VL - Issue 35 - May 2020

REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE
Beauty for Ashes
Belleza en Vez de Cenizas
HIS ARREST;
GOD’S RESCUE.
ROGER
MUNCHIAN
Issue 02 / 2020

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ISSUE 2, APRIL 2020
The Lord
says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who
trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with
them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. Psalm 91:14–15
Publisher & Executive Director
Kristi Overton Johnson
Director of Partner Care & Development
Pat Avery
Cover Photography
Dear Dee Photography
Editor
Rachel Overton
Spanish Editors
Karissa Anderson
Monica Colangelo
Creative Designer
Lauren Jones
Executive Project Manager
Amber Katynski
Social Media Manager
Vanessa Dewey
Digital Content Manager
Roman Randall
Director of Prison Correspondence
Linda Cubbedge-Smith
Hispanic Outreach Director
Denise San Miguel
Inmate Family Advocate
Denise San Miguel
Contributing Writers
Lisa Appelo
Tina M. Brown
Kim L. Clark
Sally Coursen
Linda Cubbedge-Smith
Kristi Dews Dale
H. Joseph Gammage
Augie Ghilarducci
Kristi Overton Johnson
Roger Munchian
Christina O’Brien
Blaine Whitt
Photography
Dear Dee Photography
Dee Doris Photography
Ty Johnson
Amber Katynski
Jomaris Leon-Lorenzo
Assistant to Prison Correspondence Director
Darlene Watson
Accounting Manager
Gizella Guba
Victorious Living magazine is a publication of
Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries, a 501c3 organization.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Scripture marked BSB is taken from The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible, BSB.
Copyright © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub. Scripture marked NIV is taken from the Holy
Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,
Inc. Scripture marked NVI is taken from la Santa Biblia, Nueva Versión Internacional®
NVI®, copyright © 1999, 2015 por Biblica, Inc.®, Inc.® Usado con permiso de Biblica,
Inc.® Reservados todos los derechos en todo el mundo. Scripture marked TPT is
taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing®
Group, LLC. All Scripture is used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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• 352-478-2098 • admin@vlmag.org
All Inmate Correspondence
Victorious Living Correspondence Outreach
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VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
3

“At my lowest level of hurt,
you visited me in prison
and shared the best thing
in the world…Jesus and
His love through VL.”
—WILLIAM, FLORIDA DOC
“VL is a valuable tool to reach
the unreachable and provide
hope for the hopeless.”
—TERESA KEMP,
BREAKING CHAINS INTERNATIONAL
“I am a part of your
ministry by helping
others come to know
Christ through the
materials you send.”
—JONATHAN, FLORIDA DOC
“I WAS IN PRISON, AND YOU CAME TO VISIT ME.
TRULY I TELL YOU, WHATEVER YOU DID FOR ONE
OF THE LEAST OF THESE BROTHERS AND
SISTERS OF MINE, YOU DID FOR ME.”
—Jesus

ISSUE 2, APRIL 2020
CONTENTS
8
17
STEPPING
FORWARD
The Rescue
BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
Rest for the Wounded
BY LINDA CUBBEDGE-SMITH
10
TRANSFORMED
LIVES
Beauty for Ashes
BY CHRISTINA O’BRIEN
God can bring beauty from the
ashes of even the most desolate
lives—all it takes is faith and
surrender to Him.
18
The God of Comfort
BY KIM M. CLARK
Even in the hard times when
it seems you’re all alone, take
comfort in remembering, God
is still at work. He is behind the
scenes working all things out for
good—all the time. Every time.
21
27
35
36
God Will Draw You Out of
the Deep
BY LISA APPELO
Learning to Be Still in an
Overcommitted World
BY TINA M. BROWN
Choose God
BY SALLY COURSEN
A Plane, a Prisoner, and
God’s Plan
BY KRISTI DEWS DALE
10
14
Belleza en Vez de Cenizas
POR CHRISTINA O’BRIEN
Dios puede rescatar belleza de
las cenizas hasta de las vidas más
desoladas—lo único que hace falta
es fe y entregarse a Él.
FEATURES
A Broken Man Restored
BY H. JOSEPH GAMMAGE
Joe took on a project to help a
friend, but he quickly discovered
God had more in mind. Through
testing and trial, Joe found his
broken life restored.
ON THE COVER
Roger Munchian
was once a
promoter of death
and destruction
through his
involvement with
drug cartels. Today,
he promotes life
and freedom
as he shares his
incredible life story
and serves others
worldwide through
his nonprofit
organization,
Rescued Not
Arrested.
22
28
32
6
COVER STORY
Rescued, Not Arrested
BY ROGER MUNCHIAN
With numerous charges for assault,
drugs, and RICO infringements
against him, Roger was facing 160
years in prison—but God had other
plans. Roger’s life in God’s hands
became an instrument of hope and
transformation for people across
the world.
Discovering the Right Path
BY AUGIE GHILARDUCCI
Your past does not have to dictate
the future. With God’s help and
your hard work, you can move
forward into better things. Further,
you don’t have to wait for the
storm to pass before you step into
God’s plan.
Know Your Enemy
BY BLAINE WHITT
Too often, we get tangled up in
anger and resentment toward
those who have hurt us, but they
are not our real enemy. Once Blaine
realized the source of his pain,
he became armed for the battle.
Today he helps others do the same.
IN EVERY ISSUE
Publisher’s Note
He Is the Rescuer
37
From the Father
I Am More Than Enough
38
Going Deeper
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
5

PUBLISHER’S NOTE
He Is the Rescuer
VL Magazine is
thankful for its
partnership with
Rescued Not Arrested,
which provides Bibles
to our Victorious Living
inmate family.
Victorious Living is 100% partner
supported. With your help, we will
deliver hope and transform lives
across America.
IN
my distress I called to the
Lord; I cried to my God for
help. From his temple he
heard my voice.… He reached down from
on high and took hold of me; he drew me
out of deep waters. He rescued me.” Psalm
18:6, 16–17 NIV.
Psalm 18 is one of my favorite passages
in the Bible. This psalm reminds me that
God is near to the brokenhearted. It tells
me that He hears our cries for help and
thunders down from heaven to rescue us.
As I edited this issue, I noticed that
Psalm 18 is a favorite passage of many of
our writers. In fact, so many of this issue’s
contributors referenced Psalm 18 that I
almost replaced it here to avoid repetition.
Then I realized that maybe highlighting
this Psalm was God’s plan for this time.
The Lord spoke to me from this Psalm
as I wrote about my encounter with an owl
that was about to drown in a lake. (See story
on page 8.) I’ve often used this story
to remind myself and to teach others the
importance of thinking before we act.
The first draft of the article flowed effortlessly
onto the computer screen, and
I went to lunch happy about how the piece
had turned out. But as I ate, I felt the Holy
Spirit challenging me to take another look
at the story.
And that’s when I heard, “Kristi, you
have it all wrong. You’re focusing only on
what the owl did wrong and why he ended
up in his situation. Yes, it’s good to think
before you act, and it’s good to make good
choices with My guidance, but that’s not
the real story here. The real story is about
rescue. I am not a God who is angry, and
I am not a God who chastises people for
what they have done wrong. I am a God
who hears the cries of My people and who
thunders down from heaven to draw them
out of deep waters. I am the Rescuer.”
Oh! Let me tell you, this correction
brought so much joy and peace to my
heart. I hurried back to the computer and
edited the article.
That night, I was scheduled to speak at
a banquet in Phoenix, Arizona, held by
Roger Munchian, the subject of our cover
story. Roger had asked me to share with his
volunteers the partnership between Victorious
Living magazine and his outreach,
Rescued Not Arrested. (We supply our
magazine and Roger supplies NIV study
Bibles to inmates; we both offer correspondence
outreaches and transitional
support.)
I got to share with the people in attendance
the exciting news that, as believers,
we get to be the hands and feet of Jesus
as He performs His rescue missions. We
come alongside people in their time of
need, we jump in the water with them, and
we help them get safely to shore. Today,
I’m sharing that news with you too—this
privilege is yours!
All around us, people feel isolated and
alone, whether they’re in prison or in free
society. They think their actions have disqualified
them in some way and have separated
them from the love of God. They
think they are too far gone; that there is
no hope for them.
But you and I—we get to tell them the
Good News that God loves them, that He
is not only able but willing to rescue them.
And we get to help them in tangible ways
too. The following articles provide indisputable
evidence of how serious God is
about rescuing His people. I hope they
bring comfort to you, even while they
challenge you to look for ways to get in
the water with others.
Kristi Overton Johnson
Publisher & Executive Director
PHOTO BY TYDEAR DEE PHOTOGRAPHY
6 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

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Issue 02 / 2020
7

STEPPING FORWARD
The
Rescue
BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ENJOYING
a day on the lake when we saw a large
owl struggling in the water. We drove the
boat up next to it to see what we could do.
I couldn’t help but wonder what had led
to Mr. Owl’s predicament. I imagined his
story went something like this:
Mr. Owl was soaring over the still
waters, looking for his family’s
morning feast, when he saw the
reflection of a big, juicy bass. He
swooped down and plunged his
talons into the unsuspecting fish.
He smiled as he lifted it from the
water, thinking of how pleased his
wife would be. This fish far surpassed
any catch he’d ever brought home;
he’d be the envy of all his neighbors.
About ten feet into his flight, Mr.
Owl realized he’d taken on more
than he could handle. He flapped
his wings as hard as he could, but the
weight of the fish pulled him down
into the lake. As water saturated his
spotted feathers, Mr. Owl let go of
his prize.
He tried desperately to break free of
the water’s talons that had taken
him captive, to no avail. He struggled
for hours, but finally, he gave
up the fight.
Frightened and growing weaker by
the moment, Mr. Owl grew angry.
“How could I have been so careless?”
he sputtered. “How could I have let
my pride get me into this situation?”
Such thoughts bombarded him as
he realized the predicament he had
brought upon himself and his family.
The day grew warm. The fish he’d
planned to eat for breakfast nibbled
on his talons, while so-called
friends hooted from the treetops,
a safe distance away.
No one came to his rescue. No one
seemed to care that he was in real
danger. The sun continued to make
its way across the sky. All Mr. Owl
could do was wait and hope that a
rescuer would come—but who would
dare to jump into these deep waters
with him?
Have you, like Mr. Owl, ever found
yourself isolated in deep water? I have.
I’ve often chased after what pleased the
eye, delighted the ears, gratified the flesh,
or satisfied my appetite...without considering
the consequences. And inevitably,
I’ve found myself struggling to stay afloat,
unsure of how to get myself free.
It is then that I come to my senses and
cry out, “God, help me. I’ve made a mess
of things again. Please come to my rescue
and lead me safely to shore.”
8 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
You know, sometimes the things that
weigh me down aren’t bad. But I’ve learned
that even good things, if they aren’t God
things, can keep me from soaring as God
intends.
In Psalm 18, King David tells us about a
situation he found himself in. “The ropes
of death entangled me,” he says. “But in my
distress I cried out to the Lord…my cry to
him reached his ears.… He reached down
from heaven and rescued me; he drew me
out of deep waters…. He led me to a place of
safety; he rescued me because he delights
in me” (Psalm 18:4, 6, 16, 19).
Did you know that God delights in you,
too? He loves you and has great plans for
your life. And He wants to help you
fulfill those plans, no matter who you
are or what you’ve done.
He’s just waiting for you to cry out
to Him in surrender, and when you
do, He will come to your rescue—just
like He did for David, for Mr. Owl, and
for me. Let me finish telling you what
happened that day.
As Tim and I surveyed Mr. Owl’s
situation from the boat, we realized
unless we intervened, this beautiful
creature was going to drown. I got ready to
jump into the water, but Tim warned me,
“Kristi, that thing’ll light you up!”
I looked around the boat for something
that would keep a safe distance between
me and Mr. Owl’s sharp beak and talons.
I found the perfect tool—a life vest. A plan
unfolded in my mind’s eye. I would float
the vest horizontally on the water and gently
push the owl from behind his neck to
shore. Life vests are, after all, created to
save lives.
I jumped in and swam toward Mr. Owl.
He twisted his head around slowly and
stared at me, but he didn’t attempt to get
away. He was too tired. I placed the vest
against his neck and began to swim toward
shore. Mr. Owl watched me with his
big yellow eyes the entire time. They were
absolutely beautiful.
When we touched land, he quickly
hopped out of the water. His newfound
energy startled me. Would he attack me?
He jumped a few more feet, then stopped.
Slowly, he turned his whole body around
to face me, looked me in the eyes, and
blinked real slow as if to say, “Thank you.”
I kid you not!
He stayed on the shore for quite some
time. Finally, he had enough strength to
hop to the base of a tree, then he flew to a
low-hanging limb. An hour later, Mr. Owl
flew off, fishless but alive, and with quite
a story to tell. I love how God provides a
way out, even for His creatures.
I don’t know what deep waters surround
God doesn’t focus on
why someone is in the
water; instead, He
focuses on saving the
one who’s drowning.
you, and I don’t know how long you’ve been
struggling to get free, but if you’re ready to
set your feet on solid ground, I have hope
for you. God is prepared to rescue you.
He’s just waiting for you to realize that
you need Him. The minute you give up the
fight, surrender your will to His, and call
on the name of Jesus, He will swoop down
from heaven and, in His perfect timing and
His perfect way, bring you safely to shore.
Now, I don’t want to suggest that your
rescue will necessarily be instant or even
pleasant. God may not snatch you immediately
out of your situation; it would be
too much for you. Like Mr. Owl, you might
have a long swim ahead of you. But that’s
okay, because you aren’t alone in the water.
God, your Life Preserver, is in the water
with you. He’s protecting you, providing
for you, teaching you, and making a way
where, before, there was no way.
He’s also bringing other people into
the water to help you. Please don’t “light
them up” or push them away. And don’t
rush the journey; embrace it. Enjoy your
swim with God and His rescuers. He, and
they, have much to teach you, so you’ll be
ready to soar when you reach the safety
of the shoreline.
But maybe you’re not the one in trouble.
Maybe you’re safe and dry on the boat. Tim
and I were very much a part of Mr. Owl’s
story. He wouldn’t have made it without
our help. Life is like that too. People all
around us are stuck in the waters of this
world for reasons we may not understand
or appreciate.
But they need our help, and they
need it now. Men, women, and children
everywhere are crying out to
God to be rescued, and you and I, as
believers in Jesus Christ, have the
life preserver they require. We have
the Good News of His salvation, His
Word, His love, and His hope. It’s
time we get in the water! They may
be drowning in unfamiliar waters
like addiction, prison, sex trafficking,
mental disease—but don’t be afraid.
God is with you as you jump in. Whatever
you need, He will provide.
Perhaps you’ve refused to get into the
water, even though you see people in need.
You might think, they got themselves into
that mess; they can figure a way out. That’s
not how God thinks.
God doesn’t focus on why someone is in
the water; instead, He focuses on saving the
one who’s drowning. John 3:17 says, “God
sent his Son into the world not to judge the
world, but to save the world through him.”
God is calling us—me and you—to lay
aside our judgments, our fears, and our
prejudices and get in the water. For their
sake and ours.
KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON encourages and
equips people for victory through her writings,
speaking engagements, and prison ministry. To
learn more, go to kojministries.org.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
9

