Testimony Jody Hall

From Crack to Christ

My path has led me from abandonment to adoption. My mother left while I was still a baby, leaving me with a dad who was in and out of jail. I often had to live with friends or other family members. I was introduced to drugs, sex and abuse at an early age. I began smoking marijuana at age 7, became a father at 16, and was addicted to crack cocaine by the time I was 17 years old. I quickly slid into a world of darkness; including theft, drugs, homelessness, and doing anything necessary to support my drug habit.

I met Terri in 1992, who shared with me the message of salvation, and we were married a year later. On our wedding day, I received a calling from the Lord that I was to be in ministry, but I could not get free of my drug addiction. For 10 years I would battle with crack cocaine; in and out of rehabs and often living in the street; eating out of dumpsters, begging for money, and sleeping on benches, in sheds, or wherever I could find shelter. I ran as far as I could from the call of God on my life. During this time, I also suffered the death and loss of my youngest son. Later, I lost all contact with my oldest son when I signed adoption papers while high on crack. Eventually, I lost my family and my home. In March 2003, alone and in jail, I called out to God for help.

I fully gave my life to the Lord that day. Since then my family has been restored and I was delivered and set free from all drugs!! I quickly began ministering in outreach to the homeless and the addicted. Now I m back on the streets, this time feeding and ministering to those who are still trapped. I attended the college home based master's commission program at Southeastern College in Lakeland, Florida.

The past 2 years have not been easy. There are trials and struggles as with anyone, but through the trials, God has delivered me from low self-esteem and depression. The Lord has given me a deeper hunger for more of Him, and He has healed a broken and hurting marriage! I am currently building Aiming High Ministries with this wife Terri. I also founded "From Crack to Christ" an outreach support group for drug addicts, and have organized public events to share Jesus with the unsaved. I desire that my testimony bring hope to the hurting, salvation to the lost, freedom to the addicts, and healing to their families. E-mail me at fromc2c@aiminghighministries.com. You can also check out myspace at www.myspace.com/pastorjay1675 or website at www.aiminghighministreis.com.

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