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VL-Issue 44- July 22

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REAL PEOPLE | REAL STORIES | REAL HOPE<br />

LAY YOUR BURDEN DOWN<br />

DAR VUELTA<br />

PARA VER<br />

EN ESPAÑOL<br />

NEED A GOOD FATHER?<br />

A magazine<br />

on a mission:<br />

see page 2<br />

Experience<br />

the Beauty of<br />

God’s Plan<br />

Moving forward when life<br />

looks different than expected<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong>


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DELIVERS HOPE TO<br />

THE INCARCERATED.<br />

Real life testimonies of the transforming<br />

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prisons in print and digital formats.<br />

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personal correspondence and digital<br />

resources.<br />

Connection to national organizations that<br />

provide helpful resources for current and<br />

former inmates and their families.<br />

Prison outreach tools to help local<br />

churches carry out God’s command to<br />

remember the prisoner.<br />

Search<br />

VICTORIOUS LIVING<br />

ARE YOU AN INMATE<br />

WHO NEEDS<br />

ENCOURAGEMENT?<br />

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Family today!<br />

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Greenville, NC 27836<br />

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hope@vlmag.org<br />

Available on Securus, ViaPath,<br />

and ICS Corrections tablets<br />

PHOTO BY EDOVO


ISSUE 3, JULY 20<strong>22</strong><br />

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn<br />

you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 NIV<br />

Publisher & Executive Director<br />

Kristi Overton Johnson<br />

Accounting Manager<br />

Carla Owens<br />

Cover Photography<br />

Margaret DeBruhl<br />

Editor<br />

Rachel Overton<br />

Spanish Editorial Team<br />

Karissa Anderson, Proofreader<br />

Monica Colangelo, Translator<br />

Creative Designer<br />

Lauren Jones<br />

Creative Content Team<br />

Kory K. Gordon<br />

Kristi Overton Johnson<br />

Christina Kimbrel<br />

Production Manager<br />

Christina Kimbrel<br />

Social Media Manager<br />

Sheridan Correa<br />

Digital Content Manager<br />

Roman Randall<br />

Director of Prison Correspondence<br />

Carla Owens<br />

Director of Partner Care & Development<br />

Pat Avery<br />

Church Liaison<br />

Melisha Johnson<br />

Hispanic Outreach Director<br />

Denise San Miguel<br />

Story Contributors<br />

Jay Bastardo<br />

Nate Carreras<br />

Sheridan Correa<br />

Kory Gordon<br />

Kristi Overton Johnson<br />

Melisha Johnson<br />

Amber Leason<br />

Kenny Munds<br />

Carla Owens<br />

Kyle and Bobbie Robinson<br />

Photography<br />

Mike Barber Ministries<br />

Raelyn Butler<br />

Nicholas Correa<br />

Margaret DeBruhl<br />

EDOVO<br />

Bill Hudson, 252Buzz<br />

Haley Manning Photography<br />

Joey Meddock Photography<br />

Steve Roos, Ashcroft Studio Photography<br />

Melisa Roszel<br />

Cheyenne Wilson, Arizona Portraits LLC<br />

Lyssa Yates<br />

Artwork<br />

Jared Emerson<br />

Victorious Living magazine is a publication of Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries, a 501c3<br />

organization. Copyright © 20<strong>22</strong>, Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries, all rights<br />

reserved. For permission to reprint or copy any material contained herein, please<br />

contact us at admin@vlmag.org.<br />

DISCLAIMER: The articles featured in Victorious Living are designed to inspire and encourage<br />

our readers by sharing powerful testimonies from people who, we believe, have been transformed<br />

by God’s grace, love, and power. The articles are focused on each individual’s testimony.<br />

Although we conduct some independent research, we rely heavily on the information provided<br />

to us by those we interview. Our articles are not intended to be an endorsement of the views,<br />

opinions, choices, or activities of the persons whose stories we feature. The statements, views,<br />

and opinions of those persons whose stories we feature are purely their own, and we do not<br />

control and are not responsible for any such statements, views, or opinions.<br />

HOW TO REACH VICTORIOUS LIVING<br />

General, Subscription, and Partnership Inquiries<br />

• Victorious Living<br />

PO Box 2801, Greenville, NC 27836<br />

• 352-478-2098<br />

• admin@vlmag.org<br />

All Prison Inmate Correspondence<br />

• Victorious Living Correspondence Outreach<br />

PO Box 2751, Greenville, NC 27836<br />

• hope@vlmag.org<br />

Scripture Permissions<br />

Scripture marked NIV is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, copyright<br />

©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. | Scripture marked NLT is taken from the Holy Bible,<br />

New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. | Scripture<br />

marked NKJV is taken from the New King James Version of the Bible, ®. Copyright © 1982 by<br />

Thomas Nelson. | All Scripture is used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.<br />

La escritura marcada NVI es tomada de la Santa Biblia, Nueva Versión Internacional®<br />

NVI®, copyright © 1999, 2015 por Biblica, Inc.®, Inc.® | La escritura marcada NTV es<br />

tomada de la Santa Biblia, Nueva Traducción Viviente, © Tyndale House Foundation,<br />

2010. | Toda la escritura usado con permiso. Reservados todos los derechos en todo<br />

el mundo.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

3


THE VICTORIOUS LIVING STORY<br />

One visit with an incarcerated friend in 2013 opened the eyes<br />

of Victorious Living founder, Kristi Overton Johnson, to the<br />

hopelessness of life behind bars. It also birthed in her a desire to<br />

deliver hope to the souls of incarcerated men and women.<br />

Soon after, God opened doors for Victorious Living magazine to<br />

be distributed in the prison system. He then led Kristi and the <strong>VL</strong><br />

team onto prison yards to share His message of hope in person and,<br />

more recently, digitally through prison tablets.<br />

Before that prison encounter, Kristi had<br />

spent 35 years water-skiing competitively<br />

worldwide, never considering those<br />

who had lost their freedom. But God<br />

had a plan for this world champion<br />

water-skier to go behind bars to<br />

encourage hearts with God’s love<br />

and His message of redemption<br />

and to equip people to get up and<br />

experience victorious living for<br />

themselves.<br />

Since 2013, Victorious Living<br />

magazine has impacted the lives of<br />

over one million incarcerated souls...<br />

and the story is still being written.<br />

BE A PART OF THE<br />

<strong>VL</strong> STORY<br />

Victorious Living is a great<br />

way to carry out God’s<br />

command to remember the<br />

prisoner (Matthew 25:34–40;<br />

Hebrews 13:3). Here’s how<br />

you can help us deliver hope<br />

to the incarcerated.<br />

SHARE<br />

Share <strong>VL</strong> with your local church,<br />

chaplain, jail, or prison. <strong>VL</strong> is a<br />

great mission to support and a<br />

good tool to use too!<br />

SUPPORT<br />

<strong>VL</strong> is partner supported. Your taxdeductible<br />

gift sends copies of<br />

<strong>VL</strong>Mag into jails and prisons, where<br />

it saves lives. And when you give,<br />

we’ll send you a copy too.<br />

SPONSOR<br />

Sponsor jails and prisons to receive<br />

quarterly cases of <strong>VL</strong>. It costs us<br />

$500 to supply 1 case of <strong>VL</strong> to 1<br />

facility, each quarter, for 1 year.<br />

SOCIAL MEDIA<br />

Visit our website and social media<br />

platforms. Like. Follow. Share.<br />

@victoriouslivingmag<br />

PHOTO BY MIKE BARBER MINISTRIES PHOTO BY JOEY MEDDOCK PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

VISIT VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM OR CALL 352-478-2098


ISSUE 3, JULY 20<strong>22</strong><br />

CONTENTS<br />

8<br />

9<br />

13<br />

21<br />

32<br />

STEPPING FORWARD<br />

Know the Season You’re in<br />

BY KENNY MUNDS<br />

Declutter Your Heart<br />

BY CARLA OWENS WITH<br />

CHRISTINA KIMBREL<br />

Pass the Test<br />

BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON<br />

The Golden Rule<br />

BY SHERIDAN CORREA<br />

God’s Vision Has an<br />

Appointed Time<br />

BY KORY GORDON<br />

10<br />

Once owned by drugs and crime, Nate had<br />

nothing left when God knocked on the door<br />

of his heart. But that day, he found Christ<br />

and is now free from all chains.<br />

FEATURES<br />

Rebuilding the Life that<br />

Heroin Tore Apart<br />

THE STORY OF AMBER LEASON<br />

From childhood, Amber was aware<br />

of the dark, empty place inside her.<br />

For years, she tried to fill it with<br />

relationships, excuses, and drugs, yet<br />

every attempt left her feeling emptier<br />

than before. But then God showed up<br />

in an undeniable way, and Amber’s life<br />

was changed.<br />

18<br />

<strong>22</strong><br />

doesn’t come from accomplishment;<br />

it comes only from God.<br />

A Place to Belong<br />

THE STORY OF<br />

SHERIDAN CORREA<br />

All her life, Sheridan struggled<br />

with feeling unloved, inadequate,<br />

and lost. Her search for belonging<br />

led her through dark valleys of<br />

depression, drugs, attempted<br />

suicide, and jail, until she<br />

surrendered to the One who loved<br />

her first and loves her best.<br />

COVER STORY<br />

Embracing God’s Plan<br />

30<br />

TRANSFORMED<br />

LIVES<br />

God Always Makes a Way<br />

THE STORY OF NATE CARRERAS<br />

14<br />

Lay Your Burden Down<br />

THE STORY OF JAY BASTARDO<br />

A successful restaurateur, Jay worked hard<br />

to prove his worth, to himself and the world.<br />

Then the pandemic brought everything to<br />

a grinding halt, and in the stillness that<br />

followed, Jay had to learn that his value<br />

THE STORY OF KYLE AND<br />

BOBBIE ROBINSON<br />

The Robinsons both grew up in<br />

church and lived godly lives. So when<br />

God allowed their firstborn son to<br />

be autistic, their dreams and plans<br />

shattered around them. But God had<br />

bigger plans than Kyle and Bobbie<br />

had ever imagined.<br />

PHOTO BY MARGARET DEBRUHL<br />

ON THE COVER<br />

In our cover feature,<br />

Kyle and Bobbie<br />

Robinson share how<br />

embracing their son’s<br />

journey with autism<br />

and choosing to trust<br />

God led them to<br />

experience the beauty<br />

of Samuel and the<br />

joy of helping other<br />

families with autistic<br />

children.<br />

26<br />

Need a Good Father?<br />

BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON<br />

Kristi’s father blessed her with many<br />

good things throughout her life, but<br />

the best was the example he lived<br />

as a good father. We might not all<br />

have had wonderful parents here on<br />

earth, but God, our heavenly Father,<br />

is the ultimate giver of good gifts to<br />

those who ask.<br />

IN EVERY ISSUE<br />

6<br />

Publisher’s Note<br />

Welcome Home<br />

33<br />

Want to Know Jesus?<br />

I’m Saved...Now What?<br />

34<br />

Ministry News/Resources<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

5


PUBLISHER’S NOTE<br />

Welcome Home<br />

Kristi and her father, Parker Overton,<br />

at the International Waterski and<br />

Wakeboard Federation Hall of Fame<br />

Induction in 2017.<br />

If you’d like to partner with<br />

our magazine to deliver God’s<br />

hope and to impact the lives of<br />

incarcerated men and women,<br />

visit victoriouslivingmagazine<br />

.com. Your gift enables us to<br />

send this magazine into prisons<br />

around the nation. Each<br />

magazine impacts many lives<br />

for years to come.<br />

L<br />

ife often goes differently than we<br />

envision or desire. I’ve never met<br />

anyone whose childhood dream<br />

was to end up abandoned, addicted,<br />

abused, or incarcerated. Nor have I met<br />

anyone who prayed for a pandemic, a war,<br />

or societal unrest.<br />

People don’t get married hoping for<br />

divorce. They don’t have children and<br />

dream that they’ll be sick or go astray.<br />

They don’t enter friendships hoping they’ll<br />

end in betrayal. Neither do they take a job<br />

hoping they’ll get fired.<br />

No, we dream of good things and happyever-after<br />

endings. But then life happens,<br />

and we find ourselves in turbulent situations<br />

that are not always of our doing.<br />

Our hearts hurt, but we cope. We put up<br />

facades, search for people who understand<br />

our pain, or turn to substances to numb<br />

our wounds. And then we wall up or lash<br />

out. We might say or do things that make<br />

our lives and others’ lives more difficult.<br />

When we find ourselves in these lonely,<br />

painful, challenging places, we often<br />

wonder, “Where are You, God?” Darkness<br />

can make anyone question the goodness<br />

and presence of God. Even Jesus,<br />

the Son of God, cried out, “Eli, Eli, lama<br />

sabachthani?” which means “My God,<br />

my God, why have you abandoned me?”<br />

(Matthew 27:46 NLT) as He hung on a cruel<br />

Roman cross. Darkness tries to hide the<br />

reality of the unfailing love of God.<br />

This issue is full of stories of people<br />

who found themselves in painful circumstances,<br />

struggling with the idea of God’s<br />

goodness. Some wrestled a short time<br />

before surrendering their questions and<br />

situations to the Lord. Others got up from<br />

their wrestling mats and ran. But God pursued<br />

them. And, as you’ll see, they were<br />

overtaken by His goodness.<br />

Friend, I don’t know the curve balls life<br />

has thrown you. Some of you have experienced<br />

nothing but pain from the day<br />

you were born. I am so sorry. Others have<br />

been caught off guard and sidelined by<br />

something or someone. Please know that<br />

God is not the source of your pain; He is<br />

the answer to it.<br />

In this issue, I felt led to write about my<br />

father, Parker Overton, to paint a picture<br />

of God’s faithful love for us as our heavenly<br />

Father. It’s important that we understand<br />

our identities as children of God.<br />

The devil has been after our identities<br />

from the beginning of time; it started with<br />

Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). He didn’t want<br />

them, or anyone, to have an intimate relationship<br />

with God, so he tempted them to<br />

question God’s trustworthy love and care.<br />

And then, when God’s first kids bit into<br />

the lie, Satan brought shame and confusion.<br />

Adam and Eve hid from God, naked<br />

and afraid. They were sure He would no<br />

longer want a relationship with them.<br />

But God hadn’t gone anywhere. He was<br />

still walking in the garden, calling out their<br />

names, just as He’d always done. Would<br />

there be consequences? Yes. But even the<br />

consequences of sin are governed by God’s<br />

everlasting, unchanging, never-failing<br />

love. It is the goodness of God that seeks<br />

to bring us to repentance.<br />

Friend, Satan doesn’t want you to know<br />

God the Father as your heavenly Father.<br />

He wants you to run or hide. He wants you<br />

confused and full of shame, anger, and fear.<br />

He knows his game is over the minute you<br />

understand the truth about God and your<br />

identity as His child.<br />

As you read these stories and dive into<br />

God’s Word, I pray that you’ll come to know<br />

God as your heavenly Father. He’s pursuing<br />

you. He’s calling out your name. Listen!<br />

Come out of hiding and come home to<br />

your heavenly Father. You can trust your<br />

life to Him. Unlike the world, He will not<br />

fail you. In God’s family, you’re safe, understood,<br />

welcomed, and valued. And that’s<br />

where you belong. Welcome home!<br />

Kristi Overton Johnson<br />

Publisher & Executive Director<br />

6 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


Through the stories of Victorious Living,<br />

men and women behind bars<br />

meet the God of another chance.<br />

PHOTO BY ASHCROFT STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE ROOS<br />

