I was born in Belfast, I grew up in Ballybeen. I had two sisters who were Christians from an early age. Mum had been a Christian for a number of years. My dad was a good honest working man; he worked as an electrician for most of his life. Coming from such a good home, I had no need to become rebellious but I did, because I carried a chip on my shoulder. This led me into trouble at a young age running around with a skinhead gang - we were into sniffing glue and underage drinking. We got involved in rioting with other gangs, just anybody we could have a fight with, but sometimes not always on the winning side. Soon I came under the attention of the police; it wasn't long before a police uniform became like a red rag to a bull, and all the alcohol and drugs I was putting into me didn't help my aggressive tendencies. This acquired me a healthy criminal record from about the age of 15. My first sentence wasn't long after the age of 17. I did six months in Hyde Bank Young Offenders Centre in the early 1980s which was really rough in those days, and anyone reading this who had been there in those early days will know exactly what I am talking about, but it didn't deter me in the slightest. My dependence on alcohol and drugs grew stronger and stronger and this all contributed to my violent nature. I was in and out of prisons, in and out of police stations, developing a very healthy criminal record. It wasn't long until I got mixed up in the troubles [in Ulster] as many young people of my age did. I never held down a steady job, and never seen the need to, My opportunistic lifestyle met more than my needs, but didn't satisfy me - there was always that empty feeling when the buzz of alcohol and drugs wore off. Even when I took the alcohol and drugs, they were no longer filling that gap in my life. I moved to Lurgan and got a job, but it was not long until I was back to my old ways, except this time it was worse than before. I was beginning to hit the self-destruct button. It was in Lurgan that I met my future wife Stephanie. We set up house together and she fell pregnant with our first child, Ashleigh, who is now nine. I continued on my quest with police stations and prisons, even reaching as far as Bar L in Glasgow (another one of her majesty's hotels), were I served a short term under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Whilst in that prison I learnt that my daughter had taken her first steps. I missed it due to me serving time, and this made me think and consider where my life was going. Soon after my return home, I was arrested again for G.B.H and threats to kill. During this time in Maghaberry I had an experience with God - I felt an inner peace. Whenever I got up in the morning I felt God saying to me that "when I go to tell Kenny that there was much to do and not much time to do it." On my release I just returned to my own ways but this time it was different; this time when I was on my own I was talking to God, and I was saying to God, "If you want me, send me a sign." Tracts and godly people were all coming to my door, and the Bible tells us in Hebrews 13:2 "be careful when you are entertaining strangers, because you may be entertaining angels." But I still kept saying to God to send me a sign. One October night in 2001 a knock came to my door. I had come accustomed to living like a prisoner with steel doors, bullet-proof windows and security cameras, so I was careful when answering the door. The man standing at the door said he was from the local church and his name was Kenny. "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" he said. I replied "not at all." One of the questions was concerning what the local church should be doing, I told him it should be doing exactly what he was doing - meeting people on the front door. The other question was what type of church would I like to attend, I told him one where people raised their hands to God and clapped their hands, a lively church which I had seen on the God channel. He told me that I had described the church he went to, and invited me to come to church. When I went back into the house God reminded me of the experience I had in Maghaberry and about Kenny. I took up Kenny's offer and attended church that Sunday night. This was a bit of a disaster because I had a few drinks in me, I was asked to leave because of my laughing during the meeting - the laughing was more of a nervous thing, but this didn't deter me because there was something there that I wanted, although I couldn't put my finger on it at the time. I didn't miss a Sunday after that, and came under deep conviction of the Spirit, which I thought was depression, or something I was taking, but little did I know it was God working on me. I made a decision on the 2nd January 2002 to surrender all to Jesus. From that moment my life changed, but it was not always easy as Matthew 7:13-15 says, but now Jesus was on my side and He walks the way ahead of me and leads me on in His paths. From that day the whole world lifted off my shoulder, for all my life I had tried to be somebody, but now I was somebody, I was a child of the living God. Shortly after my girlfriend got saved, we got married. I have bought my own house, I have my own car, all this the provision of God. 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity".

