Addiction: 16 Stories
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I WAS AN ALCOHOLIC A SMOKER OF THREE PACKS A DAY, A CAN AND A HALF OF SNUFF A DAY, AND MY DAUGHTER ASKED ME TO COME TO CHURCH ON THE MOVE FOR MY GRANDAUGHTERS BABY DEDICATION. OF COURSE AN ICE CHEST FULL OF BEER IN THE TRUCK. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT CHURCH THERE WAS A SET OF BARBELLS ON STAGE I TOLD MY WIFE OH LOOK ANOTHER MUSCLED UP PREACHER. BUT TO MY SURPRISE I REALLY ENJOYED THE SERMON. NOT WHAT I THOUGHT. THEN ME AND MY SON WENT TO THE DEER HUNTING SEMINAR PASTOR GEORGE PUTS ON, AND OF COURSE ICE CHEST FULL OF BEER AND WHEN THEY ASKED EVERYONE TO SAY A PRAYER I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT GOD TOOK OVER MY LIFE AND I QUIT DRINKING, QUIT SMOKING, AND QUIT DIPPING ALL WITHIN A WEEK. COULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT THE POWER OF GOD PERIOD. I HAVE SINCE BEEN ATTENDING CHURCH ON THE MOVE FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW WHAT A MIRACLE.
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I come from a family of 4 brothers, me being the youngest. All of my brothers have fallen into mortal sin in many ways. They introduced me to pornography at a very young age, 14 1/2 now, ever since i have been watching it very frequently. in my early teens i discovered “masturbating” and ever since its been an almost daily routine. A family member has recently started to take me to COTM, I came at a great time, the Triumph series, this was amazing the music the preaching was great. This is when i decided to get saved and triumph, it was the greatest feeling I have ever experienced it was awesome the forgiving power He has! to this day I have been “clean”! “… because he was, I am…”
Thank you for reading my triumph story :-) -
When I was 8 I stumbled across a hardcore pornography channel. I really had no idea what I was watching, but my curiosity kept bringing me back. This opened a door in my life that became very difficult to shut. I struggled with this throughout my teenage years and on into my twenties. I hated my sin and knew it was completely wrong, but I couldn’t overcome it. I thought that marriage would make it go away. I was wrong. I was eventually caught at my job. It was horrible, but I was extremely relieved. The hidden sin in my life was killing me and I thought that it being out in the open would cure me. Again, I was wrong. The fact that I could not break free from this sin terrified me. I knew it was wrong, but didn’t have the power to overcome it. THANK GOD it’s not my power that matters. The Lord has set me free! I spent 20 years in slavery to lust, but for the last 3 years I have been free. My sin definitely cost me, but God is restoring everything I lost. The secret…Psalm 119:9-11.
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For 10 years straight, I’ve struggled with pornography. It started when I was 5 years old. Back then, I’ve struggle with alot of things. I was struggling in school, I’ve struggled meeting new friends, I even struggled with speaking. I was quiet and alone alot. I did not have any friend, except my older sister, my twin, and my best and only friend outside of where I use to live, Marcus. I wanted to try to fit in, so I’ve try to do what everyone else did. The only thing I saw other people doing was pornography. When it was time for my family to move here, I did not want to at all, because I did not want to be treated the same. I was being used for bad, because I was not strong enough to say no to their instruction, and I did not like that at all. After accecpting Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior at Heirforce, I’ve been trying to go after want I’ve been hiding from everyone, which is music. God helped me get my dream started by letting me join the band at KOTM.
