VL - Issue 40 - July 2021

REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE
SURRENDER TO HOPE
DAR VUELTA
PARA VER
EN ESPAÑOL
TRUSTING GOD IN
TRANSITIONS
A magazine
on a mission:
see page 2
GOD IS
PURSUING YOU
Issue 03 / 2021

VICTORIOUS LIVING
DELIVERS HOPE TO THE
INCARCERATED.
Since 2013, the lives of over one million inmates
in more than fifteen hundred prisons have been
impacted through the outreaches of Victorious
Living. We provide:
Real life testimonies of the transforming
power of Jesus Christ through our bilingual
magazine, available in jails and
prisons in print and digital formats.
Are you an inmate
in prison who needs
encouragement?
Write to us and become
an important part of
our Victorious Living
Family.
Christian discipleship to inmates through
personal correspondence, devotionals,
broadcasts, and podcasts.
Connection to national organizations that
provide helpful resources for current and
former inmates and their families.
Prison outreach tools for local churches
to carry out God’s command to remember
the prisoner.
Every prison inmate who
writes to our ministry
receives personal
correspondence, quarterly
Bible teachings, and a
personal subscription to
our magazine.
Write to:
VL Correspondence
PO Box 2751
Greenville, NC 27836
We regret that due to the high transitional
rate of inmates in jail (not prison), we
are unable to correspond with or send
individual copies of VLMag to inmates
incarcerated in jail. Please have your
chaplain visit our website or contact us
for access to free downloadable Bible
teachings and broadcasts.

ISSUE 3, JULY 2021
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he
will lift you up. James 4:10 NIV
Publisher & Executive Director
Kristi Overton Johnson
Director of Prison Correspondence
Carla Owens
Cover Photography
Salt on My Lens
Editor
Rachel Overton
Spanish Editorial Team
Karissa Anderson, Proofreader
Monica Colangelo, Translator
Creative Designer
Lauren Jones
Production Manager
Christina Kimbrel
Social Media Manager
Vanessa Dewey
Digital Content Manager
Roman Randall
Accounting Manager
Gizella Guba
Director of Partner Care & Development
Pat Avery
Hispanic Outreach Director
Denise San Miguel
Contributing Writers
Roy A. Borges
Linda Cubbedge-Smith
Kristi Dews Dale
H. Joseph Gammage
Kory Gordon
Jim Harris
Drake Hunter
Kristi Overton Johnson
Christina Kimbrel
Robert L. Lowery III
Russell N.
Naya Powell
Noah Vieke
Vennesa Vieke
Photography
Ben Beech
Elizabeth Belfer
Ron Kuntz
Jomaris Leon-Lorenzo
Katie McIntyre
R.J. Roser
Tom Rowe
Salt on My Lens
Artwork
Jared Emerson
Victorious Living magazine is a publication of
Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries, a 501c3 organization.
Scripture Permissions
Scripture marked NIV is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®,
copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. | Scripture marked NLT is taken from
the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House
Foundation. | All Scripture marked TPT is taken from The Passion Translation®. Copyright
© 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. | All Scripture is used by permission. All
rights reserved worldwide.
A menos que se indique lo contrario, todas las citas de las escrituras están tomadas de la
Santa Biblia, Nueva Versión Internacional® NVI®, copyright © 1999, 2015 por Biblica, Inc.®,
Inc.® | La escritura marcada NTV es tomada de La Santa Biblia, Nueva Traducción Viviente,
© Tyndale House Foundation, 2010. | Toda la escritura usado con permiso. Reservados
todos los derechos en todo el mundo.
El pasaje de la versión (solo en inglés) de The Passion Translation fue traducido por Mónica
Colangelo con autorización de Broadstreet Publishing para que lo utilicemos (página 25).
HOW TO REACH VICTORIOUS LIVING
General, Subscription, and Partnership Inquiries
• Victorious Living
PO Box 2801, Greenville, NC 27836
• 352-478-2098
• admin@vlmag.org
All Prison Inmate Correspondence
Victorious Living Correspondence Outreach
PO Box 2751, Greenville, NC 27836
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
3

OUR OUTREACH IS
PARTNER SUPPORTED
Here’s how you can help us deliver
hope to the incarcerated.
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chaplain, jail, or prison.
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CALL: 352-478-2098
VISIT: VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

ISSUE 3, JULY 2021
CONTENTS
8
9
15
STEPPING FORWARD
Lay Aside the Grudge
BY RUSSELL N.
The Crosshairs of Prayer
BY DRAKE HUNTER
The Importance of Words
and Thoughts
BY CHRISTINA KIMBREL
10
31
TRANSFORMED
LIVES
Need to Change?
Christ Makes the Difference
BY ROY A. BORGES
Released after 31 years, regular VL
contributor Roy Borges gives glory to God
for the kingdom opportunities afforded
him while in prison and rejoices in his
newfound freedom and purpose today.
Escaping Egypt
16
for Kory’s life to change. Now a free
man, he testifies of God’s faithful
love and bountiful provision.
God’s Love Knows No
Boundaries
THE STORY OF JOSH JACOBSON,
BY H. JOSEPH GAMMAGE
Elementary phys ed teacher…girls’
soccer coach…convicted sex offender.
Does God’s love really reach that far?
Josh Jacobson is proof that it does.
COVER PHOTO AND BELOW BY SALT ON MY LENS
19
25
29
30
Trusting God in Transitions
BY KRISTI DEWS DALE
Embrace Your Purpose
BY ROBERT L. LOWERY III
God’s Provision: Always
Perfect, Always On Time
BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
Let God Guide You to a
New Adventure
BY LINDA CUBBEDGE-SMITH
12
BY ANONYMOUS
A once-battered wife reminds others who
may be in domestic violence situations
that they are not alone and that they
are not without hope. God sees them, He
does care, and help is available.
FEATURES
God Is Faithful
BY KORY GORDON
He was a 40-time convicted felon, but all
it took was a heartfelt surrender to Jesus
ON THE COVER
God’s love pursued
Vennesa across
continents until His
love captured her
heart through a
man named Noah.
Today, Noah and
Vennesa share the
life-changing power
of God with others.
20
23
26
COVER STORY
God Is Pursuing You
THE STORY OF VENNESA VIEKE
No matter where she went or what
she did, world-class water skier
Vennesa Vieke could not get away
from God’s love. His relentless pursuit
has changed her life.
God’s Perfect Plan
BY NOAH VIEKE
It was just another workday for Noah
until Vennesa showed up on his dock,
fresh from Australia and ready to
train. But God had bigger things in
mind for both of them.
My God Will Supply
Your Needs
BY JIM HARRIS
When you get serious about your
relationship with the Lord, you give
Him room to begin a work in you
that He will complete. For Jim, that
work became Fly Right Ministry, an
outreach program that takes the
Gospel inside prison walls.
IN EVERY ISSUE
6
Publisher’s Note
Surrender to the Goodness
of God
33
Going Deeper
Christ Makes the Difference
34
From the Father
Focus—Joy Lies Ahead!
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
5

PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Surrender to the
Goodness of God
Transformed Life Feature,
Roy Borges, and Victorious
Living’s publisher, Kristi
Overton Johnson, met in
person for the first time
in May 2021. For years, Roy
has been a contributing
author for Victorious
Living, inspiring hearts
from behind prison bars.
Today, Roy is a free man
and a living testimony
to the faithfulness and
goodness of God. Read
Roy’s story on page 10.
If you’d like to partner with our magazine
and deliver God’s hope and impact the
lives of incarcerated men and women,
visit victoriouslivingmagazine.com.
Every dollar you give sends a copy of our
magazine into a prison. Each magazine
impacts many lives for years to come.
Sharing the stories of people whose
lives have been transformed by the
love, grace, and power of God is such
a privilege. Every testimony in Victorious
Living builds my faith and reminds me that
nothing is impossible with God.
This issue’s feature stories remind me
that a victorious life begins and ends with
surrender. The moment we stop running
from God and turn to face Him, His goodness
will overtake us and redeem what the
enemy has stolen and what we have lost or
forfeited. As we surrender control, we find
inexplicable peace. Even fear is demolished
in His presence.
Recently at my church, our worship
leader encouraged the congregation to
lift our hands toward the heavens as an
outward sign of our inward surrender to
God. Hundreds of arms shot up across the
auditorium; it was a beautiful sight.
My hands were raised too, but I have to
admit, my mind took a little side journey.
As I heard her words, a visual formed in
my mind. I saw an image of a man running
from the authorities. He looked tired and
desperate. But then I saw that runner stop,
lift his hands in the air, and say, “I surrender!”
At that moment, with those words,
the chase was over. Indeed, I have watched
way too much crime television!
But I felt the Lord reminding me of the
many times I’ve run through life, clutching
something or someone, trying desperately
to bring about some result. Not until I
stopped running, turned to God, lifted my
hands, and said, “God, I surrender. Take it;
it’s Yours!” did I find rest, peace, and hope.
Whatever your “it” is—a situation, person,
dream, endeavor, emotion, or anxious
thought—giving it over to God and choosing
to end the chase will change everything.
Have you ever considered that God—the
Highest Authority—is chasing you down?
And that’s a good thing! Because it is God’s
love, goodness, and mercy that is hot on our
trail (Psalm 23:6). And His goodness brings
about repentance in our lives (Romans 2:4).
Yet so often, we run from Him. We exhaust
ourselves, hanging on to our burdens
and sins. When will we come to our senses
and surrender? When will we put an end
to the chase and let His goodness overtake
us? It’s only in surrender that we will find
rest for our weary souls and victory over
our enemies. Surrender is a battle term.
It’s waving the white flag and saying, “I give
up! I’m yours! I come under your authority.”
Surrender is difficult. But if we’d stop to
consider who’s asking for that surrender, if
we’d look at His track record of faithfulness,
we’d lift our arms so fast, we might even
throw them out of their sockets!
It’s God, the Creator of the universe.
The One who formed us in our mothers’
wombs. The One who loves us, even though
He knows everything about us. He is all-
powerful and all-knowing, everywhere at
all times. And He is calling out to us now,
saying, “Stop running! Stop carrying that
heavy burden. Stop doing everything in
your own strength. Cast your cares onto Me
and let My love and goodness overtake you.”
Here’s the deal. The moment you surrender
your addiction to God, help is on the
way. When you surrender your marriage
or children or any relationship, God begins
to restore lives and situations. When you
surrender your health, career, or future
to God, He thunders down from heaven
and wages war on your behalf (Psalm 18).
Friend, when you give your “it” to God, the
power of heaven is on your side.
What are you waiting for?
Kristi Overton Johnson
Publisher & Executive Director
6 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

Through the stories of
Victorious Living, men and
women behind bars meet
the God of another chance.
Testimonial: Kory Gordon
Victorious Living is a rope of hope.
When someone reads this magazine,
they get a glimpse of God’s goodness and
restoration power. These amazing stories
reveal the hope that is found in Christ.
As someone who was incarcerated for
many years, I can assure you that prison is
one of the most hopeless places in the world.
God used this magazine to encourage me
even in my most trying times. The testimonies
that I read in those pages strengthened my
faith. They helped me believe that God could
still take the ashes of my life and turn them
into beauty.
As God began to restore my life, my own
testimony was published in Victorious Living.
God has used that story to encourage many.
Being in this magazine also opened doors for
me to share Christ with my fellow inmates.
Today, I am a pastor in the free world, but
I continue to use Victorious Living magazine
as a way to reach others with this life-saving
rope of hope.
SPONSOR A PRISON IN YOUR
STATE AND IMPACT LIVES TODAY.
Visit victoriouslivingmagazine.com
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
7