Testimonial: Melisha<br />

I was in prison when I saw my first copy of<br />

Victorious Living.<br />

I’d had no idea a magazine like this even<br />

existed. Every story amazed, encouraged,<br />

and inspired me. I would often read the<br />

same issue repeatedly; each time I got<br />

something more.<br />

<strong>VL</strong> was an amazing tool for me to share<br />

the love of Jesus with other inmates while I<br />

was incarcerated. It was proof there is hope<br />

for any life. And then, they featured my<br />

story—twice!—and even more doors opened<br />

for me to share.<br />

I’ve struggled with rejection, shame,<br />

and being concerned of what others think<br />

of me. The <strong>VL</strong> team encouraged me to be<br />

transparent in sharing my story. I found<br />

freedom in my authenticity.<br />

I am home now, and <strong>VL</strong> continues to<br />

help me share the love of Jesus. I travel to<br />

churches and use the magazine and my<br />

testimony to help people understand the<br />

importance of prison ministry. Millions of<br />

people behind bars need to know Jesus loves<br />

them. Through <strong>VL</strong>, we can reach them!<br />

I am grateful to Kristi, the <strong>VL</strong> team, and<br />

their partners for visiting me when I was in<br />

prison. I have gained a new family in this<br />

ministry. What they did for the least of<br />

these, they did for Jesus!<br />

SPONSOR A PRISON<br />

IN YOUR STATE AND<br />

IMPACT LIVES TODAY.<br />

Visit victoriouslivingmagazine.com.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

7


STEPPING FORWARD<br />

Know the<br />

Season<br />

You’re in<br />

I WAS ENJOYING MY FIRST CUP OF COFFEE ONE MORNING,<br />

when I read Proverbs 10:5, which is about living life wisely. Suddenly,<br />

I found myself in deep reflection about the seasons of life.<br />

I decided that I’m in a season of preparation.<br />

Some would say I’m in the “twilight years,” the time when<br />

people look back on their lives as a whole with the recognition<br />

that their journey, at some point, must end. Everyone dies—no<br />

matter how closely we walk with the Savior and how faithfully we<br />

serve Him, we will still pass through the valley of death before<br />

we reach our eternal home.<br />

What stirred me to this revelation? I had recently stood at<br />

the bedside of a friend who was nearing death. It had been a<br />

while since I’d seen him last, and he had withered dramatically<br />

in stature.<br />

The murderous effects of cancer had turned his skin and eyes<br />

a pale yellow. The doctor had just brought him his biopsy results<br />

and informed him that he had somewhere between 30 and 90<br />

days to live.<br />

He looked at me through those jaundiced eyes and said, “I’m<br />

not buying it. God can still heal me. But if He chooses to take<br />

me, I’m ready to go.”<br />

BY KENNY MUNDS<br />

This was a man who had lived and breathed Jesus. I<br />

had learned so much from him throughout our years of<br />

friendship. He could hardly talk about anything other<br />

than his most recent revelations from God. He was a<br />

faithful Christ-follower, and his faith and wisdom profoundly<br />

affected me. It was tough to see him in such a<br />

reduced physical state.<br />

I had my guitar with me, and I sang a couple of his<br />

favorite songs. Tears filled his eyes as he listened to<br />

the words of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” and “I Can Only<br />

Imagine.” Then, as if God had spoken to him, he turned<br />

to me and said, “We’ll be praying for you in heaven.”<br />

This man had seemed invincible to me. He was a<br />

solid, passionate disciple of the Lord Jesus who loved<br />

prison ministry and the men he had discipled behind<br />

prison walls. I had witnessed miraculous changes in<br />

countless lives through his teaching and training in<br />

the Word of God.<br />

Before I left, I kissed his forehead and told him I loved<br />

him. The tears flowed again. As I turned to leave, he<br />

said, “Tell our friends in prison I love them.” He went<br />

on to meet Jesus shortly after this visit.<br />

My friend was a wise man who recognized the importance<br />

of the last season of his life. He knew where he<br />

would spend eternity, but his heart remained burdened<br />

for souls that needed to hear the Good News of Jesus<br />

until his last breath. He understood that many people<br />

still needed to know the love of their Savior, Jesus Christ,<br />

who had died for them. He also wanted them to know<br />

He loved them.<br />

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “strip off every weight that<br />

slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us<br />

up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set<br />

before us” (NLT). My friend’s life was the embodiment<br />

of this verse.<br />

I’m 74 now. I’m in the later years, I know, but God still<br />

has a race for me to run. To do so, I must continually<br />

shed my earthly desires and pleasures. Thankfully, God<br />

offers His divine strength to help me shift my focus<br />

from satisfying my flesh to pleasing my Lord and loving<br />

His people.<br />

I pray that I will remain courageous in my faith and,<br />

like my friend, continue to fight the good fight to finish<br />

the race God has set before me (2 Timothy 4:7). I will remind<br />

people they are loved to the very end. I hope you’ll<br />

do the same, no matter what season of life you’re in.<br />

KENNY MUNDS takes the good news of God’s love and<br />

forgiveness into prisons across America. To learn more about his<br />

ministry, go to kennymundsministry.org.<br />

8 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


STEPPING FORWARD<br />

issues from those around us, there is no<br />

hiding from the One who loves us the most.<br />

God knew us first, and He knows us best. In<br />

Jeremiah 1:5, He tells us, “I knew you before<br />

No matter how hard<br />

we try to hide our<br />

issues from those<br />

around us, there is no<br />

hiding from the One<br />

who loves us the most.<br />

DECLUTTER<br />

YOUR HEART<br />

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I had an<br />

old wooden chest where I stored my favorite<br />

toys and treasures. I loved collecting<br />

things, but I also loved holding on to them,<br />

sometimes for way too long.<br />

As the chest got full, many items got<br />

crushed. Soon the chest would overflow,<br />

and my room would become cluttered.<br />

Then my mother would make me go<br />

through the chest and get rid of stuff. I<br />

resisted at first until I realized that made<br />

room for exciting new items.<br />

This cycle became a familiar pattern<br />

throughout my childhood. To this day, I<br />

still hold on to things too long. And not<br />

only things but emotions too, and that<br />

is an unhealthy habit. I often hoard and<br />

suppress my feelings. When I do, my heart<br />

becomes crowded, and, like that old chest, I<br />

feel crushed on the inside, especially when<br />

what I am holding on to is unpleasant. The<br />

clutter within can be mentally and emotionally<br />

overwhelming.<br />

The more upset I am about a subject,<br />

the harder it is to open up and share<br />

my feelings or any details of that strug-<br />

BY CARLA OWENS WITH<br />

CHRISTINA KIMBREL<br />

gle. When friends ask how I’m doing, I<br />

muster the most cheerful and confident<br />

voice I can find and defer to the age-old<br />

nonresponse, “I’m fine!” That answer is<br />

usually the furthest thing from the truth,<br />

but I feel compelled to hold tightly to whatever<br />

is troubling me.<br />

I’m sure you can relate. Most of us don’t<br />

like to share the details of our lives with<br />

others, not even our closest friends. Instead,<br />

we keep the issue bottled up inside.<br />

There are many reasons we do this, each<br />

unique to the situation and the persons<br />

involved. We fear being misunderstood,<br />

rejected, judged, or worse. And so we isolate<br />

ourselves and our issues from others.<br />

I am so thankful that even though we<br />

sometimes feel alone in our struggles, we<br />

are not. There is always Someone we can<br />

turn to for comfort—and that’s our Lord and<br />

Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible promises<br />

that He is the only One we need in times of<br />

trouble (Psalm 46:1; Psalm 91). First Peter<br />

5:7 says we can “give all [our] worries and<br />

cares to God, for he cares about [us]” (NLT).<br />

No matter how hard we try to hide our<br />

I formed you in your mother’s womb”<br />

(NLT). God knows our innermost thoughts<br />

and hurts, and He wants to comfort us.<br />

Second Corinthians 1:3–4 states, “God<br />

is our merciful Father and the source of all<br />

comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles<br />

so that we can comfort others. When they<br />

are troubled, we will be able to give them<br />

the same comfort God has given us” (NLT).<br />

Tears often stream from my eyes when<br />

I face difficulties, but I am grateful for the<br />

reassurance in Romans 8:26 that He knows<br />

our hearts even when we don’t have the<br />

words to speak. Psalm 56:8 tells us that<br />

God keeps track of our sorrows. He collects<br />

our tears in a bottle and records each<br />

one in His book. He knows, and He loves<br />

us despite the trials. Even the ones we’ve<br />

brought on ourselves.<br />

No matter what you’re facing, you can<br />

find comfort in knowing that the One<br />

who knows you best is the same One who<br />

will support you in your most vulnerable<br />

moments. Invite Jesus into your life. Open<br />

your overflowing storage chest and release<br />

your pain and worries, your fears and tears<br />

to the One you can fully trust.<br />

He’ll take your burdens and give you the<br />

peace you need to declutter your heart and<br />

mind. And you’ll be freed up to receive His<br />

beautiful blessings.<br />

CARLA OWENS loves the Lord and seeks daily<br />

to know Him more intimately. She is the director of<br />

Victorious Living’s Prison Correspondence Team.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

