Testimonies

Brother Jeffrey A. Thompson

My name is Jeffrey A. Thompson and I was born January 3rd, 1965. I came into this world breech which may explain all the backward choices I made in my life. 

I grew up in a Christian home where, while imperfect, both my mom and dad were believers in Jesus Christ. In the 5th grade I was forced to change grade schools which began my downfall. I knew nobody and the only group that accepted me, a newbie was the smokers and drug users. So I soon began smoking, drinking, using drugs, and it never stopped but only grew as I got older.

Were it so that these were my only vices, I also began stealing, acting out in school, and disrespecting my dad. My drinking and drug use continued to grow as I didn’t like my life and tried to escape. In the 6th grade, my teacher Mrs. Colby decided that I wasn’t being challenged enough in school and came up with the solution to push me forward into the 7th grade at the halfway point of the year. This created another headache for me because now the older kids in the Junior high school resented me. One more reason to fall deeper into drinking and drug usage!  

My acting out at home also became a greater problem which put me into the juvenile justice system which led to several out of home placements. The Rock County Youth Home, a group home in Stoughton and eventually Mendota. They made the determination that I was fine and let me go home. None of it worked and I went off to my first stay at Ethan Allen which led to a placement in a Beloit juvenile halfway house where I was promptly kicked out and returned to Ethan Allen. This lasted until an attorney found an error in the paperwork and I was sent to Norris Farms. I remained in there until the end of the school year in which I was released to my home in 1981. My appearance back at school brought mixed reviews as many wouldn’t talk to me, some remembered past friendships, and once again the users embraced me which I relished. I never did graduate from school and in 1982 my dad passed away from heart failure.

This seemed to set my path, I drank more, and began to use heavier drugs (Hallucinogen’s) My life was now simply one of partying. I continued to think I was managing but I was hiding inside. In January of 1986 it all seemed to come to an end as  on January me and two others planned to rob a liquor store. Each of us had different roles and I was one the one to enter. Things didn’t happen as planned and I wound up shooting and killing Steven Raby, this happened on January 23rd and was arrested on January 25th. Two trials later I was found guilty of 2nd degree murder and armed robbery the judge gave me the maximum of 70 years. The memory of Steven, what I did to him became my inspiration, I never wanted to hurt anyone again.

While inside I went through college but more important for me were the bible studies I did by mail. By God’s grace on May 16th, 2017 I received a grant and came back to Janesville. I try to do as best as I can with the help of Jesus Christ and on September 3, 2017, I was again baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. I truly did repent of my sins and now wait on the blessings of God. I trust in His holy word for 1Corinthians 6:11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” I am forgiven and I know I am sanctified in His Holy name! Amen                                                      God bless you all and it is my prayer that this inspires you to never give up!

 

Pastor Jeff Hanson

I married at the young age of nineteen not really knowing what was love was. But God was calling, shortly after we had moved to a small town called Rib Lake, WI and traveled back to the Milwaukee area often to visit family. On one of these trips as it was snowing we had a terrible auto accident in which another driver coming the opposite way lost control and ended up sideways as we collided, two of the people in the other car were killed and two children injured. I was saved pretty much with just a cut on my chin, a banged up nose and chest, my wife broke both bones in her lower leg and received a nasty gash to her chin. The thing that left the greatest impression on me was that I heard later that the two ladies in the other car were heading home just after having their “Wills made out”. But unfortunately I wasn’t ready to hear about God as I continued my drinking, partying and carousing.

After my third child was born God was going to change my world upside down. After a routine checkup we were told to take her to Childrens Hospital because he didn’t think something was right. I sat outside as doctor after doctor went into the room in wonder what was going on and eventually they brought us into a room and told us the horrible news, “Your daughter has cancer”. As they placed my daughter into my arms my heart broke as I felt tremendous guilt and actually felt that his child was suffering for my sins much like Jesus had suffered for our sins two thousand years ago. Well they had surgery the following day and removed a tumor about the size of orange but the cancer had spread to her liver and she would have to undergo chemotherapy and were cautioned about having too much hope (heard later that the Mayo clinic had several of this type of cancer with very poor results).

But I went home that night and cried out to God telling Him that He should take my life not hers, Praise God He heard my cry, because from that moment on my life changed. I was eventually baptized in Jesus Name, filled with the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues and answered the call to the ministry. By the way my daughter received a healing and is now a mother of three beautiful children.

Brother Kim Olson

My name is Kim Olson and I feel like the most divinely protected man alive.  For nearly 30 years I was held in bondage by Chronic Alcoholism and many other destructive addictions. I spent nearly three years institutionalized in treatment centers, halfway houses, and jails. I had many brushes with death in hospitals and on the streets. I’ve been beaten beyond recognition,
stabbed, left for dead and shot at. In the early 1970’s I was a Radio-Teletype Operator in a Viet Nam Support Unit. I don’t remember a day when I wasn’t using alcohol, drugs, or both.

Through everything I had a strong feeling someone was watching over me. I was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over 20 years and had some periods of sobriety. I had a huge void in me and I knew I needed much more because my addiction was more powerful than I was. One day I woke up in jail very sick and very depressed. I remember getting on my knees and praying for deliverance out of my Hell. I prayed for something I never had…a normal life. I had already ruined my marriage and ruined my relationship with my son. My life was a series of missed opportunities, blackouts, brusher with the law, and failed relationships.

I finally put my life in God’s hands where it belonged all along. Things began to happen. I married a Spirit filled woman and was blessed with a Spirit filled daughter. Deliverance from my addictions occurred with no withdrawal. I began to live with a new sense of strength and confidence. I found a job that I’ve held for many years. This is significant because I was diagnosed as hopeless and told I’d never be able to work and would be on Social Security the rest of my life. That was a lie from the depths of hell.

Today I’m a Spirit filled member of God’s Kingdom. I’ve got a clear mind and good health and I realize everything I have came from God. He gave me back everything Satan stole from me and much, much more. Praise God!