happens or not, if the
owner doesn’t listen to their customers, there
won’t be a business for very long. Think about the
government. No one has sole authority. Even the
president has to answer to ‘the people,’ the United
Nations, the allied countries, and the press.
Whether in government, large organizations, or
small businesses, as well as in the military or prison
system, and even within the church, if you follow the
chain of command you will always find that every
person has to answer to someone. With this in mind,
learning to follow is just as much of a part of leading
as leading itself. There is no real king of the mountain,
except God. We are all interconnected. Many will
lead, but all will follow. Do you follow well?
There are many barriers to being a good leader.
These barriers usually fall into one of three categories:
fear, pride, or a lack of listening skills. Leaders are
often afraid the person with another strategy will
lead the team down the wrong path. Or, they fear
yielding to another person’s idea will cause that
person to appear more powerful or credible.
A good leader realizes they are
never above learning. A good
leader is coachable and ready
to gain both knowledge and
skill from others, regardless of
who that person is.
Leaders, who act out of fear, rarely realize it. Fear
is at the root, but who sees the root? We usually see
more surface-level behaviors such as political gameplaying,
triangulation, and blatant positioning. These
are ‘fight’ behaviors. In the extreme, fear can trigger
‘flight’ behaviors. In these instances, the leader
threatens to leave, quit, or sue rather than rationally
working through a decision-making process.
Behaviors driven by fear are destructive. Even worse,
the behavior is bound to be repeated throughout a
bumpy and potentially painful career for the leader
and those in his or her path.
Pride is another barrier to effective leadership.
Pride can cause a person in authority to feel that
he or she is the smartest person in the room. They
reason any direction other than their own lacks
crucial information, thorough analysis, or basic
intelligence. These leaders often come across as
bullies. They berate others and project nonverbal
signals of frustration, anger, and annoyance towards
anyone daring to challenge his or her ideas. While
not all pride leads to bullying, it does always prevent
a person from humbling himself to yield and move in
a different direction.
Finally, a lack of listening skills can cause even
the most influential contribution to a decision to
be overlooked. When people aren’t listening, I
mean truly listening holistically with one’s mind
and understanding; they won’t really hear what is
being said. It’s almost as if people have an internal
conversation going on in their heads, “Do I agree
with what is being said or not? If not, then I’m not
listening.” As soon as they encounter something
contrary to their opinion, they build a wall and the
message falls on deaf ears. Listening to and hearing
another’s opinion is the only way to make effective
leadership decisions.
In my work, I’ve seen fear, pride, and an inability
to listen rip organizations apart, causing extreme
financial and interpersonal damage. It doesn’t have
to be that way. Admittedly, the drives to fight and
win are behaviors that can cause an organization to
be successful; but those same behaviors can become
stumbling blocks. Different behaviors are required for
different times and phases of growth.
For all of those who are impacted by your
leadership, learning to follow is just as important as
learning to lead. How about a little test to see if you
can follow the leader?
26 www.kojministries.org

INSPIRING LEADERSHIP
Here’s a quick self-examination:
Do you continually focus on your position
versus the interests of others? A good
leader allows others to challenge his or
her position without feeling personally
threatened or insulted.
Do you cling to your vision at all costs?
Remember, two visions equals division
and anything divided cannot stand.
(Mark 3:25) A good leader considers
the strategies and visions of others and
accepts the fact that there ultimately has
to be someone or some mechanism (such
as a vote) that makes the final decision.
Then, they yield to it.
Do you listen to others? I mean, do you
truly listen to another person’s point
of view? Have you ever taken the time
to argue for the opposite side in order
to test the idea and see if it is actually
better than the one you have put forth?
A good listener doesn’t listen to agree or
disagree, but to understand.
Do you follow others with a good attitude,
or do you grumble and complain? A
negative attitude is detrimental to the
success of the team or organization. It’s
fine to debate a decision or a direction to
a point, but when the final decision has
been made, it’s time to get on board and
act as if it were your decision all along.
Are you open to learn? A good leader
realizes they are never above learning.
A good leader is coachable and ready
to gain both knowledge and skill from
others, regardless of who that person is.
Are you willing to go above and beyond
the call of duty? Once a decision is made,
even if that decision isn’t yours, it’s time
to go to work. It’s the hard-working, getit-done,
arrive-early, stay-late, can-do
person who leads effectively. They are
the one who will be called on again and
again. A good work ethic causes you to
shine when others become dull from poor
attitude, positioning, and arguing.
Did you score well? Remember, nobody is perfect.
Everyone has areas where he or she can improve.
Being willing to acknowledge your weaknesses
and work on them will bring you to new levels
of success. For a more accurate evaluation,
consider asking a trusted friend or co-worker to
answer these questions with you. Often we view
ourselves differently than we actually are. (And
remember, don’t shoot the messenger!) Taking the
time to improve your following skills is important
because learning to follow others will cause others
to follow you. V
Regardless of one’s position
in life, every person has to be
willing, at some point, to lay
down their own plans and follow
the plans of others.
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is Roaring!
Every Saturday at 7 p.m.
Champion’s Heart
205 Magnolia Avenue • Keystone Heights, FL 32656
Each week features a unique guest worship and word minister!
Check our website to see a listing of upcoming leaders.
352.361.7652
www.ephesians-4-prayer-fellowship.com
Get a FREE copy of The Joshua Accounts!
www.kojministries.org 27