TRANSFORMED LIVES
ENGLISH/ESPAÑOL
Beauty for Ashes
BY CHRISTINA O’BRIEN
Isaiah 61:3 NIV says, “To all who mourn…
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair. In their
righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own
glory.” What a promise that is.
My life was incredibly broken, and I
could see no chance of restoration. Even
now, as I find myself enveloped in the
reality of God fulfilling the promise of Isaiah
61 for me, I struggle to wrap my head
around why He would love me so. I have
done nothing to deserve it. It is purely a
gift of God’s mercy and grace.
My life has been a fierce spiritual battle
between God and Satan—one that it often
seemed Satan was winning. Before I even
made it to kindergarten, the enemy had
already worked through people to wound
my heart, strip me of my innocence, and
twist my mind.
At 13, as a matter of survival, I left home
and took to the streets. It was the only
choice I thought I had, but it led me to a
very dark place. Like many girls, I ended
up trafficked as a teenage prostitute. I became
a crack and heroin addict, and by 18,
I was in prison for the first time.
For almost 30 years, I stayed in a vicious
Even before Christina was in kindergarten,
people had stripped her of her innocence.
Sin haber llegado ella siquiera al preescolar,
otras personas le habían robado la inocencia.
VIDAS TRANSFORMADAS
Belleza
en Vez de
Cenizas
POR CHRISTINA O’BRIEN
Isaías 61:2–3 NVI dice: “A todos los que
están de duelo…[les dará] una corona en
vez de cenizas, aceite de alegría en vez
de luto, traje de fiesta en vez de espíritu
de desaliento. Serán llamados robles de
justicia, plantío del Señor
para mostrar su
gloria.” Qué gran promesa.
Mi vida fue un caos total y no veía
posibili dad alguna de restauración. Incluso
ahora, que me veo envuelta en la realidad
de que Dios ha cumplido en mí la promesa
descrita en Isaías 61, me cuesta entender
por qué Él habría de amarme tanto. No
he hecho nada para merecerlo. Es simplemente
un regalo recibido por la misericordia
y gracia de Dios.
Mi vida ha sido una feroz lucha espiritual
entre Dios y Satanás—una que parecía
estar ganando Satanás. Sin haber llegado
yo siquiera al Preescolar, el enemigo ya se
había manifestado a través de otras personas
para lastimar mi corazón, robarme
la inocencia y perturbar mi mente.
A los 13 y como para sobrevivir, me fui de
casa para vivir en la calle. Pensé que era
la única opción que tenía, pero me llevó a
un lugar muy oscuro. Como tantas chicas,
terminé siendo víctima de tráfico como
prostituta adolescente. Me volví adicta al
crack y la heroína y a los 18, estuve presa
por primera vez.
Durante casi 30 años, estuve en un círculo
vicioso de adicciones, dolor, desamparo,
trastorno mental, violencia doméstica, y
todas las cosas malas que se puedan
imaginar. Entré y salí de celdas, cárceles
y hospitales psiquiátricos tantas veces que
perdí la cuenta. A raíz de mis propias decisiones,
perdí la custodia de mis dos hijas
pequeñas; custodia que pasó a los servicios
de protección de menores.
Para el año 2015, me estaba sobrecogida
por la desesperanza. Había tenido la oportunidad
de volver a reunirme con mis hijas,
pero dejé que se escapara como agua entre
los dedos. Estaba presa de mi adicción, de
la vida en la calle y escapando de una orden
de detención pendiente.
Un día estaba en mi departamento del
11° piso y mi desesperación casi me llevó al
suicidio. Me habían desalojado, pero entré
a escondidas para drogarme. Estaba ahí
cuando la policía fue a buscarme. Cuando
golpearon la puerta, tuve un ataque
de pánico. ¡No iba a ir a la cárcel ese día!
10 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

TRANSFORMED LIVES
ENGLISH/ESPAÑOL
cycle of addiction, heartache, homelessness,
mental illness, domestic violence,
and every darkness imaginable. I’ve been
in and out of jails, prisons, and psychiatric
hospitals more times than I can count.
Through my own choices, I lost custody of
my two young daughters to child protective
services.
By 2015, I was overwhelmed with hopelessness.
I’d had a chance to reunite with
my daughters, but I let it slip through my
fingers. I was trapped in my addiction and
life on the streets, and I was running from
an outstanding felony warrant.
One day I was at my 11th-floor apartment,
and my sense of despair almost
drove me to suicide. I’d been evicted from
the apartment but had snuck back in to
get high. While I was there, the cops came
looking for me. When they knocked on my
door, I panicked. I was not going to jail that
day! Desperate, I went out on the balcony,
climbed over the railing, and shimmied
to the corner of the building. Cops on
the ground saw me. They tried to reason
with me; I begged them to shoot me, and
I threatened to jump.
But there on that ledge, I started thinking
about my daughters. What would
happen to them? I’d made such a mess of
things. I decided I needed a cigarette to
calm my nerves, so I made my way back
to the apartment. I was so high, it never
dawned on me that police were in there
hiding. As soon as I got inside, some burly
cop tackled my 92-pound frame to the
ground, and it was over.
The police arrested me for the felony
warrant, and in the process, they found
drugs in my pocket. In a matter of seconds,
my troubles had multiplied. These
new charges, added to my already lengthy
criminal history, would leave the court no
alternative but to sentence me to prison
for the third time.
Once in jail, I was kept on a suicide
watch. I was desperate to end the pain of
this life. I was frail and malnourished be-
cause of my addiction and lifestyle, and I
lay on the floor of my cell for days, going
through severe heroin withdrawals. I just
wanted to stop breathing.
It was in this pitiful state that I cried
out to God for help. Sure, I had called out
to Him many times before, as many do
in their time of need, but this time was
different. Somehow, I knew God was real
and that He was watching over me. It was
the only possible way I was still alive after
the abuse I’d both endured at the hands of
others and inflicted on myself.
I didn’t have a specific “God encounter”
to speak of, but I did experience a strange
sense of peace. I had never experienced
anything like this before—it was a peace
that surpassed all understanding (Philippians
4:7). Despite my rough circumstances,
the God of Peace met me, right there on
the cold, dirty floor of my jail cell.
Eventually, I was taken off suicide watch
and placed in general population. My cellmate
ended up being someone I knew
Desesperada, salí al balcón, pasé por arriba
de la baranda y me deslicé hasta la esquina
del edificio. Los policías que estaban en
la calle me vieron. Trataron de hacerme
entrar en razón. Les rogué que me dispararan
y amenacé con saltar.
Pero parada ahí en esa esquina, empecé
a pensar en mis hijas. ¿Qué iba a ser
de ellas? Lo había estropeado todo de tal
Christina gave her life to Christ behind bars.
He then began turning the ashes of her life to
beauty. Pictured here at Perryville prison.
Cristina entregó su vida a Cristo tras las rejas.
Después, Él empezó a cambiar las cenizas de su vida
por belleza. Mostrado aquí en la prisión en Perryville.
manera. Pensé que necesitaba un cigarrillo
para calmar la ansiedad y volví al departamento.
Estaba tan drogada que nunca
se me ocurrió que podía haber policías
escondidos allí. Apenas entré, un policía
fortachón tiró al piso mi cuerpito de 92
libras y todo acabó.
La policía me arrestó por la orden de detención
que tenía y al hacerlo, me encontraron
drogas en el bolsillo. En cuestión de
segundos, mis problemas se habían multiplicado.
Estos nuevos cargos, sumados a mi
ya denso historial delictivo, no le dejarían al
tribunal más alternativa que condenarme
a prisión por tercera vez.
Ya en la cárcel, me mantenían vigilada
para impedir que me suicidara. Estaba
VIDAS TRANSFORMADAS
desesperada por acabar al dolor en esta
vida. Estaba frágil y desnutrida por culpa
de mi adicción y estilo de vida y me quedé
acostada en el piso de mi celda durante
varios días y con síntomas agudos de abstinencia
de la heroína. Solo quería dejar
de respirar.
Y en este estado lamentable, le supliqué
a Dios que me ayudara. Seguro, ya había
acudido a Él tantas veces antes, como
muchos hacen en momentos de necesidad,
pero esta vez fue diferente. Por algún
motivo, tomé conciencia de que Dios era
real y de que me estaba cuidando. Era el
único modo posible de que aún estuviera
viva después de todo el abuso sufrido por
parte de otros y que yo misma me había
provocado.
No tuve un “encuentro con Dios” puntualmente
que pueda mencionar, pero sí
tuve una extraña sensación de paz. Nunca
había experimentado algo así antes—fue
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
11

TRANSFORMED LIVES
from the streets—and she kept
asking me if I believed in God.
Then, she talked to me about
Jesus and read to me out of her
Bible. That girl was on my last
nerve!
I was still going through some
pretty intense withdrawals and
just wanted to be left alone. But
God knew what He was doing
when He trapped me in that
room with her. He used her to
bring the truth into my life that
changed me forever.
I remember lying on my top
bunk, trying to kick the effects of
heroin, while she lay on her bunk
below, reading God’s Word to me.
Slowly but surely, the things she
read began to sink in, and something
deep inside of me began to
realize God’s intense, unconditional
love. He had rescued me
from myself and my addiction,
una paz que sobrepasó todo entendimiento
(Filipenses 4:7). A pesar de mi situación
caótica, el Dios de la Paz se encontró
conmigo exactamente allí, en el piso frío
y sucio de mi celda en la cárcel.
Eventualmente me sacaron del sistema
de vigilancia al suicida y me llevaron a una
celda común. Mi compañera resultó ser
alguien a quien había conocido en la calle—
y que me preguntaba todo el tiempo si
creía en Dios. Después me habló de Jesús
y me leyó partes de su Biblia. ¡Esa chica me
estaba sacando de las casillas!
Todavía tenía síntomas bastante fuertes
de abstinencia y solo quería que me dejaran
en paz. Pero Dios sabía lo que hacía
cuando me encerró en ese lugar con ella.
La utilizó para darle a mi vida la verdad
que me cambiaría para siempre.
Recuerdo que estaba acostada en la
cama de arriba tratando de liberarme de
los efectos de la heroína, mientras ella esfrom
imminent death, and from my enemies,
both seen and unseen.
In that county jail cell, I asked Jesus to
forgive me of my sins, and then I handed
Him the broken, shattered pieces of my
heart and my life. I surrendered everything
to Him and began a journey of getting
to know the Lord in a personal way.
Shortly afterward, I was sent to prison.
There, while I was reading my Bible, I
came across Psalm 18:16–19. This scripture
leaped off the page and spoke directly
to my heart, bringing me great comfort. It
says: “He reached down from on high and
took hold of me; he drew me out of deep
waters. He rescued me from my powerful
enemy, from my foes, who were too strong
for me. They confronted me in the day of
my disaster, but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in
me” (NIV).
Suddenly, I felt seen by God, and I knew
my life mattered to Him. At the sound of
PHOTO BY TY JOHNSON
VIDAS TRANSFORMADAS
taba acostada en la cama de abajo, leyéndome
la Palabra de Dios. Sin prisa, pero
sin pausa, comencé a absorber las cosas
que leía y algo muy dentro de mí empezó
a entender qué intenso e incondicional era
el amor de Dios. Me había salvado de mí
misma y de mi adicción, de una muerte
inminente y de mis enemigos, tanto visibles
como invisibles.
En esa celda de la cárcel del condado,
le pedí a Jesús que perdonara mis pecados
y luego le ofrecí los fragmentos rotos,
destrozados de mi corazón y mi vida. Me
entregué por completo a Él y emprendí una
búsqueda para llegar a conocer al Señor
de manera personal. Poco tiempo después,
me trasladaron a prisión.
Allí estaba leyendo mi Biblia y me encontré
con el Salmo 18:16–19. ¡Fue como si
este fragmento se estuviera escapando de
la página! Me hablaba directo al corazón
y a mi situación y me proporcionó un gran
alivio. Dice: “Extendiendo su mano desde
lo alto, tomó la mía y me sacó del mar profundo.
Me libró de mi enemigo poderoso,
y de aquellos que me odiaban y eran más
fuertes que yo. En el día de mi desgracia
me salieron al encuentro, pero mi apoyo
fue el Señor. Me sacó a un amplio espacio;
me libró porque se agradó de mí” (NVI).
De pronto sentí que Dios me veía y supe
que mi vida era importante para Él. Al oír
mis súplicas, Él me arrancó de las manos de
Satanás, a pesar de que estaba totalmente
destruida. Y como dice el verso, Él me trajo
a un amplio espacio, que resultó ser la
Prisión Estatal de Arizona en Perryville, para
poder empezar a sanarme.
Los dos años y medio que pasé en esa
prisión me permitieron ver y conocer el
poder de Dios, al borrar las mentiras del
enemigo de mi corazón y de mi mente. Me
enseñó que no soy huérfana, sino que soy
la hija del Rey y que soy lo más valioso del
12 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