9


Rebuilding the<br />

Life that Heroin<br />

Tore Apart<br />

THE STORY OF AMBER LEASON<br />

“HOW DID YOU BECOME<br />

AN ADDICT, ANYWAY?”<br />

PEOPLE OFTEN ASK.<br />

Before I met Jesus, I would have given<br />

you multiple reasons. And, of course, none<br />

of them would have involved me. In my<br />

view, somebody or something else was<br />

always the cause of my downfalls.<br />

I blamed genetics because addiction<br />

runs in my family. I blamed exboyfriends<br />

because every one of my<br />

There was a dark space of nothingness<br />

inside me from as far back as I can remember.<br />

I tried hard to fill that space but<br />

always came up empty-handed. The more<br />

desperate I became, the more I grasped<br />

at the world around me. And everything I<br />

touched, I broke.<br />

I tried to fill the void in me with men. At<br />

13, I lost my virginity to my first boyfriend.<br />

My whole world revolved around that boy,<br />

and I let go of everything else to hold on to<br />

that relationship.<br />

He quickly became insecure and con-<br />

I’d call my mom from the pay phone outside<br />

the school in tears. She did her best to<br />

comfort me so I could get through the rest<br />

of the school day. But the next day, it would<br />

start all over again. The days and weeks<br />

dragged on until my broken teenage heart<br />

crumbled under the weight of loneliness.<br />

I was determined to end my life, so I<br />

took every pill in the bathroom medicine<br />

cabinet. Then, I went into my mom’s room<br />

and stood over her, quietly weeping as I<br />

watched her sleep.<br />

I wanted to wake her up, to tell her what<br />

PHOTOS BY CHEYENNE WILSON, ARIZONA PORTRAITS LLC<br />

romantic relationships ended in disaster.<br />

trolling and forbade me to go places and<br />

I had done. But I wanted to die more than<br />

I refused to take responsibility for any of<br />

do things with anyone else. Over time, I<br />

I wanted to live. Death was the only way to<br />

the messes I made.<br />

abandoned all my friends and school<br />

end my pain, I thought. So I went to bed,<br />

But the truth is, I had a good childhood.<br />

activities; I even shut out my family. The<br />

hoping to drift away forever.<br />

I grew up in a loving home with both par-<br />

end of the relationship shattered me.<br />

I was so disappointed the following day<br />

ents. No traumatic events can explain why I<br />

Who was I now? I had isolated myself and<br />

when I woke up. But I got up anyway and<br />

responded to the world around me the way<br />

had no identity outside of him. Because of<br />

forced myself to walk to school; I was still<br />

I did. The only person to blame is me. I was<br />

how I had treated them, my friends wanted<br />

under the influence of all those pills.<br />

the source of all my problems, and even<br />

nothing to do with me. No one would talk<br />

I had never been high before, and I liked<br />

worse, I created problems for everyone<br />

to me or sit with me at lunch. In fact, they<br />

how I felt. Suddenly, I didn’t feel any pain,<br />

around me.<br />

went out of their way to avoid me.<br />

and I wasn’t lonely. If I could stay numb, I<br />

10 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


easoned, I’d be okay. The trajectory of my<br />

life changed that day.<br />

I found a new group of people who accepted<br />

me. I hung out with the kids who<br />

got high. Somehow, I managed to graduate<br />

from high school, even though I was doing<br />

hard drugs daily.<br />

The party continued after high school<br />

until I discovered I was pregnant. I got married<br />

and stopped drinking and getting high<br />

for the sake of my child. In 2003, I gave<br />

birth to a healthy baby boy. I had a couple<br />

good years, but stress soon got the best of<br />

me again, and I returned to the numbness<br />

of drugs.<br />

When I turned 21, a whole new world<br />

opened to me. I could leave my son with his<br />

father and go out clubbing every night of<br />

the week. In 2005, I got a DUI. I spent only<br />

one night in jail, but that was enough to<br />

know that being locked up was not where<br />

I wanted to be.<br />

Soon, I divorced my son’s dad. After that,<br />

I cycled in and out of relationships, drinking<br />

heavily and fueling my addiction.<br />

In 2014, I hurt my back at work. The pain<br />

from the injury was terrible, and I relied on<br />

opiates to function. I was relieved to have<br />

a prescription for painkillers; I wouldn’t<br />

have to buy pills off the street anymore.<br />

I was already struggling to stay clean<br />

before the back injury, but now that I had<br />

opioids on hand, my addiction escalated<br />

quickly. A month’s prescription lasted only<br />

two weeks, so I had to rely on heroin and<br />

meth until my prescription refilled.<br />

By 2015, I was no longer a functioning<br />

addict. I began doing things I’d sworn I’d<br />

never do, like shooting up. I lost my job,<br />

my car, an apartment, and then my son.<br />

He had grown tired of how I was living and<br />

no longer wanted to be around me. I understood<br />

why he wanted to live with my<br />

mom, but it still hurt.<br />

Losing hope, I decided to try rehab.<br />

I started thinking about God as I went<br />

through the steps of recovery. I got up early<br />

to sit alone outside on the patio of the<br />

rehab center and talk to Him.<br />

“Do you know who I am, God?” I’d ask.<br />

I wondered if He even saw or cared about<br />

what was going on in my life. I didn’t know<br />

about Jesus or the magnitude of God’s love<br />

for me yet, but my heart was open to the<br />

idea that God existed.<br />

I came out of rehab determined to stay<br />

clean. I went home to my mom and son<br />

and did well for a while, but I began experiencing<br />

excruciating back pain. Turns out,<br />

shooting up had led to an infection in my<br />

vertebrae. Antibiotic therapy cleared the<br />

condition quickly, but I began using pain<br />

pills again. And that started the cycle of<br />

addiction all over.<br />

My mom requested a drug test, and I<br />

didn’t even put up a fight. I just left and<br />

dove headfirst into another dysfunctional<br />

and abusive relationship. My new boyfriend<br />

and I immediately began running<br />

the streets. We were homeless, and our<br />

There was a<br />

dark space of<br />

nothingness<br />

inside me from as<br />

far back as I can<br />

remember.<br />

entire lives revolved around our drug habits.<br />

I hit an all-time low, and a new level of<br />

darkness entered my life.<br />

By Christmas 2016, I was determined<br />

to pull myself together. I’d missed all the<br />

other holidays with my family that year<br />

due to my addiction; I didn’t want to miss<br />

this one. I was looking forward to spending<br />

the day with my son.<br />

I sobered up and waited anxiously for<br />

Mom to pick me up. But when she arrived,<br />

I was devastated to see that my son was not<br />

with her. Instead, she had with her a 7-page<br />

letter they had written together.<br />

In the letter, they asked me to choose<br />

them over drugs. “Your son is sick of sharing<br />

you, Amber! He’s so tired of you abandoning<br />

him for this life.” My mother read<br />

the letter aloud as I sobbed uncontrollably.<br />

My precious son was deeply hurt and<br />

traumatized because of my choices. It was<br />

painful to hear, but I knew it was all true.<br />

Somehow, I got the courage and strength<br />

that day to turn my back on my boyfriend<br />

and drugs and return to my parents’ home<br />

for shelter. I am convinced I would not be<br />

here to tell this story had I made a different<br />

choice that day. I never got high again.<br />

My troubles didn’t suddenly disappear;<br />

I’d be lying if I said they did. Instead, they<br />

multiplied as I confronted the broken relationship<br />

between my son and me.<br />

He was rightfully angry and did not<br />

believe that I would stay clean. It would<br />

be a long road to earn his trust, but I was<br />

determined to travel it.<br />

Knowing I needed help, I decided to start<br />

going to church. I wasn’t sure why, but I felt<br />

like I was supposed to be there. Once again,<br />

I found myself talking to God. “I need to<br />

know that You are real, God. I can’t face life<br />

alone. I don’t know what I am supposed to<br />

do to fix my relationship with my son.” God<br />

would soon answer me.<br />

Amber’s mother<br />

provided support<br />

and the tough love<br />

she often needed.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

11


God spoke clearly to Amber through a note she<br />

found written on the sidewalk.<br />

I struggled to stay away from my ex-<br />

boyfriend, who was still addicted and on<br />

the streets. He would call and beg me to<br />

return to him. Our conversations always<br />

left me feeling helpless. He promised he<br />

was not getting high, but I knew better. I<br />

also knew spending time with him would<br />

be dangerous. But I cared about him and<br />

wanted to help him.<br />

So, as any true codependent would, I<br />

started dragging my ex to church. On Sunday,<br />

February 5, 2017, we met at a fast-food<br />

place before the service.<br />

After breakfast, we stood up, and a syringe<br />

fell out of his pocket. An immediate<br />

flurry of feelings rose inside me, but ultimately,<br />

anger prevailed. “Get away from<br />

me and leave me alone,” I cried as I ran<br />

out of the restaurant. He followed me, and<br />

soon we were screaming at each other and<br />

physically fighting. It was a miracle that we<br />

did not end up in jail.<br />

I can’t explain how, but I knew that my<br />

life depended on making it to the church<br />

that day, so I kept running. Today I know<br />

there was a real spiritual battle trying to<br />

prevent me from coming face to face with<br />

the love of God. Thankfully, God won. In<br />

fact, He gave me a message that day that I<br />

couldn’t miss. It was written in chalk, right<br />

there on the sidewalk: “I am rebuilding the<br />

life that heroin tore apart.”<br />

Those words spoke straight to my heart,<br />

and I knew they were from God. When I<br />

needed Him, He had<br />

shown up (Psalm 46:1).<br />

It’s incredible to me that<br />

God would intervene in<br />

such a profound, personal<br />

way (Genesis 16:13).<br />

Determination flooded<br />

my heart. I snapped a picture<br />

of the message with<br />

my phone and ran toward<br />

the church. But my ex<br />

followed me, and we were<br />

fighting as we came in<br />

the doors. Members of<br />

the congregation quickly<br />

sensed that I was in trouble<br />

and moved in to help.<br />

They separated us, and a<br />

kind woman comforted me as I sobbed.<br />

I calmed down enough to join the worship<br />

service. Tears streamed down my<br />

face as the beautiful song “Good, Good<br />

Father” played. When the pastor presented<br />

an altar call, I fell to my knees and surrendered<br />

my life to God. Despite the evil<br />

forces that had tried to stop me, the Lord’s<br />

purposes prevailed, and I accepted Jesus<br />

Christ as my Lord and Savior (Psalm 57:2).<br />

I invited Him that day into the dark, void<br />

space in my soul. He responded by filling<br />

me with His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.<br />

I found in Jesus the acceptance and sense<br />

of belonging that I had searched for my<br />

whole life.<br />

You must know that getting saved did<br />

not free me from the consequences of my<br />

addiction and selfish choices. Jesus never<br />

promises that we won’t have to deal with<br />

those, only that we won’t have to do it alone<br />

(Isaiah 43:2; John 16:33).<br />

My life looked like a collapsed building<br />

that a wrecking ball had demolished—but<br />

God is in the remodeling and restoration<br />

business! He gives new life through the finished<br />

work of Jesus Christ on the cross to<br />

anyone who comes to Him. God has always<br />

been faithful to reconstruct and remodel<br />

the things that sin destroys. Knowing<br />

this strengthened my faith. Besides, I had<br />

nothing to lose by trusting Him to restore<br />

my losses.<br />

Since then, my life has been one big<br />

construction site. Jesus has been the chief<br />

architect and foreman, overseeing every<br />

repair, big and small. When I gave Him<br />

control over every detail of my life, true<br />

and lasting transformation began.<br />

It’s been an amazing experience to roll<br />

up my sleeves and be an active participant<br />

in God’s plan and purpose for my life. His<br />

blessings have been endless!<br />

Within a year after getting clean, a renewed<br />

relationship with my son began to<br />

bloom. He still struggles with the trauma<br />

he experienced during my addiction, but<br />

I get the privilege of consistently showing<br />

up for him as his mom. I now get to be an<br />

example of the life-changing power of Jesus<br />

and reflect my Lord and Savior’s love<br />

into my son’s life.<br />

He and his wife have made me a proud<br />

grandma. Even though COVID prevented<br />

it, they extended a kind invitation to me<br />

to be in the delivery room when my third<br />

grandchild was born. I praise the Lord for<br />

the miracle of forgiveness in my son’s heart<br />

toward me.<br />

I am also married now to a wonderful<br />

Christian man who is not only the solid<br />

spiritual leader in our home, but also my<br />

best friend. He has helped me navigate<br />

through sober parenthood. The Lord has<br />

used him to be a positive male presence<br />

in my son’s life too. I am blessed as well to<br />

have a church family that embraces me and<br />

helps me stay connected and accountable.<br />

Having the Lord’s presence and power in<br />

my life and a godly support system means<br />

everything. That dark space of nothingness<br />

is no longer inside me. Christ has filled it<br />

with His love, joy, and peace.<br />

And He can fill you too.<br />

We all have the same God-sized hole inside<br />

us, and only His love can fill it. Come to<br />

Him today. He makes a beautiful promise<br />

in Jeremiah 31:4 NLT: “I will rebuild you…<br />

You will again be happy and dance merrily<br />

with your tambourines.”<br />

AMBER LEASON works in special-needs<br />

education and enjoys sharing the love of Jesus with<br />

her students. Using her life experience, she serves<br />

with Thrive, a women’s ministry that facilitates<br />

a space for women to connect with God and<br />

encourage each other in their faith.<br />

PHOTO BY CHEYENNE WILSON, ARIZONA PORTRAITS LLC<br />

12 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


STEPPING FORWARD<br />

Pass the Test<br />

BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON<br />

FOR MONTHS, THE LORD HAD BEEN impressing<br />

on my heart the importance of integrity and being<br />

thorough. “Take no shortcuts, Kristi. Shortcuts open<br />

doors the enemy can walk through to wreak havoc in<br />

your life and ministry.” I had received these words with<br />

great enthusiasm. But then the test came, and I failed.<br />

I knew it was wrong the moment it went down. It felt<br />

secretive and was prefaced with the words, “If someone<br />

asks how you got this, just say _______.” There was a<br />

process I was supposed to go through, and I knew it. But<br />

the process was tedious and could result in a negative<br />

outcome, so when this mighty man of God offered the<br />

shortcut, I told the little voice in my head to be quiet<br />

and took it.<br />

It’s not that what was being offered was bad. It was an<br />

amazing gift. And if I were to reveal it to you, you might<br />

think it was nothing. But trivial or not, it was eating<br />

me alive!<br />

I wrestled with conviction for days. To make myself<br />

feel better, I cast blame: “I didn’t ask for what I got;<br />

he gave it to me.” I justified having the gift with, “I needed<br />

it. This is a good thing, a God-thing even! People will<br />

be so blessed by it.” And they were.<br />

The week went on and I tried to convince myself that<br />

God had provided it to our ministry. “Surely the Lord<br />

has given me the desires of my heart. I just prayed about<br />

this very thing, and now I have it! This is a blessing from<br />

heaven!” I thanked the Lord for such a beautiful gift.<br />

But the Holy Spirit continued to poke away at my conscience<br />

until the goodness of God led me to repentance<br />

(Romans 2:4). Repentance happened when I chose to<br />

set aside my justification, reasoning, and blame and<br />

ask the Lord for His perspective on the matter. There,<br />

in the quiet, God revealed His truth in love.<br />

I saw clearly that what I had done was wrong. I had<br />

skipped the proper process, ignored the inner voice<br />

of conviction, and put my reputation and the ministry<br />

God had entrusted to me at risk. Not only that, but I<br />

had credited God with answering my prayer in a shady<br />

way. I mean, come on! He is a holy God who does what<br />

is right. He doesn’t lurk around in the shadows to bring<br />

about what I need.<br />

Busted and exposed, I fell to my knees and repented.<br />

“Lord, You’re right. What I did was wrong. My actions<br />

set a terrible example to others, and I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” I<br />

felt sick to my stomach.<br />

You can believe guilt arrived on the scene quickly. But then I remembered<br />

that God’s conviction is rooted in His love for me, not<br />

anger or disappointment. He had revealed my sin to bring correction,<br />

protection, and promotion—not condemnation. God didn’t want me<br />

to waste precious time wallowing in shame; He wanted me to learn<br />

from my mistake and move forward better. If I was genuinely sorry,<br />

then God had already forgiven me (1 John 1:9).<br />

WALK FAITHFULLY, DO THINGS GOD’S WAY,<br />

AND TRUST HIS TIMING. DOING SO WILL<br />

PROVE YOUR LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND<br />

POSITION YOU FOR GREATER THINGS.<br />

Either I believed His Word and trusted His love, or I didn’t.<br />

I am thankful for God’s love, and out of my love for Him, I want<br />

to pass the next integrity test. I want to prove to the Lord I can be<br />

trusted in the smallest of details. I want to live a life above reproach,<br />

so no man can bring an accusation (1 Peter 2:12). God forbid I take a<br />

shortcut that gives Satan an opening to attack the work God is doing<br />

(Ephesians 4:26–27).<br />

Friend, there are blessings on the other side of integrity. Don’t take<br />

a shortcut. It’s not worth it. Walk faithfully, do things God’s way, and<br />

trust His timing. Doing so will prove your love for the Father and<br />

position you for greater things (Luke 16:10).<br />

KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON encourages and equips people for victory<br />

through her writings, speaking engagements, and prison ministry. To learn more,<br />