STEPPING FORWARD
Lay Aside
the Grudge
BY RUSSELL N.
IN 2001, I WAS ARRESTED ON serious
charges and was held without bail in the
county jail.
A few days after my arrest, I was transferred
to a permanent housing unit within
the jail. I was a believer in Jesus at the
time, but while I had received Him as my
Savior, I had not yet made Him Lord of
my life.
Soon after my arrival, a man came up to
me. He was a Christian and invited me to
a Bible study. I knew I needed help in my
life, so I gladly went. I still wasn’t willing
to fully surrender my will to Jesus—I just
wanted His help in getting me out of my
circumstances. Despite my selfish motivation,
however, God was at work.
Not long after, that man helped me get a
job in the kitchen. Life seemed to be going
better. We enjoyed working together, and
we talked a lot until he was granted bail.
I was happy for him, but it was tough seeing
someone I knew walk out that door to
freedom while I remained in jail.
Much went on over the next year, both
with my case and in my spiritual life. I was
a young believer facing a potential life sentence.
Things were far from easy. The Lord
was teaching me to trust Him instead of
my attorneys, family, money, and myself.
I decided to go to trial. The anticipation
was taxing on my nerves, but the Lord
gave me the grace to face each day. I often
failed to trust Him, but I was still growing
spiritually.
Finally, the day came for my trial. I was
escorted into the courtroom that first
morning and taken straight to the defense
table. My attorney opened up the folder
that contained the witness list and with
a puzzled look, pointed to a name and
asked, “Who is this?”
“That’s a guy I met in jail when I first got
locked up.” Surprisingly, it was the man
who had invited me to the Bible study.
His testimony was not helpful to my case.
During a break, my lawyer told me that
the man would receive two years off of his
three-year sentence for his testimony. It
was a bit unnerving.
After trial that day, I was taken to a
holding cell where forty men waited to
be taken back to their respective
jails. Eventually,
everyone was escorted
away, and I was left
alone. I assumed that
the adjacent cell was
empty as well, but
then I heard someone
say in a low voice,
“Russell, are you over
there?”
It was the man who had
testified against me that
morning. With a cold
distance in my voice,
I responded, “What’s
up?” He said they’d
forced him to testify against me, but I knew
better. I was about to tell him a few choice
things, when the Lord spoke to me.
“You can forgive this man and trust Me,”
He said, “and you won’t have to carry the
bitterness and anger that comes with unforgiveness.
Or you can let your flesh have
its way, just as you’ve done all your life. But
later on, you will still have to forgive this
man and ask him for forgiveness as well.
What’s it going to be?”
I decided to do what was right and forgive
the man despite his betrayal. I needed
God’s help, and I was not willing to disobey
Him at such a crucial time. Giving in to
my flesh wasn’t worth the consequences.
So I told the man I forgave him. I was
not unkind in the way I spoke to him, but
neither was I overly friendly. I assured
him that my forgiveness was sincere. As
he thanked me, his voice changed. I could
tell he was overcome by emotion. And then
the door opened, and the marshals took
him away. I never saw him again.
Looking back, I have no doubt that God
arranged that meeting so His purposes
could be fulfilled. I was a pretty serious
grudge-holder. I could easily have harbored
bitterness toward this man that
would have brought trouble upon myself
and others. Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it
that no one falls short of the grace of God
and that no bitter root grows up to cause
trouble and defile many” (NIV).
Are you a grudge-holder? Surrender
the offense and the offender to God today.
When you do, you’ll find freedom to
enjoy the blessings forgiveness brings
(1 Peter 3:9).
RUSSELL N. is currently serving time in a federal
prison where he is being used by God to lead others
to Christ’s saving grace.
8 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
God’s weapon of
prayer never misses its
target. You may not see
immediate results, but
you can trust that God’s
timing will be perfect.
THE
CROSSHAIRS
OF PR AYER
I’VE ALWAYS KNOWN the power of
prayer is real, but it was not something
I believed in for myself. Thankfully, I had
a mom who was always on her knees,
warring in prayer, contending for me
and my siblings. Her prayers have made a
difference in all our lives.
Although I grew up in a Christian home,
I didn’t have a personal relationship with
God through His Son, Jesus, for many
years. I’ve since learned that God never
forces someone into a relationship with
Him. He patiently waits for us to realize
our need for Him. Revelation 3:20 says
that Jesus stands at the door of our hearts
and knocks. But He never forces that
door open.
Without God in my life, I headed down
a path of destruction. In fact, the choices
I made got me expelled from college. As
time went by, I slipped deeper into darkness.
I was blinded by my desire to do
whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I
thought that was freedom.
And then I attended the wedding of a
friend who had been expelled from college
with me. While I was there, God opened my
BY DRAKE HUNTER
eyes to the bondage I’d been living in. He
showed me I had a choice: I could continue
down the dark path I was on, clinging to
the old ways that the enemy made readily
available, or I could choose the path of life
that comes from learning and accepting
Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
Fortunately, God touched my heart, and
I chose Him. For the first time, I felt the
grip of darkness and addiction loosen from
my throat, and I felt the genuine embrace
of my heavenly Father’s arm around my
shoulders. Suddenly all the things about
Christ I had heard growing up became real
to me, and I found true freedom. I woke
the next day a new person, and I have not
been the same since.
That was a couple of years ago now. I’ve
learned so much about the Lord since
then, especially about the power of prayer.
Looking back, I’m sure my mom knew the
depths of darkness I was living in, but she
never condemned me. Instead, she consistently
prayed for me, trusting that God
would open my heart to receive Jesus as
my Lord and Savior. Prayer was her weapon
of love, and it was aimed straight at me. I
picture my mom as a sniper: she had me
in the crosshairs of her prayers. And in the
end, her persistent prayers took down my
hard heart.
Prayer is indeed a powerful weapon.
Today, I find myself praying for others to
experience the love of Jesus as I have. I’ve
realized through my story that I don’t need
to shove my faith or my prayers in their
face to win them to Christ or change their
behavior. That would only increase the gap
between them and God and them and me.
Instead, I put them in the crosshairs of
my spiritual scope. I pray for them to know
God’s love. I ask the Lord to help them hear
His voice and follow His ways.
And now, I pray for you. I pray that God
will draw you to Himself and that your eyes
will be opened to His love and the gift of
eternal life He offers through His Son,
Jesus. I pray that God will set you free—just
like He did me—from rebellion and addiction,
so you can experience the joy of living
in a relationship with Him.
Or maybe you’re like my mom. You’ve
been waiting and praying for a loved one
to come to know the Lord, for a situation
to change. Don’t be discouraged. Keep
praying. Be consistent and tenacious with
your prayers. As a believer, you are outfitted
with the spiritual scope of prayer. And
you can trust that God’s weapon of prayer
never misses its target. You may not see
immediate results, but you can trust that
God’s timing will be perfect.
DRAKE HUNTER passionately serves God and
loves people. His life transformation is a testament
to the power of a praying mother.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
9

TRANSFORMED LIVES
Need to
Change?
Christ
Makes the
Difference
BY ROY A. BORGES
LIFE BEFORE CHRIST WAS A LIFE that I lived for
myself. It was a selfish, sinful life that led me to prison
three times. From behind those prison walls, I felt like a
three-time loser. But it was at the bottom of this pit with
nowhere to look but up that I realized my only hope
was in Christ. I could finally see that I was a sinner in
desperate need of a Savior. On Christmas Eve 1989, I
gave my life to Jesus. Nothing has been the same since.
The moment I put my faith in Jesus, God forgave
me—a sinner—and set me on His right path. I didn’t
deserve His grace, yet He gave it to me freely because
He loved me. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).
Asking Jesus to be my Lord and Savior is the best thing I have
ever done. In that moment, He changed me completely and made
me a new man (2 Corinthians 5:17). Now, that doesn’t mean I
became perfect. I still had many bad habits to overcome. I remain
in the process of becoming more like Christ even now. It is a lifelong
journey. Thankfully, God’s Holy Spirit helps me overcome
my weaknesses daily.
Prison life was hard. Many bad things happened in that dark
and evil place. To survive, I had to rely on the promises of God’s
Word and the Lord’s strength. I especially liked the words of the
Apostle Paul who wrote much of the New Testament from prison.
I clung to Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Christ,
who gives me strength” (NLT).
Every day, I had to choose to take my eyes off the pain of prison
and, instead, put my faith in God’s Son, the One who freed me
from hell—a fate far worse than prison. Moses had to do a similar
thing when he faced challenges. Hebrews 11:27 says he
“kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one
who is invisible” (NLT).
I was behind bars for 31 years, but God used that time
to make me fruitful. He built my character and taught me
many things. There, I learned to trust Him. God wasn’t so
interested in my comfort, but in developing my inner man.
During my long prison journey, I prayed Proverbs 3:5–6
daily. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend
on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and
he will show you which path to take” (NLT). God was ever
faithful to lead me. And as I followed, He brought things
into my life I would never have imagined.
He gave me the opportunity to write Christian articles and
stories about my experiences behind razor-wire fences—
stories that lead others to His saving grace. Writing gave
my life meaning and purpose. And many people have told
me that my writing was a gift from God to them.
I didn’t believe it at first, but now I know—I’ve had over
10 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

TRANSFORMED LIVES
300 articles and stories published in magazines all over the world,
and I understand God was in this writing journey. I mean, before,
I didn’t even like writing letters to friends and loved ones. A day
doesn’t pass now where I am not writing something about the
goodness of God.
I remember the first story I wrote in 1994 that was published in
Inside Journal, a Prison Fellowship newspaper. I called it, “There’s
No Such Thing as a Mutt.” My whole life, I had viewed myself as a
mutt. But God showed me there are no mutts in His eyes.
That story inspired me to write more. One of my stories won an
award. And then, I wrote a story entitled, “Love Your Enemies,”
and entered it in a contest. I won $5,000! It was the first time I
had ever won any money for anything, but it wouldn’t be the
last. When God is using you for His purpose, many unbelievable
things will happen.
Encouraging people through my writings from prison has
been an unexpected blessing. But even greater so, is what God
has done on the inside of me. His grace is constantly changing
me and leading me into more joy and peace.
On January 7, 2021, God blessed me in a way I’d never dreamed.
It was the most amazing day of my life—He released me from
prison! I did not expect to be released—I’d been behind bars 31
consecutive years, and I was sure I’d die there, especially once
the pandemic of 2020 began. But God had other plans, and I was
released to go home to my family.
Now as a free man, I continue to pray Proverbs 3:5–6 daily. I
need God’s direction and provision more than ever. This world
sure has changed over the last three decades. I am a 72-year-old
man, suddenly living in what has become a very fast-paced world.
But for God’s grace and my faith in Him, I would be completely
overwhelmed!
Everywhere I go, I want others to
know that what God has done for me,
He can do for them.
But while the world has changed, God and His living
Word have not. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever
(Hebrews 13:8). I trust that the same God who faithfully
met all my needs behind bars will meet my every need in
free society. Philippians 4:19 promises He will: “And my
God will meet all your needs according to the riches of
his glory in Christ Jesus” (NIV). I just have to stay in faith
and be patient.
In His perfect timing, God has provided a place for me to
live, a church home, transportation, a job, and new friends.
He is giving me even more opportunities to write and share
my story. Every day, I am blessed in new ways. It’s blowing
my mind! Recently, I was baptized and got to share my Godstory
at my new church home.
Everywhere I go, I want others to know that what God has
done for me, He can do for them. God is not a respecter of
persons—He doesn’t play favorites (Acts 10:34). As Romans
8:28 promises, “in all things, God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to
his purpose” (NIV).
Note that this promise is not for everyone. It can only be
claimed by those who love God and are called according
to His purpose. Those who are “called” are those the Holy
Spirit draws to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Such
people have a new mindset, a new perspective on life.
They trust in God, not life’s treasures; they look for their
security in heaven, not earth; they don’t resent pain and
persecution because they know God is with them.
Nothing has shown me that more than my time in prison.
God is faithful to see His children through difficult times.
I am sure the enemy meant for prison to harm me, but
God used every painful experience to transform me. God
is not looking to make us happy but to fulfill His purpose.
If you are facing difficult times right now, let me encourage
you to trust in the Lord. Let Him direct your steps. He
will be faithful to meet all your needs, just keep your eyes
on Him. Don’t focus on the pain of your situation. God will
not fail you, nor will He lead you astray.
Surrender to Christ and let Him make the difference
in your life. Then you will be able to make a difference in
the lives of others.
Roy (center)
welcomes his
family to his new
home provided by
his church family.
ROY A BORGES served 31 years in the Florida Department
of Corrections, where he realized his need for a Savior. While
incarcerated, Roy ministered to others through his writings, over 300
of which have been published. He now lives in Tampa, Florida, and is a
member of the Victorious Living writing team.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
11