TRANSFORMED LIVES
my cries, He had snatched me right out of
Satan’s hand, even in my utterly broken
state. And as the verse says, He brought me
out into a spacious place, which happened
to be Arizona State Prison, Perryville, so
that He could begin to heal me.
The two-and-a-half years I served in
that prison positioned me to see and learn
the power of God as He stripped away the
lies of the enemy from my heart and mind.
He taught me that I am not an orphan, but
instead, I am the daughter of the King, and
I am worth everything to Him. He revealed
the greatness of His presence and the power
of His love—a love I had not earned.
Romans 5:8 taught me that, even while
I was still a sinner and determined to
destroy the life God had given me, Christ
died for me. He had sacrificed His life—
He died on a cross!—to pay the price for
my sin, and He rose from the dead, all so
that I could have not only eternal life, but
abundant life here on earth as well.
God also taught me how to arm myself
I felt seen by God, and I knew my life mattered to Him.
At the sound of my cries, He had snatched me right out
of Satan’s hand, even in my utterly broken state.
for the spiritual battle against my very because of His great love for them. And
real enemy, Satan, whose sole mission is then, He chooses to use us—yes, the ones
to steal, kill, and destroy my joy, peace, the world threw away—for His purpose
and life. He exposed Satan’s methods of and His glory.
keeping me chained to my past hurts and God exchanges the burned-out ashes
mistakes. And He helped me overcome the of our lives for beautiful things. He gives
victim mentality I had developed.
us joy instead of mourning and praise instead
It took going to prison this third time to
of despair. And in God’s hands, we
learn these truths, but praise God, I did! can become like great oaks that the Lord
Behind a barbed-wire fence, the Son of displays before the world for His glory.
God set me free. And since then, He has I know, because that’s my story. And it
continued His work of healing in my heart, can be your life story too.
mind, and physical body. He is even restoring
my relationship with my daughters.
My life is testimony that God can deliver
anyone from the deepest depths of darkness.
He pursues the lost and the broken
CHRISTINA O’BRIEN serves on the correspondence
ministry team of Rescued Not Arrested. No
longer a prisoner, she now returns to Arizona State
Prison, Perryville, as a guest speaker, sharing the
message of hope and healing she found in Jesus.
VIDAS TRANSFORMADAS
mundo para Él. Él me reveló la grandeza
de Su presencia y el poder de Su amor—un
amor que no merecía.
Romanos 5:8 me enseñó que si bien
era pecadora y estaba decidida a destruir
la vida que Dios me había dado, Cristo
había muerto por mí. Él había sacrificado
Su vida—¡Murió en la cruz!—para pagar el
precio de mis pecados y resucitó de entre
los muertos, no solo para que yo tuviera
vida eterna, sino una vida plena en esta
tierra también.
Dios también me enseñó qué armas
utilizar en la batalla espiritual contra mi
verdadero enemigo real, Satanás, cuyo
único objetivo es robar, matar y destruir
mi alegría, mi paz y mi vida. Él dejó al descubierto
los métodos de Satanás, que me
mantenían encadenada a mis sufrimientos
y errores del pasado. Él me ayudó a superar
la mentalidad de víctima que había
desarrollado.
Sentí que Dios me veía y supe que mi vida era
importante para Él. Al oír mis súplicas, Él me
arrancó de las manos de Satanás, a pesar de
que estaba totalmente destruida.
Tuve que ir a la cárcel tres veces para
aprender estas verdades, pero ¡Alabado
sea Dios, lo logré! Tras una cerca de alambre
de púa, el Hijo de Dios me puso en ​
li ber tad. Y desde entonces, Él continúa su
tarea para sanar mi corazón, mi mente
y mi cuerpo. Incluso está restaurando la
relación con mis hijas.
Mi vida es prueba de que Dios puede rescatar
a cualquiera de las profundidades
más insondables de la oscuridad. Él va en
busca de las personas que están perdidas o
destruidas por el gran amor que les tiene. Y
luego Él opta por usarlas—sí, a aquellos que
el mundo descartó—para Su fin y Su gloria.
Dios cambia las cenizas extinguidas de
nuestra vida por cosas hermosas. Nos da
alegría, no dolor y aprobación, en vez de
desesperación. Y en las manos de Dios,
podemos convertirnos en algo así como
fantásticos robles que el Señor muestra
al mundo para Su gloria.
Lo sé, porque es mi historia. Y puede ser
la historia de su vida también.
CHRISTINA O’BRIEN trabaja en el equipo de comunicaciones
del ministerio Rescued Not Arrested
[Salvados, no presos]. Ya no como prisionera, ahora
vuelve a la Prisión Estatal de Arizona en Perryville
como oradora invitada y comparte el mensaje de
esperanza y sanación que encontró en Jesús.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
13

A Broken
Man Restored
BY H. JOSEPH GAMMAGE
was blessed to discover
my God-given
writing talent at an
early age. I wrote my
first full-length novel
before I was 16. It was
a crime novel, steeped
in gang violence, a
subject that fascinated me as a boy.
God would later use my writing talents
to create skits and productions for children’s
ministry. Still, I preferred writing
about crime. God brought my passions for
Him and crime fiction together the day He
brought a 12-time felon by the name of
Roger Munchian into my life.
My wife and I participated in the same
small-group Bible study that Roger was
in. A week rarely went by that Roger did
not share some part of his testimony as a
former drug lord, living a fast and reckless
life.
I was inspired by how God had used a
speeding car, a sharp highway curve, and
the resulting collision with a barrier wall
to get Roger’s attention. It was the kind
of swashbuckling intrigue that I loved to
write about. Yet, with all the hundreds of
thousands of thuggish words I had penned,
Roger’s life story was one that I could not
make up. (You can read Roger’s story on
page 22.)
When our paths crossed, Roger was just
beginning his prison ministry, mentoring
a few inmates a week at the Maricopa
County jails. But then he shared his testimony
in a prison magazine, and hundreds
of requests for mentorship poured in.
During one group meeting, Roger shared
his vision of having his story in a book.
He could only imagine that an in-depth
account would reach even more lives.
The Holy Spirit nudged me to offer my
writing services. Roger’s was a powerful
testimony that could reach thousands
for God’s kingdom. Surprisingly, he did
not already have a writer on the project.
One woman had started writing his story
but had abandoned the project when her
marriage came under attack by the enemy.
Roger gave me a copy of the unfinished
manuscript and asked me to let him know
if it was something I’d want to take on.
Unfortunately, it was a turbulent season
for my business. The 2009 financial
meltdown was threatening to wipe out my
executive search business. The pressure
was so relentless and dizzying, my wife
and I decided to take a vacation to recoup.
I had tucked that half-written manuscript
into my suitcase. Finally able to
breathe, I found a quiet spot under a palm
tree on the beach and pulled the document
from its tattered envelope. As I read, it was
as if the Holy Spirit whacked me with His
holy two-by-four—giving me a powerful
vision of what He wanted me to do.
Despite the uncertainties of life facing
me—my failing business, the plummeting
value of our homes, and the risk of
an upside-down investment property, I
felt a rush of peace. And I heard God say,
“I’ve blessed your family and business all these
years. This book is what I want you to do now.
Trust Me; I will provide.” My wife, sadly, did
not receive the same vision.
I took on the project, unaware that as I
was writing Roger’s story, my own story
would become a testimony too. As soon as
I stepped out in obedience, Satan waged
war on my family, buffeting us with several
storms at once. We lost both our homes,
and my business flat-lined.
But I pressed on, writing Roger’s story.
I even became a badged clergy volunteer
for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s office in
Arizona. I had seen the incredible impact
14 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTOS BY AMBER KATYNSKI
Roger’s prison ministry was having, and
I wanted to be part of it. God used the inmates
there to challenge me in my faith.
Until that point, I had been in children’s
ministry. Ministering in jail was uncharted
waters, and I quickly discovered the
truth of Hebrews 5:12–14. It says, “In
fact, though by this time you ought to be
teachers, you need someone to teach you
the elementary truths of God’s word all
over again. You need milk, not solid food!
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an
infant, is not acquainted with the teachdecided
to leave our marriage. Having
already lost our home, everything else I
owned, except for what I could fit in a small
storage unit and in the back of my pickup,
got loaded into a donation truck. I went
from owning 5,000 square feet of living
space with a complete family to living in
a 700-square-foot apartment as a single
father with joint custody.
I cracked. Instead of trusting God, I
chose to cower down. Instead of taking
strength from the Lord, I found comfort
in alcohol and a foolhardy lifestyle that I
thought I could keep secret.
On the outside, I was a devoted father,
a loyal employee, and a dedicated minister.
Inside, I was crushed and dying and
using alcohol to self-medicate. I caroused
I felt the Holy Spirit
say to me: “Get up!
You’re acting like this
thing has crippled
you. Get up—pick
up your troubles and
get to work!”
ing about righteousness. But solid food is
for the mature, who by constant use have
trained themselves to distinguish good
from evil” (NIV).
God revealed to me that, even after 15
years of ministry, I was still drinking the
milk of God’s Word like an infant in Christ.
He convicted me that if I wanted to reach
His children in dark places like the prison
system, I needed the solid food of God’s
Word. I needed to push myself to know
Him and His Word more deeply. So I did.
And then, the storm intensified. My wife
around in unhealthy, reckless relationships
that I thought would fix my shattered
heart and fill the excruciating void that
divorce had carved deep into my soul.
I remember leaving the barstool one
evening to attend a prison meeting with
Roger’s ministry, Rescued Not Arrested.
I stuffed my mouth full of breath mints
and peppermint candies, thinking I could
mask the smell of booze. I was fooling only
myself. The next day, Roger called me out
on my behavior. I thought he would be furious;
instead, he simply said, “I love you,
brother, and I’m worried about you.”
I told Roger that I needed to step down
from my place in his ministry, but I also
told him that I didn’t want to quit writing
his story. Something deep inside me—far
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
15