go to kojministries.org.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

13


Lay Your<br />

Burden<br />

Down<br />

THE STORY OF JAY BASTARDO<br />

Who is Jesus to me?<br />

Jesus is my everything.<br />

At every stage of my life, whether I realized<br />

it or not, God has been exactly who I<br />

have needed Him to be—my Savior, healer,<br />

and friend; my protector, provider, and redeemer;<br />

my comforter, strength, and refuge.<br />

And lately, Jesus has been revealing<br />

Himself as my source of peace and identity.<br />

It took a scary trip to the hospital in<br />

2020 to begin to know Him this way, but<br />

you need to know more about me before<br />

I tell that story.<br />

I started life in the Dominican Republic,<br />

where my family worked very hard for<br />

what little we had. My grandmother was<br />

the first entrepreneur I ever met, and man,<br />

was she a hustler! She always had creative<br />

ideas, and I was right there by her side.<br />

Grandma was poor, but she never complained<br />

or focused on what she didn’t have;<br />

she just went to work. We did all sorts of<br />

things to make money: we bagged the charcoal<br />

we found on the ground. We cooked<br />

beans. We made hair products. And people<br />

came to our home to purchase these<br />

treasures. Grandma’s work ethic sowed an<br />

enterprising seed in me that thrives today.<br />

My mother was a hard worker too. She<br />

came to America through a government<br />

program in 1994 and worked three jobs to<br />

make a better life for us. She fought hard to<br />

take me with her to the States, but it wasn’t<br />

possible at the time. She was forced to leave<br />

me in the care of my grandmother.<br />

Being away from my mother was incredibly<br />

painful, and my heart still hurts<br />

when I think about it. No matter how much<br />

love my grandmother and other relatives<br />

showed me, nobody’s love ever felt like<br />

Momma’s. I lived with an enormous hole in<br />

my heart. It was difficult knowing she was<br />

so far away, and even as a young boy, I felt<br />

an urgent need to protect her.<br />

Thankfully, God made a way for us to be<br />

reunited five years later. On May 26, 1999,<br />

I arrived in Newark, New Jersey. I came<br />

armed with five dollars that my aunt had<br />

given me. She told me, “Go be a man and<br />

make your mark on this world!”<br />

And that’s what I set out to do from that<br />

day forward. I was 15 years old.<br />

I had dreamed about this moment and<br />

my life in America for years. I was so happy<br />

to be reunited with my mother, but the<br />

perfect life I had imagined was not to be<br />

found. I hadn’t seen her in five years, and<br />

we’d both changed. She was now married<br />

and had another child. I hadn’t met her<br />

husband or my half-brother before the<br />

day I arrived. I felt very out of<br />

place and alone. Not to mention,<br />

I was a teenage boy wrestling<br />

with deep emotions and<br />

raging hormones.<br />

And then I had to start school<br />

in a new place where I didn’t<br />

speak one word of English and<br />

I had only one pair of jeans that<br />

I wore every day. It was a cruel world.<br />

One incident haunted me for years.<br />

It happened on the first day of school. I<br />

entered a classroom to ask a teacher—in<br />

Spanish, of course—if I was in the correct<br />

room. When he answered “no,” I assumed<br />

he spoke Spanish and continued speaking.<br />

No is, after all, a Spanish word.<br />

Suddenly, a young Latina burst out<br />

laughing. I’ll never forget her mocking<br />

voice. “Are you stupid? Don’t you see that<br />

man doesn’t speak Spanish? You’d better<br />

learn the language!”<br />

The way she spoke ignited something inside<br />

of me. I didn’t appreciate being called<br />

stupid or being challenged. I turned to her<br />

and replied in Spanish, “I promise you that<br />

I’ll be speaking better English than you<br />

before this year is over.”<br />

I went home and got to work. I grabbed a<br />

14 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


If my motive for doing something is for<br />

myself and not for God’s glory, then<br />

accomplishing it will come at a great price.<br />

PHOTOS BY HALEY MANNING PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

dictionary, turned on the television to FOX<br />

and CNN, and put on the closed captions.<br />

Every day, I highlighted a new word from<br />

the dictionary and used it in a sentence as<br />

many times as I could.<br />

All that work paid off. Six months later,<br />

the teacher in charge of the English as a<br />

Second Language program came into the<br />

classroom and promoted me to a regular<br />

English-speaking class in the presence of<br />

that girl. It was a very satisfying moment;<br />

her words had hurt me.<br />

From that point on, I was determined<br />

to prove my worth through what I could<br />

accomplish. I would show the world who<br />

Jay Bastardo was and what he could do.<br />

And I’ve been working to prove myself<br />

ever since.<br />

My story really is one of immigrant success.<br />

I arrived in the US at 15, worked crazy<br />

hours through high school, and went on to<br />

various jobs. I met my wife, Eridania, in<br />

New Jersey, but we were from the same<br />

hometown in the Dominican Republic.<br />

God brought us together in the land of<br />

our dreams.<br />

I always knew I wanted to own my own<br />

business, be my own boss, and pursue the<br />

American dream. We moved to Greenville,<br />

NC, and eventually we bought a food truck<br />

on Craigslist. We called it Villa Verde—to<br />

honor our Dominican hometown and our<br />

new hometown, Greenville. God blessed<br />

that business, and today we have two<br />

beautiful brick-and-mortar authentic<br />

Dominican-food restaurants and a third<br />

restaurant serving good old Southern food.<br />

We’ve worked hard to get here, and I continue<br />

to be driven by a need to succeed. I’ve<br />

accomplished much in life. Accomplishing<br />

things isn’t bad. The Lord wants us to reach<br />

our fullest potential and make the most of<br />

the opportunities He brings. But no matter<br />

how much I accomplish, it’s somehow<br />

never enough in my mind.<br />

What I’m learning now is that if my<br />

motive for doing something is for myself<br />

and not for God’s glory, then accomplishing<br />

it will come at a great price.<br />

As far back as I can remember, I’ve felt<br />

this incredible responsibility to be successful,<br />

not just for my sake, but for others—my<br />

grandmother, mother, wife, children, staff,<br />

community, and more. This need to prove<br />

myself means I am in constant motion. For<br />

years, I have defined myself by what I do<br />

and how busy I am.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

15


So you can imagine what a shock the<br />

worldwide shutdown of 2020 was to my<br />

system. The COVID-19 pandemic rocked<br />

my world. Always before, I could handle<br />

crisis. I worked harder so we didn’t lose<br />

what we had. I never backed down from a<br />

challenge—no matter how high the odds<br />

were stacked against me, I overcame<br />

them with commitment, determination,<br />

and hard work. I had started from nothing<br />

before, and I’d always found a way.<br />

But COVID was different. People were<br />

dying. The disease came like a murderer in<br />

the night; it wasn’t a respecter of persons.<br />

“But I’m responsible for all these people<br />

and their families. Some have left their<br />

countries to work for me. If I don’t open<br />

back up, they won’t have money to pay<br />

their bills or send back to their families.<br />

Everyone will suffer because of me!”<br />

Back and forth I went. I wavered so much<br />

that my mind became filled with chaos,<br />

doubt, and fear.<br />

For the first time in my life, I couldn’t<br />

see the way forward.<br />

And that’s where the unexpected trip<br />

to the hospital came in. I experienced so<br />

much inner turmoil over these business<br />

And then my beautiful wife, Eri, spoke<br />

up. “Why don’t you let the staff decide, Jay?<br />

Find out how they feel about this.”<br />

Well, why didn’t I think of that? We gathered<br />

everyone together to discuss the situation.<br />

Their response blessed me. “We<br />

want to come back to work,” they said.<br />

“The community needs us, and we need<br />

to be here too.” They even told me that if we<br />

didn’t have the money to pay them, they’d<br />

still be there for us. That night, we decided<br />

to move forward as a team, and we all<br />

rolled up our sleeves and got back to work.<br />

My family and our staff pressed forward<br />

Jay (right) with his chefs, John and<br />

Linda, serve excellent food for the<br />

glory of God.<br />

A fear-based, performance-driven<br />

life is not what God intends for<br />

His children to experience.<br />

PHOTO BY HALEY MANNING PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

I couldn’t work harder to fix it. I couldn’t<br />

implement a solution. I had no control. And<br />

people were dying! That terrified me.<br />

As a business owner, I didn’t know what<br />

to do. Should I keep the restaurants closed,<br />

or should I open them for take-out? But<br />

if I opened them and one of my staff got<br />

COVID, was that my fault? And what if they<br />

died?! Inside, I condemned myself: “You’re<br />

a greedy pig, Jay. You only want to open to<br />

save your business and make money. It’s<br />

all you’ve ever cared about!”<br />

Satan knew just how to push my buttons.<br />

I’d been hurt by those exact words in the<br />

past—from people I loved. So I decided to<br />

keep the restaurants closed. My inner self<br />

tormented me with that decision too.<br />

decisions that I thought I was having a<br />

heart attack.<br />

Turned out my heart was fine—I was<br />

“just” having a panic attack. What? Me, a<br />

panic attack? No way! “Only weak people<br />

have those,” I thought, “and I’m not weak.<br />

I’m a doer, a man of faith who overcomes<br />

obstacles. I mentor other people. I’m a<br />

provider and protector for my family and<br />

friends. I help the people of my community.<br />

I can’t have a panic attack. That’s just not<br />

me!” I felt so much shame and condemnation<br />

when I heard those words. (I think<br />

I’d have been happier with a heart attack!)<br />

But I went back home and kept worrying<br />

about what I should do. Finally, I decided I<br />

would keep the restaurants closed.<br />

daily after that. But I couldn’t ignore the<br />

ele phant in the room—I had gone to the<br />

hospital, crippled by fear and anxiety.<br />

Those emotions were still tormenting my<br />

heart and mind. Why was this happening?<br />

The story I’ve told you so far has been<br />

about me—but my faith is also a big part of<br />

my life. In the middle of all my worry and<br />

indecision, I began to sense God inviting<br />

me on a journey to discover the answers<br />

to these questions and to better understand<br />

my true identity as His child. I’ve<br />

since stepped out into this journey, and<br />

the deeper I dive into my past, examine<br />

my belief patterns, and let God reveal His<br />

truths, the more freedom and peace I find.<br />

I’ve lived under pressure so long that I’m<br />

16 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


not sure I would know how to live without<br />

it. I am well aware that my choices today<br />

impact people I will never meet on this side<br />

of heaven. I strive daily to live a life that my<br />

kids will want to model. The funny thing<br />

is that no matter how hard I try, I usually<br />

feel like a failure at the end of the day. And<br />

these failures taunt me. My response is<br />

to work harder and try to do better. It’s a<br />

weighty burden.<br />

When God and I set out on our journey<br />

together, I remembered Matthew 11:28–30<br />

(NIV), where Jesus says, “Come to me, all<br />

you who are weary and burdened, and I will<br />

give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and<br />

learn from me, for I am gentle and humble<br />

in heart, and you will find rest for your<br />

souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden<br />

is light.”<br />

These verses helped me understand<br />

that the pressure I live under is not from<br />

God; it is self-imposed. His purposes for<br />

my life will never weigh me down, nor will<br />

they create anxiety, self-condemnation,<br />

or pressure. They also won’t invoke fear,<br />

doubt, or confusion.<br />

If I am under these things, then I must<br />

be under something other than the will of<br />

God. There is freedom, peace, and order<br />

wherever the Lord is—not bondage, fear,<br />

and chaos. (See 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2<br />

Timo thy 1:7; 2 Corinthians 3:17.)<br />

I’m not responsible for everyone’s life<br />

outcome. Each individual is accountable<br />

for their own choices. I’m also not responsible<br />

for being everyone’s provider and<br />

solving their problems. That’s God’s job.<br />

And my taking on these responsibilities<br />

is me trying to play God.<br />

Here’s a fresh revelation: I’m not God! I<br />

can’t tell you how freeing it is to let go of<br />

that responsibility.<br />

That doesn’t mean God doesn’t want me<br />

to care for others. I am His hands and feet<br />

on this earth, and I am called to serve and<br />

give. But He is teaching me that I’m not<br />

responsible for people; I am responsible<br />

to them. My role is to live a life of integrity<br />

and to operate in my giftings as I serve,<br />

love, and honor those around me.<br />

To put it simply: God is calling me to<br />

focus on being, not doing.<br />

The greatest thing I can do for others<br />

is to be a surrendered child of God; the<br />

rest will take care of itself (Matthew 6:33).<br />

He calls me to trust Him (Proverbs 3:5–6)<br />

and release my loved ones to His care. God<br />

loves my family and staff more than I do,<br />

and His plan and provision for them will<br />

not fail.<br />

I’ve already told you that my motive for<br />

doing has been to prove my worth. But the<br />

Lord has also revealed the driving force<br />

behind that motive: fear. Deep down, I need<br />

to prove I am somebody because I am desperately<br />

afraid that I am nobody.<br />

If I fail, I’m afraid I’ll prove that what my<br />

classmates, a former boss, and even some<br />

family members said about me was right.<br />

They said I’d be poor and never amount to<br />

anything, that my ideas were stupid, and<br />

that I’d fall flat on my face. I strive because<br />

I’m terrified that what they said will become<br />

my reality. I also fear I’ll fail my wife<br />

and children.<br />

But a fear-based, performance-driven<br />

life is not what God intends for His children<br />

to experience. That’s Satan’s desire.<br />

God has never asked any of us to prove<br />

our worth.<br />

Before we accomplished one thing in<br />

this world, He exchanged His Son’s life for<br />

ours (John 3:16). The Lord’s love for us has<br />

never been based on what we do but on<br />

who we are—His children. And what we<br />

do isn’t what pleases Him either. It’s how<br />

we trust Him that matters (Hebrews 11:6).<br />

I’m thankful for these revelations and all<br />

the others. And I am committed to allowing<br />

the Lord to work in my life. I do want<br />

to experience His freedom and rest, but<br />

I’m finding that a learning experience too.<br />

Like I’ve said, I work nonstop. I have for<br />

years. I don’t understand people who don’t<br />

want to work or who give excuses why they<br />

can’t work. But God is teaching me that<br />

working nonstop isn’t His intention either.<br />

Rest is good, and God commands us to do<br />

so. It’s the fourth commandment. Even God<br />

rested from His work (Genesis 2:2–3).<br />

Still, if I’m not working, I wrestle with<br />

feeling guilty, lazy, and unproductive. I feel<br />

like I’m not being a man and providing for<br />

my family. The Lord is helping me work<br />

Jay and his wife, Eri,<br />

stay busy working<br />

but often sneak away<br />

for fun.<br />

through these patterns of wrong thinking.<br />

He is teaching me to find balance in<br />

my life—not just for me, but for the sake<br />

of my family.<br />

My constant going keeps my loved ones<br />

on the move too. And the pressure I’m<br />

under seeps into their lives whether I intend<br />

it to or not. We are all weary. My wife<br />

and teenage son work ridiculously hard<br />

and long hours. Our family bounces from<br />

restaurant to restaurant, event to event.<br />

As you can see, I am learning much<br />

about myself and the why behind my what.<br />

And I am sure God will have a lot more to<br />

show me in His time as He helps me become<br />

who He created me to be. I’m excited<br />

for God to transform me into a new person<br />

as I change how I think. Then I’ll be able<br />

to experience His will, which is good and<br />

pleasing and perfect. (See Romans 12:2.)<br />

Perhaps today, you are under heavy<br />

burdens and being attacked by fear. Like<br />

me, you’re afraid that people’s words and<br />

thoughts about you will come true. God<br />

wants to help you be free of your burdens<br />

and escape the turmoil. Jesus’s promise of<br />

rest is for you too. Lay your burdens down,<br />

my friend. Right here at Jesus’s feet.<br />

JAY BASTARDO is on mission to discover his<br />

identity in Christ. He and his family serve their<br />

community through authentic Dominican food and<br />

heartfelt service while living out God’s agape love<br />

to the world.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

17


A<br />

PLACE<br />

TO<br />

BELONG<br />

THE STORY OF SHERIDAN CORREA<br />

I grew up in a large, religious family—the<br />

seventh of nine children. At first glance,<br />

you’d think we had it all. My father was a<br />

successful businessman who provided us<br />

with a large, beautiful home. My mother<br />

stayed home and managed the household.<br />

They raised kids who excelled in music,<br />

aca demics, and sports. We attended<br />

church together regularly.<br />

But we were dysfunctional. Dad worked<br />

long, hard hours and was often away from<br />

home. Mom stayed home and was responsible<br />

for raising all of us—a stressful job to<br />

be sure. Our home felt unstable, and toxic<br />

stress brewed all around us.<br />

Periods of separation created a great divide<br />

in our family. When they’d split, some<br />

of us kids would go with Dad and the rest<br />

with Mom. I never knew where I belonged<br />

or which “team” I was supposed to be on.<br />

It didn’t take long for feelings of inadequacy<br />

to surface. As one of many kids, I felt<br />

like a number rather than an individual.<br />

It’s remarkable how alone and unloved you<br />

can feel, even in your own family. As far<br />

as I knew, I mattered to no one, and I was<br />