G O D I S
FAITHFUL
PHOTO BY KATIE MCINTYRE
BY KORY GORDON
remember the first time
God led me to write to Victorious Living.
My story of hope was published in Issue
1, 2017. I told how I had been bound in
addiction since childhood and how juvenile
centers, rehabs, and county jail
sentences had failed to change my life.
Seven years into my 11-year prison
sentence, I was worse off than ever, and
it seemed there was no hope in turning
my life around. That is, until the night God
whispered to my heart, “How long are you
going to run from Me?”
I was so tired of running. I had tried
doing everything my way, and the results
were disastrous. Proverbs 14:12 says,
“There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death” (NIV). So
I finally decided to try it God’s way, and
surrendered my life to Christ.
Placing my faith in Him will always be
the most significant decision I have ever
made. The love of Christ broke the chains
of addiction that had held me so long. I
went from chasing and selling dope to embracing
the hope that is found in Christ.
The love of God filled the emptiness in my
heart and made me a new creation (2 Corinthians
5:17). I no longer delighted in the
things of the world—God worked in me and
changed my desires (Philippians 2:13).
The Word of God says, “Take delight in
the Lord, and he will give you the desires
of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NIV). Now that
doesn’t mean God will give us everything
we want. It means He will place His desires
within us, and He will bring them to
fruition. I witnessed this truth firsthand.
I began to long for a godly wife and for
God to lead me into His calling. I declared
His promises over my situation and desires,
even though they seemed impossible.
Mark 9:23 says, “everything is possible
for one who believes” (NIV), so I did. Incredibly,
He led my wife to me while I was
still behind bars, and we were married.
She and her two daughters eventually
moved to the county where I was located.
We spent the next few years, by phone and
visitation, building relationships with one
another. Our bond became unbreakable
because we made Christ our foundation.
During this time, I was given the chance
to speak in the prison chapel. I was terrified
of public speaking, but in those few
minutes, God’s desire for me to proclaim
the Gospel began to burn within my heart.
It wasn’t long before the chaplaincy department
gave me a weekly service to
minister to other inmates.
12 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

God has blessed me greatly, but please
understand that the journey hasn’t been
easy. Obstacles have come, but with God’s
help, I’ve persevered. Temptations have
come too, but God has made a way for me
to escape every one (1 Corinthians 10:13).
And then there’s the persecution. People
have mocked me for what they assumed
was jailhouse religion. They predicted I
would throw my Bible down as soon as
I walked out the prison gate. But praise
God, I didn’t.
I look back now, and I am so grateful that
I didn’t let the naysayers and the enemy
of my soul rob me of my trust in God and
the dreams He had placed in me. I didn’t
let their lies rent space in my head; the
battlefield of faith is in the mind.
Instead of listening to the voices of
the enemy and other people, I chose to
take God at His Word. I meditated on His
promises day and night and discovered
His character and power. I reasoned if He
could speak galaxies into existence, part
seas, and command the dead to come back
to life, then what could possibly be too big
for Him to handle in my life? Despite all
my fears and doubts, I chose to trust Him.
I’ll be honest—this became difficult as
my release date approached. Fear, doubt,
and worry tried to deflate my confidence in
the Lord. There I was, a 40-time convicted
felon. I had spent what I thought were the
best years of my life in prison. I was being
released with no money, job, vehicle, or
license. Furthermore, the court had ordered
me to complete drug counseling,
DUI classes, and pay a $50,000 fine for my
drug-trafficking case.
And if that weren’t enough to overwhelm
and fill me with fear, I was also walking out
as a husband and father for the first time.
Three other people were depending upon
me to love, guide, and provide for them. I
had made them countless promises, and
I certainly planned to keep each one. But
humanly speaking, the deck was stacked
against me.
Well, it has been almost three years
since I walked out of prison into the loving
arms of my wife and daughters. And I am
here to testify that God has met my every
need, and He has even given me my heart’s
desires. That’s why I felt led to contact
Victorious Living again. I wanted to encourage
others who are facing great odds. I
want to encourage you.
My story is proof that God’s love is faithful
and that Romans 8:31 is true. It says,
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
(NIV). The answer is no one!
Statistically, I was destined to relapse
into my addiction and return to prison.
But I chose to trust John 8:36 that says,
“if the Son sets you free, you will be
free indeed” (NIV). I had a record that
would cause most employers to overlook
me for employment, but I focused on
Hebrews 10:17 that says, “Their sins and
lawless acts I will remember no more”
(NIV). Many people would reject me, but
I rested in the truth that I had been adopted
into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5–6).
No matter what the odds, my future was
secure in His hands.
I am here to tell you, your life matters
to God, and nothing can hold you back
from the plans He has for you. He will
move you forward in His perfect timing
and way. The day I stepped out of prison,
God’s plan was already in motion. He
had already arranged for me to preach in
a church the day after my release. A video
from my first service went out on social
media, and that opened doors for me to
speak in other churches.
So many opportunities came that I
thought for sure I was going directly into
full-time ministry, but I soon realized God
had other plans. He wanted me to get a job
to provide for my family, to take classes
and pay back the money I owed, and to
work to get my license restored. I had to
be faithful where I was on the way to where
God was leading me.
During this time, I preached at many
different churches. I was eventually invited
to speak at First Baptist of Eastpoint,
Florida. They were searching for a pastor.
When I arrived, I whispered to my wife, “It
will be a miracle if they choose me to be
their pastor.”
Four other men with degrees, clean
records, and years of experience had applied
for the position. I had a GED from
the Department of Corrections and more
felonies than the years I’d been alive. My
only preaching experience was in prison,
so I hadn’t even sent them my resume.
The odds were against me, but God was
for me. In His perfect plan, I was chosen.
When I first entered Franklin County,
Florida, I was in a prison van with chains
on my legs. Today, I pastor a church there,
preaching the Gospel that has the power
to remove spiritual chains off others. God
takes the least of the least and uses them
to accomplish His purposes. Don’t ever
doubt what He can do through a life that’s
fully surrendered to Him.
Kory’s mug shots
reveal his inner
battles with
addiction, anger,
and pride.
Not only has He allowed me to pastor a
church and serve along with my family, but
He has also opened doors for us to minister
in prisons and jails. He has allowed us
to travel to Israel, where we were baptized
in the River Jordan. While there, I had the
opportunity to speak at the pool of Bethesda,
where Jesus healed the man who had
been lame for 38 years. We worshiped on a
boat in the Sea of Galilee—the same waters
our Lord walked upon to save His people.
God is the God of the impossible!
I don’t know what you are facing right
now, but I know the wait isn’t easy. Think
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
13

YOUR LIFE MATTERS TO GOD,
AND NOTHING CAN HOLD
YOU BACK FROM THE PLANS
HE HAS FOR YOU.
LEFT: The Gordons
welcomed their
miracle baby in May
2021. RIGHT: Kory
visits the Holy Land.
of this time as an opportunity for God to
place you on His potter’s wheel. Let Him
shape and mold you into a vessel He can
use. Prison wasn’t a time of punishment;
it was a season of purification. He used
my time as a chapel orderly as seminary
training. Often the most challenging times
are the most productive ones.
As you can see, God has blessed my life.
But even with so many great things, there
was still something missing—my wife and I
desperately wanted to have a baby together.
She had prayed for this child every day
for four years, but she’d had her fallopian
tubes tied before we met. The operation
to untie them was costly and beyond our
means. Still, we trusted God to work in this
situation. If it was His will, we knew He
could supernaturally untie her tubes or
provide the finances for the procedure.
We put our desires in the Lord’s hand and
waited for Him to act.
Just when we were about to give up, God
reminded us that He was with us and for
us. We were at an event when an evangelist
who knew nothing about us asked if
he could pray for us. In the middle of his
prayer, he told us that God had said, “I have
heard your prayers. That baby you have
cried out for is coming.”
We were completely wrecked by those
words and cried tears of joy. Our excitement
and hopes soared through the roof.
We went home knowing our baby was coming
soon. But months went by, and with
each negative pregnancy test, my wife’s
heart broke a bit more. An entire year
passed, but just when we had all but given
up, a man wrote us a check for the total
amount of the procedure. It was a miracle.
Early in May of 2021, our son was born.
We are beside ourselves with joy, thankful
for God’s love, blessing, and provision.
You would think that with all that has
happened in my life, I would never doubt
God. But I do. Doubt, fear, and anxiety often
come against me. But every day, I remind
myself of God’s constant faithfulness and
choose to stand on His Word. He has never
failed me.
Maybe you’re reading this story and you
feel all hope is gone or you fear what your
future holds. Let God’s Word be a lamp for
your feet and light for your path (Psalm
119:105). Let the light of His Word reveal
to you that He is a loving Father. Let Him
heal your broken heart and make straight
the crooked paths of your life.
Be at peace with who you are, where you
are, and what you have. Give your life to
Christ and trust His nail-scarred hands to
carry you and your loved ones through. He
will be faithful to meet your every need
and more.
KORY GORDON spent 11 years in incarceration,
where he gave his life to Christ. He now pastors
in North Florida and is developing a rehabilitation
home. His heart is burdened for those
incarcerated, addicted, and bound in sin.
14 Issue 03 / 2021
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
The Importance of Words
and Thoughts
BY CHRISTINA KIMBREL
“MAY THESE WORDS OF MY MOUTH and this meditation
of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my
Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14 NIV).
Recently, I woke up out of a deep sleep much earlier than normal,
and this verse was on my mind. Whenever this happens, I
know that God is trying to speak to my heart. So I got up, grabbed
a cup of coffee, and sat down with my Bible. I was excited about
digging into this verse and learning more about what God had
to say about the words I speak. I have been studying the topic of
words since emerging from the pandemonium of 2020.
It’s evident from Scripture that God is profoundly serious about
our words. There is no shortage of verses that address the issue,
especially in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 12:18; 13:3; 15:1,4;
18:21; 16:24; and 21:23 are just a few verses that offer some rich
wisdom on the power of words. James 3 provides powerful insight
and even describes our tongues as being untamable.
I was making a concerted effort to pay more attention to my
words. And I’d even asked God to help me implement an invisible
filter so I could be more mindful of what I said. I developed
guidelines to help me weigh my words before I spoke. Want to
hear them? Ready, set, go!
If my words are not true or kind or helpful…if they are not
uplifting…if they are not the truth, spoken in love…if they are
self-seeking in any way, even carefully disguised as concern for
another, I will not say them. If my words are in any way negative
or hurtful to someone or could be destructive or divisive, they
will not escape my lips.
I was determined to become fluent in the language of silence.
I continued pursuing God’s lessons on the importance of words,
and I thought I had a fairly good handle on things. That should
“A GOOD MAN BRINGS GOOD THINGS
OUT OF THE GOOD STORED UP IN
HIS HEART, AND AN EVIL MAN
BRINGS EVIL THINGS OUT OF THE
EVIL STORED UP IN HIS HEART.”
have been the first clue that I was in for a big Holy Spirit awakening
and a healthy dose of conviction.
God used Psalm 19:14 to lovingly correct me. Early that morning,
as I read the Scripture, I suddenly realized what the psalmist
was saying. He wanted the Lord to be pleased with both his words
and the meditation of his heart.
A closer study revealed that “meditation of my heart” translates
into “my thoughts.” David wanted his words and his thoughts to
be pleasing to God. Although I had been holding back my words,
I suddenly understood that my thoughts were still often negative,
critical, and toxic toward other people and circumstances. All I
had accomplished by not allowing whatever came into my mind
to fly out of my mouth was behavior modification; I still had a
heart problem.
Jesus addressed this issue in Luke 6:45 by saying, “A good
man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,
and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in
his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (NIV).
Yikes! All those words that had been forming in my mind were
the result of a sinful heart.
I am so grateful that the Lord revealed the truth of these two
verses to me. I still have a lot of work to do, but thankfully, I am
not alone in the process. At my request, God continues to soften
my heart toward others. He helps me discern my thoughts and
discover those underlying heart issues that I need to give over
to Him. One by one, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I am dealing
with these issues.
My desire is that the Lord would continually refine
me and mold my heart. Like the psalmist,
I want my words and thoughts to be authentic
reflections of a heart becoming more like
Jesus every day. It’s the only way I can truly
reflect His love.
CHRISTINA KIMBREL serves as VL’s
production manager. Once incarcerated,
she now returns to Arizona State Prison,
Perryville, as a guest speaker, sharing the
message of healing she found in Jesus.
– LU K E 6:45
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
15

