I was thug before there was thug life. We used to rob people every night. I
went home from jail one night my mother came and got me and she was in there praying.
She said oh, God I'm so tired of getting this boy out of jail, will you save him
before he kills himself? So I go back upstairs I said okay God if you exist
show yourself right now. Something really grabbed my heart and I
said whoa, this you, God?
I realized that the power of the gospel was the only thing that would bring
transformation. I wanted to take the message of the gospel back into my
community, because there is where a lot of folk were hurting, but what I found is the
Navs gave me a structured way of studying the Bible that I use to this
day, which is get into the Word, memorize the Word, meditate what you memorize, and
in the whole gamut, the whole word hand deal and so that's what I've been using
for approaching 50 years now.
The Navigators helped me grow with just one-on-one time Eugene just taking the
time to spend with me, just love on me to accept me and then challenge me. The
darkest moments in my life kind of came at the same time and I was searching for
God. My best friend committed suicide my freshman year in college I probably
almost had a nervous breakdown that semester. I wanted God, but I wanted the
world. In the world had a strong pull, so when that happened with my friend it was
just like well you have to pick a side there isn't really a in-between this
thing. So I went to a Bible study it really pushed me towards community,
pushed me towards God, I felt like God wanted me to do something more with my
life and I think meeting The Navigators just helped me to realize all right, this
is a part of what God has for you so and I jumped on board immediately for what The
Navigators stood for, discipleship, evangelism, just helping people grow in
their walk with Christ. Meeting O at Hollywood, he was a young
student, business student we were in the Bible study together and recruiting
young guys together, he got a couple of guys under him and I was trying to coach
him how to work with them and then we try to get people so the whole
multiplying process has started. So just for me to have somebody pouring
into my life while I poured out, that's where I really found my growth.
When I was about six my parents they got divorced my thing was with my dad like
how could you let this happen, how could you not be there for myself my mom that has
been my biggest hurt in life, just feeling abandoned. I was just angry my
dad was around or someone was around to show me and give me answers or tell me
you know how to live life. Things didn't make sense. There's a church one day this
guy was like hey come to Bible study I said cool. That's when I met O. You know ever since
then things have really changed. O has poured into me a lot. I would have
never guessed in my life I would've met a guy and we would have this type of
relationship.
One of the things I learned from The Navigators is this idea of generations,
and multiplying your life, so I've been meeting with Godwin for three years
now. For me to be at an intersection of his life, that's meaningful for me.
Very rarely and so I wouldn't and I'm gonna trade the opportunity do that for
the world.
There's a huge need for discipleship. The Navs make the relationship a key part
because only when it's life-on-life are you gonna get those kind of results.
Primarily it's gonna be through discipleship that we actually see a big
impact in our communities, and no greater thing can a man do than lay down his life
for his friends.