Singing a New Song! by
Donna Hannah
“Glory in His
holy name; Let
the hearts of
those rejoice who
seek the Lord!”
1 Chronicles 16:10 (NKJV)
Just recently I was talking with a fellow Christian
about church and the parts we like the most. I was
telling her that I wish we didn’t have to sing so long.
When I get to church, I just want to sit down and
hear the sermon; I want to hear what God would
have to say to me. My friend looked at me, and with
love said, “Worship time is how we prepare our
hearts to hear God’s message.” What a good friend!
I spent some time praying about my lack of
enjoying worship time. I really didn’t like feeling this
way. I wanted to be a part of it, and I wanted my
heart to be prepared to hear from God. I asked God
to change my heart. The following Sunday I was in
church singing along in worship. In the past, I would
quietly sing the words on the screen, anxiously
waiting for this time of church to be over. The songs
just didn’t have any meaning to me.
This Sunday, however, was different. As I began
to sing, I actually felt the words as I sang them. They
became a part of me and became a praise offering
to God. Suddenly, I felt this desire to sing as loudly
as I could. More than anything, I wanted to give God
praise for His love and His many blessings to me.
1 Chronicles 16:10, “Glory in His holy
name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who
seek the Lord!”(NKJV) My heart was rejoicing,
giving glory to His Holy name.
You know at the end of a chick-flick where the
guy is singing outside of the girl’s window, and even
though he doesn’t sound all that great, the girl has
a big smile on her face as she realizes how much
she is loved? I imagine that’s how God feels as I
am singing from the depths of my heart, letting Him
know how much I truly love Him and appreciate His
blessings. I bet there’s a big smile on His face, too.
1 Chronicles 16:34, “Oh, give thanks to the
Lord, For He is good! For His mercy endures
forever.” (NKJV)
That Sunday, I began to realize the purpose
behind worship. It isn’t about certain music styles, or
about sounding great, or about the people singing
on stage; it is an act of worship, a time to praise
and give thanks, and a time to prepare our hearts to
receive His truth. I finally got it.
1 Chronicles 16:23-25a, “Sing to the Lord,
all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His
Salvation from day to day. Declare His glory
among the nations, His wonders among all
people. For the Lord is great and greatly to
be praised…”(NKJV)
Now when I am at church, I enjoy praise and
worship time. I understand it; and I‘m singing a new
song! I may not be the one with my hands raised the
whole time, (I am a big girl and my arms get tired),
but I can assure you that my heart is overflowing
with love and joy. V
Donna is the office manager at a
mental health service provider. She is
an advocate for Autism Awareness.
Her husband currently serves in the
military. They have 2 sons.
28 www.kojministries.org

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www.kojministries.org 29

y Kristi Overton Johnson
Ever look at a situation and think: Boy,
this sure didn’t turn out like I’d planned?
Happens to me all the time.
Just recently, I was going about my
morning make-up routine. In preparation of
slapping on some much needed cover-up, I
pumped some face cream in my hand and
began to apply it to my face. The
more I tried to get the
cream to absorb in
my skin, the more
it refused. It was
like I was rubbing
sticky glue over
my dry face.
“What in the
world?” I thought.
As I examined
the bottle, I
quickly realized
that what appeared
to be my face cream
was in fact my face wash
(something meant to
be applied onto a wet
face). Since the bottles
are nearly identical in size
and color, I had inadvertently
picked up the wrong one and
pumped away. No wonder the cream felt so
thick and gross.
As I stared in the mirror shaking my head,
I sensed a life lesson rising up in my spirit.
Here it is: often in life we come face to face
with situations, people, and opportunities
that appear to be something they aren’t.
In some cases, what evolves is better than
you had hoped for. Other times, however, the
ultimate result is just one big sticky mess.
With face wash glued to my skin, I realized
that in situations where things don’t go as
planned, you just have to take a deep breath,
laugh at yourself, wash your face, and start
over. It’s the only choice.
I mean… really… what other choices
are there? Am I going to keep the soap on
my face? Am I going to get mad at myself or
blame the bottle? Am I going to back away
from ever applying cream again, afraid of
making the
same mistake?
No. That would
be ridiculous. I’ll
simply wash
my face and
mark the bottle
so I don’t make
the same mistake
again! Live and learn
as they say.
Right now you are probably wondering
how in the world my brain goes in these
directions. I don’t know; it just does. God
has a way of taking every day things like face
wash and dog poop to teach me lessons. But
if you think about, it is a pretty great lesson
that we can all ‘apply.’ (Sorry, I just couldn’t
resist.)
In life, not everything will go as planned.
Sometimes we make mistakes and make
a mess. When that happens we have one
choice: learn from it! ‘Mark the bottle’ and
move on. Refuse to get angry at yourself or
blame others and just keep going. We are
human, we make mistakes.
In cases where others make the mess in
your life –– well, you just have to be willing
to do the same thing –– learn from the
situation and then, move on. How?
First of all, you have to be willing to
forgive those who have hurt you. More than
anything, Satan wants you staring in a mirror,
focused on the mess, filled to the brim with
blame, fear, bitterness, anger, and offense.
Refuse! All this will do is keep you from
moving forward to your destiny.
Secondly, you have to be willing to move
on. I know it’s hard. Trust me, I’ve been there.
But with God’s grace, you can rise up out
of the stickiest, most painful situations and
emerge wiser and stronger than ever.
Give your hurts to God: He will heal your
heart.
Give your questions to God: He will teach
your heart.
Humble yourself and He will lift you up,
clean you up, and move you forward. V
30 www.kojministries.org

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Champion’s Heart Chapel
205 SW Magnolia Ave.
Keystone Heights, Florida
For more information, call
352-478-2098
www.kojministries.org 31

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