God’s Love
Knows
No Boundaries
THE STORY OF JOSH JACOBSON
BY H. JOSEPH GAMMAGE
It was the
championship
game of semi-pro
soccer, and the
score was tied.
The Las Vegas stadium hushed as our
fullback paused, ready to blast the gamedeciding
penalty kick between the posts.
The thud of his toe striking the ball with
cobra-like precision broke the tense
silence. The goalkeeper tried, but the ball
ricocheted off his fingertips and puffed the
net as it bounced into the goal.
I’d waited my entire life for this moment.
Soccer was my god, and I was singing hallelujah
praises to the synthetic, air-filled
orb that I worshipped. I looked up at the
board for our winning score, but suddenly,
instead of elation, all I felt was letdown.
Champagne corks popped around me like
Fourth of July fireworks, but the words “is
this it?” echoed through my brain.
The revelry didn’t last long once we
cleared the stadium gates. My disappointment
must have shown because, as the
glittering lights of Las Vegas disappeared
in the rearview mirror, my wife looked
over at me and said, “Who are you?”
I had no answer. Our long drive home to
Phoenix was quiet. Hitting the peak of my
soccer career and finding it fleeting and
meaningless left me empty.
A restless dissatisfaction began to build
within me, and I started looking for fulfillment
in other places. Unfortunately, nine
months later, the State of Arizona had an
answer to my wife’s question.
Who was Josh Jacobsen? Sex offender.
Destroyer of innocence.
I was finishing up a long day as a physical
education teacher when I got a call to
come to the principal’s office. There, local
police greeted me with serious charges
of child exploitation. Next thing I knew, I
was sitting in the stench of the Maricopa
County jail intake.
Because I was not only an elementary
school teacher but also a coach for a
girl’s youth soccer league, my mug shot
was splashed all over the papers. I looked
like a battered, mangy old sheepdog.
PHOTO RIGHT: The
game of soccer
and the affirmation
of people were
once Josh’s gods.
NEXT PAGE: God’s
love truly knows no
boundaries. Today,
Josh and his wife,
Maria, share the
grace of the only
God worth serving.
16 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO BY TOM ROWE
erything else I had known as a free man.
Eventually I bonded out, but I was looking
at 25 years in prison, no job, no place
to live, and, worst of all, no hope. My god,
the air-filled orb, offered nothing.
Alone and on the streets, I longed for
someone to talk to. After a while, I remembered
Maria, my college sweetheart. We’d
met playing Division II soccer at Grand
Canyon University. GCU was Christian
based, but I had only attended it because
it had a great soccer program.
Despite the many years that had
passed since our time there, I called her.
Even knowing the nature of my charges,
Maria was compassionate. We began dating,
and she stood with me as my court
battle raged on. We joined a competitive
co-ed soccer league sponsored by Christ
Church of the Valley (CCV). Something
about those people was different. They
were kind and understanding, and it was
the first time I’d ever experienced such
a feeling around Christian people. Still,
I did not tell them about my charges as a
sexual offender.
Eventually, I agreed to a plea: nine
months county jail time and lifetime pro-
My victim was one of my 13-year-old
soccer players. I was 31 years old, and never
would I have imagined myself doing
such a detestable thing. But I did. When
your god is an air-filled orb and your
church is a 120-yard chalked-up field of
grass—your life is out of control, whether
you’re aware of it or not.
Soccer was my escape. My marriage was
crumbling, and I used that as an excuse to
begin having affairs with the soccer moms
in the league. Then I found myself basking
in the starry-eyed idolization of my young,
schoolgirl players. Their admiration somehow
filled a void in my heart that an airfilled
orb could not satisfy.
The encounter with my victim was brief,
but it was enough to bring everything in
my life to ashes. That sounds cold, but my
focus was only on me. It would take time
in a jail cell and the heart-piercing Word
of God for me to fully recognize that my
ash heap was nothing compared to the
destruction I had caused.
My wife served me with divorce papers
as I sat in the Maricopa County Jail. It was
almost anticlimactic. Yes, my marriage
was over—but so was my career and evbation.
I self-surrendered and walked into
the rancid stench of my protective custody
pod. The jail doors slammed shut behind
me. There I was. Now what?
The next day, during a standard inmate
movement, I was accidentally chained to
a line of inmates getting shuffled into a
general population pod. The panic in the
eyes of the detention officers who rushed
me off Main Street and into a protective
custody pod revealed to me my permanent
stain as a sex offender.
Even among the ranks of prison, I was at
the bilge depths of society. I was unlovable
and untouchable. I felt like the equivalent
of a leper in Jesus’s day.
New Year’s Eve came, and there wasn’t
much to celebrate in the pod, except for
the sweet sound of Maria’s voice on the
payphone. As I strained to hear her over
the ruckus around me, she told me that I’d
be receiving a visitor the next day, someone
from CCV. Who in their right mind
would come down to a rotten jail cell on a
holiday to visit a leper like me?
The next morning, I was handcuffed to
a marred, rat-chewed desk in Visitation.
The man who sat down opposite me had
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
17