Now I work in the community voluntary working with youth in both protestant and catholic areas, trying to put something back into the community, and I find this a great blessing in my life and worthwhile. I am also involved in outreach work, where our team goes out on the streets of my local town, and evangelise and build up relationships with young people who roam the streets. During the colder months we have brought hot drinks and soup as a practical means to reach these young people and create opportunities to tell them about Jesus and His love. One thing I have found out is that we cannot tell them about Jesus without showing them Jesus in us, and we try to do what Jesus would do with these young people. With this work we are not interested in what side of the fence they are from; we are only interested in their souls, because there are only two types of people in God's eyes, the lost and the found.

Some months ago I felt the leading of the spirit to visit prisoners; we have seen many breakthroughs not only with prisoners but also with prison staff. This leading all coincided with a book I had brought out written by Noel Davidson, which contains my life story, in more detail called "Rough Diamonds". The issue of this book has brought many opportunities not only on the prison visits but also in other halls up and down the country. To finish this, there is a strange twist to my story. I was called recently to a house were the man had a drink problem. When I got there I discovered he was a policeman. He had read my book twice; he knew me and the stuff I had been into. But through talking to him and telling him of my conversation and what the Lord has done for me, to cut a long story short I had the pleasure of leading this policeman to the Lord. Here was an ex-paramilitary leading the law-man I had opposed to the Lord. I have the greatest blessing watching this man grow in God - hasn't God got a great sense of humour. It doesn't matter where you are, or how far you think you are moved from society; God can still reach and lift you out of the dung heap and set you on the Rock. Like the song says, "I was lost but now I'm found, I was blind but now I see." — God's amazing grace. Amen.

Two very loving parents raised me, so I can't blame what happened in my life on the fact that I was from a broken home. I went to church and vacation Bible school. My dear Grandmother taught me about Jesus. I finished school and went into the Air Force and experienced the adventures of travelling the world. I went to college and got an education. I was ready for life, that's what I thought. After a few years of working in the oil and gas industry as an engineer, I started a very successful chemical company. I was making more money than I had ever dreamed that I would make. With all of the money came the opportunity to do everything I shouldn't. My life went into a downward spiral. My chemical company went bankrupt, I lost my wife and kids, I lost my home, I lost the respect of my business associates, I felt I had lost everything I ever owned. My life turned out to be such a complete waste.

It was in the last week of April in 1995. I had been locked in my office for the last 20 or so hours and drowning in the abuse for the day. I was as unhappy with my life as I have ever been. I knew I was addicted, and I knew I couldn't quit. I sat there in the early morning hours with a gun to my head ready to end my addiction when I remembered my Grandmother telling me "Steven you don't take your own life, God will take you when He is ready for you. "At 4:30 a.m. walked over to my house. I lay in my bed and I cried like a baby to God, "I need your help!" My friend had gotten busted and he was working with the police to get me. When he handed me the drug money, the hotel room door was kicked in and police immediately surrounded me. I was arrested and taken to the county jail.

The Gideons were in the county jail passing out the little pocket New Testaments. I wanted a Bible. Well, I got one and I went straight to my mat on the floor and I started thumbing through my little Bible. In the back of the bible I found the Saviour's Prayer. I prayed that prayer with all the heart that a man could pray. God I need you. God I am scared. God please protect me. Immediately I felt the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Immediately all of my fears were gone. Jesus Christ was with me. I was born again!

I had an $110,000 cash bond placed on me when I got busted. Four months passed, along with several appearances in front of various judges, pleading unsuccessfully for a reduction in bond. I wanted to give up. I kept praying. Then one night while I was lying in my bunk and praying, I heard God's voice. He told me to expect a miracle. I had never heard God's voice before and for Him to tell me to "expect a miracle...." A week later I stood in front of the judge while the prosecuting attorney argued why my bond should not be reduced. I had heard it all before and I was expecting the same response from the judge denying the reduction, when the judge asked the prosecutor to have a seat and then looked at my attorney, then at me, and announced that he was reducing my bond to a PR bond. I was going home on the promise that I would return back to court.

