The Well | DECISIONS AND LIFESTYLE Archives

Mez (Ireland)

February 26, 2020
Childhood Childhood, abandoned Childhood, from an alcoholic home Childhood, moved around a lot Childhood, neglected Childhood, traumatic Childhood, unloved Childhood, wealthy Drug abuse Drug abuse Drug abuse, addiction Drug abuse, addiction Family Family, unloving Imprisonment Parents Parents, neglected Uncategorized
0 Comments

Meet Mez

Mez’ had an extremely traumatic childhood and he spent his early adult life behind bars. God sent a faithful Christian into Mez’s life to love him and share the gospel with him. Mez turned to Christ and now he’s passionate about pursuing marginalized people in society with the love of Jesus.

Mez describes the extremely dysfunctional family from which he came and how he was abandoned in a box as a two-year-old. He lived in over 30 homes and shelters until ending up on the streets as a teenager. Mez became a drug user aged 12, then becoming a drug dealer by his later teenage years. Mez’ choices resulted in his imprisonment in a maximum-security prison.

While living on the streets, Mez was approached by Christians who shared the gospel with him. At the time Mez responded with hostility. However, while in prison one of the same Christians offered Mez a home to go to for his parole. It was in this Christian home, reading the Bible and Bible commentaries, where Mez accepted he was a sinner and turned to Christ.

God has radically changed Mez’ life. He went to Bible college and got married. God has also given him a heart to reach the most socially excluded groups in society with the Gospel. Mez has set up a church in Northern Brazil among prostitutes and street children. He has also started a church in one of the most economically deprived areas of Scotland. His desire is to train up others to take the Gospel to people living in extreme poverty.

Gospel

Video source

Mez’ story was produced by Together for the Gospel (T4G).

View Related Stories

Tags: Childhood - abandoned, Childhood - fostered, Childhood - from an alcoholic home, Childhood - unstable, Christian ministry life - evangelist, Christian ministry life - missionary, Christian ministry life - pastor, Christians - dislike or hostility, Drug abuse, Drug addiction, Drug dealing, Father - rejection, Homelessness, Imprisonment, Mother - rejection, Sex industry, Sheltered accommodation, Sin - accepting I'm a sinner, The Bible, The gospel (God's message to the world), The gospel - don't know it

February 26, 2020 0

Sam (Wales)

Meet Sam

Hard-hearted Sam was just about to seriously assault someone when God brought to mind Bible verses which caused Sam to repent of his sin and turn to Christ.

Sam shares how he led a life of crime and violence throughout his teens. His heart had become very hardened towards other people. However, on one occasion when he was about to assault someone, God brought to mind some Bible verses from the Book of Romans. Sam instantly saw his sin in a new light and he understood for the first time that Jesus died for him.

Since the time of Sam’s conversion, he has relocated from Wales, UK to Scotland, UK in order to be discipled and follow Jesus more closely. He has also become a male youth worker as part of a gospel ministry. Sam talks about the love he has for the young kids who live in some of the most economically deprived areas of Scotland. His passion is to let them know that they have hope in Jesus too.

Gospel

Video source

Sam’s story was produced by 20Schemes, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

View Related Stories

Tags: Anger - general, Christian ministry life - evangelist, God's plan for me, Hard-heartedness, Life of crime, Sin - accepting I'm a sinner, The Bible, The gospel (God's message to the world), Violence - towards others, Youth worker

February 26, 2020 0

Paul (Scotland)

Meet Paul

Paul, from an economically deprived area of Scotland, shares how he went from being a “hopeless” drug and alcohol addict to a lover of Jesus and trainee church planter.

Paul grew up in a housing scheme with many social problems. At the time of high-school he started dabbling in alcohol and drugs. This spiraled out of control in Paul’s adult years as he became a cocaine user and an addict to alcohol and drugs.

Paul describes how he hit rock bottom, becoming nothing more than a “shell of a man”. It was then he became a resident of a recovery center and heard the gospel that Jesus died for his sins. Paul was also very struck by the love of the staff for him.

Paul wanted forgiveness for his sins and the chance to start over. He repented of his sins and trusted in Jesus as his Lord and Savior. God radically changed Paul and the direction of his life. He is no longer an addict and instead is training to be a church planter so he can bring the good news of Jesus Christ to other people living in tough housing schemes in Edinburgh.

Gospel

Video source

Paul’s story was produced by 20Schemes, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

View Related Stories

Tags: Alcohol addiction, Childhood - from a crime neighborhood, Christian ministry life - evangelist, Christian ministry life - pastor, Drug abuse - cocaine, Drug addiction, God - forgiven by God, Hopelessness, Purpose of life, Scotland, Sin - forgiveness, UK, Unstable life

February 26, 2020 0

Ellie (USA)

Meet Ellie

Singer and actress Ellie Ellsworth tells her story of being trapped in a life of promiscuity until she professed her belief in Jesus. Jesus set her free from her addiction to sex.

Ellie didn’t hear the gospel growing up. She talks about how she got into her first sexual relationship before marriage. She got married and ended up having an affair. Ellie continued down a path of promiscuity and adultery following her second marriage. She tried many means of help to overcome this addiction to sex.

Someone she dated invited her to a gospel-preaching church. She attended there for a couple of years. A lady challenged Ellie on what she believed – Ellie said she believed Jesus died for her sins.

Ellie emotionally describes the radical change Jesus brought about in her life just months after professing her belief in Him. She was set free from her need for men. Ellie reads some of John chp 4 about the Samaritan woman and explains how Jesus has used that story to reach her heart.

Gospel

Video source

Ellie’s story was produced by Redeemer Churches and Ministries, New York, USA.

View Related Stories

Tags: Affair, Affair - multiple, Anxiety - money, Careers - acting, Careers - music, Feeling unloved, No money, Self-worth, Sex addiction, Sexual life - outside marriage, Sexual life - promiscuity, Sin – trapped by it

December 3, 2019 0

Jeff (USA)

Meet Jeff

Jeff grew up in Japan and had an outstanding career in martial arts. Yet he did not feel satisfied. He became a very hard drug user and sacrificed home life with his wife and newborn. On one occasion Jeff found he had overdosed on ecstasy. He called out to God and his overdose symptoms subsided. He continued living a reckless existence until he found himself homeless and penniless. At rock bottom, without any distractions, he opened up the Bible and began reading. He understood the gospel for the first time and asked Jesus to be his Lord as well as his Savior. Jesus has turned Jeff’s life around.

Gospel

Video source

This story was produced by Anchored North, Anaheim Hills, California, USA.

View Related Stories

Tags: Alcohol abuse, Debt, Drug abuse, Drug abuse - cocaine, Drug abuse - ecstasy, Drug abuse - overdose, Drug addiction, Home loss, Success - martial arts, The Bible – curiosity, The gospel (God's message to the world), Unfulfillment

October 26, 2019 0

Ryan (USA)

Meet Ryan

Ryan’s party lifestyle got out-of-hand with an alcohol addiction and an arrest for armed robbery. He ended up with 6 months probation. At this time he knew that he needed to turn to God. His long desire for a purpose for his life was realized when he accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Gospel

Video source

This story was produced by Lakeside Fellowship, Polk City, Iowa, USA.

View Related Stories

Tags: Alcohol abuse, Alcohol abuse – addiction, Arrested, Arrested - armed robbery, Arrested - robbery, College - party lifestyle, Death threats, Party lifestyle - high-school, Peace, Purpose of life, Reckless lifestyle, Violence - assault

May 14, 2019 0

Bryan (USA)

Meet Bryan

Bryan describes how he went to church as a kid but never really heard about sin. When he did hear the gospel he was angry and upset because he found it hard to accept he was a sinner. But God drew Bryan to himself and he accepted Jesus’ work to make him right with God. For a while, Bryan wandered from God and he developed an all-consuming hobby collecting toys. God used a house flood as a means to bring Bryan’s focus back to him and give up his idol.

Gospel

Video source

This story was produced by Lakeside Fellowship, Polk City, Iowa, USA.

View Related Stories

Tags: Idolizing money, Material lifestyle, My Christian life - not living for God, Possessions, Sin - accepting I'm a sinner, Striving for possessions

May 9, 2019 0

Steve (USA)

Meet Steve

Steve describes the tragedy of his mother dying while he was a baby, and his father’s alcoholism and inability to care for him and his siblings. As a young person, Steve developed an addiction to alcohol. His marriage failed and his life spun out of control. Steve remarried and he was invited to do a Bible study. The pastor explained the gospel in a way Steve could understand. Steve accepted Jesus’ work to make him right with God. Steve asked Jesus to take away his alcohol addiction, which Jesus did. Steve knows God can radically change a person with his power.

Gospel

Video source

This story was produced by Lakeside Fellowship, Polk City, Iowa, USA.

View Related Stories

Tags: Alcohol addiction, Childhood - raised by a family member, Childhood - traumatic, Divorce, Father - rejection, Father - strained relations, Home loss, Hopelessness, Job loss, Mother - death, Selfishness, The gospel - don't know it

May 9, 2019 0

Jim (USA)

Meet Jim

Jim grew up around Christianity but it seemed unimportant to him. He spent time in the army and has had a long career in the police force. Jim talks about his hard-heartedness and selfishness. He encountered Christian men but had misconceptions about them. Jim’s brother got seriously sick and became a Christian. At that point God turned Jim’s heart towards Him and Jim decided to become a Christian also. Jim talks about how straightforward it is to become a Christian, and if he had known the truth about Christianity, he would have become a Christian when he was much younger.

Gospel

Video source

This story was produced by Lakeside Fellowship, Polk City, Iowa, USA.

View Related Stories

Tags: Anger - general, Careers - police force, Christianity - misunderstood it, Family member - illness, Hard-heartedness, Marriage, Parenting, Selfishness, Spirituality - don't care, The gospel - don't know it, Vietnam war, Work life - over-working, Work life - pressures

May 2, 2019 0

Josh (USA)

Meet Josh

Josh grew up in a Christian home and thought he was a Christian. As a younger guy he felt unhappy with church life and started pushing it away. He lived in different parts of the US, and experienced financial problems. He shares that he had a problem with alcohol. After becoming a husband and parent, Josh started attending church regularly. He realized he didn’t understand the gospel fully, especially the gift of Jesus’ righteousness to him. Josh placed his faith in Christ. Jesus has taken away Josh’s alcohol problem.