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I grew up in a home with severe alcoholism and crazy sexual exploitation. From the time I was 13 years old, I became and alcoholic for 10 years, graduated to cocaine for 7 years and overdosed twice, involved with much sexual sins, and graduated to prescription drugs for 15+ years. God has delivered me from all of it. Through the teachings I receive from COTM, I have learned that God loves me no matter what my past is and that all of my sins have been wiped clean. Someday I hope to mentor other teenage girls about the dangers of such things, share my testimony. No matter where you are in your walk with God or in life, our Heavenly Father will restore ALL. Thank you Jesus for loving me so much to die for ME. I praise God for COTM and Pastor George. I am like a dry sponge every week and want to be soaked in the teachings that are so solid at this church. I have been to many churches and always walked away empty. I NEVER walk away empty after a COTM service EVER. Smoking is my last vice :(
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It was like a curse on my father’s side of the family, alcohol was a problem for my grandmother, father and eventually myself. It killed my brother and father. I was sure it wouldn’t get me. It had ruined two generations of our family and was working on the third, I was drinking by12. I became isolated and self centered unwilling to receive any help and incapable of helping anyone. I was on my 3rd marriage and very committed to my wife, not knowing how to truly love or relate to my family.In 2001 I heard a testimony, (much like my own), and the4 spiritual laws. The Lord called me, I answered and ask Him to be Lord of my life. He put His Love into my heart. and is teaching me how to relate to others, I’m now equipped to help others, the curse is broken and my family is free to love. When we came to COTM we KNEW!The whole word of God;Mercy&Truth is clearly given to us for His work. God has blessed us in every step, We thank God for our Pastors and family here at COTM.
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The fifth grade would be the year I firsted picked up an adult magazine. And oof course the enemy jumped all over that and had me stuck in pornographic addiction for ten years. it wasnt until March 2009 that after a relationship I thought was golden was ruined by my addiction. I clearly heard Gods voice tell me that “If I did not quit this addiction would ruin my life.” In April of 09 God brought an old friend back into my life and she introduced me to her church back home and also a guide to reading the bible in a year. May 1, 2009 was the first day I stood on God’s word. I’ve been standing on the rock that is Christ ever since and I love Him so much for it. Thank you JESUS!!!
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I was always the life of the party. I loved how everyone approved of and accept me. Through the years before I met my wife, these things became idols in my heart. I had also been addicted to internet pornography for years. Before long, it all added up and led to my committing adultry. Then we began to attend COTM and the Spirit of God started to sear my concience. Fear gripped me as the messages Pastor Willie was teaching urged me to confess. Satan told me for years that if I did, all would be lost and that I should keep the secret. But Pastor tought us that confronting sin gets us OUT of trouble; not in it, and that God wants us to trust Him with our whole heart - especialy the dark places. Finally, I chose to to lay my life at Christ’s feet and tell her. Things have not always been easy over the past few months, but i am here to tell you that I am still married. We’re counselling and Christ is healing our marrige. Christ accepts me. Christ approves of me and I am so completely free!
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I used drugs and alcohol to numb the pain left over from years of heartache. I used every excuse to justify my refusal to change my way of living. Once I finally hit bottom, I fell on my face and cried out to Jesus to rescue me. The change wasn’t immediate; I still found myself giving in to temptation regularly, but slowly and with increasing intensity, I began to feel the sting of conviction each time I stumbled. I shared my experiences with my brother, and he invited me to COTM. Almost instantly, a fire was lit inside me that couldn’t be extinguished. I was hearing the Word and being fed spiritually like never before. The void I once filled with drugs was now being filled with the love of Jesus Christ. As I grew in Christ, the temptations to use became easier to resist. The more I resisted, the fewer temptations I faced. It was like satan knew he had lost the battle for my soul and was in full retreat. I’m delivered by the grace of God and the sacrifice of my Savior, Jesus Christ!
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4 years ago, my christian husband of 17 years, announced he had taken up gambling over the past year. As the story unfolded it revealed the depth of his addiction had led to him loosing $15,000 in one year and the lies he told to cover it were numerous - disolving trust in our relationship.
All this challenged me to practice the Word Pastor George preached - watching my tongue in front of the kids, forgiving, but looking for repentance and being confident in that decision. Not focusing on his poor choices, but how would I believe God in the midst to restore the finances, repair the broken trust heal my heart, etc.
I would come to church and the songs we sang were words the Lord used to help me release the pain, and affirm my faith that “Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is might to save…” Those were words of hope when it looked hopeless.
Now, 4 years later, our family attends church together and my husband is faithful to God and our family spiritually and financially.
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I started off in a background of drugs and alcohol and partying all the time. It eventually led me into prison for a year. When I got out I got put back into a house full of drugs again. I couldn’t take it anymore. I started seeking God which ended up leading me up to Tulsa, Ok. When I moved up here I ended up meeting the most beautiful woman ever who has now became my wife. We both ended up having some struggles in the beginning especially with money. We both prayed and held God to His word b/c we know his word is truth. After tithing and giving our offerings and praying it all started to happen. God blessed me with a second job with a wonderful ministry and then I got promoted at my full time job and was blessed with a $13000 a year raise. I started off as a man who drank and abused drugs and God turned me into a God fearing man with a beautiful wife and daughter. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. God is love and more than we will ever imagine.
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My story well I use to do drugs be a thug,steal drink and do things that were not godly but I had a grandma who always told me about the lord and one day I listened in 2001 I gave my life to jesus christ. And have lived that way every since I love telling people about jesus he saved me from heartache, drugs and gave me life.I have a new home and am very happy He helped me be the great person I am.
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A few weeks ago, when Pastor was talking about families that gain their money from alcohol, it really hit home. My Dad’s dad owned 4 very successful liquor stores. I grew up visiting him at his stores. His employees would give us free cokes and gum, and I just thought it was a great place to be. My Grandfather helped my Dad get a job with a liquor distributing company, and Dad became one of the top liquor salesmen in the state.
But, on my Mom’s side of my family,my grandparents were both alcoholics. My mom struggled for years, dealing with her parents alcoholism, yet about 12 years ago, she also went to rehab.
I partied as a teenager and young adult, not caring about what alcohol had done to my family. It was not until I was married and had my first child that I knew I needed a change. I got saved 17 years ago, and have not had any alcohol since. Seeing where I could be compared to where God has brought me, is beyond words. I am SO thankful for what God has done my life.
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At the age of 21 I was with a man that was on drugs. He would leave to go to the store and I would not see him for a week. He would be out on drug runs. One day he came home after being gone for a week and he was covered in blood. I asked him what happened. He said he had just killed a man. He told me what he did, where it happened, and who he did it to. He said it was all over drugs. I was 36 weeks pregnant at that time. I turned him into the authorities and he went to prison.
When I had my child, D.H.S came and took him from me 24 hours after he was born because I was involved with a man that could commit such a crime. I had lost my son. I gave up on life and God and turned to drugs. I was addicted to pain pills for 4 years. I cried out to God and said if you cant fix me then life isnt worth living. I gave my life to the Lord. I then met my husband and went to rehab. I have 4 stepsons and one daughter.And i am growing in God every day. I now have hope for my future. LIFE IS GOOD!! -
I am recently into recovery for my alcoholism. I had tried many times to quit but was many times unsuccessful. I could see the evils around me during my alcoholism. I could see it ruining my life, my relationships, and my own body but I still did not have the strength to stop. It wasn’t until I learned that I was powerless to quit on my own that sent me on my road to true recovery. It sounds illogical to gain strength by admitting powerlessness but it was God who was the only one who could restore me to sanity. It was fully grasping those two ideas that sent me back into the light. And as I accepted those two things, I could see things clearer. People lent out their helping hand to me like I never thought possible. I returned going to church with my brother who has gone to COTM for years. Pastor George’s words spoke to me like I had never been to church before. Not only am I clean and sober but I finally feel empowered and walking on the path that God intended.
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I was raised without a father and my mother was an alcoholic. I was molested and abused throughout my childhood. I turned to drugs and boys to heal the pain in my heart. Throughout my childhood God placed people in my life that knew him, and shared his promise of hope with me. As I look back its hard for me to believe how many times God tried to reach me before I was finally saved by his Grace. I met my Christian husband when I was a mere 15 years old. He was commited in his faith and I was drawn to his strength and love of Jesus. As you might imagine, his family was concerned, to say the least. Though he was only 20 and I 17 we were married, and have lived a blessed life together. Thank you Jesus for saving my life. Thank you for the 16 years of marriage and 2 wonderful children, I am so incredibly proud of them. Most of all, thank you for the many seeds you planted, during all of the pain I endured in those difficult years, known as my childhood. God is Good.