ready for life to end by the fourth grade.<br />

One day at recess, I rushed to the top of<br />

the monkey bars, fully intending to throw<br />

myself to the ground, break my neck, and<br />

end my misery. Tears streamed down my<br />

face as I prepared to jump.<br />

Before I could, however, teachers managed<br />

to get hold of me. They took me to the<br />

school psychologist, but nothing ever came<br />

of the incident other than an assessment.<br />

I coped as best I could with the dark<br />

emotions brewing inside me for the next<br />

eight years. Every day, I put a smile on my<br />

face and performed. Performance and<br />

achievement were my jams. God forbid<br />

anyone would discover my imperfections<br />

or insecurities. I became a master at wearing<br />

a mask, and no one knew a frightened<br />

little girl was hiding within. Two very different<br />

people were living inside me, and<br />

not even I knew which one was the real me.<br />

I graduated high school and set out to<br />

experience a happier and more stable life. I<br />

attended university on both music and athletic<br />

scholarships. I achieved great success<br />

for the first few years and was emotionally<br />

sound. And then I went off the rails.<br />

Desperately seeking happiness, security,<br />

and a solution for my miserable life, I<br />

turned to men. Marriage seemed to be the<br />

next milestone of accomplishment. I was<br />

young, vulnerable, and immature when<br />

I said “I do” for the first time, and within<br />

months, the relationship ended in divorce.<br />

My failed marriage only added to my<br />

pervasive sense of inadequacy. I felt great<br />

shame and entered a deep emotional and<br />

mental darkness. I had experienced the<br />

lows of depression before and had even<br />

seen counselors, so I had coping mechanisms,<br />

but this time, nothing helped.<br />

I finally sought psychiatric help. I recounted<br />

my life and the inner turmoil I had<br />

PHOTO BY LYSSA YATES<br />

18 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


felt since a child. I told the doctor of the<br />

short reprieve when I became a mom to<br />

ers and washed them down with rubbing<br />

violent mood swings, recurring thoughts<br />

two amazing little boys, but the cycle of<br />

alcohol. But just like on that playground,<br />

of suicide, how fear ruled my life, and our<br />

hopelessness soon returned. I grew tired<br />

my suicide attempt was unsuccessful. I<br />

family’s history of mental disease. Before<br />

of trying to feel normal and be happy.<br />

was admitted to a psychiatric facility until<br />

I left that office, I was diagnosed with bi-<br />

I called crisis hotlines, cycled in and out<br />

I was stable.<br />

polar disorder.<br />

of psychiatric hospitals, and experimented<br />

Released from the hospital, I found my-<br />

Relief washed over me. I had always<br />

with multiple psych medications. But noth-<br />

self homeless. I felt a weird camaraderie<br />

known something was “wrong” with me.<br />

ing gave me lasting emotional and mental<br />

with all the other lost and broken people I<br />

Now I had the answer to all my problems. I<br />

stability. Years of inner turmoil took their<br />

encountered on the street. I deluded myself<br />

eagerly accepted my diagnosis, along with<br />

toll and began to manifest through my<br />

into thinking that I could help them.<br />

numerous psych meds. There was hope<br />

body: I experienced chronic debilitating<br />

It wasn’t long before I entered the world<br />

for me after all.<br />

pain. Old sports injuries were also now<br />

of hardcore drugs. Once I got a taste of<br />

I took my meds consistently and soon<br />

requiring surgeries.<br />

that life, I turned completely away from<br />

felt more stable. I returned to my comfort<br />

I began using painkillers. At first, my<br />

PHOTO BY NICHOLAS CORREA<br />

zones of performance and achievement,<br />

sure that my meds had fixed me for good.<br />

Three years later, I remarried. It didn’t take<br />

long for that marriage to unravel too.<br />

I hadn’t felt loved as a child, so I didn’t<br />

know how to love others or myself, nor did<br />

I know how to receive love as an adult. A<br />

rejected, isolated little girl lived inside me,<br />

and until she was tended to, nothing would<br />

ever be right in my life. I had no idea how to<br />

help her, though, so I continued doing the<br />

use was legitimate, and I took them only<br />

as I needed them. But then I discovered<br />

that opioids numbed my emotional pain. I<br />

finally felt normal and could deal with life<br />

circumstances. And I liked it. Not only that,<br />

the constant emotional stress and all the<br />

voices in my head were gone.<br />

Pain pills were controlling my inner<br />

monster. And although I knew I was developing<br />

an unhealthy dependence, I denied<br />

and ignored the problem.<br />

As far as I knew, I<br />

mattered to no one, and I<br />

was ready for life to end.<br />

my family, church, and community, and<br />

didn’t look back. I became an overachiever<br />

in addiction and crime. That worked…<br />

until it didn’t.<br />

I was numb and ignorant of the damage I<br />

My descent into addiction hell escalated<br />

was doing to myself and the people I loved.<br />

God blessed Sheridan<br />

with a godly life partner<br />

in her husband, Nick.<br />

after a traumatic motorcycle accident left<br />

me unable to walk for months. My injuries<br />

required major surgeries, and I experi-<br />

My children were becoming memories that<br />

only haunted me.<br />

I soon became a “frequent flyer” at the<br />

enced much pain. My addiction to opioids<br />

Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix, Arizona.<br />

increased.<br />

At first, it was for minor things like shop-<br />

The next three years required the con-<br />

lifting and outstanding warrants, but then<br />

stant assistance of pills for me to tackle<br />

came more severe crimes like criminal<br />

even the most mundane task. I began<br />

damage, domestic violence, and drug pos-<br />

drinking daily as well, sometimes until I<br />

session and sale charges.<br />

blacked out. Alcohol, drugs, and my sense<br />

After each arrest, I was confined to the<br />

of unworthiness were a deadly mixture. My<br />

psych ward. Emerging from my drug coma<br />

mind became the darkest, scariest place I<br />

and facing the reality of my life was always<br />

had ever known, and my memory was my<br />

more than I could bear. Knowing who and<br />

worst enemy.<br />

what I had become was terrifying.<br />

In the middle of this downward spiral,<br />

Finally, stripped of everything, I hit rock<br />

my husband filed for divorce and received<br />

bottom. Desperate to end the insanity and<br />

temporary sole custody of our boys. I felt<br />

despite being in solitary confinement, I<br />

more rejected and abandoned than ever,<br />

found a way to inflict serious harm. The<br />

and I became bitter and resentful.<br />

guards, however, discovered my bloody<br />

With my identity as wife and mother<br />

self and placed me on suicide watch. Still,<br />

stripped away, I felt I’d died, along with<br />

under their watchful eyes, I tried to end my<br />

everybody I loved. If I wasn’t a mother and<br />

life again, but to no avail.<br />

only things I knew to do—perform, excel,<br />

a wife, who was I? What reason did I have<br />

I didn’t understand it then, but I now<br />

achieve, and hide my brokenness.<br />

to live anymore?<br />

know God’s mercy was at work, and He<br />

For the next decade, I battled anxiety<br />

Overwhelmed by those thoughts, I<br />

was about to reveal Himself to me in the<br />

and severe depression. I experienced a<br />

grabbed a month’s supply of muscle relax-<br />

most beautiful way.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

19


I had grown up hearing about God. But<br />

at the same time, I was taught to rely on my<br />

intellect and performance. I came from a<br />

long lineage of successful people; we didn’t<br />

need anyone’s help, not even God’s. I clung<br />

to the belief that I was in control and could<br />

achieve anything if I set my mind to it.<br />

But in that ugly place, I finally had a<br />

life-changing revelation: I wasn’t in control<br />

of anything! My intellect, self-efforts, and<br />

awards couldn’t bring me happiness and<br />

stability, nor could they free me from my<br />

emotional and mental prison. I didn’t have<br />

a clue about how to manage life.<br />

I was a homeless meth and heroin addict<br />

who had lost everything that mattered, including<br />

my freedom. It was time I moved<br />

aside and gave up the reins.<br />

Once released to the jail’s general population,<br />

I began attending church and<br />

I became a master at<br />

wearing a mask, and no<br />

one knew a frightened<br />

little girl was hiding within.<br />

Narcotics Anonymous meetings. There, I<br />

learned that God was a loving and caring<br />

Father. This concept intrigued me, and I<br />

began to open my heart to Him.<br />

New feelings, thoughts, and desires<br />

introduced themselves to me. They were<br />

foreign yet strangely familiar, and I felt I’d<br />

come home to where I’d always belonged. I<br />

found a new desire to live and love.<br />

The morning I was to receive my prison<br />

plea, I knelt beside the jail toilet and surrendered<br />

my life to the care of God. “God, if<br />

You want to send me to prison, that’s okay.<br />

I’ll go wherever because I know You’re<br />

coming with me.”<br />

Later that day, I learned that the state<br />

Sheridan’s smile was big, but<br />

the emptiness in her heart was<br />

bigger and led to incarceration.<br />

prosecutor had changed the plea<br />

deal. Instead of serving a threeand-a-half-year<br />

prison sentence,<br />

I was sent to the Phoenix Rescue Mission. I<br />

would remain there for one year with three<br />

years’ probation. I entered the Mission’s<br />

gates wanting, willing, and ready for whatever<br />

God had in store.<br />

I knew God was inviting me to trust Him,<br />

but it’s hard to trust someone you don’t<br />

know. So I started studying His Word, the<br />

Bible. God lit a fire inside me for Himself,<br />

and as I learned more about Him, my mental<br />

illness, addictions, and hopelessness<br />

lost their holds on me. God began to change<br />

me from the inside out. I no longer felt like<br />

a counterfeit version of myself. I finally felt<br />

seen, heard, loved, and accepted.<br />

But then, after seven months in the program,<br />

I was a witness and an accomplice<br />

to another person breaking the program’s<br />

rules. Initially, I didn’t think I would be affected<br />

because I wasn’t the one breaking<br />

the rules. But there were consequences,<br />

and I had a choice: either restart the program<br />

or defer to prison.<br />

I stayed in the program, accepted the<br />

discipline (Hebrews 12:6), and learned<br />

from my mistake. Like David in Psalm<br />

139:23–24, I asked the Lord to highlight<br />

anything preventing me from moving<br />

forward with Him.<br />

The Lord soon revealed something<br />

critical—I needed a Savior. Although I had<br />

recognized my need for God, turned my life<br />

over to His care, learned lots of scripture,<br />

and even experienced a real-life change,<br />

I hadn’t come to know His Son, Jesus, as<br />

my Lord and Savior. I hadn’t accepted what<br />

He’d done for me on the cross. I was still<br />

relying on my good works.<br />

My deceitful action at the Mission revealed<br />

the sinful nature I still carried. I<br />

needed to be born again in Christ to receive<br />

a new heart. I asked God to forgive<br />

me of my sin, and I put my faith in Jesus<br />

for salvation rather than my performance.<br />

I reached out to God through His Son<br />

from that day forward, and He drew me<br />

close (James 4:8). In His presence, both I<br />

and that little girl living within me found<br />

freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17) as we journeyed<br />

through our traumas with His eyes<br />

of love, compassion, and forgiveness.<br />

Healing came through understanding<br />

my worth. Knowing that God wanted to<br />

hang out with a super-sucky person like<br />

me changed everything. I had value now<br />

because I belonged to and was wanted<br />

by God, the Creator of the world. I could<br />

take off the mask and be my authentic self<br />

(Psalm 139:7–8) and still be loved.<br />

The Lord got to work pruning me of<br />

my religious, performing, and conforming<br />

ways (Romans 12:2). He’s continually<br />

ridding me of the things that feed my<br />

independence and self-sufficiency. What<br />

a relief to know that I no longer have to<br />

rely on my limited strength, efforts, and<br />

achievements. I can stand tall in Christ.<br />

In His strength, I can do and overcome<br />

everything (Philippians 4:13).<br />

I am five years into my recovery now.<br />

God’s love has given me a new life. All that<br />

was dead and lost has been restored (Ephesians<br />

3:20). I now have a sound mind (2<br />

Timothy 1:7), am free from addiction and<br />

mental illness, and have the courage and<br />

resilience to face life without drugs.<br />

Not only that, but the Lord has reconciled<br />

and restored me to my family and<br />

my two sons. He has also blessed me with<br />

a godly husband; we were married earlier<br />

this year. I am still amazed at the goodness<br />

of God and thankful that He was willing to<br />

patiently bring me home to Him, where I’ve<br />

always belonged.<br />

You can belong to Him too. Right now,<br />

He is beckoning you to Him, where you’ll<br />

find peace, contentment, and rest. Don’t<br />

give up. There is hope. Jesus Christ can set<br />

even the most traumatized heart and mind<br />

free. And His arms are open to you today.<br />

SHERIDAN CORREA is a biblical counselor<br />

who is trained in trauma-informed care. She’s a<br />

wife, mother of two teenage boys, singer, and avid<br />

runner who has been radically changed by Jesus.<br />

She joined the Victorious Living family in 20<strong>22</strong> as<br />

social media manager.<br />

20 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


STEPPING FORWARD<br />

The Golden Rule<br />

“SO IN EVERYTHING, DO TO OTHERS WHAT YOU WOULD<br />

have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”<br />

(Matthew 7:12 NIV).<br />

Jesus shared this simple summation to His followers in His<br />

Sermon on the Mount. It’s often called the Golden Rule. Like gold,<br />

this rule is precious, priceless, and has a high return on investment.<br />

Jesus also said that the greatest commandment is to “Love<br />

the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and<br />

with all your mind…and...love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew<br />

<strong>22</strong>:37, 39 NIV).<br />

Have you ever thought about how you want to be treated? Take<br />

a minute and respond to these statements:<br />

I wish people would treat me .<br />

I wish people would speak to me .<br />

I wish people would view me .<br />

I want people to love me .<br />

I want<br />

shown to me.<br />

I’m sure, like me, you want to be valued, honored, respected,<br />

loved, and treated with kindness and justice.<br />

Now think about the magnitude of Jesus’s words. How we desire<br />

to be treated, well, that’s how we are to treat others. So whatever<br />

characteristic or action you inserted above, to receive it, you’ll<br />

have to go do that to others. Go be that to others. These acts of love<br />

are what being a follower of Jesus means.<br />

Surely none of us answered, “I wish people would treat me<br />

unkindly. I wish people would speak to me untruthfully.” Or “I<br />

wish people would view me as incompetent and reject me. I want<br />

people to judge, criticize, and show hatred to me.”<br />

How does it make you feel when people treat you in those ways?<br />

It makes me feel cheap, insignificant, and unloved. What purpose<br />

does it serve? Certainly not anything God honoring. So why would<br />

we want to act in such a way?<br />

Interestingly, God is most concerned with our actions, not the<br />

actions of others. The directive from Jesus is for His followers to<br />

love others and move toward them in active goodness and mercy.<br />

It’s the kind of love God shows us every<br />

day. How we feel about a particular person<br />

doesn’t get to play into the equation.<br />

BY SHERIDAN CORREA<br />

God wants our obedience; that’s how we<br />

show we love and trust Him (1 John 5:3–5).<br />

I’m sure there’s a particular someone right now that each one of<br />

us might think, “There is no way I can treat them with kindness!”<br />

Well, I’ve got good news for you. In the verses right before the<br />

Golden Rule, Jesus teaches that if you “keep on asking, you will<br />

receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep<br />

on knocking, and the door will open to you” (Matthew 7:7–8 NLT).<br />

Jesus gives us these three amazing promises to supply and<br />

equip us to do this hard, seemingly impossible thing. The Bible<br />

also teaches that God will provide us with wisdom along the way.<br />

We aren’t left to carry out His commands alone. He is with us, but<br />

we must remember to draw near to Him for help. If we “come<br />

close to God…God will come close to [us]” (James 4:8 NLT). This<br />

verse reveals the loving heart of God.<br />

If we’re honest, there are a lot of times we don’t want to show<br />

kindness or love to others. We’ve just been hurt too many times.<br />

But God can heal those broken places in your heart. He has healed<br />

mine. Ask Him to place His love for people in you and help you<br />

see people the way He sees them.<br />

God can put His desires in your heart and help you accomplish<br />

them (Philippians 2:13). He will show up and make Himself available<br />

to you through His Word and His Holy Spirit as you draw<br />

close to Him.<br />

It helps to remember that you’re not treating people with kindness<br />

for their sake; you’re doing it for God. Your motivation is to<br />

honor the Lord and bring glory to King Jesus.<br />

Take a moment to think of some good, merciful, right, and whole<br />

action or response that you can take toward one person today.<br />

Is the Lord cattle-prodding your spirit in a particular direction?<br />

Keep your eyes, ears, and heart open for opportunities as you go<br />

through your day. Follow His promptings.<br />

Treating others the way we want to be treated is the key to<br />

living a victorious life.<br />

SHERIDAN CORREA is a biblical counselor who is trained in trauma-informed care. She’s<br />

a wife, mother of two teenage boys, singer, and avid runner who has been radically changed<br />

by Jesus. She joined the Victorious Living family in 20<strong>22</strong> as social media manager.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