a warm grin on his face and a tattered
Bible in his hand. He introduced himself as
Roger Munchian, founder of the Rescued
Not Arrested prison ministry.
He told me he was a twelve-time convicted
felon with a rap sheet that nearly
turned my hairs gray. But through his arrest
and broken life, God had rescued and
renewed him. Then he opened his Bible
and introduced me to a God far greater,
more forgiving, and full of more restorative
hope than I had ever imagined.
I put in a tank order for a
Bible and spent most of my
days alone in my cell, pouring
through God’s Word. As
I read, I began to recognize
the depth of hurt and pain I
had imposed on my young
victim when I crushed her
innocence. It is true that
God’s Word is sharper than
a double-edged sword. Remorse
surged through my
body as the Holy Spirit revealed
to me that she was
not the cause of my ash heap. She was
much more than that. She was a precious
child of God. And those soccer moms I’d
objectified and used to fill the emptiness in
my heart—they were God’s own daughters
too. I had sinned against them and Him.
I could barely stand to be alone with
myself. I couldn’t understand how God
could possibly want or love me after what
I’d done to such precious lives—especially
a beautiful child of teenage innocence.
The floodgates of my heart broke, and
tears soaked the pages of my Bible. I deserved
to be wallowing at the stinking bilge
level of this rat-infested jail!
I shudder to think what would have happened
had Roger not continued to visit me
weekly. I was like a heart patient on the
table, my bleeding chest wide open, and
Roger was the surgeon using the precise
scalpel of God’s Word to mend the wounds
from my life-ruining choices. I was overcome
with guilt and shame, but Roger
pointed out that I was also God’s child, and
the depth of His forgiveness is unfathomable.
God is not an accuser—He’s a rescuer.
It was the enemy who wanted me to turn
myself into my next victim.
In the months that followed, God used
my remorse to draw me close to Him. I
learned I could forgive myself because,
through the grace of Christ, I was forgiven.
Upon my release, I registered as a sex
offender, and then Maria and I got married.
We were a unique case for probation—we
planned on having children. Probation
is not accustomed to decreeing family
friendly conditions for sex offenders, and
they laid out the guidelines—Maria would
have to register as a chaperone. In other
words, she would be my babysitter.
Before long, we had two children, and
life got complicated. I wanted to be a good
husband and father, but the rules of my
probation made it difficult to participate
in the care of my children. I could not be
alone with them. I could not change their
diapers. I could not bathe them. I could
not discipline them.
So many times, I felt that Maria would
be better off as a single mother rather than
having this third, 170-pound child as an
additional burden.
Ironically, following the rules led to
disaster. I reported to probation every
incident where I veered from the rules.
Innocent mistakes, or so I thought. But
one day my probation officer called, telling
me Maria’s chaperone status had been revoked,
and I was to move out of the house.
This was devastating news, but I had my
faith in Christ, a loving wife whose faith in
Christ was unmatched, and a solid church
family. John 15:1–7 says that Jesus is the
vine, and we are the branches. Had I not
remained connected to the vine, our marriage
and our family would certainly have
withered.
God used my remorse
to draw me close to Him.
I learned I could forgive
myself because, through
the grace of Christ,
I was forgiven.
For the next four years, the only contact
I had with my children was through
Skype and phone calls. The journey was
wrenchingly arduous, but Maria and I remained
strong, knowing Christ would not
let us down.
I’ll never forget the day I was granted
a weekend home. Thanksgiving. My kids
asked Daddy to build them
a monkey-bar set. God continued
opening doors, and
I was assigned a new probation
officer who recognized
my transparency in
following the rules. After
our first meeting and interview,
she allowed me to
go home immediately, with
no parenting restrictions!
Remember that “is this
it” moment I had back at
the soccer field? I soon experienced
another one, but this time my
heart wasn’t empty. It was filled. My son’s
teacher commented on what a great prayer
warrior he was becoming. “This is it!” I
thought. “This is what life is about—being
the kind of dad who raises his children to
love Jesus.” I want to be a man of God who
shares the hope and love of Christ with
those around me.
Jesus is ready to meet you wherever you
are right now—no matter your past and
no matter what label people or the law or
the state or yourself have put on you. You
matter to Him. He’s crazy about you. He
wants to make you new. He’s waiting—let
Him come to your rescue!
JOSH JACOBSON is a loving husband and father
of two children. Committed to faithfully serving
Christ, he has been leading the Prison Recovery &
Family Support Group at Christ Church of the Valley
in Phoenix for the last 10 years.
H. JOSEPH GAMMAGE is a man renewed by the
loving hands of Christ. He is the author of Rescued
Not Arrested, the true story of 12-time convicted
felon, Roger Munchian. To contact Joe, write to
RNA, PO Box 90606, Phoenix, AZ 85066.
18 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
hastily open the door and
jump out of the ark as soon
as it stopped moving? No, he
sent out a dove to check for dry
land—not just once, but twice.
He was patient, continually
trusting that God was at work
preparing his new home.
OBEDIENCE
POSITIONS US
TO RECEIVE
BLESSINGS.
BY KRISTI DEWS DALE
Trusting God
in Transitions
I WAS SITTING ON the floor
with my daughter outside her
bedroom. Her words were soft
as the tears rolled down her
cheeks. “Mom,” she cried, “I
don’t want to turn off the light.
When I do, it will be for the last
time. This has been our home
for ten years. I know moving
is a new adventure, but I don’t
want to say goodbye to all these
memories. It’s too much, and
it’s too hard.”
I hugged her and wiped her
tears away. I loved our home
too, but this move was not as
hard for me. I had moved before
and knew that we would
find a new rhythm in our new
home. Only experience and
continued faith would give my
daughter the perspective that
change can be good. My husband
and I reassured all of our
kids, “We are a family no matter
where we live.” We would
still play board games, watch
movies together, and share
meals. And there would still
be lots of dishes to be washed.
Recently, I’ve been studying
the story of Noah in Genesis.
Noah and his family experienced
change like no other
family on earth. Imagine starting
a new life after that great
flood. You’re in a new location
and your family members are
the only people left on earth!
Here are some essential keys
to Noah’s success that we, too,
can apply during our own life
transitions.
Have a strong relationship
with God. Genesis 6:9 says
that Noah “walked faithfully
with God” (NIV). When you
walk with God, you get to know
Look for the rainbows.
New beginnings are hard and
sometimes painful. Look for
the good. Look to God’s promises.
Look for the rainbows.
“I have set my rainbow in the
God. Before all the craziness of clouds, and it will be the sign of
building an ark, collecting animals,
the covenant between me and
and sailing in that boat the earth” (Genesis 9:13 NIV).
for months, Noah had been God reveals His goodness and
faithful to the Lord. Likewise, faithfulness everywhere. Look
the Lord had been faithful to for His rainbows in the smiles
Noah. This made transitioning of your friends, the beauty of
easier. Noah knew he could the sunset, the laughter of a
trust the heart of God.
child, and the warmth of the
Follow God’s commands. sunshine.
In Genesis 7:5, we find that I am happy to report that
Noah “did all that the Lord our new home has been a huge
commanded him.” Noah’s blessing to our family. God
world—much like our world already knew that we would
now—didn’t like to follow love this house. He knew that
God’s laws and commands. But we would make new memories
Noah’s obedience meant that and see new rainbows. Most
his family’s lives were saved. importantly, God knew that we
Obedience positions us to receive
would continue to worship our
God’s blessing.
Lord, no matter where we lived.
Be patient during changes. Face new beginnings the way
Noah and his family must have Noah and his family did—with
been tired after all that time in confidence, trusting God’s love
the ark. And then, they had to and faithfulness. The Lord always
wait another forty days for the
has good plans in store
waters to subside. Did Noah for His children.
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.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
19

GOD IS
PURSUING
YOU
THE STORY OF VENNESA VIEKE
For as far back as I can remember,
I have felt drawn to Christ.
When I was a kid, my school held
regular retreats and reflection
days that allowed us to consider
God. They gave us Christian
crosses and other reminders of
God’s love. I knew these people
had something I needed, but
my father, whom I loved dearly,
was an atheist. Wanting to honor
him, I denied all things Christian.
After all, he was my dad,
and I trusted him.
My father and I enjoyed water
skiing together. We lived in Western
Australia, and he took me to
competitions all over the country.
We competed for 10 years,
and I longed to be a world champion
skier. I had the opportunity
to represent Australia at various
international events.
At 18, I began working at a surf
shop in my hometown of Perth.
Suddenly, it seemed every time I
turned around, there was a Bible
thumper in my path. Christians
were everywhere!
PHOTO BY SALT ON MY LENS
20 Issue 03 / 2021
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

One day, a coworker invited me to church, and for some reason, I went.
Everything the pastor said made sense to me and resonated with something
deep in my spirit. At the end of the service, the pastor invited people to accept
Jesus into their lives. My arm immediately shot up in the air, and I made my
way to the front of the church. I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior that day.
Excited, I went home and shared my decision with those closest to me. But
just as in my youth, my loved ones didn’t share in my excitement; they were
sure I’d joined a cult. I immediately felt guilt and remorse for going against
the wishes and beliefs of my family. Their approval meant so much to me that
I never went back to that church, and I denied my faith in Christ.
When I was 21, my father died from throat cancer. His absence left a
deep hole in my heart, and I began a subconscious search for a father figure
to replace him. Sadly, I didn’t pursue my heavenly Father, the only One
who could heal my broken heart. Instead, I turned to the pleasures and offerings
of the world. I focused on getting my degree and working hard. And
with every day that went by, I grew more liberal and more deceived by the
enemy’s lies.
After my father passed away, I began skiing with a Christian couple named
Steve and Jenny. I didn’t know it, but they were praying and fasting for me,
asking God to help me surrender to His love. There were times that their very
presence annoyed me because I felt like they were always trying to influence
me with their faith. But in my heart, I knew I needed what they had.
Years later, they told me how they’d shed many tears as they petitioned
the Lord to save my soul. They had even grown frustrated, wondering why in
the world God wasn’t moving faster. But God had a plan, and He was at work.
In 2012, my mom faced the same cancer battle that my father had, and I
almost lost her. At that point, I made plans to move to the northern territory
of Australia. I was hoping to escape my pain and find healing and wholeness
in a new place, far away from home.
The week before I was to leave, some friends threw me a going-away party
at their farm. At the end of the evening, I climbed into a car with them; we
had all been drinking. I was in the middle of the back seat without a seatbelt
when suddenly, the car veered off the road and slammed into a tree.
Only by God’s grace was I not ejected through the front windshield. One of
my friends was critically injured. I suffered a concussion, an eye laceration,
and a fractured bone in my eye socket. I’ll never forget waiting for the ambulance
to arrive. Amid that bloody scene, I began to pray and ask my Father—my
heavenly Father—to save us.
My friends and I survived the incident, but my head trauma prevented me
from moving up north. It also forced me to cancel an upcoming vacation to
Mexico. I had been looking forward to traveling with my friends and partying
it up on a different continent. Now I had to put my international plane ticket
on hold.
A year later, an urge to qualify for the world water-ski championships began
stirring within me. I hadn’t skied competitively since my father passed away.
Remembering that I still had an international ticket available, I booked a flight
to South Florida to train with Chet Raley, a world-renowned water-ski coach.
Incredibly, I wasn’t at his training site five minutes before Chet and one of
his boat drivers, Noah, began talking about Jesus.
I couldn’t believe my ears. Could I not go anywhere in this world without
having to hear about God? I grew more irritated by their conversation by the
second. Sure, I had prayed to God when I needed help at the scene of that car
accident, and I was grateful for His
intervention. But I was by no stretch
of the imagination ready to give up
my life plans to follow Jesus. I was
still in denial and on the run.
Then, something crazy happened.
Noah asked if I wanted to hang out
later that week with some friends. I
accepted the invitation but wrestled
with it the rest of the day. I wasn’t
ready to socialize on a grand scale. I
had come to America to train and to
reach my goal of becoming a world
champion water skier. Partying
wouldn’t get me there.
I had heard him talking to someone
else about doing something at a
church on Wednesday though. I ended
up writing an email that canceled
I HEARD HIM
WHISPER, “I HAVE
PICKED YOU UP
AND PLACED YOU
HERE. SURRENDER.
IT’S TIME FOR YOU
TO LET GO.”
our plans…and then asked if I could
join him for the church meeting. I hit
Send, and then realized what I’d just
done. What in the world? Church was
the last place I wanted to go. Why
did I say that?
I know now that God was at work,
and the rest is history.
Noah and I ended up going to
church on April 10, 2013. I’ll never
forget that date because it’s the day
I laid my life down before Christ.
The moment I stepped into Calvary
Chapel, God’s loving arms wrapped
around me. He engulfed me with His
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
21

presence. I heard Him whisper, “I have picked you up and placed you here.
Surrender. It’s time for you to let go.”
I embraced God’s love that day, and from that moment forward, I have
pursued an intimate relationship with my heavenly Father. Just thinking
about that moment, even now, eight years later, I still get emotional. My eyes
fill with tears of joy.
I am constantly amazed by the Lord’s goodness. Not only did He save my
life for all eternity, but He gave me a godly husband. Noah and I have been
married now for almost six years. We have two small children and take turns
caring for the kids as we both train for water-ski competitions.
It’s funny—as a youth, I desperately wanted to be a professional water skier,
but my dream didn’t come to fruition. Today, at 37, I’m skiing better than ever
and am currently ranked seventh in the world for women’s slalom. And I’m
enjoying myself too. That’s because this time around, I’m skimming across
the water for God’s glory, not my own.
Since my surrender to the Lord, He has placed a fire within me to use the
platform of water skiing for His glory. I don’t know what the future holds
for me in this sport, but I know my heart’s desire is for God to use my life to
lead others to Him—the One who relentlessly pursues His creation with His
boundless love.
That’s my story. God is a pursuer of His people. For 20 years, God pursued
me to the ends of the earth. He put people in my path to deposit seeds of truth
in my life. And even though I denied Him over and over again, God never gave
up on me. His love is just that extravagant. Despite my sins and failures, He
continued to pursue me with radical determination.
Maybe you’ve been running from God, too, continually refusing to surrender
your life to Him. Stop. Listen. You might just hear Him say, as He said to me, “I
have picked you up and placed you
here. Surrender. It’s time for you to
let go.” Don’t take another step without
the Lord. Everything you’ve ever
desired can be found in Him.
Maybe, instead of running from
God, you’ve been praying for someone
to come to faith. When I think
about my story, I can’t help but marvel
at the power of prayer. Please
don’t give up. Take comfort in the
truth that God hears your prayers
and that “the prayer of a righteous
person is powerful and effective”
(James 5:16 NIV). If God can save
me, He can truly save anyone. So
keep praying. Keep fasting. And
keep loving. God is in pursuit, and
He will bring your loved one home
to Him.
VENNESA VIEKE is a devoted daughter
of God, wife, and mother of two. She is a
professional water skier in South Florida
where she trains and uses her degree in
physical therapy to teach Pilates. Nessa is
passionate about health and wellness; she
loves to cook and create fun recipes and tell
about the goodness of God.
PHOTO BY BEN BEECH
In the spring of 2021,
Vennesa reached her goal
of qualifying for the US
Masters Water Ski and
Wakeboard Tournament
and the World Water Ski
Championship.
22 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

