I grew up in dysfunctional home, as many of you have. The only experience I had with any kind of religion was with my next door neighbors, I attended their Mormon cult a half dozen times. Even then the Lord had His hand on my life. All I remember of those experiences was the free 7-11 slurpie they gave me afterwards. (After all, that was the only reason I went. Take that devil!)

By the time I was 18 years old I had been detained in the Juvenile facility numerous times and had been through 2, 30-day $18,000 drug programs and one, 1-year program. I decided at that time to enlist in the Navy. Because I was no longer permitted in my parent’s home, or any other relatives for that matter. I figured they could baby sit me better that I could. That went well for a little while.
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I was rapidly advancing in rank and position until I met Meth. (Meth-amphetamine that is.) Within 2-years of my enlistment I was being discharged under dishonorable conditions, (ouch, that hurt) but apparently not bad enough to stop me, or the enemy that gripped and controlled my life.

Life continued to go straight down into the pits of, you no where. Drinking and driving was a daily experience with 7 DUI’s to show for my stupidity. (Thank God I never hurt or killed anyone with that deadly weapon.) I was in and out of jail and recovery homes and each time I left, I really felt like, I had it licked this time (I, being the key word here). Over the next 10 years I used, manipulated and hurt every person who ever cared about me.

Suicide became the only real option for me. After a couple of failed attempts I realized I was too scared to go through with something like that, so I decided to do it like my dad did. I would drink and drug myself to death. I was well on the road of self-destruction and I was willing to take whoever got in my way with me.
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In 1992 I was in and out of the hospital, being pumped with vitamins for malnutrition. I was unable to hold down any food and I was having DT’s daily. It would take about a pint of 80 proof whatever (usually whatever I could steal) just to get to the feeling of what I thought was normal. My liver was beginning to show signs of cirrhosis, and I was told I would die within a couple of years if I continued. (Mission accomplished, so I thought, but God had a plan!)

In 1993 I went to jail for the 7th DUI. By now I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. The judge offered me prison for 16 months. “I’ll take it”, I thought, “It’s the only way to clean up”, and I knew I was ready. Again, God had other plans. At the last minute my sentence was changed to 1-year County jail and 1-year in a program. (This was the 7th time in a program for me).

I stayed clean and sober through Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous for 3 ½ years. But my life was still a mess. I stole, I cussed, I used everyone I could to make me feel better about me.
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There was still something missing, something inside me cried out to be loved. I knew I needed something different, I just couldn’t put a finger on it. I became very active in the Narcotics Anonymous program and they told me I needed to get a “Higher Power”, they said it could be anything but myself. Early in recovery I began to pray to this, ”Higher Power” but I called Him God. A very dear but very persistent friend of mine started asking me to go to church with him. I finally ran out of excuses and told him I would go if he would get off by back about it afterwards; he agreed.

That Sunday morning was the beginning of a new life for me. That love I so longed for gripped my heart and for the first time in my life I had finally found what I was looking for and He had a name. His name was and is Jesus Christ. God began to work in my life in a rapid way. I read the bible, cover to cover, in under 6 months and the Lord gave me a great understanding of His Word. I was asked to speak at a youth meeting after knowing the Lord for only 90 days. My Pastor put me to work in the Turning Point Ministry (working with drug addicts and alcoholics).

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I gave my life to Jesus on Dec. 15. 1996 and in March 1997, 3 months later, I had an experience with the spirit of God that dramatically changed my life. That very day I stopped swearing, I stopped smoking, I stopped stealing and lying. I went home and sold everything I owned, gave the money to my church and moved in with a Christian friend.

Within 2-years my Pastor asked me to be his associate. I was so moved and humbled that I wept for 3 days every time I thought of the awesomeness of God. I served the Lord and the man of God with all my heart, my mind and my soul for the next 2 years. During this time the Lord gave me the desire of my heart by sending me my beautiful wife. He has since blessed us with an adopted 7 year-old girl named Harmony and precious baby boy named Justus. God is truly good to His children.
Every time the church doors were open I was there. At the end of this 2-year period the Lord began to birth a Ministry in my heart that was separate from my mentor’s ministry.

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In August of 2000, the Lord moved my wife and I to Santa Paula, California, away from our families, our friends and our Pastors to pioneer our own work. In September 2000 we opened the doors to Light of Life Ministries. Everyday we serve God, everyday we seek Him, and His will for our lives is where we have found that joy unspeakable. It’s been almost one year since we started and although we are still small in numbers we sure are big in spirit. He has been with us every step of the way and most of the time He has carried us. We serve the Lord with a grateful heart and we are blessed to be called by His name. Make no mistake about it; what God has done in less than 5 years in my life and through my life is all God’s doing. It is only through tears of gratitude that I am even able to write this testimony. For I know that I am nothing without God and I am very careful to give Him all the glory forever and ever, amen.

In His Everlasting Love,
Pastor Ron Wilson _____________ Back to Testimonies Menu