21


Embracing<br />

God’s<br />

Plan<br />

THE STORY OF<br />

KYLE & BOBBIE ROBINSON<br />

KYLE: Bobbie and I were blessed to grow<br />

up in godly homes. When we were married,<br />

we committed ourselves to continuing the<br />

examples of faith our families had given<br />

us. We went to church, attended Bible<br />

studies, served others, and did our best<br />

to live godly lives. And God blessed us in<br />

many visible ways.<br />

We assumed these blessings were directly<br />

related to doing all the right things. We<br />

believed that if we obeyed God and served<br />

Him, He would protect us from difficulties.<br />

And since our belief system had never really<br />

been challenged, we had no reason to believe<br />

it wasn’t true.<br />

Now that’s not to say we had never faced<br />

difficulties. We had, but it seemed we could<br />

always fix our problems with our minds<br />

or with hard work, perseverance, and our<br />

connections.<br />

So when Bobbie and I couldn’t get pregnant,<br />

we reacted as we’d always done. We<br />

sought our options, developed a plan, and<br />

did what we could to conceive—medically<br />

and physically speaking. And, of course,<br />

we prayed.<br />

We had both always wanted children.<br />

And although we knew going into our marriage<br />

that conceiving might be difficult, we<br />

still had faith. We hoped against all hope<br />

for a child, just like we’re told Abraham<br />

did in Romans 4:18.<br />

While we waited for our little miracle, we<br />

made promises to God. One went like this:<br />

“God, if You’ll allow<br />

us to conceive, we<br />

will give You back our<br />

child to use however<br />

You decide.”<br />

We followed the<br />

example of Hannah in<br />

the biblical account found<br />

in 1 Samuel 1. Like Bobbie,<br />

Hannah had also faced infertility. For decades,<br />

she had prayed fervently for a son<br />

and tried hard to conceive.<br />

The Bible tells us that God heard Hannah’s<br />

plea and blessed her with a son. She<br />

named him Samuel, which meant, “I asked<br />

the Lord for him.” Bobbie and I decided<br />

Samuel would be a perfect name for our<br />

child one day.<br />

BOBBIE: You can imagine our excitement<br />

when we discovered I was pregnant for the<br />

first time. God had even helped us conceive<br />

naturally. Our faith soared!<br />

But then came the miscarriages. Five<br />

of them. Kyle and I did our best to keep<br />

our eyes focused on the Lord. We clung<br />

to hope, reminding ourselves that nothing<br />

was impossible with God. But it wasn’t easy.<br />

Finally, in 2011, our son was born. Kyle<br />

and I praised God for His kindness and<br />

the beautiful gift of our son. We knew God<br />

had a grand purpose for Samuel, and we<br />

couldn’t wait to see it unfold.<br />

Grateful, we set out down the path of<br />

parenthood. It wasn’t long, though, before<br />

my mother’s intuition told me something<br />

was wrong. Samuel wasn’t developing like<br />

other children. He wasn’t using his hands,<br />

making eye contact, or smiling at us. Most<br />

of the time, he just stared off into space or<br />

rocked his head back and forth.<br />

We took Samuel to his pediatrician and<br />

PHOTO BY MARGARET DEBRUHL<br />

<strong>22</strong> <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


PHOTO BY MELISA ROSZEL<br />

to other doctors, including neurologists,<br />

but no one had answers. I had suspicions<br />

of what might be wrong, but the doctors<br />

assured me that Samuel would grow out<br />

of whatever he was going through. Months<br />

passed without change. Desperate, Kyle<br />

and I begged God to show us what was<br />

wrong with our son. It seemed, though,<br />

that God had gone silent on us.<br />

KYLE: As Bobbie and I went from elation<br />

to grief, doubt and confusion began to set<br />

in. God was supposed to be a good Father<br />

with amazing plans. How was what we were<br />

going through good?<br />

We had been faithful servants of the<br />

Lord. We had even dedicated our son to<br />

Him. Where was God? Why was He allowing<br />

this to happen to us? Wasn’t He supposed<br />

to protect His children from hard<br />

times?<br />

Too many nights, Bobbie and I sat on<br />

our bed and just cried. Our dreams for our<br />

son and family lay shattered around us. We<br />

felt like we were walking alone through<br />

the valley of the shadow of death, and we<br />

were terrified.<br />

It was such a dark time for us as we wrestled<br />

with our faith. Nothing made sense.<br />

We’d done everything right and God had<br />

miraculously given us a child, but now,<br />

something wasn’t right with him. He wasn’t<br />

“perfect.” Samuel was an innocent baby—<br />

why would God allow this?<br />

Bobbie and I prayed over Samuel as he<br />

lay in his crib and begged God to heal him—<br />

we knew He could. God could do anything!<br />

Really, though, we just wanted God to make<br />

him normal. We wanted people to look at<br />

our child and see something beautiful, not<br />

someone with a disability.<br />

Surely, we reasoned, God would answer<br />

our prayers. Any minute now, He would<br />

wave His hand or speak a word, and everything<br />

would be okay for us and our son.<br />

Bobbie and I were determined we’d give<br />

Him the honor and glory when He did.<br />

BOBBIE: This was our hope, but as time<br />

went on, we finally had to admit it might<br />

not be God’s plan. I felt like a rug had been<br />

snatched from underneath me.<br />

ABOVE: After 5<br />

miscarriages, Kyle and<br />

Bobbie eagerly awaited<br />

the birth of their son.<br />

Pain gripped my heart every time I saw<br />

another mother hold her child close and<br />

soothe them. I was Samuel’s mother, and<br />

just like those mothers, I was supposed to<br />

be making everything better for my child.<br />

But I couldn’t. And no one around me could<br />

make it better either. Not my parents, who<br />

had always been there for me, not my husband,<br />

not even the doctors.<br />

And God wasn’t making it better either.<br />

Kyle and I continued to beg and plead<br />

and make deals with God. By the time Samuel<br />

was a year old, we had exhausted every<br />

avenue humanly possible. Self-pity, anger,<br />

anxiety, and disappointment overtook us.<br />

But then, one night, we came to our senses.<br />

We got on our knees, threw our hands in<br />

the air, and finally surrendered our son<br />

and how we thought our lives should look<br />

to the Lord.<br />

“Father,” we prayed, “we don’t understand<br />

Your ways. But we choose to trust<br />

You and Your plan, whatever it is. God, we<br />

don’t know what to do. Please help us. Hold<br />

us. Use us. We know You gave Samuel to<br />

us for a reason—take him,<br />

he’s Yours. Amen.”<br />

For the first time, we<br />

recognized that, outside<br />

of God, we had no hope.<br />

We needed the Light of the<br />

World to illuminate our<br />

darkness. Incredibly, as<br />

Kyle and I finished praying,<br />

the Lord whispered<br />

to my heart, “I’ve got this.”<br />

Relief washed over me.<br />

RIGHT: Samuel visited<br />

many doctors before he<br />

was finally diagnosed<br />

with autism.<br />

God was with us, and no matter how<br />

bleak our situation seemed, He still had a<br />

plan. Life for us wasn’t over, and we weren’t<br />

alone in this dark valley. I had heard Psalm<br />

23 before; now I finally understood it. Sure,<br />

I still had questions, but I had peace too.<br />

And that was greater than having answers.<br />

KYLE: God’s presence ushered in His<br />

peace for me that night too. As a husband<br />

and father, I had been anxious and frustrated.<br />

I should have been able to make things<br />

better for my wife and son, but no matter<br />

how hard I tried, I couldn’t change a thing.<br />

Through our prayer, I had cast my burden<br />

of fixing our family’s situation—a burden<br />

God never intended for me to carry—onto<br />

the Lord’s shoulders. And because of His<br />

great love for my family and me, He had<br />

accepted it (1 Peter 5:7).<br />

I physically felt lighter as I came out from<br />

under the weight of my cares. The fog of<br />

doubt, anxiety, fear, and disappointment<br />

WE NEEDED TO RISE OUT OF<br />

OUR SELF-IMPOSED PRISON<br />

OF PITY, FEAR, AND ANGER<br />

AND START FIGHTING FOR OUR<br />

SON AND OUR FAMILY IN THE<br />

SPIRITUAL REALM.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

23


SURRENDER THE WAY YOU<br />

THOUGHT LIFE SHOULD<br />

LOOK. GIVE IT TO THE LORD.<br />

BOBBIE: It was a relief to finally<br />

have an answer, but it brought with<br />

it a host of new questions. What<br />

would Samuel’s future look like?<br />

Would he ever be able to communicate<br />

with us? Would he be able to<br />

had lifted. My perspective pivoted, and I attend school one day?<br />

could finally see our situation differently. We quickly learned that every case of<br />

I understood that, just because life had autism is unique. We often tell people now,<br />

taken an unexpected and challenging “If you’ve met someone with autism, you’ve<br />

turn, that didn’t mean God had left us. He met one person with autism.” Autism<br />

hadn’t messed up either, and He certainly comes in so many forms, and we had no<br />

wasn’t trying to punish us or teach us a way of knowing where Samuel would fall<br />

lesson. God was inviting us to join Him on on the spectrum.<br />

a life-changing journey.<br />

Kyle and I grew tired of fighting for answers<br />

no one could give us, so we focused<br />

As these things dawned on us, Bobbie<br />

and I realized we needed to rise out of our on the one question we could answer: How<br />

self-imposed prison of pity, fear, and anger<br />

and start fighting for our son and our potential? Our response to our situation<br />

could we help Samuel reach his God-given<br />

family in the spiritual realm.<br />

was the only thing we could control.<br />

Bobbie and I had read Mark Batterson’s We knew the sooner we got help, the better<br />

outcome we’d have. We didn’t want to<br />

book, The Circle Maker, with a small group<br />

from church. We had learned the importance<br />

of “circling” something or someone done more, so we began researching avail-<br />

look back one day and think we could have<br />

in prayer.<br />

able resources for children with autism.<br />

We decided to start circling Samuel in The closest center was in Winstonprayer.<br />

We literally took turns walking Salem, almost a three-hour drive from our<br />

around our house, praying that God’s will home in Greenville, NC, and Samuel needed<br />

daily therapy. My parents lived in that<br />

would be done for our son. At night, in<br />

the middle of the chaos, we’d turn on the area and invited Samuel and me to move<br />

floodlights and take turns walking around in with them. Kyle remained home due to<br />

our home, praying out loud. I am sure the work commitments. On weekends, either<br />

neighbors thought we were crazy!<br />

he drove to Winston-Salem to be with us,<br />

When Samuel was 18 months old, we or Samuel and I returned home to him.<br />

finally received a diagnosis of autism. It Our whole world centered on Samuel’s<br />

was what Bobbie had suspected all along. therapy. Many sacrifices had to be made,<br />

and not just by us. Incredibly, my father<br />

put off his retirement to help us cover the<br />

mounting expenses from Samuel’s therapy.<br />

It was difficult to accept help from family,<br />

friends, and even strangers. We had<br />

always been so independent. But Kyle and<br />

I quickly learned that we wouldn’t make it<br />

unless we humbled ourselves and received<br />

help when offered. We also had to learn to<br />

ask for help; the road was too difficult for<br />

us to travel alone.<br />

The facility in Winston-Salem was a godsend.<br />

Within months, Samuel was making<br />

noticeable progress. He began making eye<br />

contact and using his hands. He picked up<br />

a pencil and tapped it on the table. Kyle and<br />

I celebrated every milestone as a gift from<br />

God; we took nothing for granted.<br />

When Samuel turned 3, we heard his<br />

voice. It was the most beautiful sound ever.<br />

A year later, he said the words I’d longed<br />

to hear, “Love you, Mama.”<br />

KYLE: I’ll never forget the day I walked into<br />

the house, and Samuel called out my name,<br />

“Dadda.” Samuel was four, and I hadn’t<br />

known if he would ever understand who<br />

I was. I broke down and cried.<br />

We clung to every victory, big and small,<br />

as we faced the ever-present challenges<br />

of raising a child with autism. We still do.<br />

Remembering how far Samuel has come<br />

enables us to press on through each unpredictable<br />

day. Thankfully, God continues to<br />

give us His strength. The weaker we are,<br />

the stronger He shows Himself to be (2<br />

Corinthians 12:9).<br />

At the treatment center, we met many<br />

families who were walking the same uncertain<br />

road we were. Bobbie and I were<br />

thankful to be a part of such a wonderful<br />

community of people and to have access<br />

to these life-changing services. But we<br />

couldn’t help but think of the many families<br />

who weren’t as fortunate as us.<br />

In one of our prayerwalks years before,<br />

Bobbie and I had both had the idea of starting<br />

a therapy center in Greenville. After<br />

witnessing the effects of therapy on Samuel<br />

and how it had helped our family, we began<br />

to seriously consider the idea. Families<br />

from eastern North Carolina needed access<br />

to therapy. Was God leading us to step out<br />

on their behalf and shine His light onto<br />

their path?<br />

It was an exciting but frightening concept.<br />

We had no idea how to move forward<br />

or what to do. (And if we’d known all God<br />

had in store for us, we might have run in<br />

fear.) Nonetheless, we said, “Yes, God,” and<br />

stepped out in faith.<br />

God quickly revealed our first step. We<br />

were to secure one therapist to help Samuel<br />

and be available for other families.<br />

Friends and business leaders held a tennis<br />

tournament called “Aces for Autism” to<br />

raise funds for that therapist’s salary. That<br />

was in 2015, and Aces was born.<br />

24 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


Samuel is 11 years old now; and he continues<br />

to make progress. This once nontalker<br />

now talks nonstop! It’s unbelievable<br />

how he went from not making any sounds<br />

to having this vibrant personality that says<br />

hello to everyone. Samuel has the biggest<br />

heart, and he puts a smile on people’s faces<br />

Kyle and Bobbie help<br />

families with autism<br />

through their nonprofit,<br />

Aces for Autism, and<br />

by fighting to change<br />

legislation. They have<br />

successfully advocated<br />

for autism therapy to be<br />

covered by insurance.<br />

everywhere he goes.<br />

As a family, we still face many challenges,<br />

especially now that Samuel is growing<br />

bigger and stronger. Every day, Bobbie and<br />

I must trust that the same God who helped<br />

us navigate the obstacles of the past will<br />

continue to provide for us in the future.<br />

He will meet all our needs—Samuel’s, our<br />

family’s, and the needs of Aces.<br />

God has also blessed Bobbie and me with<br />

PHOTO BY MARGARET DEBRUHL<br />

In 2016, we started offering services at<br />

Oakmont Baptist Church. We held an event<br />

there for families to learn about therapy<br />

opportunities. We wondered if anyone<br />

would come. We were shocked at the long<br />

line of families winding around the room.<br />

BOBBIE: There were so many kids like<br />

incredible adventure. Since 2016, we’ve<br />

had the privilege of coming alongside 81<br />

families. And we’ve outgrown several locations<br />

as we’ve added needed services<br />

and therapists.<br />

In 20<strong>22</strong>, Aces will break ground on a new<br />

30,000-square-foot building in Greenville.<br />

Over 300 families are waiting for services.<br />

two more children—a son who is now 6, and<br />

a daughter who is 3. Only by God’s grace<br />

can we maintain balance and ensure that<br />

each of our children receives the love and<br />

attention they need. It’s not an easy task.<br />

Maybe you are walking through a similar<br />

dark valley. Maybe you feel alone and<br />

afraid, or angry and confused. Bobbie and<br />

Samuel, so many families with shattered<br />

To God be the glory. Not only that, God is<br />

I know how you feel. But we want you to<br />

dreams. And here they were, all waiting to<br />

using Aces as a model for centers across<br />

know that there is hope. With God, you will<br />

speak with us! We could see the despera-<br />

the country. And He has used Kyle and<br />

make it. He is with you, and no matter what<br />

tion on their faces. How would we possibly<br />

me to fight for new legislation for better<br />

it looks like, God still has a plan for your<br />

help them? It felt like an overwhelming and<br />

access and accommodations for families<br />

life. And He will bring it to fruition.<br />

impossible task.<br />

with autism.<br />

If you haven’t done so already, surren-<br />

As we looked at the line, Kyle and I re-<br />

We laugh when we think back to our<br />

der the way you thought life should look to<br />

minded ourselves that God was with us and<br />

prayer for God to make Samuel “normal.”<br />

the Lord. Give Him all the pieces of your<br />

that He had not called us to help all these<br />

God never looked at our situation—or<br />

shattered dreams. He will put the pieces<br />

people on our own. He was with us, and<br />

Samuel—the way we did. He had a plan,<br />

back together in ways you can’t imagine<br />

not only that, Aces was His idea. God would<br />

and it was far better than anything we<br />

(Ephesians 3:20).<br />

ultimately provide for these families—<br />

could have imagined.<br />

That doesn’t mean it will be easy or that<br />

not us. All He asked of us was to listen and<br />

Suppose God had answered our prayer<br />

there won’t be any pain. God doesn’t always<br />

faithfully take the next step He would put<br />

the way we wanted. We’d have missed the<br />

protect His children from hard things, but<br />

on our hearts.<br />

joy of Samuel and experiencing God in<br />

He does help us through them.<br />

We were determined that Aces would<br />

such a powerful, personal way. Our situa-<br />

Take one day at a time. Trust the Lord<br />

be more than just a center for services.<br />

tion forced us to rely on the Lord, to trust<br />

to give you His strength, wisdom, peace,<br />

It would be a ministry of God’s love. We<br />

Him as our constant source of provision.<br />

and joy. When He sends people to help you,<br />

wanted to walk alongside these families,<br />

Further, we’d have missed the privilege of<br />

accept their help. Don’t isolate yourself;<br />

provide life-changing tools, and wrap our<br />

knowing and helping hundreds of families<br />

you cannot walk through the valley of the<br />

arms around people. We tell all our fam-<br />

in our area.<br />

shadow of death alone. You need the Lord,<br />

ilies: “You’ll get through this. Yes, it will<br />

and you need community.<br />

be hard, but God will help you. And we’ll<br />

KYLE: It’s been an adventure, for sure.<br />

help you too. Together, we’ll take it one day<br />

at a time.”<br />

Kyle and I had no idea how God would<br />

grow Aces over the years. It’s been an<br />

We’ve experienced incredible highs and<br />

lows, but God has been with us every step<br />

of our journey. Bobbie and I wouldn’t trade<br />

this life for anything.<br />

KYLE AND BOBBIE ROBINSON are the founders<br />

of Aces for Autism. Families seeking support for<br />

autism may contact Aces for Autism by email at<br />

info@acesforautismnc.com or call (252) 689-6645.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

25


NEED A<br />

GOOD<br />

FATHER?<br />

BY KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON<br />

can’t share my life without talking about my parents. Their<br />

love and support positioned my brother, Michael, and me<br />

to walk incredible life paths. I thank the Lord daily for the<br />

gift of godly parents and their Christlike example.<br />

Growing up, I never realized that not everyone’s home life was like<br />

mine. That’s not to say my parents are perfect, but they genuinely<br />

love the Lord, us kids, and others, well. I felt safe, valued, and loved.<br />

It breaks my heart to know that so many people have grown up<br />

under abuse, belittlement, and rejection by those who should have<br />

protected them. If that was your experience, I’m so sorry. This was<br />

not God’s intention for your life.<br />

My eyes were indeed opened to painful childhood experiences<br />

when I entered the world of prison ministry in 2013. I remember<br />

the first time I had to speak after the testimony of a woman who had<br />

been sexually abused by her father. I watched in disbelief as most<br />

of the female inmates nodded their heads as if they understood her<br />

painful upbringing through experience.<br />

26 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


PHOTO BY 252BUZZ<br />

I felt so inadequate at that moment to speak into their lives—I<br />

hadn’t walked in their shoes, so how could my story possibly make a<br />

difference to them? Besides, it just felt wrong to share how good my<br />

parents were to me when others had been hurt so badly by theirs.<br />

I felt God encouraging me, though, to lay aside my insecurities and<br />

share my story as He led. He had brought me to speak behind prison<br />

walls for a reason; it was time to trust Him with my story. God wanted<br />

to use lessons from my water-ski career and stories about my parents’<br />

sacrificial and unconditional love to paint a beautiful picture of His<br />

love. For people who have been raised by harsh or absent fathers, it<br />

is difficult to imagine God being any different, especially since we<br />

call Him our heavenly Father.<br />

I was reminded of this truth just the other day in our weekly Victorious<br />

Living team online meeting. Out of 9 team members, 5 had<br />

been abused, abandoned, rejected, and harshly disciplined by their<br />

fathers. And as a result, they have often struggled with insecurities,<br />

shame, unworthiness, anger, fear, distrust of authority, and a sense<br />

of being unwanted. Each admitted it was challenging not to put the<br />

face of their earthly fathers onto God. I was reminded of how blessed<br />

I am to have a loving father.<br />

I find myself sharing many stories about my dad’s wisdom or actions<br />

when I’m speaking. That’s not because my mother’s influence in my<br />

life is any less significant. My mother, Becky Overton, is a precious<br />

jewel. Mom modeled the Proverbs 31 woman daily. She trusted the<br />

Lord and worked diligently to care for my father, brother, and me.<br />

For 15 years, she served as my daily water-ski coach and helped me<br />

become a world champion.<br />

It’s just that Daddy is way more vocal than Mom. And his incredibly<br />

demonstrative, larger-than-life personality makes for some pretty<br />

lively stories. God has used Daddy’s strong voice and actions to provide<br />

me with direction, correction, and encouragement.<br />

My father, Parker Overton, taught me how to live a Godhonoring<br />

life. I must admit, I rolled my eyes at him a time or two, but<br />

his one-liner lessons sure have stuck in my mind.<br />

Some of these lessons include: Leave a place and thing better than<br />

you found it. Say thank you. Share all you have with others. Be generous.<br />

Notice your surroundings. Be a person of your word. When you<br />

speak to people, look them in the eye. Make people feel important.<br />

Give a firm handshake.<br />

“Protect your reputation,” Daddy would say, “because it’s hard to get<br />

it back once it’s gone.” I heard that one a lot. And you know, he’s still<br />

teaching me even though I’m in my fifties! That’s what good fathers do.<br />

I can’t go anywhere without his voice playing in my head. If I’m<br />

in a parking lot, I’m alert because I remember, “a parking lot is a<br />

dangerous place.” When I fly, I hear his voice prompting me to pay<br />

attention to the flight attendant: “She deserves your respect, baby.”<br />

Last week, I put down my phone to give the lady my utmost attention<br />

even though I’ve flown hundreds of times and can quote the safety<br />

instructions and mimic every hand gesture from memory.<br />

I’m thankful my father cared enough to teach me how to honor God,<br />

people, and places. And he didn’t just preach at me; Daddy practiced<br />

what he preached. Day in and day out, he lived a life of integrity<br />

Parker and Becky are great examples of service and faith to<br />

their family. Pictured above with their son, Michael, daughterin-law<br />

Holly, and Kristi after Parker received The Order of<br />

the Long Leaf Pine Award, NC’s highest governor’s award for<br />

persons making significant contributions to the state.<br />

and excellence in public and private. “People are<br />

watching you, baby,” he’d say. He didn’t realize that<br />

I was watching him, and what I witnessed taught<br />

me volumes.<br />

For example, the way Daddy treated Mom showed<br />

me how my husband should treat me. Even after<br />

56 years of marriage, he continues to open her car<br />

door, hold her hand, and speak well of her in front<br />

DON’T PUT THE FACE OF<br />

YOUR EARTHLY FATHER ON GOD.<br />

of others. He truly loves her as God intends. Not a<br />

day goes by that he doesn’t tell her how beautiful<br />

she is and how her beauty would make “a tadpole<br />

slap a whale,” “a bulldog break his chain,” and “a<br />

momma cat leave her kittens.”<br />

The way he treats his friends taught me to generously<br />

share the blessings and opportunities God<br />

provides me, whether or not someone can (or will)<br />

return the gesture. Likewise, the way he treats his<br />

employees taught me to honor those under my<br />

authority. Daddy has always cared for those who<br />

work for him, whether at his business or our family’s<br />

property. He treats everyone like family.<br />

And he is always at work behind the scenes trying<br />

to make people’s lives better. Like when he arranged<br />

for his dentist friend to give the girl at the Hardee’s<br />

drive-through a new smile. He hadn’t forgotten his<br />

own pain of having buckteeth as a child and how<br />

he felt when he looked in the mirror or was taunted<br />

by other kids.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

27


Growing up, my father experienced many painful<br />

things that he was determined to protect his family<br />

from experiencing. For example, Daddy told me<br />

every day that he loved me. He protected me from<br />

the harmful effects of alcohol and cigarette smoke.<br />

And he made sure that I knew there was a champion<br />

inside of me.<br />

Daddy would come into my room every night,<br />

kneel by my bed, and tell me stories. “Once upon a<br />

time, there was a little girl named Kristi who became<br />

the best water-skier in the world…” Each night’s story<br />

led me on a water-ski adventure that always ended<br />

with victory.<br />

Those nightly adventures laid a solid foundation<br />

for my future success in the sport and in life. Because<br />

of how those stories played out each night, I<br />

never saw myself any other way than a winner on<br />

those water skis and in life. This simple act and his<br />

constant reminders of “you can do it, baby” kept<br />

me motivated and helped me believe that anything<br />

was possible.<br />

ABOVE: In the<br />

early days on Lake<br />

Kristi, pictured L to<br />

R, Parker, Becky,<br />

Michael, and Kristi.<br />

LEFT: Lake<br />

Kristi was built<br />

in 1981. Today,<br />

it is a beautiful<br />

testament of the<br />

power of vision.<br />

Those words encouraged me to get up after a disappointing<br />

fall at the 1999 World Championships in<br />

Milan, Italy. I had fallen short of my goal of<br />

winning that day and had landed myself in<br />

a three-way tie for first place.<br />

I was discouraged and angry as I bobbed<br />

around in that lake where Mussolini once<br />

landed his seaplanes. I tell people all the<br />

time, Satan will find you anywhere. It<br />

doesn’t matter if you’re in a lake, a kitchen,<br />

or a prison cell. He’ll arrive on the scene<br />

at your weakest moment and remind you<br />

that you are a disappointment to others.<br />

I almost believed his lies until I heard my<br />

daddy’s Southern voice yelling out, “You<br />

can do it, baby!” from the shoreline. His<br />

words reminded me that I was a champion<br />

and capable of victory in that moment of<br />

uncertainty. With Daddy’s encouragement<br />

in my ears, I got up and skied myself into<br />

the World Championship title. I am so glad I chose to listen to my<br />

father’s voice and not the enemy’s.<br />

Daddy would have still been right there on the shoreline, ready to<br />

welcome me even if I had lost that day. He would have helped me out<br />

of the water, given me a hug, and whispered in my ear, “It’s all right,<br />

baby. You’ll get it next time.” Then we would’ve walked over and congratulated<br />

the winner. Dad was a stickler about good sportsmanship.<br />

“You have to win and lose graciously.”<br />

When I was 11, my father did something incredible. He built me<br />

a private lake where I could train without the disturbances of other<br />

boaters and pesky critters like snakes and jellyfish. He called it Lake<br />

Kristi. Crazy, I know!<br />

I didn’t grasp the magnitude of what he’d done until I was much<br />

older. It’s incredible now to look back at pictures of that dry, dusty<br />

land. The property’s transformation shows the power of vision, hard<br />

work, and a spirit of excellence.<br />

Daddy saw potential and purpose in that farmland when everyone<br />

else saw dirt. As a result, Lake Kristi has been a venue for world-class<br />

water-ski competitions, collegiate cross-country events, triathlons,<br />

weddings, ministry events, and a safe haven for abused animals for<br />

over forty years.<br />

These are all great things I’ve told you about my dad. But I am<br />

most grateful for the foundation of faith he helped provide. Not a<br />

night went by that I didn’t see my daddy on his knees praying to “the<br />

Good Lord,” as he calls Him. He and Mom took Michael and me to<br />

church and taught us to respect God. They made sure we understood<br />

that everything we have is a blessing from above and intended for<br />

blessing others.<br />

I’ve shared many examples of my father’s goodness in this story,<br />

but you know what? Daddy’s most generous gifts will always pale in<br />

comparison to what my heavenly Father has done for me—and what<br />

He’ll do for you. Jesus said, “So if you sinful people know how to give<br />

good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father<br />

give good gifts to those who ask him?” (Matthew 7:11 NLT).<br />

28 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


Our heavenly Father is generous beyond our wildest dreams (Ephesians<br />

3:20). He even sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sin so that we<br />

could have a relationship with Him and eternal life (John 3:16). There<br />

is no greater demonstration of love.<br />

Not only is He generous, but everything Daddy God gives to His<br />

children is good. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is<br />

from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,<br />

who does not change like shifting shadows” (NIV).<br />

That doesn’t mean everything we experience feels good. But God<br />

our Father will never send evil into our lives to hurt or tempt us<br />

(James 1:13). That’s Satan’s nature; he seeks to destroy the children<br />

of the Most High God (John 10:10).<br />

God is a giver of life, not death. Peace, not chaos. Comfort, not fear.<br />

Love, not hate. Forgiveness, not chastisement. Hope, not despair.<br />

And His good nature and love will never shift based on our performance<br />

or His feelings. Thank goodness! Nothing can separate us<br />

from His love (Romans 8:31–39).<br />

Every day, God invites His children to come boldly into His presence.<br />

We find grace, help, acceptance, contentment, rest, and wisdom<br />

there. All we have to do is approach Him and ask. Daddy God<br />

welcomes your requests and will never rebuke you. (See Philippians<br />

4:6–8; Hebrews 4:16; James 1:5.)<br />

Thinking back to my childhood, I never once needed permission<br />

to approach my daddy. I could walk past his assistant and enter his<br />

office anytime, and I never once felt like I was bothering him.<br />

Likewise, you and I don’t need an appointment to approach our<br />

heavenly Father, nor do we need to go through another person.<br />

Through the name and blood of Jesus, we have unlimited and unhindered<br />

access to God (Ephesians 2:18).<br />

You might be thinking, “There is no way God would want to have a<br />

relationship with me.” That is not true. Your heavenly Father fashioned<br />

you with His very hands (Psalm 119:73) because He wanted to have<br />

a relationship with you. Don’t listen to the enemy’s voice that says<br />

you are unworthy. Study the Bible and see what your heavenly Father<br />

says about you. And then listen to His voice and believe His truth.<br />

I told you how my father had a vision for “little Kristi” to be a champion.<br />

Well, God has an even greater vision for your victory (Jeremiah<br />

29:11). When your heavenly Father looks at you, He sees potential and<br />

purpose, just like my daddy saw potential in me and in that barren<br />

farmland. God is a restorer and fulfiller of dreams, and His vision<br />

for your life never fades. When you come to Him and lay your dry,<br />

barren life down at His feet, you’ll receive beauty<br />

for your ashes (Isaiah 61:3).<br />

No matter who you are, God wants a relationship<br />

with you. Accept His invitation. Everything you’ve<br />

ever desired in an earthly father can be found in<br />

Him. Your heavenly Father will never abandon you.<br />

Understanding God’s love for you and your identity<br />

as His son or daughter will determine your level of<br />

freedom and victory on this side of heaven. Whatever<br />

your past experience with your earthly father, set<br />

it aside. Don’t put the face of your earthly father on<br />

God. Get in the Bible and learn about His nature.<br />

Then, draw close to Him and experience His faithful<br />

loving-kindness for yourself. He promises to draw<br />

near to you (James 4:8).<br />

No matter how many times you’ve fallen in life,<br />

God will always meet you with open arms (Luke<br />

15:17–20). He will help you get up and move forward<br />

victoriously. He isn’t looking for perfection<br />

or performance. He simply wants you to desire a<br />

relationship with Him and to trust His love. That’s<br />

what puts a smile on His face (Hebrews 11:6).<br />

You may be wondering how a relationship with<br />

God is possible. It’s simple. A relationship with the<br />

Father happens through faith in His Son. According<br />

to John 14:6, it’s the only way. Jesus says: “I am the<br />

way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the<br />

Father except through me” (NIV). The minute you<br />

express your faith and accept Jesus as your Lord<br />

and Savior, something incredible happens: God<br />

becomes your Father. He welcomes you just as you<br />

are (Ephesians 1:6).<br />

If you don’t have a relationship with God as your<br />

Father, why not experience it now? Place your faith in<br />

Jesus. God will adopt you into His family and forgive<br />

you of all sin. Then, you can experience the love of<br />

a good Father today.<br />

KRISTI OVERTON JOHNSON encourages and<br />

equips people for victory through her writings, speaking<br />

engagements, and prison ministry. To learn more, go to<br />

kojministries.org.<br />

HAVE YOU EVER<br />

CONSIDERED THAT, NO<br />

MATTER WHO YOU ARE,<br />

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO<br />

IMPACT YOUR CHILD’S<br />

LIFE POSITIVELY LIKE MY<br />

DAD IMPACTED MINE?<br />

You can set a godly example through your words and actions, even from<br />

behind a prison wall. Further, you can bring about effectual change in<br />

their life and yours through your prayers (James 5:16). God can produce<br />

a godly lineage through any willing person.<br />

All you need is faith, determination, and a willingness to make Godhonoring<br />

choices. As you draw close to God and allow Him to work in<br />

your life, others will notice, and they will desire the goodness of God to<br />

flow in their lives as well.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

29


TRANSFORMED LIVES<br />

God<br />

Always<br />

Makes<br />

a Way<br />

THE STORY OF NATE CARRERAS<br />

Nate (right) with<br />

Kory Gordon. Both<br />

are now free men<br />

spreading the Good<br />

News of Jesus.<br />

FATHERLESS CHILDREN MAKE UP A LOT OF THE PRISON<br />

population. I know because I was one of them. I take full responsibility<br />

for my choices in life, but I must admit that my childhood<br />

was a crucial factor in why my life turned out the way it did.<br />

Growing up without a dad was a recipe for dysfunction and<br />

disaster in my young heart and mind. I never knew my father,<br />

and since no man ever stepped up to fill that role, my childhood<br />

was void of any positive male role models.<br />

My mom did her best to raise my brother and me, but then she<br />

got sick. Incapacitated by the treatments, she could not work or<br />

care for her family. Conditions were terrible in our home. There<br />

were no rules or boundaries, and we had complete freedom to<br />

run the streets.<br />

Drugs owned me right off the bat. My life became one long blur<br />

of chemicals and crime, and I began racking up felonies left and<br />

right. My foolish ways led me to reap a fool’s reward (Galatians<br />

6:7). I would face many consequences.<br />

Life got crazy, and I longed to be free of the chaos. There had to<br />

be more to life than what I was experiencing. Part of me wanted<br />

to be the person God had created me to be. But how? All I knew<br />

to do was pray. I was twenty-nine years old when I cried out to<br />

God and said, “Lord, forcefully put me in Your will.” It didn’t take<br />

Him long to answer.<br />

A couple of days later, I was taken by force back to the county<br />

jail. The baffling thing was that I was innocent of the arresting<br />

charges. That was a first! And then, my wife left me after the<br />

pastor who married us advised her to divorce me.<br />

I was confused and deeply offended by the pastor’s advice. I<br />

had expected him to encourage her to stand by her commitment<br />

as my wife. Anger ate at me for a long time until I came to the<br />

end of myself.<br />

In that place of complete brokenness, I finally recognized my<br />

need for God. I had nothing left when God knocked on the door<br />

of my heart. You can believe I was ready to open it and receive<br />

everything He had to offer.<br />

My brother and I had been taken to jail together but were<br />

housed in separate units. We hatched a plan to meet up one day<br />

at the church service. I just wanted to spend some time with my<br />

brother, but God had other plans.<br />

There was something very different about that service. The<br />

message was on the person and power of the Holy Spirit. God’s<br />

Spirit uniquely touched me. I didn’t go forward to the altar<br />

that day, but I did place my faith in Jesus Christ for salvation<br />

(John 3:16).<br />

Some people tell of miraculous encounters with God, and their<br />

stories are so powerful, they can make other people question<br />

their own salvation experience. My story isn’t dramatic, but I<br />

know a miracle occurred in my heart.<br />

God poured out His grace on me that day. Me—a sinner! His<br />

forgiveness washed away the shame, guilt, and condemnation<br />

I carried. Suddenly, I had a new sense of purpose, drive, and<br />

peace. I was a lost son who had found his way back to the loving<br />

Father he had always wanted but had never known existed. And<br />

God welcomed me home with open arms.<br />

From that day forward, I began to walk in freedom from addiction.<br />

I left behind the destructive path I had known since childhood.<br />

My entire life changed when I placed my faith in Christ.<br />

That, to me, is the greatest miracle of all.<br />

While I had genuinely surrendered my life to God, I still owed a<br />

debt to society. I remained incarcerated with the Florida Department<br />

of Corrections for four more years. Instead of letting the<br />

time do me, however, I decided that for this go-around, I would<br />

make good use of it. I committed myself to becoming the man<br />

God had designed me to be.<br />

I learned all I could about Jesus, and I took every class the DOC<br />

offered to better myself. One day, my bunkmate told me about<br />

30 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


TRANSFORMED LIVES<br />

PHOTOS BY RAELYN BUTLER<br />

a former inmate named Kory Gordon, who had been featured<br />

in Victorious Living magazine.<br />

I read his testimony, and in my heart, I knew that I would be<br />

doing ministry alongside him one day. I began writing ideas and<br />

goals in my journal, but I had no idea how quickly some of them<br />

would become a reality.<br />

I attended the weekly chapel service in my unit for the next two<br />

years. One day, prison ministry volunteers told us their church<br />

had just hired a new pastor who had been an inmate at Franklin<br />

Correctional. I immediately knew they were talking about Kory<br />

and felt led to reach out to him.<br />

With favor from the Lord, I obtained the address of the church<br />

where he was pastoring. I contacted him, and he quickly responded.<br />

There was an instant godly connection, and we forged<br />

a friendship. My “knowing” that we were going to be working<br />

together intensified.<br />

I had spent two years before I met Kory preparing myself for<br />

release from prison. When I finished my sentence, I went to a<br />

transitional program in Panama City, FL. I refused to return<br />

home to Tampa Bay. There was too much old temptation there.<br />

I was determined to stay on the path God had for me to follow<br />

and made choices accordingly. The stakes were high—I had a<br />

young son who desperately needed me, and I longed to get custody<br />

of him and get him out of the foster care system. I wanted<br />

to be a godly father to him, something I had never had myself.<br />

The obstacles to parenthood seemed impossible. I was a fourtime<br />

return offender to the DOC. My criminal history could fill<br />

an entire book. I was single and broke with no transportation<br />

or home. I had never been a parent before, and nothing showed<br />

that I could be one. I was up against a stacked deck. I am grateful<br />

that no deck is too stacked for God.<br />

The courts would not even consider reunifying my son and me<br />

I know being a father is what<br />

God has called me to do.<br />

Nate’s reunion with his<br />

son proves all things<br />

are possible with God.<br />

until I completed a list of classes and obtained specific certificates.<br />

I was also required to take random drug screens.<br />

Considering my circumstances, these were not easy or cheap<br />

tasks. I had only a bike for transportation and had to ride far<br />

distances to complete those requirements. By the grace of God,<br />

I fulfilled every one of the court’s demands. Now, it was in His<br />

hands, and I prayerfully awaited the court’s decision.<br />

Around this time, Kory and his wife, Kasey, had me over for the<br />

weekend. Not long after, I decided to step out in faith and move<br />

closer to them. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was supposed<br />

to be a part of their lives and ministry.<br />

The move was a tough decision. If things went wrong, the courts<br />

could deem me an unstable father. With that, they could refuse<br />

to return my son to me. As difficult and risky as this decision<br />

was, I felt God’s peace about it, and at their invitation, I made<br />

the move to the Gordons’ couch.<br />

My faith was stretched and tested, but God’s hand was always<br />

in my situation. Not one detail escaped His notice. His goodness<br />

went before me and made a way.<br />

The Lord began opening doors for me. In no time flat, I had<br />

my own place to live. The job and transportation I needed came<br />

quickly too. God put amazing people in my life who embraced<br />

me in genuine love.<br />

I joined a church and began serving in the food ministry. Even<br />

my employers turned out to be a blessing in my life. We are all<br />

like family. The grace of God met every obstacle I encountered.<br />

When I was in prison, I put so much thought into how I would<br />

get back on my feet. I knew I’d be starting over with nothing,<br />

and my list of needs was overwhelming. But there was never a<br />

reason to worry or stress. God is a God of providence. He supplied<br />

everything, just as He said He would (Philippians 4:19).<br />

After months of earnest prayer, jumping through hoops, multiple<br />

home checks, and regular drug screens, I was finally awarded<br />

custody of my son. We were reunified a year ago. He is excelling<br />

in school and seems to be happy. We have formed a solid bond<br />

while navigating through this transition together.<br />

He doesn’t know it, but we are growing up together. I am learning<br />

this fatherhood stuff one day at a time. It’s not always easy,<br />

but I know being a father is what God has called me to do.<br />

God has carried me through many difficulties, and He has<br />

never failed me. When the going gets tough, I remind myself<br />

of His faithfulness and continue to lean on Him. He truly is a<br />

miracle worker. I regret not giving my life to Him much sooner.<br />

I hope my story will convince you of the goodness of God. He<br />

is and will always be a good Father to anyone who desires a relationship<br />

with Him (Matthew 7:11).<br />

Don’t wait to accept His love. Come to know the Lord today; He<br />

will never fail you. As His child, you’ll find the acceptance and<br />

love you’ve always desired.<br />

NATE CARRERAS was once owned by drugs and crime, but he has been set<br />

free by Christ. As the Director of Development for Damascus Road, he uses his<br />

testimony and passion for Jesus to bring hope to the incarcerated.<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

31


STEPPING FORWARD<br />

GOD’S VISION HAS AN<br />

APPOINTED TIME<br />

BY KORY GORDON<br />

FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION, the<br />

Bible repeatedly speaks of dreams and<br />

visions as communication between God<br />

and man. When I read these verses, one<br />

of my encounters comes to mind.<br />

It happened when I was 19 years old, in<br />

a small county jail in South Georgia. While<br />

there, I had a powerful dream. I saw myself<br />

in that exact jail cell, wearing the same<br />

orange jumpsuit. Except in my dream, I<br />

was dead on the floor.<br />

Suddenly, the cell door swung open, and<br />

a bright light shone in. I was lifted off the<br />

floor and carried out into the bright hallway.<br />

When I looked down, I wasn’t wearing<br />

a jumpsuit anymore.<br />

was showing me how and where He would<br />

intervene in my life long before it would<br />

come to pass.<br />

Twelve years later, on March 7, 2014,<br />

this vision began to unfold in the Pinellas<br />

County jail. At the time, I was a dead man,<br />

walking in trespasses and sins (Ephesians<br />

2:1–2). But then, God’s glorious light flooded<br />

my dark world, and His love lifted me<br />

out of the place where I had fallen. He removed<br />

my graveclothes and dressed me in<br />

His robes of righteousness. And some day,<br />

I will receive rewards in heaven.<br />

It’s been 8 years since the Lord drew<br />

me into His love. Today, I am a free man.<br />

I was, running with the vision that God had<br />

shown me. As they filed into our service,<br />

I knew that God had carried out His will<br />

for my life.<br />

I can’t help but relate to Joseph. (See<br />

Genesis 37–50.) God gave him a vision<br />

revealing his future, yet for many years,<br />

his circumstances looked bleak, just like<br />

mine. But that didn’t mean God’s dream<br />

was void. His visions for our lives are for<br />

an appointed time.<br />

Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For the revelation<br />

awaits an appointed time; it speaks of<br />

the end and will not prove false. Though<br />

it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come<br />

and will not delay” (NIV).<br />

Instead, I wore a military STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH AND WAIT PATIENTLY Sometimes, it takes many<br />

uniform, and medals of<br />

years for His vision to<br />

FOR HIM. GOD’S THOUGHTS AND WAYS ARE HIGHER<br />

honor covered my chest.<br />

come to pass.<br />

I could feel the tangible<br />

presence of God nudging<br />

THAN OURS. HE IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME.<br />

Friend, if you have received<br />

a spiritual dream,<br />

me, compelling me to walk forward down<br />

the jail hallway. As I did, every cell door<br />

swung open and dead men stepped out<br />

of their cells. God transformed each one<br />

into beams of light.<br />

When I got to the end of the hall, I heard<br />

a voice from heaven that said, “I have given<br />

you the ministry of John the Baptist.” It is<br />

a ministry of leading people to repentance<br />

in the Lord Jesus Christ.<br />

I had this dream in 2002. At the time, my<br />

life was very dark. OxyContin and Xanax<br />

had buried me in addiction. Yet even then,<br />

I knew that God was behind the vision. He<br />

Earlier this year, while touring prisons<br />

with Victorious Living, I saw more of God’s<br />

vision unfold. There I was, standing before<br />

other inmates, telling them of the goodness<br />

of God. Men rushed to the altar to repent of<br />

their sin, all of them desperate for Jesus.<br />

There were those dead men, coming to life<br />

as the Light of the World overcame their<br />

darkness.<br />

While on tour, I was given the opportunity<br />

to enter a dorm and invite men to our<br />

service. I had served 11 years in Florida’s<br />

DOC, and not once did I ever see a former<br />

inmate gain access to the dorms. Yet there<br />

vision, or promise from God, trust Him to<br />

bring it to fruition. In our eyes, He might<br />

seem to procrastinate, but His timing and<br />

understanding of the situation are perfect.<br />

Stand firm in your faith and wait patiently<br />

for Him. God’s thoughts and ways are higher<br />

than ours. He is always right on time.<br />

KORY GORDON spent 11 years in incarceration,<br />

where he gave his life to Christ. He’s now<br />

an evangel ist, sharing the Good News that set<br />

him free. In 2021, he founded Damascus Road, a<br />

nonprofit residential discipleship program battling<br />

addiction, recidivism, and homelessness. Email<br />

damascusroad2021@gmail.com for more info.<br />

32 <strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong> VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM


WANT TO KNOW JESUS?<br />

“Come to me, all you who are<br />

weary and burdened, and I will<br />

give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28 NIV<br />

Jared Emerson, Artist, jaredemerson.com<br />

Do you need rest? Peace? Freedom? Forgiveness? Restoration?<br />

Call out to Jesus, accept Him as your Savior, and be made whole.<br />

Pray: “Jesus, I invite You into my life. I confess that I am a sinner in<br />

need of a Savior. Thank You for saving me from my sins and making<br />

me whole. Thank You for laying down Your life for me so that I can<br />

have a new life in You. I receive, by faith, this forgiveness of sin. Take<br />

my life—my past and my future. Guide my steps and speak to my<br />

heart, Lord. Use me, God. Amen.”<br />

Let us know of your decision so we can help you grow in your faith.<br />

Write to: <strong>VL</strong> Correspondence, PO Box 2751, Greenville, NC 27836.<br />

PERHAPS AFTER READING the stories in this magazine, you’ve surrendered your life to<br />

Jesus. Congratulations—it’s the most important decision you will ever make! But you might<br />

be wondering, now what? Here are five ways to ensure spiritual growth. Remember, the<br />

Christian life is a journey that brings lifelong transformation.<br />

1. PRAY. Talk to God about everything and listen for His response. You don’t need<br />

fancy words, just a sincere heart.<br />

2. STUDY THE BIBLE. God’s Word contains all the instructions we need for life. Get<br />

into a Bible study and discover new revelations daily. Free resources are on page 34.<br />

3. GET BAPTIZED. Although baptism is not a requirement of salvation, the Bible<br />

clearly tells us that we are to be water baptized after salvation. Baptism symbolizes<br />

our dying to sin and being raised to a new life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:4). Prison<br />

restrictions may make immersion by water difficult, so get creative and let the Holy<br />

Spirit reveal how you can take this step of obedience until immersion is possible.<br />

4. FIND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. Join a local congregation of Christ-followers. If<br />

incarceration makes attending church difficult, fellowship with other believers the<br />

best you can. They will help you stand strong and keep you accountable.<br />

5. TELL SOMEONE. Share your decision to follow Christ and tell them what He has<br />

done for you. And then, tell us! We’d love to hear from you.<br />

WHAT NOW?<br />

I’ve Accepted God’s Salvation.<br />

Now What?<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

<strong>Issue</strong> 03 / 20<strong>22</strong><br />

33


MINISTRY NEWS/RESOURCES<br />

Victorious Living Prison<br />

Outreach Update<br />

magazine stories deliver hope to sight-impaired and<br />

novice readers. On-screen transcriptions can help our<br />

listeners learn to read, too!<br />

We are excited about new opportunities for<br />

Victorious Living to impact more lives on both<br />

sides of prison walls.<br />

• Partnerships with EDOVO and PANDO App now provide<br />

one million inmates free digital access to Victorious<br />

Living magazine, our MORE broadcasts, Victorious Living<br />

podcasts, and Victorious Living Storytime.<br />

Family members of our incarcerated family and our<br />

ministry partners can also enjoy these free resources<br />

through pandoapp.tv and <strong>VL</strong>’s online platforms like<br />

vlmag.org, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.<br />

• We are excited about the new release of Victorious Living<br />

Storytime! These computer-generated readings of our<br />

• We regret that due to high transitional rates of inmates<br />

and new correspondence restrictions, we are no longer<br />

able to mail inmates individual subscriptions of <strong>VL</strong>Mag or<br />

our devotionals. Resources are being made available on<br />

prison tablets.<br />

• New digital correspondence opportunities are available<br />

for our inmate family to experience fellowship and<br />

encouragement. Inmates can continue to write to us at<br />

PO Box 2751, Greenville, NC 27836, or email us through<br />

their prison tablet systems at hope@vlmag.org.<br />

• Bulk copies of <strong>VL</strong>Mag are provided to prisons, jails,<br />

recovery, and reentry programs, with or without staples.<br />

Chaplains and program directors, please contact us at<br />

352-478-2098 for these free resources.<br />

RESOURCES<br />

Below are opportunities for free Christian-based<br />

resources for both English- and Spanish-speaking<br />

inmates and chaplains. When you contact the<br />

addresses below, tell our partners <strong>VL</strong> referred you.<br />

VICTORIOUS LIVING<br />

Personal correspondence available in English and Spanish.<br />

Bulk copies of <strong>VL</strong>Mag are available for jail and prison libraries<br />

at chaplain’s request.<br />

PO Box 2751<br />

Email: hope@vlmag.org<br />

Greenville, NC 27836<br />

2ND OPPORTUNITY<br />

Reentry and employmentreadiness<br />

programming;<br />

job and housing referrals<br />

for inmates in<br />

jails and prisons<br />

upon request.<br />

970 N. Oaklawn Ave.<br />

Suite 203<br />

Elmhurst, IL 60126<br />

CLI PRISON ALLIANCE<br />

Personal discipleship<br />

studies by mail for inmates<br />

in jails and prisons;<br />

free Christian books and<br />

Bibles for libraries at<br />

request of chaplain or<br />

authorized personnel.<br />

PO Box 97095<br />

Raleigh, NC 27624<br />

RESCUED NOT ARRESTED<br />

Free NIV Bibles, Bible study<br />

correspondence course, and<br />

NIV Life Application Study Bible<br />

upon completion of study for<br />

inmates in jails and prisons.<br />

Call: 602-647-8325<br />

PO Box 90606<br />

Phoenix, AZ 85066<br />

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP<br />

SUMMIT<br />

Bring world-class<br />

leadership training<br />

and tools to your facility<br />

through the GL Summit<br />

and GL Network. Write to<br />

GlobalLeadership.org.<br />

PO Box 3188<br />

Barrington, IL 60011<br />

34<br />

WWW.VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM<br />

VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM

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