RIGHT: Joe and Roger Munchian of
Rescued Not Arrested celebrate the
baptism of a young woman.
BELOW: Through writing Roger
Munchian’s book, Rescued Not
Arrested, Joe’s own life was rescued.
below the deadness and decay—did not
want to give up on the book. I simply could
not bear the thought of another author
pulling my tattered and unfinished manuscript
out of a dusty envelope.
Finishing this book, however, would
take an act of God. Between the hangovers
and self-pity of the last several months,
I’d typed only a few sentences. I had no
energy to write this book, nor did I feel
worthy. I’d lost my passion for writing. But
neither God nor Roger had given up on me.
Peeling open my hungover eyes one
morning, I turned on the television. I
found Joyce Meyers sharing a message
on the pool of Bethesda in John 5. Jesus
had looked at the invalid at the pool and
told him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and
walk.” I felt the Holy Spirit say to me: “Get
up! You’re acting like this thing has crippled
you. Now get up—pick up your troubles and
get to work!”
I picked up my mat, but the toxic grip
of alcohol did not let me get very far. I
eventually showed up at Roger’s home,
ready to tell him that I was calling it quits.
Before I could get the words out, however,
he opened his Bible to Acts 22 and read
verses 6–10 to me. This is Paul’s account
of his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus
Road. From his place in the dirt,
Paul asked Jesus, “What shall I do?” Jesus
simply answered, “Get up.”
Once again, I sensed the Lord telling me,
“Get up, Joe!”
This time I got up and, with God’s help,
I’ve stayed up. I told Roger that I wanted to
return to prison ministry. I was shocked
to learn he’d never canceled my badge. He
had faith in me, even though I had given
up on myself.
With newfound hope, I forced myself to
get up early to write. Each morning, between
the insane hours of 4:30 and 6:00
a.m., I kept an appointment with God. I
sat before my keyboard, revitalized only
by the smell of coffee and a shot of God’s
Word. I never knew what I was going to
write, but the Holy Spirit never failed to
take over the keyboard. Morning after
morning, God filled the screen with words
of His choosing, not mine.
After several incredible months of feeling
God’s workmanship coursing through
my fingertips, I wrote the two most cherished
words any author can pen: The End.
The book was finished.
Since then, God has restored much in
my life; every day has been a new day of
victory in Jesus Christ. He has renewed
my career and revived my desire to write.
He’s helped me purchase a home, despite
bankruptcy. More importantly, I no longer
crave alcohol or reckless relationships.
God led me from a dark and lonely road
and directed me to His plans that are far
better than anything I could have imagined.
He rescued me, and I am grateful.
Perhaps today, your road seems dark
and lonely. Like me, you may have lost
much. I want to encourage you that life
isn’t over. God is telling you too: Get up!
This thing has not crippled you. Take hold
of God’s hand and walk.
But as we move forward—both you and
I—let’s remember to stay grateful, to seek
His kingdom first, and to keep our feet
firmly set on the path He has ordained
for us. As we do, we can be assured that
God will do amazing things, both in and
through us.
H. JOSEPH GAMMAGE is a man renewed by the
loving hands of Christ. He is the author of Rescued
Not Arrested, the incredible true story of 12-time
convicted felon, Roger Munchian. To contact Joe,
visit www.hjosephgammage.com or write to RNA,
PO Box 90606, Phoenix, AZ 85066.
16 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
Rest for
the Wounded
BY LINDA CUBBEDGE-SMITH
IS YOUR SPIRIT WOUNDED AND SUFFERING? Your heart
and soul pierced by the words or actions of others? If we aren’t
mindful, painful thoughts will settle down in the recliners of our
minds and cause chaos and confusion.
One conversation, one phone call, one comment can wound
our souls, our minds, our wills, and our emotions. The good news
is, Jesus stands ready to help us. In order to safeguard our hearts
and minds and to keep them healthy and at peace, however, we
must first accept Jesus’s invitation to come to Him and find rest
for our weary souls (Matthew 11:28). Coming to Jesus means we
pour out our hearts and our hurts to Him.
God already knows every situation we face, but He wants us
to express our struggles to Him. That’s our privilege as children
of a loving Father. He invites us to come boldly to His throne of
WHEN WE ARE COMPLETELY
HONEST WITH GOD, WE FIND
RELIEF FROM THE CONFLICT
AND PAIN WE FEEL.
grace, where we will find help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
When we are completely honest with God, we find relief from the
conflict and pain we feel.
He listens to us patiently and lovingly, but we must also listen
to Him. His healing words bring us comfort, and His wisdom
guides us. His direction brings rest for our souls and enables us
to overcome our painful struggles.
We are a frail bunch. Oh, we do our best to look strong, but at
some point, even the most “got-it-together” Christ-follower can
experience a meltdown. I’ve been there many times. And when
I am, I go to God and say: “Dear Jesus, I can’t do this without
You. I am undone, broken, crushed, and devastated. I need the
Holy Spirit to invade every part of my being. I need Your help!”
Every time I’ve turned my eyes totally to Jesus Christ, my God
has overshadowed the situation and poured His unfailing love
over me. He brings comfort, wisdom, healing, and restoration
into my life. He keeps me going!
Entering God’s rest doesn’t just happen; we obtain it by drawing
close to God. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is with you;
He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He
will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing”
(BSB). Proclaiming God’s promises over a situation helps keep
our minds on Him and keeps us from losing hope. As we declare
His truths over all that concerns us, the power of His Word brings
life to those things that seem lifeless. Then our faith will grow,
and our doubts and unbeliefs diminish.
Stop dwelling on the painful thoughts and memories that poison
our behavior. Evict them in Jesus’s name; replace them with
the promises of God. Then His rest and healing will come.
I often use Psalm 23 when I am afraid. I say, “Thank You, heavenly
Father, for being my best friend, my shepherd. You offer me
a resting place in Your luxurious love. You restore my soul and
my life. Your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely for You
are near.” When I’m anxious, I declare, “I am free from fear and
anxiety. I fear not, for God is with me. I let the peace of God rule
in my heart as I keep my focus on God and His Word.”
Yes, His love and promises bring healing for my wounds. And
they will do the same for you. Draw close and declare God’s promises
for yourself today.
LINDA CUBBEDGE-SMITH is Victorious Living’s Prison Correspondence
Outreach Director. She is passionate about the Lord and leading others to Him.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
17

THE GOD OF COMFORT
18 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

BY KIM M. CLARK
PHOTO BY AMBER KATYNSKI
“YOUR BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE,” THE
FEMALE INMATE SAID. “I’VE READ IT
THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
IT’S THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS ME
GOING IN HERE.” TEARS FILLED HER EYES
AS I INSCRIBED HER COPY.
I wanted to hug her, to tell her this is just for Him to use it for good. And here in this
a season, that it’s temporary, that this too county jail, He is doing just that.
shall pass. Instead, under the watchful eye My adventure began almost twenty
of the correctional officer, I smiled and years ago when my first marriage deteriorated
to a very scary place. Desperate
asked her about the scripture I had written
in her book. “Do you know what Romans to repair my marriage, I tried everything
8:28 says?” She shook her head.
from counseling to submission, but nothing
worked. Things only got worse.
“It says that God works all things out for
good for those who love Him and are called Ultimately, I endured a painful divorce,
according to His purposes. And that’s you. countless court trials, and grueling custody
exchanges at the state police barracks.
I inscribed this verse for you in my book.
It’s my prayer over you, your family, and I traversed the gauntlet of single motherhood,
carried the burden of being the sole
your life.”
It was my bold declaration of her worth, provider, and made parenting decisions
value, and purpose.
alone. And I resisted the guilt my enemy,
Tears streamed down her cheeks. Satan, piled on, always telling me I hadn’t
She nodded and mouthed an emotional, done enough.
“Thank you.”
Before my trials, I thought I knew God. I
Twenty other women stood behind her, thought I was good enough to get into heaven
on my good works. I attended church
waiting to get their copies signed. They
were hungry for Jesus. I had just fed them each week, prayed every day, and did my
the Bread of Life from God’s Word in our best to keep the Ten Commandments. I
time together, and Jesus had come alive wasn’t Mother Teresa, but I wasn’t Attila
for them. I spoke the same truth to each the Hun, either. My viewpoint changed
of them, all the while being completely in drastically the day I met Jesus.
awe of a Savior who would use a cracked Someone suggested that I start reading
vessel like me to declare His love, passion, the Word of God. I had no idea what that
and protection over this sea of brokenhearted
women.
all my years of going to church, I had never
was until they told me it was the Bible. In
I remember all too well my own dark read it, but now I started. I was shocked at
days. Like those women who stare at me what I found—tales of deceit, adultery, agony,
and murder! I had wrongly assumed
through sunken eyes, I am familiar with
times of suffering. Mine spanned 18 painful
years. During my journey, I begged God shalt-not” sentence. Instead, it was full
the Bible was one long, run-on, “thou-
to somehow use my agony to help others. I of stories of real people—some of whom
didn’t want my pain to be wasted; I prayed made my life look like a cakewalk! It was
comforting to know that everyone was a
big, hot mess, just like me!
Everyone, that is, except Jesus.
I learned that God was more powerful
than I’d ever imagined. One night, as I
prayed for God to save my marriage, I had
a vision of Jesus. He stood before me; His
entire being emulated holiness. Nothing I
had ever seen before came close to His purity
and goodness. He is Glory, in the flesh.
My eyes moved upward to His face, and
I became transfixed on the love shining
from His eyes. My world stopped. In His
presence, I saw how every cell of my body
was tainted by sin. I understood for the
first time the precious price He had paid
for me on the cross. Suddenly, I knew all
my good works were dirty rags compared
to Jesus’s holiness. And I knew I could only
access God by accepting Jesus’s sacrifice
for my sins and entering into a personal
relationship with Him.
A loud voice permeated my living room,
“Do you accept My Son as your Savior?”
Stunned, I nodded and croaked out a
soft, “Y–y–yes.”
In that moment, I surrendered my life to
Jesus, and everything changed. I became a
true Christian—a follower of Jesus Christ,
not a mere observer. I started living for
Him and not for the world or myself. The
entire trajectory of my life changed.
I wanted to know more about my Savior.
I found godly Christian women and pastors
to mentor me and help me understand the
scriptures. My trials didn’t disappear, but
they became easier to bear. I now had hope
in the form of Jesus Christ, and I clung to
Him. God protected me and brought me
through every trial.
As I moved through this process, God
richly blessed me by bringing me a wonderful
husband and ending my pain of
single parenting, giving me a protector
for our family, and a spiritual covering.
My husband is my Boaz, my kinsmanredeemer.
(See Ruth 2–4.) This man—
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
19

Kim uses her book
to minister to the
incarcerated through
her nonprofit program,
Lift Your Gaze.
will He allow you journey through your
pain alone.
Put your suffering on His altar and ask
for His help. He will comfort you and give
you the strength to take every next step.
You have access to a big God through the
shed blood of Jesus Christ. Nothing is too
hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:27). God makes
all things new (Isaiah 43:18–19; Revelation
21:5; Isaiah 65:17). He can restore everything
the enemy has taken from you and
your family (Joel 2:25). And He does not
waste anything—no matter how heinous.
If you haven’t already done so, now is
the time to come to the God of comfort and
share your pain. Tell Him you need Him.
Confess your sins—He is faithful and just
PHOTO BY AMBER KATYNSKI
Even in the hard times, when
you feel like you’re living in a
wasteland, remember that
God is at work. He is doing
something you can’t see.
whom I didn’t even like at first—is my
perfect mate and father to our family.
That’s not to say we don’t have difficult
times, but we have God. He has helped
us navigate the perils of a blended family,
negative external influences, and infertility.
He has purified our hearts and
minds in the fires of working together and
combining our lives as older singles—we
married in our forties. The Lord has held
us as we’ve walked through the grief of
losing a child through miscarriage and
another child who, as a teenager, decided
not to live in our home any longer. God
helps us come together in prayer so we
can take our eyes off our circumstances
and lift our gaze to Him.
We’ve basked in the glory of forgiveness.
We’ve seen the fruit of colaboring for God’s
kingdom. We’ve been given another child.
Yes, God has restored what the locusts had
eaten (Joel 2:25) and has answered our
petitions abundantly beyond anything we
could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Through every season of suffering,
God has been there. As 2 Corinthians 1:4
says: “He comforts us in all our troubles
so that we can comfort others. When they
are troubled, we will be able to give them
the same comfort God has given us.”
God hasn’t wasted one tear, one painful
trial, or one battle in my life. Instead, He
has used them to make me stronger in
Him, an instrument of grace to comfort
others. Who would’ve thought that He’d
use my pain to minister to others, especially
the incarcerated? Yet God has knit
my heart with the afflicted to share His
message of hope within the prison and
jail systems.
Now, I want to encourage you.
God works all things out for good and for
His glory. Whatever you’re going through
right now—even if it’s the darkest, most
faith-challenging, and isolated season of
your life—you can remember, God is there!
He will not leave you or forsake you (Hebrews
13:5). He will not abandon you, nor
to forgive them, and He will cleanse you of
all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Then, ask Jesus to be your Lord and
Savior. You’ll be amazed at how He will
transform your hopeless situation into
something amazing that provides hope
and comfort to others.
You never know, God might have you
start a ministry, an organization, or even
write a book! I encourage you to “not despise
these small beginnings” (Zechariah
4:10). Even in the hard times, when you
feel like you’re living in a wasteland, remember
that God is always at work. He is
doing something you can’t see. Trust Him
and remember “that God causes everything
to work together for the good of those
who love God and are called according to
his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).
And that’s you!
KIM M. CLARK is the author of the Amazon
bestselling and multiple-award-winning book, Deep
Waters: Lift Your Gaze. To schedule Kim to speak,
email her at kim@kimmclark.com.
20 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
BY LISA APPELO
WE’D HIKED TO OUR FAVORITE SPOT on the beach. It was
an isolated stretch on the island that tapered to an inlet a few
hundred yards away. We often came to this remote spot late in
the day, where the water rounded under the bridge and swept
into the ocean.
I leaned on my elbows and watched my husband Dan wade the
shallows with his cast net, part of it anchored in his mouth and
the rest draped heavily over his arm. He walked slowly, watching
for signs of mullet, then he would throw out the net in a wide
circle and drag it back in.
I relaxed on the soft sand, keeping a close eye on our toddler
who was playing in the knee-high water nearby. I was grateful
for a lazy wrap-up to our beach day. And
then, just like that, my son took one step
out to kill him. But when David cried out to God, God reached
down, took hold of him, and delivered him from the hand of all
his enemies, including Saul.
Psalm 18:16 says that God “drew” him out of deep waters. That
word is used only one other time in the Bible, in Exodus 2:10,
where it refers to Pharaoh’s daughter, who “drew” Moses out of
the water. His parents had placed him in a basket and set him in
the Nile River to keep the Egyptians from killing him.
When on the run from Saul, David must have felt like he was
in dangerously deep waters. Surely, Moses’ parents must have
worried for their baby in the basket, who was in the deep, too.
But both times, God was in complete control—of the water and
of the one in the water. And both times, He
rescued them.
too far and transitioned from the shallows
to the deep.
I saw the fear in his eyes as the water
reached his nose. He struggled to find his
THE DEPTH OF THE WATER
IS NOT A MEASURE OF
GOD’S LOVE. NO MATTER
HOW DEEP IT GETS, NO
I am currently praying for several dear
friends who are treading deep waters. I’ve
also cried out in faith over my own family
on many occasions. Maybe you’re praying
footing. I jumped up and splashed through
this kind of desperate prayer right now.
MATTER HOW ROUGH IT
the water, grabbing him by the arm just as
As you do, remember: the depth of the
SEEMS, NO MATTER HOW
he went under completely. I swung him up
water is not a measure of God’s love. No
out of the water, carried him back to the
beach, and wrapped his sun-warmed towel
around him. I held him close.
It’s incredible how life can be so sunny,
relaxing, and fun, and then in a moment,
everything changes. Have you been there?
HARD THE STRUGGLE,
OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
NEVER THE MEASURE OF
GOD’S LOVE FOR US.
matter how deep it gets, no matter how
rough it seems, no matter how hard the
struggle, our circumstances are never the
measure of God’s love for us.
God’s love is measured in this: while we
were dead in our sin, Christ died for us
In a place where you suddenly found yourself up to your eyeballs
in the deep waters of life? Perhaps even now, it feels like the water
is closing over your head, and you aren’t sure if you’ll ever get
to shore again.
Take a breath and know that, just as I was watching my son, God
is watching you. He hasn’t taken His eyes off you. Even when it
feels like the deep waters are lapping around you, God sees you.
Psalm 18:16 says, “He reached down from on high and took
hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.”
(Romans 5:8). He gave His life for ours.
Why would He do that? Well, God rescues us because He delights
in us (Psalm 18:19).
God delights in us so much that He reached down from on high
and took hold of us while we were drowning in sin. He drew us
out of the deep waters of darkness that would have covered us
for all eternity. And then, He set our feet on Jesus, the Solid Rock,
and wrapped us in that Son-warmed righteousness.
The measure of God’s love is the mercy of God’s rescue.
David sang Psalm 18 to the Lord. He had been anointed the
future king of Israel, but for years he’d been running for his life,
trying to stay one step ahead of Saul, the current king who was
LISA APPELO is a recent widow and single mother of seven, writing all the
good lessons God is teaching her as He is true and faithful to her family.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
21