BY NOAH VIEKE
PHOTO BY SALT ON MY LENS
GOD’S PERFECT PLAN
I grew up in Indiana in what would be considered a traditional
Christian family. My siblings and I attended
church regularly, went to youth group on a weekly basis,
and were blessed enough to attend a private school. I
have loved three things for as long as I can remember—
God, music, and waterskiing.
When I was 19 years old, I decided I wanted to pursue
waterskiing more seriously. Long story short,
I ended up in South Florida, training under worldrenowned
coach, Chet Raley. In addition to his credentials,
Chet is a man of great faith. He has been my
mentor since 2007. What started as a coach/skier relationship
grew into friendship and then a job.
Chet offered me a position as a coach and boat driver
in December 2011. I immediately said yes. The job has
given me the opportunity to meet people with diverse
backgrounds from all around the world—including my
wife, Vennesa.
Chet and I have often mentioned to one another that
we don’t simply have a “job” to coach waterskiing. It is
also our way to connect with individuals on a personal
level. And once a relationship is established, we can
share our faith with them.
My life changed one day in 2013. Like every other
morning, that day I ate breakfast, packed my lunch, and
headed to the lake for work. And then, she arrived. A
new student. And she got my attention.
I don’t know how to explain what happened when I
first saw Vennesa. It was a God-thing. I had never seen
or met her before, but I instantly knew I was going to ask
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
23

“NO EYE HAS
SEEN, NO EAR
HAS HEARD,
AND NO MIND
HAS IMAGINED
WHAT GOD
HAS PREPARED
FOR THOSE
WHO LOVE
HIM.”
1 CORINTHIANS 2:9
her to marry me. I know, that was a crazy thought!
Believe me, I told myself the same thing. I mean, I
knew nothing about her.
We said hello, and then I told her that I would be
cutting in front of her on the ski-ride list. As the boat
driver, I could randomly insert myself on the list
for my personal training. It was a perk I was happy
to take advantage of that day. I needed a reason to
spend time with her.
Through a bit of small conversation over that day,
I learned that Vennesa was an Australian athlete
who was in the US—alone—to make a run at qualifying
for the elite World Water Ski Championships.
She had chosen to train with Chet to reach her goals.
What she didn’t know was that her decision would
lead her to God and to a new life as a US resident.
Every time I spoke with Vennesa, butterflies of
excitement took flight in my stomach. It took a little
longer than it should have for me to get brave
enough to ask if she’d like to go out together with
some friends later that week. To my delight, she
said yes, and we made plans. I was excited to get to
know her better away from the lake crowd and in an
environment where I would be more comfortable
asking questions.
But when I got home that afternoon, I found an
email from Vennesa. I was disappointed to see she
was canceling our plans. But then, my eye
caught the next line, and hope returned.
Earlier that day I’d been talking to a skier
from the UK about going to church that
Wednesday night. Apparently, Vennesa
had overheard this conversation, and she
asked in the email if she could join us. I
think my heart stopped. “This is amazing!”
I thought. “Not only is she absolutely gorgeous,
but she’s a believer too!”
It didn’t take long for me to learn that
she wasn’t actually a believer. Turns out,
even she couldn’t believe she’d rescheduled
our plans in order to attend church.
Now that I think about it, jetlag might have
played a bigger role in Vennesa’s dedicating
her life to Christ than I did! I was simply
a tool God used to give her a ride to church
that night so she could make the biggest
decision of her life.
It’s been eight years since that first
church date. Vennesa is now a woman of
unshakeable faith. First Corinthians 2:9
NLT describes exactly how I feel when I
think about our relationship: “No eye has
seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has
imagined what God has prepared for those
who love him.”
I don’t want to take this verse out of context,
but it’s true: I could not have imagined
that God would bring someone like
Vennesa into my life. She is loving, patient,
generous, and a million other things, but
most importantly, she is a child of God and
an avid follower of Jesus. And that heart
surrendered to Him makes her even more
beautiful to me.
God’s plan was perfect, even when I
wasn’t expecting it. He knew my dreams
before I did, and He met them more perfectly
than I could have planned. He knows
your dreams and expectations too, and
He will exceed them, whatever they are.
Keep praying toward that end, and in the
meantime, trust God’s perfect timing and
His way.
NOAH VIEKE is an elite water-ski instructor. He
and his wife, Vennesa, are world-class water skiers
who travel internationally, competing and using
water skiing as a means to share the goodness of
God with others.
PHOTO BY ELIZABETH BELFER
24 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
Embrace
Your Purpose
BY ROBERT L. LOWERY III
PHOTO BY JOMARYS LEON-LORENZO
“GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US a spirit of
fear and timidity, but of power, love, and
self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT).
We all have doubts and fears, and if we
allow them, they will consume our attention
to our detriment. No matter what the
fear—uncertainty, loss, isolation, rejection,
failure, or even success—if we hang on to
it, we will become stagnant. My fear almost
hindered me from embracing the opportunity
to become an author and a witness
for Christ to thousands.
I grew up in Largo, Florida, and spent
much of my time as a child working at my
parents’ furniture upholstery business.
Most of our customers were upper middle-
class, wealthy people who stayed near the
beaches. I remember helping my parents
deliver furniture in those nice communities
and thinking that I didn’t belong. We
didn’t have much materially.
That feeling of being out of place birthed
an attitude of inferiority and
low self-worth in me. As I got
older, this worked against me
in the workplace. I often felt
unworthy of promotion.
What does low self-worth
or an inferiority complex
have to do with fear? Well, feeling inferior
and believing I was worthless meant I was
afraid to be who God had created me to
be. Fear controlled my life, and it created
lie-based thought patterns that led me to
relinquish God’s will.
John Maxwell said that thinking “I don’t
think I can” rises from a deeper “I don’t
think I am,” and I believe it. I limited myself
because deep down, I didn’t doubt my
ability, I doubted my inherent value.
I allowed the financially stability of
others to tell me that I was worthless.
I connected money to my identity. I tell
Overcoming an
inferiority mindset
enabled Robert
to experience
promotion in the
business world.
this story because what I believed about
myself as a child influenced me for years.
I sabotaged my own success.
But as T.D. Jakes said, “Everything in life
worth having is on the other side of your
fears.” We must disconnect our identity
from our fear in order to move forward.
Decide that fear is not going to control your
life. Then you can embrace your purpose.
As I wrote my book, Think Up to Get Up,
which is about breaking free from destructive
thought patterns, I faced the fear of
failure as an author every day. I battled
this same fear when I was sharing my testimony
in Victorious Living.
I met the publisher of this magazine,
Kristi Overton Johnson, in 2018. She was
inspired by the subjects I was writing
about and invited me to tell my story of
how I met Jesus. I was honored, but fear
and anxiety bubbled up. What would people
think about me? Would my readers
embrace or reject me? I was scared to
death. But I continued to move forward
and allowed my story to be told.
I tell you this to encourage you. Fear will
emerge, and it will try to hold you tight as
you walk into your purpose. But you know
what? Fear will just have to come—and
you’ll just have to face it. You can’t wait to
feel fearless to defeat fear. You have to do
what you know you need to do now—and
you’ll have to do it afraid with God. But
that’s okay—He will be with you each step
of the way.
FEAR IS NOT EVIDENCE THAT GOD IS NOT
WITH YOU BUT AN AFFIRMATION THAT YOU
ARE NO LONGER IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
Don’t allow the lies you have accepted
as truth in your past keep you
from the future God desires
for you. Redefine yourself
with a vision that is disconnected
from your fears.
If you are struggling to
confront your fears, ask God
to expose whatever lies are fueling them.
Ask Him to let you see yourself as He sees
you. And ask Him to heal you. He is ready
to do abundantly more through you than
you can imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Remember, fear is not evidence that God
is not with you but an affirmation that you
are no longer in your comfort zone. And
when you move out of your comfort zone
with God, amazing things will happen.
ROBERT L. LOWERY III embraces his God-given
purpose while encouraging others to do the same.
His book, Think Up to Get Up, helps others overcome
toxic thought patterns through biblical principles.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
25

My God Will
Supply Your Needs
BY JIM HARRIS
I was born with a rebellious nature. As
early as I can remember, there was always
something I was mad about. I hated
authority of any kind. My life was a chorus
of challenges: “Who are you to tell
me what to do? What gives you the right?
How dare you think you can make me do
that?” I rebelled against anyone who tried
to teach me.
But then I became a teenager and discovered
girls. As I foolishly listened to
the bad advice of others, my life became
a downward spiral. “Sex, drugs, and rock
& roll” became my theme. It all seemed
like fun at the time, but I was headed into
a bottomless pit.
My first arrest came in tenth grade for
possession of speed. My parents were
crushed. Wanting to help, they sent me
to rehab. It didn’t work.
My drug use escalated from weed and
speed to cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines—even
IV use. The addiction
became so powerful that at times I would
load a syringe with cocaine and heroin
mixed together, called a “speed ball.”
Then, right before injecting it, I would
load a crack pipe. I would do the shot, then
chase it with a big hit off the pipe.
It’s no wonder that my rap sheet was
five pages long. I was hooked, and I didn’t
care. Rehab and psychiatric help couldn’t
fill the hole in my soul. My last go-round
happened in my own home. I overdosed
on the routine described above, but 911
came to my rescue.
They revived me, saving my life, but they
also found nine grams of cocaine in my
pocket. At the jail, I suffered a seizure and
ended up in intensive care. When I came to
three days later, I left the hospital against
medical advice. I was on a search for more
dope. The law caught up with me and gave
me a felony conviction. I was on my way
to the Texas Department of Corrections.
It didn’t seem like it at the time, but this
would be a blessing in disguise.
Sitting in my cell, contemplating what
was about to happen to me and wondering
if I would even survive, the question, “Is
there a God?” came to mind. I had been
caught in possession of a controlled substance.
The only thing I knew for certain
was that if I lived, I was going to prison.
You really can taste fear.
I didn’t know it at the time, but there
were many people praying for me. God
answered those prayers through a man
who came into Tarrant County Jail in Ft.
Worth, Texas. His name was Roger, and he
conducted religious services in the pod
where I was housed. Something about
him drew me in. Roger kept talking about
how the Lord loved me and that He would
forgive me if only I would accept Jesus as
my Savior.
One day I decided, since nothing else I
had tried had worked, I would ask another
inmate to pray with me when Roger asked
us if we wanted to be saved.
Something incredible happened in that
moment. I will remember it forever. When
Jim uses his hobby
of flying remotecontrol
airplanes
to share the good
news of Jesus and
teach others how
they too can fly
right with Him.
I asked the Lord Jesus into my heart, admitting
that I was a sinner and needed a
Savior, my entire body was engulfed in
heat. It felt like my body was blushing from
the bottom of my feet to the tip of my nose.
In that startling moment, God delivered
me from drug addiction. He changed me,
and I became a new creation. Since that
day in jail, Christmas season 1995, I have
never craved drugs again.
Prison in Texas was no vacation, but God
was with me while I did my time. None
of my fears about prison were realized;
instead, I look back on that time and see
how the Lord used it to send me to school.
Not school in the traditional sense, but
every time a chaplain had a service, I was
PHOTO BY RON KUNTZ
26 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