On the day of my sentencing I stood before the judge expecting to get probation. I was nervous as I listened to the judge recite my charges, and then the sentence; seven and one-half years in the state penitentiary. Once again I was handcuffed and taken to jail where I was to be transferred to the state prison at a later date. My first week in state prison I was processed and it was decided I would go to a minimum-security facility where I would spend the next seven plus years of my life. I was transferred a week later and upon arriving at my new home I immediately found the chaplain and became a chaplain's aid. During that first week we had a Prison Fellowship Seminar. There I told our group about my circumstances which landed me in prison. I shared the story of my cocaine addiction to our group leader, Dick. At the close of the second night of the seminar, I was telling Dick goodbye when all of a sudden he took me in his arms and started praying. When Dick let me go, I looked into his eyes and saw that he was crying. I asked him what that was all about, and he told me that God had told him to take me into his arms and pray, and then he told me that God told him I was going to be released in four months.

The next week I received a letter from my attorney telling me that the judge who had sentenced me called my attorney at home and told him to file a Motion for Shock Probation. He was to wait until my 90th day in confinement to file the motion. My attorney told me that it would take about 30 days before the judge would hear the motion. That total amount of time would add up to 4 months. Well, 4 months later, June 14, 1996, after appearing in front of the same judge that sent me to prison, I was sent home to Texas.

During all this time I had experienced many miracles from God. He answered my prayer when I cried to Him for help as a cocaine addict. He cleansed me from my addiction. He answered my prayers to be sent home when my bond was $110,000 cash. He changed the heart of a judge who had sentenced me to a long term in prison. He healed my son of a blood disorder. He cared for and provided for my family while I was locked up. I came home and within two months I started a consulting company which has enjoyed success. God has blessed me with a wonderful church home. He has blessed me with countless Christian friends. He has blessed me with the opportunity to serve Him via this Internet Ministry. I serve an awesome God. God is the focal point of my life each and every day. I can never give Him enough praise. I will never be worthy of the immense love that He has for me.

Hello. My name is Doug. I was a drug addict for almost 40 years. I grew up in the rough part of a large city where you had two choices - you either drank or did drugs. I chose drugs because my father died of alcohol poisoning. Which was stupid, but that was the way it was. I grew up in the drug culture and today the kids are doing the same thing. I would love to get a hold of every one of them and shake them by the nape of the neck and say "NO" don't do it! I could tell them all the bad things that are going to happen to them, but like me most of them wouldn't believe that it will happen to them, but it will. For those of you who don't know, you don't get addicted from the first, second or third shot - you have to work at it and I worked at it for many years. And there are many kids out there today that are working at it. What they don't know is that until they come to the Lord Jesus they will never be able to quit. They have to get right with God, or they may overdose and die like I did, but Jesus may not bring them back like he did me. And I pray to God that every one of them will get their act together and come to the Lord before this happens to them.

That's right; I was dead for 10 ½ minutes. The doctors pronounced me dead and they were taking me to the morgue in an ambulance when Jesus brought me back to life. While I was dead I remember talking to Jesus about my situation. During the conversation he asked me "Now that you are dead what are you going to do?" I answered "serve you". And he replied "right answer" and the next thing I knew I was back in my body. It was a dynamite experience, but I hope nobody else has to do that. It's something you will never forget - it's the neatest thing that's ever happened to me. My whole life has been completely turned around because of this encounter. It's the most wonderful life I have ever had. When he brought me back to life the desire for drugs was totally gone. I have not had the desire to do heroin, or any other drug for almost two years now. I am attending a church where Jesus is real, people are healed of every type of sickness, disease and heart ache. The Lord told me he would heal me little by little, and I am having less and less physical problems. All the tracts are gone, my heart is better, and the only thing I have wrong with me now is a lung problem that is getting better every day. My liver and my kidneys should be gone from all the years of doing drugs, but they are not. Everything I own, or posses now belongs to the Lord and sometimes I fall and sometimes I don't, but it is only because I am still human and I am still trying to fight, but basically if you do not let Jesus do it for you it's not going to get done right. Jesus is the key to your freedom from whatever has you bound.
 

My name is David (Ty) Eugene Johnston; I am on death row here in Florida now going on 17 years. May this letter find you healthy and your friends too in joyful spirits. I have no family - my family abandoned me when I was ten years of age. I suffered physical torture, abuse, psychological cruelty, inhuman mistreatment, and wilful emotional neglect. I truly have nobody. No one to help or care about me. Nobody to show me any love and affection I need. No friends, no person to write to. I do not receive any visitors, I absolutely just do not have anyone. The only greatest love and affection and care and friend I honestly do have is God (Jesus) My Saviour.

I would like to share with you all how I found God. All my life I was abused. I was nearly killed several times as a child by my own mother and father- from their physical beatings. I was abused by my brothers and sisters. I never had emotional support, encouragement, guidance, love and all the rest that goes with being a child. My father raped me as a young child. I was really sad and hurt and disappointed. I never received any gifts nor Christmas gifts from my family. My life became filled with alcohol and drugs, as I was sleeping on the streets at a young age. Not caring about people's feelings. I was hurting. I have never been given the actual chance in life. I have no education, because due to the severe beatings, they kept me out of school and secretly locked inside of the bedroom closet, with a lock on the door so I couldn't come out of the closet. I was deprived of food, clothes and medical treatment. The little education I do have is by my self learning and self-teaching. I have tried to kill myself, only to awaken in the Intensive Care Unit and recover. I trusted easily and they took whatever innocence that I had. I let people abuse me, it was the only way I knew. I became even more confused, lonely and heartsick. I have tried to end my life several times here on death row: taking pills, cut my wrists, and attempted to hang myself, because I thought I had nobody to live for, and nobody would care if I did kill myself. Nobody would miss me. Then I tried several religions, all the way to Islam, trying to find God. But I wasn't finding God through prayers and reading religious materials, and still felt lonely. The thought entered my head: nobody loves me, wants me, cares about me, needs me, not even God. I had no money, or warm clothes, or good food, or hygiene, received no letters or visitors, and nobody wants to help me. I am just worthless. I cried a lot - not even other death row inmates cared about me. So on December 1999, I had a brand new razor blade, and in tears and sick hearted, I pressed the razor blade up against the right side of my neck with my right hand, closed my eyes and I yelled out "Forgive me God". Suddenly, something slapped my hand very hard, knocking the razor blade from my hand, and forcing my hand outward and completely away from my neck. I reopened my eyes and I saw this Bright Glow of Light inside the cell with me. I heard this Voice say to me, "I AM THE WAY, Nobody can come to My Father but only through ME. Islam isn't the way, - Baptist isn't the way, - Buddha isn't the way, - Catholic isn't the way, - Pentecost isn't the way, killing yourself isn't the way, I AM THE WAY."

I kneeled down to the cold concrete cell floor and bowed down and prayed. I went to God in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ. I repented of all and every sin I committed. And repented every commandment of God's laws I violated. Repented of every lie I had told, every profanity I used, repented of all the people I had hurt emotionally, by stealing their property, repented of all the drugs and alcohol I had used, repented for misusing my body, repented for trying to kill myself. I asked God to forgive my family of all the terrible things they did to me, and I told God I am tired of living my life my way, and want to live my life God's way. I gave God control of my life, and accepted Jesus Christ into my heart, into my life, into my soul, into my mind, and into my spirit as God's Son and as my Saviour. I am happy now, I don't feel lonely nor sick hearted anymore. I get a visit every day and every night, when I pray to God!! God loves me, Jesus Loves me and cares about me, and needs me, and wants me. And is my best Friend. Amen

I have peace, I read the Bible every day and I love God with all of my mind, heart, soul, life, and spirit. I no longer care about being cold in here, I don't care about having no radio, or television, I don't care about having no shoes, or nobody to love or care for me, or visit me, or help me, or write me. I no longer care about hunger pains, or sores on my feet, or poor health. Why? I have God!! Jesus' Love is so beautiful!! No more worries, no pains in my heart, no more sick heartiness, no more loneliness, no more sorrows, no more feelings of blue. I know real peace and love! For Jesus Christ, I write three words: "I LOVE YOU." He really does love me too. Thank you all for reading my letter and May God Bless you, you are all in my prayers.

Your Brother in Christ, David (Ty)
David E. Johnston, # A084761, U.C.I. P1124-A1,  P.O. Box 221,  Raiford,  Florida 32083

Note from the Editor

I want to close this Issue of 'Set Free' with this thought:

If you have prayed this prayer and have accepted Christ into your heart and life, please let us know, so we can pray and help you in your new life in Christ.