RESCUED,
COVER AND PHOTO ABOVE BY DEAR DEE PHOTOGRAPHY

NOT
ARRESTED
BY ROGER MUNCHIAN WITH H. JOSEPH GAMMAGE
ADAPTED BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
PHOTO BY DEAR DEE PHOTOGRAPHY
My family immigrated to
the United States from
Armenia in 1979; I was eight
years old. We arrived in Los
Angeles with few possessions
and many dreams. It was
a difficult transition. The
language barrier, my thick
Armenian eyebrows, and my
single outfit made me an
easy target.
Childhood bullying led
Roger to take control of
his life to ensure no one
ever hurt him again.
By the time I was a teen, I was
tired of being put down and
walked on and of being disrespected
and poor. And I was tired
of no one doing anything to help.
I decided it was time to change
my life experience.
So I turned to the streets—a
young man could find both respect
and money there. I started
by stealing car stereos and
moved up to delivering ordered
vehicles to chop shops. Then I
discovered the drug market, and
I got a taste of real money.
At first, I dealt with drugs by
the pound, then kilos, and then
tons. I was an ambitious businessman
who networked with
leaders in the drug industry to
make the next deal happen. By
17, I was delivering goods to
cartels nationwide and making
more money than I had ever
imagined possible.
Once I’d tasted money, I developed
an insatiable desire for
more. I loved the sense of power
money gave me. My pursuit of
the almighty dollar, however, led
me down destructive paths that
hurt many people and nearly
cost me my life. But thankfully,
on September 25, 1997, like Paul
in Acts 9, I had a Damascus Road
experience that changed the trajectory
of my life.
That night, like many others,
my friends and I went to a highend
VIP nightclub. When we tired
of that scene, we climbed into my
Mercedes S 600 coupe. I punched
the accelerator, feeling invincible
as the speedometer reached 130
mph. But then the car began to
fishtail, and I lost control.
I can still hear the screams
of the girls as the car smashed
into the concrete wall and folded
in on us. And then, there was
silence, except for the faint bleep
of a crushed cellphone. I pulled
myself from the car and looked
at the bloody scene. The girls lay
motionless on the ground. What
had I done?
Funny, until that moment, I
hadn’t thought much about God.
I figured He hadn’t thought much
about me, either. Surely He had
abandoned me all those years
ago when as a child I was being
bullied and abused.
Soon passersby stopped and
called 911. I knew I was in deep
trouble. I limped as fast as my
battered body could go, hoping to
jump from the nearby bridge and
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
23

A high-speed collision and a potential life sentence in
prison woke Roger up to his need for a Savior.
end this nightmare. I’d almost
made it to the guardrail when
the pilot of the police helicopter
spotted me. Ground police
and K9 officers gave chase.
“God, help me! Help me!”
I cried. I was in way over my
head. I reached the railing and
leaped, but my plunge was
abruptly halted by a German
shepherd who sank his teeth
into my pant leg and dragged
me back. Officers descended
on me from every direction.
At the police station, I was
booked on two counts of vehicular
homicide. In the intake
room, for my safety and theirs,
they strapped me into a chair
and put a facemask on me. I
was teetering on the verge of
insanity—spitting, biting, and
kicking at the officers.
Darkness engulfed me as I
looked at the intake papers the
officer had shoved in my hand.
Two counts of aggravated vehicular
homicide meant I could
not place a bond. All those hundreds
of thousands of dollars I
had tucked away from my drug
deals were utterly powerless to
save me. And so were the other
gods I’d served so faithfully
through the years—the gods of
sex, drugs, toxic relationships,
and power. Where were they
now? They had brought me to
this pit of destruction and had
abandoned me.
I needed something with
real power. Did it exist?
“God, are You there? Help
me, God…help me.” This plea
lasted no more than 30 seconds.
And then, worn out and
in pain, I fell asleep.
I woke to an officer trying
to remove the intake papers
that were stuck to my bloody
hands. “You sure lucked out on
this one,” he said as he stuffed
a new paper into my hand.
After he left, I looked at what
he’d given me. Two counts of
aggravated assault with a deadly
weapon.
Assault? How could that be?
The girls were dead—I’d seen
them! But this paper said they
were alive. The words “God
help me” rang in my mind.
Comfort like I’d never felt before
flooded over me, and inside,
I sensed someone say, “I
heard you, Roger. Call out to Me,
and I will show you great and
wonderful things. You are not
a murderer. You are fearfully
and wonderfully made. All of My
works are wonderful, and you
are Mine. Your journey has just
begun—trust Me.”
God had revealed Himself in
an undeniable way, one I certainly
didn’t deserve. He had
pursued me with His everlasting
love and rescued me from
the pit of destruction I had dug
for myself. For the first time, I
truly believed there was a God.
With the new charges, I
was able to make bail. I went
straight to my attorney’s office
to make sense of what had happened.
All he could offer was,
“You just got lucky, Roger.” But
I knew different. People don’t
just come back to life.
I left his office and went to
the hospital. I couldn’t believe
my eyes—the girls really were
alive! An inexplicable peace expanded
beneath my anguish.
God was fixing what I had destroyed.
He had my attention.
Why am I still here? I wondered.
I needed to know the
truth. I needed to know God.
Over the next nine months,
I sought to learn all I could
about Him. I searched history
and science, unearthed multiple
faith foundations and their
manuscripts. My quest to know
the truth led me to understand
that yes, God was real, and He
was worth giving up everything
I had to follow Him. I accepted
by faith His Son, Jesus, as
my Lord and Savior, and in my
heart, I’ve not looked back.
But leaving that old life
wasn’t easy. People like me
don’t get to just walk away.
My phone rang constantly
with both opportunities and
threats. But deep down, I knew
the only business worth doing
was that of reaching God’s lost
ones. After some hard lessons,
I finally let go of my old ways
and turned my life completely
over to Him.
On May 18, 1998, I received
a plea of five years probation
for the accident, instead of 20
years in prison. I praised God
for the result and focused on
building my parents’ legitimate
insurance business. I
did my best to serve God and
His people. But a bigger trial
lay ahead.
Ten months after the plea, I
was in my office when suddenly
the tiny room was filled with
federal marshals, Arizona DEA,
and US Customs officers. They
escorted me outside, tucked
me into a government sedan,
and took me to the federal
building in downtown Phoenix.
I was facing twelve Class-2
felony charges under federal
RICO law—a possible 160 years
in prison.
Yet again I heard, “Trust Me,
Roger.”
Then, amazingly, the Feds
released me on my own recognizance.
I surrendered my
passport and was assigned a
hearing date in Detroit. My attorney
got to work, and as the
facts of the case unfolded, the
grace of God became evident.
Everything the Feds had on
the cartels that would have involved
me happened after the
accident—after my decision to
follow Jesus. That accident in
1997 wasn’t just God’s way of
getting my attention; He used
that wreck to keep me from a
lifetime of incarceration. Had I
stayed on that road of destruction,
I’d have been working
24 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

I DECIDED I WOULD BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
AND REPRESENT HIS LOVE AND POWER
TO THOSE AROUND ME, NO MATTER THE COST.
with the cartels when the Feds
infiltrated them.
Months later, the federal
charges were dropped, and
then my fight against the state
began. The state drug prosecutor
was determined to send me
and anyone associated with my
case away for life. Since I had
a record in the state system,
that wouldn’t be difficult. The
case lasted for three years. At
times, it looked like my past
would never leave me alone,
and rightfully so.
During this time, I began
conversing with a young lady
from Armenia, the daughter
of a friend. We spent many
hours together on the phone,
and a deep love began to grow
between us. Against the odds,
I asked the court for permission
to fly to Armenia so I
could marry her. Incredibly,
the judge allowed it.
My shocked attorney said,
“Roger, your grant from the
court to travel to Armenia is a
one-in-a-million opportunity.
Roger and his wife,
Sirarpi, trusted God
with their future.
You’ve won the Golden Ticket,
like the kid in Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory. Don’t waste
it. Go to Armenia and never
come back.” He reminded me
of the orange prison jumpsuit
that would be waiting for me if
I ignored his advice.
I sat on the plane at Phoenix’s
Sky Harbor Airport,
thinking of his words. I’d soon
be 7,000 miles away from this
mess. I considered the possibility
that this grant from the
court might be God’s way of
giving me freedom. Maybe He
wanted to use me in Armenia
to save many souls.
It made a lot of sense intellectually,
yet my heart was
void of peace. I knew running
from my problems and breaking
the law wasn’t God’s way.
I also knew choosing to stay
in Armenia wouldn’t be fair
to my parents. They’d lose the
$100,000 in bond money they
had loaned me. Once again, I
heard the Lord reminding me
to trust Him. I tightened my
seatbelt and settled back for
a long flight.
On the ground in Armenia, I
immediately felt at home. I was
in the place of my true heritage
and with Sirarpi, the woman
I loved. I proposed marriage
and she accepted; we set the
wedding date for four days later.
But I hadn’t told her about
my past, and I needed to. So
first, I told her I’d been married
before, and then I told her my
legal troubles. Finally, I shared
how God had touched my heart
and changed my ways. She had
many questions, but in the end,
she made an incredible choice
to trust God too.
Against my attorney’s advice,
I headed to the Armenian
airport to return to Arizona
and attend my court hearing.
But when I went to check in,
I discovered I had missed my
flight. Was this a sign from
God? Was I to stay? As I began
wrestling with the decision; the
ticket attendant excitedly announced
that she had found an
alternate route. “Should I book
this flight for you, sir?”
It was a moment of truth. I
could trust God’s plan and return
to America to face my past,
or I could live as a free man in
Armenia. I thought about my
attorney’s reference to winning
that fictional Golden Ticket,
and suddenly, I realized he
was wrong. The theme of that
movie wasn’t about seizing an
opportunity; it was about being
trustworthy. Charlie was
the only child with integrity,
and as a result, he inherited
everything from Mr. Wonka. I
understood that, like Charlie, I
had much to inherit from God—
but I had to do what was right. I
booked the flight and returned
to America to face my charges.
Sirarpi planned to join me four
months later.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
25

PHOTO BY DEAR DEE PHOTOGRAPHY
IF YOU FOCUS ON TAKING CARE
OF GOD’S BUSINESS, HE WILL
TAKE CARE OF YOURS. THIS IS
THE TESTIMONY OF MY LIFE.
Once home, the reality of for life and gave me a sevenmy
situation was inescapable. year plea instead.
I had no plea bargain—I could There was standing room
get 160 years in prison. But it only in the courtroom at my
was time for me to live by faith sentencing hearing on April 11,
and not by sight (2 Corinthians 2003. The judge took the bench
5:7). Sight is deceiving. Months and spoke directly to me. I deserved
to serve multiple life
passed, and the case dragged
on. And then, something incredible
happened.
I had destroyed, he said. But
sentences for the many lives
The prosecutor on my case then, incredibly, he reduced
was not just after me; she my seven-year sentence to
was attempting to take down two-and-a-half years. He even
the entire Mexican mafia. In gave me two weeks to get my
retali a tion, they arranged for affairs in order and spend time
her assassination, planning to with my family. Folks, it simply
doesn’t work this way. Plea
make it look like I had killed
her to keep her off my case. But agreements aren’t reduced!
their plan backfired when their God had showed up again!
hit man accidentally shot her There’s a saying that, if you
brother instead. He lived and focus on taking care of God’s
identified the shooter, connecting
him to the Mexican mafia. yours. This is the testimony
business, He will take care of
Because of the threat against of my life. God has taken care
her life, the prosecutor was taken
off my case and put in pro-
ways as I have trusted Him and
of me in the most miraculous
tective custody. Thankfully, her focused on doing His work. He
replacement didn’t share her takes care of those I love, too.
passion for putting me away I walked into Lewis Prison
in 2003, to serve time for the
crimes I had committed. I
served 20 months, and every
day, I praised God for all that
He had done for me.
I tell people, I didn’t go to
prison, I went to Bible college—
and the Holy Spirit and the NIV
Study Bible were my teachers.
Prison life was not easy. I
was tempted at times to use
the position I’d held in the drug
world to protect myself. But I
knew if I did that, I would stray
from what God had in store for
me. I had to fear God more than
I feared man.
Rescued Not Arrested provides free custom-covered English or
Spanish Bibles and correspondence courses to inmates. Write to RNA,
PO Box 90606, Phoenix, AZ 85066, to receive your Bible today.
It was often scary, and my
life was indeed threatened.
Yet, with God’s help, I did not
compromise. I was determined
to be a follower of Christ and
represent His love and power
to those around me, no matter
the cost. Those boundaries led
to some frightening moments,
but God always made a way.
He helped me stand firm in
my convictions while being
respectful to those around me.
As I served my time, the Lord
began to show me His love for
incarcerated people and the
need for His Word behind bars.
He planted the idea of a ministry
in my heart, called Rescued
Not Arrested (RNA). RNA has
since reached millions of prisoners,
both around the world
and in 500 US prisons, with its
custom-cover NIV Bible.
Praise God, Sirarpi and our
children were waiting for me
when I was released from prison
in December 2004. We had
used that time to draw close
to one another through phone
calls and prison visits, and now
we were excited to start a new
life together. Sirarpi and I often
joke that we spent more time
together when I was in prison
than we do now, as I travel the
world sharing the Gospel.
Friend, God is in the rescue
business. No matter where you
are, He is there, and He is ready
to help you out of your pit and
into a life of adventure. Trust
Him and do the right thing. I
am living proof that God can
use anyone!
ROGER MUNCHIAN is the founder of the nonprofit ministry, Rescued Not
Arrested. He lives in Arizona with his wife and their four children. You can find his
book, Rescued Not Arrested, written by H. Joseph Gammage, on Amazon.
26 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
Learning to Be Still in an
Overcommitted World
BY TINA M. BROWN
“BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD!” (Psalm 46:10).
That simple command often seems impossible these days,
with all the tasks, demands, circumstances, technology, and
relationships that pull us in so many directions. I find I have to
fight to make time for God in my busy world. It’s so easy to let what
seems urgent in the moment replace what’s most important—God!
Big things, little things—they all keep me from being still. My
mind becomes clouded and my heart burdened when I focus my
attention on what’s around me. How can I fit everything into
​my schedule, solve all my problems, and satisfy my desires?
It’s such a dilemma at times. I mean, we have to nurture relationships.
We have to exercise. We have to take care of our homes
and our vehicles. We have to do a lot of things, and hopefully,
they’re things we want to do. But if we’re doing all that, how do
we find time to be still and know that God is God?
I’ve been trying to find this balance for years. Being still doesn’t
mean God always expects us to be physically still, however. That
would be impossible. But He does call us to be spiritually, emotionally,
and mentally still at all times. The truth is, we can be
moving about yet remain still within. Here are some things that
help me maintain stillness in an overcommitted society.
First of all, I found stillness by accepting Jesus’s invitation to
come to Him. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all of you who
are weary and carry heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” Rest,
or stillness, comes when we bring our concerns and commitments
to Jesus.
If I lack a calm, still state in my spirit, then I am likely not drawing
close to God. I must be intentional about this. I have to get up
early, before my commitments begin, and spend time alone with
Him. Then, as I go through my day, I reflect on His blessings. I
thank Him, pray, and meditate on His Word. And sometimes, I
sit silently and listen to what He has to say.
I enjoy finding creative ways to include God in my day. I sing
praises in the shower. I talk to Him as I drive to work. I bring Him
into my thoughts at work. Sometimes I grab fast food for dinner so
I can spend the time I would’ve spent cooking, reading His Word
instead. Sometimes I go for a walk, just so I can talk with God.
He loves adventures as much as I do, and He points out beautiful
things in His creation that I would’ve missed otherwise—things
that remind me that He is God. Little moments like these add up,
and God, in His grace, blesses my efforts.
When I quiet myself before Him, God refreshes my spirit, calms
my heart and mind, and provides the answers I need. He promises
to reveal wonderful things to those who will get still and draw
close; to those who are eager to do His will.
I challenge you to ask God to search your heart and show you
what’s on your mind or in your schedule that isn’t part of His best
for your life (Psalm 139:23–24). Then follow His lead and trust
Him. Let go of the things He shows you. As you change your life
to include more of Him and less of the world, you will come to
that place of stillness and quiet rest. You will get to know God in
new and exciting ways.
TINA M. BROWN is a child of God living in Eastern North Carolina. She most
enjoys the intimate gifts of life including family, friends, and fellowship. Her life
changed forever when she fell in love with Jesus, and she wants you to
know how much Jesus loves you too.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
27

Discovering
the
Right
Path
BY AUGIE GHILARDUCCI
he bottom fell out of my world
in 2004, when I was convicted of
investment fraud. As a result of
my actions, I landed in the federal
prison system in Minnesota
and served nearly 13 years there.
When I did what I did, many people were
surprised—including myself. My choices didn’t
square with my stable upbringing in a loving family
or my current life situation as a successful
businessman.
For 14 years, I had experienced great success in
the financial services world. But as I climbed the
corporate ladder, I strayed from my values and
turned a blind eye to what I knew was right. That
choice came with a high cost to my family and me.
I don’t blame anyone but myself. As a financial
consultant, I should have done my due diligence.
If I had, I would have known that those tantalizing
foreign investments that promised such
28 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

As I climbed the
corporate ladder,
I strayed from
my values and
turned a blind
eye to what I
knew was right.
PHOTO BY JOMARIS LEON-LORENZO
huge economic benefits were bogus. In truth, I
didn’t want to know; I wanted the fee attached. So
I plowed forth, mesmerized by the financial gain
I was experiencing and ignoring all the red flags.
Before I knew it, I was behind bars, furious that
I had allowed myself to fall victim to greed.
I quickly learned that the impact of crime and
incarceration is far-reaching and painful for all
involved. My actions, my own choices, had placed
significant financial, emotional, and physical
burdens on my loved ones. Those I cared about
most, including my young children, were suffering
greatly. My clients, too, were devastated
by my behavior.
Three months into my sentence, my mother
was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I watched
helplessly as she fought against that horrible illness,
all the while carrying the extra burden of
worrying about me. As her son, I
should have been by her side. She
died less than six months after I
was locked up. For reasons I still
don’t understand, I wasn’t allowed
to attend her funeral. This left a
hole in my heart that the Lord continues
to mend.
Years later, while I was still in
prison, my father had a stroke and
died. I’d been so looking forward
to my release date—I’d wanted to
spend time with him. I will forever
regret the foolish choices that left
my parents alone during the most
challenging years of their lives.
I spent a lot of time beating myself up for the
pain I caused others, but I eventually learned that
self-hate, self-pity, and anger only increased the
negative impacts of my crime. This renewing of
the mind began while I was being held in the hole
(a place of segregation in prison), under investigation
for what turned out to be a false narcotics
accusation.
My first week in the hole was tough. I was angry
over the false charge and bitter about not being
able to attend my mother’s funeral. And I was still
upset with myself for being in prison in the first
place. Thankfully, God, in His grace, helped me
out of my bitterness before it could destroy me
(Hebrews 12:15).
The segregation cell door had barely closed
behind me when a female guard banged on it
and asked if she could get me anything. I immediately
told her I wanted a Bible. I don’t know why
I made this request. I don’t recall any intentional
thought process behind it or an underlying desire
to search for God. Nonetheless, I’m grateful.
For the next 35 days, I read God’s Word and reflected
on my life. The Bible brought great comfort
to me. It showed me my sinful ways, especially
my prideful thoughts, and then it revealed the
grace of God to forgive all my sin (1 John 1:9). His
Word showed me how to get in right standing with
God, through my faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians
2:8). It also taught me how to forgive others and
myself, so I could move forward (Colossians 3:13).
Then, a month later, something happened that
had a profound impact on my life. Lack of beds
in the general population resulted in an inmate
named Kent being placed in the hole with me.
He’d just reported to prison and was coming off
heavy drugs. He talked nonstop and was in a
constant state of panic for several nights. Over
the weekend, as reality set in, he threatened to
kill himself many times. The guards asked me
to keep an eye on him, to be kind to him, and to
notify them if there was a problem.
I was a bit annoyed at first. This guy was a
handful, and he was interrupting my quiet time
with God. All I kept thinking was how lucky he
was that I was in the cell with him; any other guy
would surely have beaten him half to death the
first night. I was so arrogant.
In reality, God had sent Kent to that cell for me,
not the other way around—though I didn’t realize
that for several days. It was a Monday, and as was
the custom, the guards woke us at 4:30 to serve
us breakfast.
In those early hours, Kent, who was finally in
his right mind, looked at me and said, “Augie,
you’re getting out of here today. I feel it.”
I told him that wasn’t possible because I was
supposed to be in the hole for six months, and
I’d only been there a month. He asked if he could
pray for me; I said sure. He prayed and then
closed his prayer with, “I ask all of this in Jesus’s
precious name. Amen.”
I’d never heard a closing like that. It was a humble
yet confident request, backed by the power of
Jesus’s name, and it caught my attention. I soon
began to pray that way too, as I learned more
about the power of Jesus’s name (John 14:13–14;
John 16:23–24).
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
29

Leeann stood by Augie’s
side during his prison
sentence. Today, she
supports his efforts
to help others find the
right path.
Five seconds later, an officer banged on the
door and said, “Ghilarducci, get your stuff. You’re
out of here.” I started to cry. It was so much to
take in. Could God have spoken through Kent?
Had He heard our prayers and answered them
that quickly? The officer handed me clothes and
took me back to a room in the general population.
This encounter made a profound difference in
how I perceived my situation, myself, and God. It
showed me that I wasn’t alone in prison—I never
had been, and I never would be. God was with
me and everyone else behind those prison walls.
He saw us; He heard our prayers. I also realized
My past didn’t have to dictate my
future. With God’s help, hard work,
and the support of others, I could
move forward and emerge from this
experience a better man.
tate my future. With God’s help, my hard work,
and the support of others, I could move forward
and emerge from this experience a better man.
I set out on a journey of rediscovery. That journey
brought me back to godly values and back to
my faith in Jesus Christ. Serving time gave me a
clear perspective on the prison system and the
during that time that my past didn’t have to dicchallenges
those who live there face. It created in
me a burden to help those behind bars.
Before I was incarcerated, I had judged people
in prison so harshly. I’d never considered them as
human beings with emotions, families, or needs.
I’d never thought about the helplessness a husband,
father, and son feels behind bars until I was
that husband, father, and son.
It took losing my liberty and, ultimately, my
dignity to open my eyes, but once they were open,
my heart was filled with compassion.
Prison teems with people who have lost their
way for whatever reason—addictions, mental
illness, childhood and adult trauma, poverty...
so many things. Some there are innocent, while
others have no remorse over what they’ve done,
no regard for authority, and no desire to change.
I don’t believe that is the norm, but God showed
me my role is not that of a judge, lest I be judged
myself (Matthew 7:1). Instead, my part is to be
the hands and feet of Jesus, to help people find
their way—His way.
Not only did I learn about the humanity of people
behind bars, but I also came to understand the
brokenness of our prison system. Things desperately
need to change. Men and women leave the
system unprepared for society and unequipped
to move forward. It’s no wonder so many fail.
I’d never given thought to the prison system. I
simply didn’t care. It didn’t impact my family or
me. But once I was there, I saw things I couldn’t
ignore, especially the lack of opportunities for
people to advance in life.
I decided that while incarcerated, I would
change what I could by using the knowledge I
had to help others. I noticed inmates struggling
to read and understand important legal correspondence
from their attorneys, so I helped them
navigate their way through the documents. It was
a simple act with a significant impact.
I also noticed a lack of essential life skills, especially
in finance—things like budgeting, balancing
checkbooks, paying taxes, understanding
mortgages, and saving for the future. I developed
a program and a workbook that taught inmates
these crucial skills.
It was so rewarding to help people not only
dream about their future but plan for it.
It wasn’t long before prison officials took notice
of the impact the program was having and
endorsed it. This was a high compliment in a
place where compliments are rare. They took
PHOTO BY JOMARIS LEON-LORENZO
30 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

the program and made it a requirement for
those in drug treatment plans.
I had opportunities to impact the lives of
people outside the prison too. The warden
placed me in a community outreach program
that allowed me to go into high schools, colleges,
and universities to share with students
the lessons I had learned from my ethical failures.
I was able to use my failures for good by
hopefully preventing others from going down
the path I had chosen.
I was released from prison in 2018. That
was a difficult transition for a 57-year-old man
to make, but with the help of my Lord Jesus
Christ, the faithful support and dedication of
the woman who had stood by my side through
my entire prison sentence, and careful planning,
I am now thriving and helping others
to do the same. I am in constant awe of how
God has used every part of my past for good
(Romans 8:28). He hasn’t wasted a thing.
Amazingly, less than six months after my
release, I was invited to return to jails and
prisons to share my story and to teach my
programs though an organization called
2nd Opportunity. Today, I share this reentry
program with inmates five days a week. It’s
also available via computer tablets in many
facilities throughout the United States. I have
written a book about my experience called I
Climbed the Wrong Mountain to Discover the Right
Path. Its purpose is to help others dealing with
the barriers of reentry.
So you see, no matter how dire your situation,
God can still use your life for good. No
matter how you’ve fallen, you can not only
survive your ordeal but thrive! To do so, you
will have to trust God, persevere in your faith,
and work hard. No one is going to hand you
your life back. You’ll have to take advantage
of what’s available to you. You’ll have to make
sacrifices. But as you do, God will take your life
and use every part of it for His glory. He will
cause your fall to be the catalyst for a better
life experience.
AUGIE GHILARDUCCI is the Director of Training
and Development for 2nd Opportunity LLC. He also
serves as Director of Housing and Employment at
Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center and consults
with Heartland Alliance to raise awareness among
employers about the benefits of hiring justice-involved
individuals. He can be reached at augie@2ndopp.com.
Thrive During Your Downtime
TIPS FROM
AUGIE GHILARDUCCI
We’ve all found ourselves
down at various seasons
of our lives, and for
varied reasons. You just
read about mine. But
downtime never has to
be wasted time. It can
be a life-changing and
fruitful experience, if we
let it. Don’t just survive
your downtime—thrive.
Here’s how:
• Reflect. Think about your life. Is
it how you envisioned it? Are you
holding on to regrets or bitterness?
Let it come to the surface and,
with God’s help, deal with it. Discover
His plan for your life. These
revelations are for your good.
• Draw close to God. View downtime
as a gift of time from God to
know Him in ways you wouldn’t
have otherwise. Use your time to
read His Word, listen to His Spirit,
and fellowship with other believers.
Learn to trust Him.
• Prepare. Anticipate the obstacles
you may face and develop a plan
to deal with them. Having a plan
keeps you from falling right back
into old patterns or being overwhelmed
with hopelessness when
you meet new challenges.
Above artwork entitled Rainy Night,
created by Augie Ghilarducci.
• Identify new passions. Push
yourself to experiment with new
ideas that challenge your comfort
zone. Learn a new language; pick
up a paintbrush. In my downtime, I
discovered I had a passion for art. I
painted over 400 pieces in prison.
• Be thankful. Find joy in the little
things. A grateful heart can’t be
kept down. I keep a gratitude list, a
practice I learned during my incarceration
that I continue to this day.
• Help others. Take your eyes off
your trials and invest in the lives of
others. That’s where you will find
joy, peace, and purpose.
• Enjoy Today. Look for the beauty
and blessings of the day. In your
longing for tomorrow, don’t miss
the good things in front of you now.
COVID-19 has put the entire world into a season of downtime. Instead of
being afraid, use this time to discover what’s really important. Draw close
to God and the ones you love. Don’t let the real things of life pass you by.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
31

KNOW
YOUR ENEMY
BY BLAINE WHITT
When I consider my life
today compared to 30
years ago, I am brought to
tears. God transformed my
broken, bitter life into one of
wholeness and love. No one
can tell me that God isn’t
still in the miracle-working
business. My life is a miracle.
My early years were filled with pain. My
father was an abuser, and he took out his
anger on my mother, my siblings, and me.
I hated him for it, and I hated the helplessness
I felt as he traumatized us.
The events of my childhood sowed seeds
of bitterness in my heart. I resented my
father for not loving and protecting us like
he should have. His betrayal brought pain
that far outweighed any physical blow he
could have ever dealt; it crushed my heart.
A crushed heart is the perfect soil for
seeds of bitterness, and I tended mine
carefully. I watered them daily with
thoughts of hate and revenge. At first,
these evil thoughts were only toward my
father, but they soon spread to the world.
Every man was my enemy and responsible
for my pain.
Over the years, that bitter root grew
strong, and as Hebrews 12:15 says,
it caused much trouble and defiled
many. Much like my dad, I left a wake of
destruction everywhere I went.
In 1972, at the age of 17, I got married
and moved out of my father’s house. I
couldn’t wait to have a home of my own
and fill it with good things. I had met Connie
years before at a baseball park. Even as
a young boy, I knew she would one day be
my wife and that I would be safe with her.
Our love was deep and strong, but the
odds were stacked ever so high against us.
The first decade as a young, married couple
was tough. Broken and bitter, I carried
a ton of baggage into our marriage. Not to
mention, with no good role model, I had no
PHOTO BY JOMARIS LEON-LORENZO
32 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

Blaine’s relationship with
his father was restored by
the grace of God and the
gift of forgiveness.
Far Right: Letting go of his
past helped Blaine become
a kinder husband and father.
Pictured with his first wife
Connie and their daughters.
idea how to be a good husband or father.
Thankfully, Connie was patient and loved
me unconditionally.
The anger I harbored almost destroyed
our family, especially the day my mother
showed up at my home with two men—all
drunk. By this time, my father was long
gone, and my mother, in her pain, had become
homeless and addicted to alcohol
and drugs. I was so angry with these men
who I knew were abusing my mother.
I met them in the front yard with my
rifle and ordered them to leave. (Violence
was the only way I knew to communicate.)
But they didn’t leave; the scene ended with
one man shot, and the other lying
unconscious on the concrete.
I was arrested and charged with
attempted murder.
Incredibly, I didn’t serve any
time. The local police had witnessed
firsthand the life my
family had endured at the hands
of my father, and they had mercy
on me. Somehow, the whole thing
just went away.
In 1983, Connie and I moved
to a quaint little town in Florida.
By this time, we had two little girls. I was
doing my best to be a good husband and
father, but I was still so full of rage. Thankfully,
God sent a courageous man of God to
my home to show me a better way.
I was sitting at my kitchen table one
Saturday morning, when I heard a knock
on the front door. I opened it to find Lonnie
Cleveland, pastor of the local Baptist
church. He was there to invite Connie, the
girls, and me to church. A couple of weeks
later, we went.
During our visit, the congregation sang
a popular hymn, “Just as I Am.” It spoke
of how God accepts people just as they
are. According to the song, I didn’t have
to bring anything to God except my broken
self. This caught my attention. Could
God really accept me—a broken, hate-filled
man with a trail of carnage in my past?
I wrestled with this foreign concept for
a few minutes. Then, I went to the altar to
take God up on His offer. Pastor Lonnie
led me through a prayer of salvation, and
I committed my life to the Lord. I told God,
“If You are who You say You are, and if You
really will take me just as I am, I will serve
I TOLD GOD, “IF YOU ARE
WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE, AND
IF YOU REALLY WILL TAKE ME
JUST AS I AM, I WILL SERVE
YOU WITH THE SAME TENACITY
THAT I SERVED SATAN.”
You with the same tenacity that I served
Satan.” This was quite a promise, as I had
served Satan well for many years.
Connie rededicated her life to the Lord
that day, too. She’d believed in Jesus as a
kid but had strayed in her walk with Him.
Not long after, our children put their faith
in Jesus, and our entire family walked
through the waters of baptism together.
I dove into His Word to learn all I could
about Him. But studying the Bible wasn’t
easy. Dyslexia made reading painfully slow
for me, and I often had difficulty comprehending
what I read. Nevertheless, I was
persistent in my pursuit of Him. God accelerated
my growth as His Spirit helped
me understand deep spiritual things. The
more I learned, the more I wanted to know.
Connie and I began working with the
youth in our church, and then we started
going on short-term overseas mission
trips. In 1994, we moved to Africa for a
year to develop leaders and train pastors
to plant local churches.
When we returned home, I sensed God
leading me to start a church. For the next
13 years, I helped people grow in their
relationships with God and others.
But, even as a pastor, I still
struggled with my own past. I
asked God to help me.
He showed me the importance
of letting go of my anger and forgiving
my father. The process
started right after 9/11. Osama
bin Laden had just unleashed
his terror on US soil. As a pastor,
I knew my congregation would
be looking for answers. They
were angry and wondering how
a loving God could allow such pain. I was
struggling to find answers myself.
As I prayed over the message, the Holy
Spirit spoke to my heart. “Blaine, Osama
bin Laden is not evil.”
What? I did not like what I was hearing.
How could God say that? Did He not see the
horrific aftermath of this man’s actions?
But the Holy Spirit continued. “He is
an agent of evil.” And then God went on to
remind me that He had created everyone,
even men like Osama bin Laden, in His
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
33

PHOTO BY DEE DORIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Blaine is at home with the men in blue
at Marion Correctional. He and his wife,
Kimberly, minister there daily.
image, but that many have chosen not to
follow after God’s ways. Then He continued,
“Your father was also an agent of evil.
And you, Blaine, were an agent of evil, too.”
My heart stopped, but then I began to
understand how, yes, we have all been
created in God’s image, but many of us
have opened our hearts to the evil one—
Satan—to be used by him to bring destruction
into this world. He is the real source
of evil that is out to destroy the world and
every image-bearer of the Most High God.
(See John 10:10.)
This revelation rocked my world, and
my heart began to soften toward my dad.
All my life, I had viewed him as my evil
enemy, the source of my pain. Yes, my dad
had done horrific things, but the spirit at
work within him was that of Satan (Ephesians
2:2). My struggle wasn’t against
flesh and blood; it was against dark forces
(Ephesians 6:12)!
I had been in the wrong fight my entire
life. Suddenly, I understood that to fight
against dark forces, I needed new weapons.
Second Corinthians 10:4–5 confirmed
this: “The weapons we fight with are not
the weapons of the world.… We demolish
arguments and every pretension that sets
itself up against the knowledge of God, and
we take captive every thought to make it
obedient to Christ” (NIV). If I wanted to
win this war, I would have to win the battle
of my mind.
I set out to renew my mind with God’s
Word (Romans 12:2). Because of my father’s
betrayal, I had many wrong mindsets
toward people. For example, I wrongly
assumed that every man would betray me;
that their only intent was to hurt me. So to
protect myself, I made sure I hurt others
before they had the chance to hurt me.
I had major trust issues that prevented
healthy, loving relationships.
God also showed me that in addition
to His Word, I had many other powerful
weapons—things like prayer, praising God,
coming together in agreement with other
believers, and proclaiming the name and
blood of Jesus Christ—at my disposal. So I
went to battle, and with God’s help, I began
to win the war! (See Ephesians 6.)
Incredibly, over time, my relationship
with my father was restored. I got to lead
him to the Lord and even had the privilege
of baptizing him. He never apologized for
the pain he caused his family—I don’t know
if he ever realized the full extent of the
trauma he caused. Regardless, God’s love
healed every wound I carried. Talk about a
story of redemption! Before my mother’s
death, I had the opportunity to lead her to
the Lord, too. God is good.
I used what I had learned to teach my
congregation how to win their battles.
Then, I met a man who was involved with
prison ministry, and he invited me to go
into the prison with him. Once there, I
knew right away that God was calling me
to minister behind prison wire. There was
a world of people just like me who needed
to know who their enemy was and how to
defeat him.
I started going to a nearby men’s prison
once a month to preach. I sensed God,
however, calling me into full-time ministry,
which would require me to let go of
the church I had birthed and to release
my business. It took me two years to give
God back what was always His.
And then, in 2005, He entrusted me
with the startup of a new organization,
Xtreme SOULutions, to help men and their
families prepare for reentry into society.
Connie and I witnessed God transform
the lives of many people that society had
thrown away and labeled as unsalvageable.
In 2017, Connie went home to be with
the Lord after 45 years of marriage and decades
of serving the Lord together. Losing
her was difficult, but God faithfully healed
my broken heart. And then, last year, He
blessed me with a beautiful, godly wife
who is a colaborer with me for Christ.
Kimberly has sacrificially devoted her life
to helping the men in our program and
their families—it has been her heart for a
decade. She has become like a mother to
the men in blue, and they love her dearly.
Looking back, it is obvious to me that
God has always had a plan for my life, even
when I couldn’t see it. Just as He promised,
He has taken everything the enemy
had planned for evil and used it for good
(Genesis 50:20).
Maybe you’ve experienced evil in your
life. I want you to know that God has a plan,
and He is ready to restore and redeem everything
the enemy has stolen from you.
Don’t lose hope. Run to the One who has already
defeated your enemy. With Him and
His weapons, you can win every battle!
BLAINE WHITT is the founder and president of
Xtreme SOULutions. He and his wife Kimberly serve
Jesus and mentor inmates in their faith and provide
them with life skills. Visit xtremesoulutions.org or
call 352-694-4888 for more information.
34 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
Choose God
BY SALLY COURSEN
I GREW UP IN CHURCH. I said the right words, followed the dress code,
went on retreats, to church camp, and Christian school—but only because it
was expected. I didn’t have a logical reason for doing those things, and I didn’t
personally care about any of it—I just wanted to please the adults in my life.
I also knew there were other things out there—fun things that I was supposed
to avoid because they were sinful. As I got older, I began questioning my
beliefs. When I moved out of my parents’ home, I did not set foot in another
church for five years.
I began to explore those other things that had fascinated me. I never got into
any real trouble with the law or with drinking or drugs, but I did go through
some hard times of deep financial stress, personal struggles, and grief. I
experienced rock bottom in a variety of ways.
If people asked what I believed, I told them I didn’t know, that I was not
religious, or that I was searching. In reality, I was confused.
I watched as people twisted the words of the Bible to suit their agenda.
Christians who could not explain why they believed what they insisted was
truth irritated me to no end.
I also found myself confused about the teachings of the Bible. What is right
and what is wrong, based on the Bible? Why do people believe things their
religious culture tells them if those things aren’t in the Bible? How does what
was right or wrong in your generation line up to what’s right or wrong in mine?
I no longer knew what I was supposed to believe. The idea of Christianity
became so overwhelming that I decided I would have no religion at all.
This isn’t the fun time people assume it will be. All the stress is on you.
You can’t put your worries on God if you’re denying He exists. You’re lonely
and bored. Your social options include bars and
parties and events you don’t really care about.
The people you meet don’t care about you, and
you can’t trust anyone because you can’t tell who’s
trustworthy. The only smart thing is to distrust
everyone. You can’t forgive. You can’t even have
a deep conversation because you have nothing
to believe in.
All those things I’d thought I wanted on the
other side weren’t what I thought they would be.
Despite my best efforts, I never successfully
stopped believing that God was there. I felt drawn
to Him, but I didn’t think He’d want me because
I’d done so many things wrong. I’d been a church
kid, and now I wasn’t.
And then came a night when I finally gave in
and talked to God. I told Him my confusion and
my worries. An immense sense of peace filled my
spirit, and all my worries went away. I felt Him
forgive me. And I felt free.
I realized I had let the things man had done with
religion keep me from God. For the first time, I
understood that He’s a God of order, not confusion.
Not fluff. People create the fluff.
If people asked what I
believed, I said I didn’t know,
that I was not religious, or
that I was searching.
In reality, I was confused.
I hadn’t been to church in five years, that night
I accepted God for who He is. I couldn’t name
the books of the Bible anymore. I’d forgotten all
the stories I had learned. I had nothing. And yet,
with my surrender, God began to use me, and He
continues to use me today.
I’m finding that God is very different from who
I thought He was. He’s not afraid of my questions.
I’m no longer trying to understand Him from the
religious teachings of my past. I’m looking to God
for answers. And I’m doing it through His Word.
I’m starting my journey from scratch because
anything I said or did before, I didn’t mean. Not
because I was lying, but because I didn’t know
why. But now I do—I’ve been on the other side,
and I know there is nothing there. So I choose
God. I hope you will too.
SALLY COURSEN lives in Northeast Ohio. She likes to
write and lift weights in her spare time.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
35

STEPPING FORWARD
A Plane, a Prisoner,
and God’s Plan
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
a quick hour and a half flight
to New York City. I was busy
helping the teenagers I was
traveling with get settled for
the flight, so I took little notice
of the three large guys seated
at the back of the plane.
The plane taxied to the runway
and stopped. The captain
announced we’d be delayed
due to construction at LaGuardia
Airport. Two more delay
announcements came over the
intercom, and people began to
get antsy and move around. It
didn’t help that the plane was
stuffy and hot.
I noticed a tall man stand up
and walk to the bathroom. He
was dressed in a white jumpsuit,
his feet were shackled,
and his hands were handcuffed
to his waist. The two men assisting
him were dressed in
plainclothes and armed.
When I saw this, I was afraid.
What if the man tried to escape
or hurt someone while we were
all stuck on this plane? I tried
to calm my fears.
During the three-hour delay,
passengers chatted all around
me. The flight attendants
passed out water and crackers.
The armed guards also talked,
but the man they were escorting
just stared blankly out the
window. I wondered what he
was thinking.
BY KRISTI DEWS DALE
When we finally took off for
New York, my heart was heavy.
The man seemed so isolated, so
lonely. The Holy Spirit stirred
within me as the plane pushed
through the midday cloud cover,
urging me to talk to him. But
what would I say?
As I wrestled with this
prompting, I began to reflect on
this magazine. Since 2015, I’ve
encouraged people to reach
out to Jesus and live for Him
through my stories. People just
like this shackled man.
God was stretching me outside
my comfortable boundaries
of writing stories for
inmates. Now He wanted me
to encourage one of His incarcerated
children in person. I remembered
1 Chronicles 16:8,
“Let the whole world know
what [God] has done.” I asked
the Lord to provide an opportunity
to speak with the man. I
trusted Him to guide me.
God answered my prayer
through yet another delay
when we arrived in New York. I
quickly unbuckled my seatbelt
and approached the guards. I
asked to speak with the man.
My opening line was far from
perfect and his response was
guarded, but I pressed on. I
introduced myself, and asked
him his name. He replied carefully.
Then, I asked if it would
be okay for me to pray for him.
Robert smiled warmly.
“God is good,” he said as he
lifted his gaze to meet my eyes.
“I’m being transferred from
North Carolina to a facility in
New York. I’m glad to be heading
home. I’ll finally get to see
my family and friends again.”
We talked more about his situation
and about God. It was
a pleasant conversation that
blessed my heart. Funny how
I had gone back to encourage
him, but found myself encouraged
instead. I told Robert that
he would remain in my prayers,
and then I returned to my seat.
It wasn’t until we gathered
our luggage that my daughter
and her friend caught their
first glimpse of the prisoner
and his guards. They were
shocked as Robert and I spoke
one last time. I told him I’d be
praying for him; he responded
by straining his handcuffed
hands together into a gesture
of prayer before his guards led
him away.
The girls peppered me with
questions but soon became
distracted. Robert, however,
remains on my mind and in my
heart. Even now, I still pray for
him, asking God to infuse his
spirit with hope as he faces the
trials and obstacles ahead.
I had a plan for that day, but
God redirected it. I’m glad He
did, and I’m thankful I followed
His promptings. If God changes
your plans, just go with it. I’ve
learned that obedience always
leads to blessing—for others
and for you.
I probably won’t meet
Robert again until we get to
heaven, but I take comfort in
knowing that then, he will no
longer be shackled.
KRISTI DEWS DALE is a wife and
the mother of four amazing children.
She holds a master’s degree in public
health and is an adjunct business
instructor at a local college.
36
Issue 02 / 2020
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

FROM THE FATHER
Do you need rest today?
Peace? Freedom? Forgiveness?
Restoration? Call out to Jesus,
accept Him as your Savior, and
you will be made whole.
Pray: “Jesus, I invite You into my life. I
confess that I am a sinner in need of a
Savior. Thank You for saving me from my
sins and making me whole. Thank You for
laying down Your life for me so that I can
have a new life in You. I receive, by faith,
this forgiveness of sin. Take my life, my past
and my future. Guide my steps and speak
to my heart, Lord. Use me, God. Amen.”
¿Necesitas descanso hoy?
¿Paz? ¿Libertad? ¿Perdón?
¿Restauración? Clama al Señor
Jesús, acéptalo como tu Salvador,
y serás hecho completo.
Ora: “Jesús, te invito a mi vida. Confieso
que soy un pecador y necesito un Salvador.
Gracias por perdonar mis pecados y por
hacerme de nuevo. Gracias por sacrificar
tu vida por mí para que yo pueda tener una
nueva vida en ti. Recibo, por fe, el perdón
de mis pecados. Toma mi vida, mi pasado
y mi futuro. Guía mis pasos y habla a mi
corazón, Señor. Úsame, Dios. Amén.”
Augie Ghilarducci, Jesus Fresco
I Am More Than Enough
MY PRECIOUS CHILD, MY PLANS FOR
you and your loved ones are always for
good. You can trust them, and you can
trust Me. I know life is hard, and I know it
hurts. I understand how you feel.
Like you, I have felt the betrayal of people
as they rejected, mocked, and ignored
Me. I have felt the pain of losing loved ones;
I have wept. I have felt the physical pain of
hunger. I have been tempted and lied to by
the enemy. I was beaten and then nailed
to a cross to die.
So you can trust Me, child, when I say,
I know your pain.
But there is hope. When you are with Me,
nothing can overtake you. I have given you
My strength to overcome every trial—and
My strength never runs out. My wisdom
never runs out, either. And neither will
My provision. Ever.
Draw close now, and hold tight to Me. I
am with you always. Remember, nothing
is impossible for Me!
Don’t look at your circumstances; look
at Me. I am all you need. My grace is sufficient
for you. It provides all the peace,
power, and provision you need to emerge
victoriously from your trial.
My love and divine presence will always
be more than enough.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
37

GOING DEEPER
RECOGNIZING GOD’S PROMPTING
Have you sensed God telling you to do something
Victorious Living aims not only to
encourage your heart with stories
of God’s faithfulness but also to
equip your mind and empower your
life with the truth of His Word.
We hope you enjoy this interactive
section of the magazine. As you
answer the following questions and
apply the scriptures to your life,
you will find yourself experiencing
a deeper relationship with God
and a greater level of freedom and
victory in your life. (All scripture
referenced is from the NIV.)
specific recently? What have you seen or heard
that caught your attention? What keeps nagging
at your spirit? God is always speaking, but His
voice is often quiet and comes with a nudge.
Pray John 10:27–28: “My sheep
to my
voice; I them and they me. I
give them
life and they shall never
; no one will snatch them out of
my .”
Answers: listen, know, follow, eternal, perish, hand.
What is God saying to you?
ARTICLE RECAP
A PLANE, A PRISONER,
AND GOD’S PLAN
REASON FOR HIS PROMPTING
We often assume God speaks only to certain
people, but in reality, He communicates to all of
us through His Holy Spirit so that we can be His
vessels of hope, love, and truth on this earth.
1 Corinthians 2:11–12: “For who knows a person’s
In A Plane, a Prisoner, and God’s Plan (pg. 36),
Kristi Dews Dale tells us about an encounter
that required her to set aside fear and pride
to obey God. Her first step to victory was in
recognizing God’s prompting in her situation.
The next came when she chose to act upon
that prompting. Stepping out of her comfort
zone allowed her to have a Christ-filled conversation
with someone she may never have
spoken to otherwise. She also experienced the
rewards of having a heart in tune with God’s.
Is God prompting you to help or talk to someone
you don’t know?
except their own spirit within them?
In the same way no one knows the thoughts of
God except the
of God. What we have
is not the spirit of the ,
but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may
what God has
given us.”
Answers: thoughts, Spirit, received, world, understand, freely.
Proverbs 3:27: “Do not withhold
from
those to whom it is
, when it is in your
to .”
Answers: good, due, power, act.
38 Issue 02 / 2020 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

GOING DEEPER
Interestingly, even Jesus was led by the Spirit.
See Matthew 4:1. And of course, His disciples were
led by the Spirit too. See Acts 13:4.
What is the Holy Spirit
prompting you to do or say?
How might you be a vessel of
His love today?
A HEART IN TUNE WITH GOD
Your life journey, like Kristi Dale’s, will not come
without interruptions. God is always prompting
you to act for His glory. The question is, will you
recognize it? If you do, will you obey? These verses
will keep you positioned to hear His voice:
Proverbs 4:23: “Above all else,
your
, for you do
from it.”
Answers: guard, heart, everything, flows.
Luke 11:28: “He replied, ‘
rather
are those who the of God
and
it.’”
Answers: Blessed, hear, word, obey.
STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
It’s time to lay aside your fear and prejudice and
reach out to someone you would never have
considered before. You will be blessed!
Choose one verse above and
explain how you will apply it.
Philippians 2:3–4: “Do nothing out of
ambition or vain
. Rather, in
value others above yourselves, not
looking to your own
but each of you
to the interests of the .”
Answers: selfish, conceit, humility, interests, others.
You have a part to play in setting aside your pride
and stepping out of your comfort zone to share the
love of God.
Identify what is comfortable for
you. Now, consider what might
be uncomfortable and go do it
with God. You’ll be blessed!
CONCLUSION
You might be uncomfortable doing what God has
asked you to do, but don’t let fear stop you. God will
work through you and give you the words you need
to bring truth and light to that person or situation.
Embrace Joshua 1:9: “Have I not
you? Be
and courageous. Do not be
; do not be , for the
Lord your God will be with you
you go.”
Answers: commanded, strong, afraid, discouraged, wherever.
Speak this promise daily to remind yourself that God
is with you. Then tune your ears and your heart to
His promptings and courageously step out of your
comfort zone. God walks with you and will give you
the provision you need.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 02 / 2020
39

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