there. My life became a witness to a fellow
inmate who later came to know Jesus. He
wrote to me after I was out to tell me about
it. God used that letter to call me into a
ministry that is now growing in the most
amazing ways.
When you know you’ve been changed on
the inside, it makes you want to run out
and tell the world. You really expect others
to believe that you are a new man, and that
God has converted you. Unfortunately, that
is not always how things go.
The reality for me was that I had been
banished by my family, and my friends
were no longer interested in being around
me. As far as they were concerned, I was
just an ex-con who couldn’t be trusted.
The devil tried his best to steal my peace
and turn me back to him, but instead, I
found new friends, stuck with my wife,
Fredia, who had stuck with me while I was
in prison, and got a job as a telemarketer.
God had given me that job, and I did it
just like He was standing there listening…
because, in reality, He was!
After a little while, my work ethic stood
out. Before my parole ended a year later, I
was promoted twice and was actually running
several retail businesses for this corporation.
My family took note, and some
of my old friends did also. God had begun
the process of restoration.
My grandmother lived long enough to
see how God had changed my life. After she
passed and my parole ended, Fredia and
I moved to Alabama where we currently
live. The Lord gave me a great job at a local
car dealership where He gave me favor.
He then led me to another job where I did
even better financially. During this time,
He also began a new ministry through me.
I received a letter from a friend back in
prison, and I knew in my heart that God
was calling me into prison ministry. He
also had been giving me a vision for what
this ministry would look like.
After consulting with my wife and
praying for a while, I surrendered to the
call. The church we attended at that time
helped me start out as their emissary to
the local county jail. We didn’t know what
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
27

our next step would be, but we knew God
would walk with us.
When you step out in faith to follow the
Lord’s leading, the devil increases his
feverish attacks against you. In my case,
Satan tried to convince me that no one
would ever trust me again. He wanted me
to believe that I hadn’t changed at all and
that I would continue to fail.
I decided it was time to ignore Satan and
trust God. It was the dawning of a new millennium,
I had a good job, and we had been
so blessed by the Lord that we’d even been
able to put back money.
Working for someone else had been
keeping me from having enough time to
do the things that the Lord was calling me
to do. After careful discussion and prayer,
Fredia and I purchased the equipment to
start our own computer repair business.
I have been self-employed ever since, and
praise God, we are debt free.
Being self-employed means I can set
my own hours. That has allowed me to be
happily involved in a lot of ministries. I am
now an ordained minister as well as the
Jim’s time behind
bars has made him
deeply sensitive
to the needs of
others who are
incarcerated.
God took my willingness to surrender
to His plan and used all the trash
from my past to get a message of
hope to the world.
director of evangelism for my Southern
Baptist association. We started a ministry
in the local jail; I worked with Prison Fellowship
as a volunteer director for their
project, Operation Starting Line; I’ve been
involved with Good News Jail and Prison
Ministry as a local board member for the
chaplain at the jail; and have been a featured
speaker for the Bill Glass Behind
the Walls outreach in hundreds of prisons
around the country.
The Lord is faithful. He has kept His
Word, and He continues to work in me to
do His will.
I will never forget the feelings of utter
hopelessness and loneliness that I tried
so desperately to fill with the things of the
world. Knowing that others are just as lost
as I was without Christ in their lives compels
me to keep sharing the marvelous
things He has done in my life.
The greatest lesson God has taught me is
that He provides for those He calls. There
are many ways that He provides, but the
most interesting method so far has been
through other people.
When the economy slowed in 2009, the
Lord led me to a group of men and women
who helped me start Fly Right, Inc. Our
name comes from the old saying, “You’d
better straighten up and fly right, or you’re
going to end up in prison.” Well, add that to
the fact that God has given me the ability
to fly radio-control aircraft in a way that
attracts a crowd, and there you have it,
the name for the ministry, Fly Right, Inc.
To date, our company has provided
ministry services to prisons and schools
across eight states, including a federal correctional
institution. At the schools, we
were blessed to be part of three different
suicide interventions; it was God’s perfect
timing. You see, we have the students fill
out cards with their names and ask them
if they need help with any serious situations.
Three young ladies told us they were
considering taking their lives, and we were
able to alert the proper authorities and
intervene in their situations.
God took my willingness to surrender
to His plan and used all the trash from my
past to get a message of hope to the world.
He is continuing to work with me as Fly
Right grows. It seems like every time I turn
around, He uses us to make a difference.
Do you want God in your life? Do you
want to make a difference? Do you need
to straighten up and fly right? Then I encourage
you to get serious about your relationship
with the Lord. When you do,
He will begin a work in you that He will
complete. And it will amaze you (Philippians
1:6; Ephesians 3:20).
Just because you messed up and society
threw you away doesn’t mean that God
cannot or will not use you. Seriously, all
you have to do is be sincere with Him.
Surrender your life completely to
Him and seek His righteousness (Matthew
6:33). His Word promises that if
you do that, He will supply your every
need according to the riches of His glory
(Philippians 4:19).
JIM HARRIS uses his story and his passion for
Christ to help others know the God who saved and
set him free. To contact Jim or Fly Right Ministry,
email info@flyright.org or write to Fly Right Ministry,
PO Box 1023, Meridian, MS 39302-1023.
28 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

STEPPING FORWARD
God’s Provision:
Always Perfect, Always On Time
BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON
PHOTO BY R.J. ROSER
IT WAS AUGUST 17, 2013, WHEN GOD REVEALED to me
His heart for the incarcerated and His desire that I would minister
behind prison walls. I was visiting a friend named Bill in
federal prison at the time. Two weeks later, the Lord confirmed
His desire and opened doors for Victorious Living to be distributed
in Florida prisons.
I had already been publishing Victorious Living for two years
when this opportunity came. And it suddenly occurred to me
that maybe this was why God wanted me to do this magazine.
I was in awe and thanked God when I sent that first list of 34
Florida prison facilities to the printer for distribution. But I have
to admit that as I sent that list, I placed a mental checkmark
next to “minister to the incarcerated” and went on my way. I was
doing what He asked.
But then, about two months later, God revealed another layer
of prison ministry that He wanted to carry out through Victorious
Living. It happened when I noticed a pile of mail on my desk. A
closer look revealed that the letters were from inmates.
I was shocked that they were writing to me. Some people wanted
a pen pal, while others wanted to know more about the God of
hope. I’ll be honest—I began to feel a little uneasy as the letters
kept coming. That uneasiness soon turned to panic.
As a people-pleaser, I didn’t want to let anyone down. I realized
that each letter represented a life. It had been written by someone
that God cared about, and they deserved a timely and heartfelt
response. But there was no possible way I could answer every
letter. The performer in me was wrestling with this situation too.
But then I remembered that the Lord had led me to prison
ministry. He had opened the door for Victorious Living, and He had
known the inmates would write. This was nothing I had planned.
And since nothing catches God off guard, He must have a plan.
Peace replaced panic as I shifted my eyes from my inabilities
and looked to the Lord. As Philippians 4:6–8 teaches, I told God
what I needed and thanked Him for His answer in advance. And
boy, did He exceed my expectations.
First, the Lord showed me that I was to write and send devotional
letters to everyone who wrote to me. It would be a way to
respond while carrying out our mission to encourage, equip,
and empower people to live victorious lives for Christ. But these
wouldn’t be individual, personal letters. I couldn’t do all that.
So God met my needs through a precious woman named Linda
Cubbedge. I had met Linda at a women’s event where I was the
guest speaker. It turns out, God had been preparing Linda for
those letters for years. He clearly confirmed to both of us that
she was to be part of Victorious Living’s prison outreach.
That was 2014. Since then, Linda has read and prayed over tens
of thousands of letters as our Director of Prison Correspondence
Outreach. She’s made sure that each person has received a proper
response from our trained and loving team of nationally based
volunteers. Further, Linda developed procedures and launched
writing events for us called “Shine Bright and Write.”
I was so afraid of failure in those early days. I was focused on
my inabilities—lack of time, words, and physical resources. But
God wasn’t looking for my abilities; He was looking for my trust.
God had already prepared everything and everyone needed
to fulfill every aspect of this ministry with love and excellence
(Philippians 4:19). And He continues to perfectly provide for
Victorious Living and our inmate family.
Recently, Mrs. Linda announced that she will be passing her
torch of light and hope to those God has now positioned to carry
it forward. As she moves into retirement, I will remain forever
grateful to God for sending me His gift of Linda—a mighty woman
of faith whose kindness, compassion, and steadfast love has
helped many, including me, grow more dependent on God.
Linda, on behalf of myself, our Victorious Living incarcerated
family, and the correspondence team, I thank you from the bottom
of my heart. I can hear the Lord saying to you, “Well done,
good and faithful servant.”
KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON encourages and equips people for victory
through her writings, speaking engagements, and prison ministry.
To learn more, go to kojministries.org.
Linda Cubbedge-Smith, Kristi, and Jack Murphy worked
together faithfully to minister to the incarcerated.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
29

STEPPING FORWARD
Let God Guide
You to a New
Adventure
BY LINDA CUBBEDGE-SMITH
“I HEAR THE LORD saying, ‘I
will stay close to you, instructing
and guiding you along the
pathway for your life. I will advise
you along the way and lead
you forth with my eyes as your
guide. So don’t make it difficult;
don’t be stubborn when I take
you where you’ve not been before.
Don’t make me tug you
and pull you along. Just come
with me!’” (Psalm 32:8–9 The
Passion Translation).
I love this translation of this
beautiful promise. For the past
several months, these verses
have assured me that I can
trust the Lord no matter what
is going on in my life. He has
already proven Himself faithful
through many severe and
stormy waters (Isaiah 43:2).
I thank God for His faithful
love and for guiding us safely
through every storm. He
always brings us to a place of
rest and freedom.
Now, I don’t always understand
the whys or whats He
takes me through, but I don’t
need to. The Lord says in Isaiah
55:8–9: “My thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your
ways my ways.” I know I can
trust the Lord to navigate my
path and bring me to a place of
freedom. If I stay close to Him
and obey His instructions, an
overcoming victory will be
mine (Romans 8:37). And the
same is true for you. Trusting
the Lord is a process, but as we
learn to enjoy spending time
with Jesus, He will direct our
steps and bring blessing and
adventure into our lives.
of His unconditional love for
humanity. And along the way,
I’ve grown in my love for Jesus
and others. I’ve come to understand
how truly valuable every
person is to God. Regardless
of our past or present circumstances,
His love will continue
to pursue us even to the end
of our days.
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate
price to redeem humanity
from the powers of darkness
through His death, burial, and
resurrection. It has been a
blessing to share this message
with others over the years.
Sharing the Good News that
Earlier this year, I began God is not mad at anyone is
to consider retiring from my what our ministry is all about.
position as the Victorious Living
Prison Correspondence to come to Him and receive
The Lord invites every person
Director. I prayed about this the salvation He so lovingly
diligently and, remembering provides.
Psalm 32:8–9, knew that the I am looking forward to what
Lord was leading me to step God has ahead for me. I know
aside and allow Him to take me He is directing me down this
into a new season in my life. pathway. I am excited about
Leaving this ministry will be writing a book, enjoying online
hard, but I am trusting God to Bible Studies, and spending
advise me along the way. more time with my husband.
Since 2014, I have read so I know that fresh adventures
many letters from our inmate await me as I continue to keep
family. The other day, my heart my eyes upon the Lord.
was tendered as I thought I want to encourage you to
about not reading through write Psalm 32:8–9 down, then
them anymore. Overseeing the meditate on it daily, thus allowing
the Spirit of God to do a new
inmate correspondence team
and ministering with them has thing in you as well.
been such a blessing. I cannot Wherever you are in your
thank my Savior enough for life, come to the Lord just as
bringing Kristi into my life, you are and let Him pour His
not only as my employer, but amazing love and joy into you.
as a precious friend as well. It’s Trust Him to advise, instruct,
been an amazing adventure. and guide you along the pathway
for your life. I promise if
Through this ministry, the
Lord has enlarged my heart to you will do this one thing, an
grasp a greater understanding adventure awaits you too.
LINDA CUBBEDGE-SMITH was Victorious Living’s Prison Correspondence
Outreach Director from 2014 until June of 2021. She is currently working on
a book about the goodness of God and remains passionate about leading
others to Him.
30 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

TRANSFORMED LIVES
ESCAPING
EGYPT
BY ANONYMOUS
ABUSE. Not a word I ever thought would be
in my history. Never in a million years would I
have imagined I would be a victim of domestic
violence. I was married to the man I loved. He
was not only my partner; he was my friend. We
did everything together; we even went to church.
Yet somehow, over time, I found myself in a place
of bondage and oppression. It was like I was in
Egypt, and he was the Pharaoh.
God delivered me from that dry and weary
land. It’s a place I hope to never visit again. Yet I
feel I must go back, at least through sharing my
story, so that I can help bring others—women,
children, and even men—out of their Egypt, their
place of bondage, so that they can walk with their
heads held high and live a life of victory.
It’s been years since I walked out of my home,
away from a place that should have been a refuge,
away from the one who should have been
my protector. Even after all this time, I still ask
that loaded three-letter-word question: “Why?”
I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand the answer.
I don’t know why. But I don’t think I could
have done anything differently in my marriage
to have avoided the abuse. If it hadn’t been me,
it would have been someone else. And actually,
unfortunately, it may very well be someone else
right now.
Even if I had been “perfect” (something no one
can be), he still would have found fault. I know
because I tried. I tried so hard to be perfect. I
poured the coffee and added the creamer in the
order he demanded. I got rid of my NIV Bible
and began to read the version that pleased him.
I changed churches, left small groups, and quit
reading certain devotionals. I checked in with him
on my cell phone. I severed relationships with my
children, parents, and friends at his command.
I even made sure I put the right amount of meat
in the Crock-Pot because I knew how upset he
would be if I overstuffed it.
Nothing I did and nothing I could have done
or said would have changed him. Only God could
change the heart of my husband. Only God could
help him become the leader of our household the
way God intended. Only God could transform him
into a man who loved his wife as Christ loved the
church…a man who would lay down his life for
his wife rather than lay down his fist on her body.
(See Ephesians 5:25.)
My abuse started like most domestic-violence
situations. He began calling me names, poking
fun at me, and mocking me. The verbal abuse
soon led to control and manipulation tactics. He
started controlling our finances and withholding
money, even money I had earned. He pressured
me to change my social habits.
Eventually, the poking, mocking, and control
tactics turned violent. Threats escalated. He even
threatened to kill my pet. No longer was I thrown
out of the house (meaning I couldn’t live there
for a time period). No, now we entered a season
where I was literally and physically thrown out of
the house. He threw me down the stairs, choked
me, and chased me around the house. The last
incident included him beating my head against
the floor.
I was hospitalized more than once. Of course,
when asked about the cause of my injuries, I lied
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
31

TRANSFORMED LIVES
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
GOD IS BY YOUR SIDE;
HE WILL SHOW YOU EACH
STEP TO TAKE. SOMETIMES
THOSE STEPS WILL BE
SMALL, SOMETIMES HUGE,
BUT ONE BY ONE, THEY’LL
MOVE YOU FORWARD TO
THE FREEDOM CHRIST
DIED TO GIVE YOU.
about what happened. I didn’t want to get him in trouble—
I loved him. Besides, it was my fault. It had to be. Each
time it happened, I convinced myself that I must have
done something to push him over the edge. And I assured
myself that I would be better so that this would
never happen again.
And every time, like clockwork, he would promise it
would never happen again. He even promised he would
get help. The truth, however, was that he never did get
help and he did do it—again and again and again. And
with each incident, the violence escalated.
The turning point came when he attacked me in front
of my granddaughter. That’s when I realized the abuse
wasn’t just affecting me, it was also affecting the legacy
I’d pass on to my family. I needed her to know that it
was not okay for somebody to treat you in this manner.
It isn’t right for anyone to call you names and hurt you
emotionally or physically.
I needed to teach her that her husband should be
the one person in the world she could trust to keep her
safe, protect her, and love her. He should love God, not
use religion as an excuse to make his wife submit. He
should bless her and bring out the best in her. He should
never oppress and cause her to live in fear.
My granddaughter saved my life that day, and I pray
my decision to stand up for what is right will save hers—
and others who read my story. People need to know that
abuse is wrong, whether it is emotional, physical, or
mental. God does not intend for His children to live in
bondage, especially in the “bonds of holy matrimony.”
Jesus died on the cross not only for my sins
but also for my life. He wants me to live—really
live. He wants me to be safe and filled with joy so
I can follow Him and serve Him freely. He wants
me to love and to be loved. He wants me to live a
victorious life. These are the plans He has for me
(Jeremiah 29:11).
I know divorce isn’t His will, nor is it what I
wanted. But I also know that being abused physically
or emotionally is not His will either. God
is grieved by the pain inflicted on His beloved.
If you are “living in Egypt” right now—a place
of oppression, fear, and bondage—I encourage
you to link hands with the One who can lead you
out and heal you (Psalm 147:3). Ask the Lord to
give you His wisdom and discernment (James
1:5). He will show you how to move forward. Also,
seek help for domestic abuse from professionals,
and use the laws and courts to help protect you.
Having a strong support system and a plan is
crucial for your safety.
Will “escaping your Egypt” be easy? No. You’ll
be fighting your emotions like never before. You’ll
have to fight fear, confusion, and doubt. People
you trust—friends, family, even church friends—
might turn against you. You’ll have to resist your
own thoughts like “It wasn’t really that bad. At
least I had somebody. Now look, I’m all alone… I
blew it!” Don’t listen to the enemy’s lies. Satan’s
goal is to drag you back into bondage.
But God promises, just like He did for the Israelites,
to provide for your every need. He will part
your Red Sea. He will send manna from heaven.
He has done it for me, and He will be faithful to
do it for you.
You are not alone. God is by your side, and He
will show you each step to take. Sometimes those
steps will be small and sometimes they’ll be huge,
but one by one, they will move you forward to the
freedom Christ died to give you.
Let me close with Leviticus 26:13 (NLT). It is a
great reminder that the Lord desires for us to walk
with our heads held high—to live victoriously, not
in defeat and shame. It says, “I am the Lord your
God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so
you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the
yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk
with your heads held high.”
THE AUTHOR of this story wishes to remain anonymous.
If you are in a domestic violence situation, please call the
National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 and get
help today.
32 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

GOING DEEPER:
Christ Can Make the Difference for You
All Scripture referenced here is from the New Living Translation.
Roy Borges shares on page 10 how Christ
made the difference in his life. God’s love
and His Word, combined with Roy’s trust
in God’s love and His Word, enabled Roy to
be fruitful and maintain peace in a barren
and lonely land.
While Roy served his 31-year prison
sentence, he sought the wisdom of God
daily. He does the same now, as a free man.
God has never failed Roy, and He won’t fail
you, either.
Roy lives by Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in
the Lord with all your heart; do not depend
on your own understanding. Seek his will
in all you do, and he will show you which
path to take.”
What three things does this proverb
teach you to do?
1) 2) 3)
If you do those things, what will God do?
Let’s go deeper.
• TRUST GOD WHOLEHEARTEDLY. Release
your desire to control and understand your
situation. Trust that God’s got your back.
He will intervene on your behalf. Identify a
situation that is burdening your soul. Now,
pray (talk to God) and give it to Him. Say,
“God, I need your help with
. I
trust You will provide.”
• DON’T DEPEND ON YOUR UNDER-
STANDING. God’s wisdom won’t always
match yours. It takes courage, faith, and
commitment to set aside your instinct and
intellect and trust God’s instead. Is your
mind busy trying to figure something out?
• SEEK GOD’S WILL IN ALL YOU DO.
Give God access to every aspect of your
life so He can help you avoid the traps of
the world and Satan. God reveals His will
through His Word and His Spirit. He will
never lead you contrary to His Word. What
does God’s Word and His Spirit have to say
about your situation? Do you spend time
in the Word so He can speak to you?
God promises to give you direction in every
area of your life. Just ask. Fill in your name and
take to heart this promise. He says:
“Trust Me,
. I will never fail you.
You don’t need all the answers to move
forward. Rest in My love for you. Keep
seeking My will—I will reveal it in due time
and show you which way to go.”
DO YOU NEED REST?
“Come to me, all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28
Jared Emerson, Artist, jaredemerson.com
Do you need rest? Peace? Freedom? Forgiveness? Restoration?
Call out to Jesus, accept Him as your Savior, and 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.”
Let us know of your decision so we can help you grow in your faith.
Write to: VL Correspondence, PO Box 2751, Greenville, NC 27836.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2021
33

FROM THE FATHER
Focus—Joy Lies Ahead!
MY BELOVED, I KNOW IT CAN BE HARD to think about
joy when circumstances around you are anything but
joyful. Negative words, disappointments, bad decisions,
troubles…all of these things are distractions that can
keep you from seeing the truth.
I have good things in store for your life that will give
you hope for the future (Jeremiah 29:11). Just as My Son
was able to endure the excruciating suffering of death on
the cross for the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews
12:2), I have given you the power to endure anything that
comes your way because of My deep, sincere love for you.
Embrace that power and love. Stay focused on My
goodness. Trust Me—I can hold your heart together
through anything. Do not waste another minute of your
life by replaying bad situations or decisions in your mind
or grieving over past failures. There’s no need!
My child, look forward confidently to the joy that lies
ahead and know that I am always with you.
RESOURCES
Below are opportunities for free Christian-based resources for both English- and Spanish-speaking
inmates and chaplains. When you contact the addresses below, tell our partners VL referred you.
2ND OPPORTUNITY
CLI PRISON ALLIANCE
RESCUED NOT ARRESTED
VICTORIOUS LIVING
Reentry and employment-
Personal
Free NIV Bibles, Bible
Personal correspondence,
readiness programming,
discipleship studies by
study correspondence
quarterly devotions, and
and job and housing
mail for inmates in
course, and NIV Life
subscription to VLMag
referrals for inmates
jails and prisons; free
Application Study Bible
for prison inmates only.
in jails and prisons
Christian books and
upon completion of
Bulk copies of VLMag
upon request.
Bibles for libraries at
study for inmates in
available for jail and
request of chaplain or
jails and prisons.
prison libraries at
970 N. Oaklawn Ave.
authorized personnel.
chaplain’s request.
Suite 302
PO Box 90606
Elmhurst, IL 60126
PO Box 97095
Phoenix, AZ 85066
PO Box 2751
Raleigh, NC 27624
Greenville, NC 27836
WWW.VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
34 Issue 03 / 2021 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM