MY TESTIMONY
Perhaps, just perhaps, one of the most misunderstood facilities of ministry is the power of the testimony ministry.
Take notice to the fact that I used two key words in that statement; ‘ministry’ and ‘power’.
Having a testimony is a ministry (2 Timothy 1:7 – 9). In my perception, most people who subscribe or proclaim to be Christians, do not recognize or even want to think of themselves as having a ministry. With the orthodox way that Christians perceive the hierarchal leadership structure of the church along with the traditional acceptance of worship; it’s understandable why many Christians refrain from thinking about personal ministry. The burden and responsibility of leadership always seems too great and many Christians see the stressful toll ministry takes on some leaders.
Put bluntly, our very own Bible reflects how leaders of ministries died by force for their beliefs.
I believe for this reason, Christian parishioners have become lazy in our thinking and ways. We sit in pews of the church and become perfectly happy to only be ‘ministered to’ whiles neglecting our ability to minister also. Whether Baptist, Methodist, Charismatic, Catholic or Evangelical, Christians continue to simply play a role in ‘a’ church ministry.
Being active in the church is a good thing, but recognizing the call and power of a testimony ministry that all Christians have is necessary.
How do I now that a testimony ministry is important? Every person that believes in the ‘true’ Christian doctrine has influence from the most essential testimony of all time; the Bible. God used the power of testimony to reach billions of people. His word, the Bible, has touched lives; influenced other testimony and formed the foundation of what we believe.
When I began to understand how powerful my own testimony is, I started to grow in my spiritual life. Many Christians are afraid or timid when it comes to ‘witnessing’ to the ‘world’ but I believe that testimony is the key to reaching people. Consider the level of testimony in the Bible. Is it by chance that God mixed His-story with that of humankind? We all exhibit a natural tendency to gravitate and affiliate with the human story. Understanding the struggles and triumphs of persons gives us the inspiration to overcome and achieve.
What I now know is that my own testimony is not attributable to a singularity. It is multifaceted and full of life. It has depth perception that reveals my darkest moments, and highlights the joviality of any victory. It has dimensional characteristics of time; but most of all, it personalizes my everyday walk to know my Saviour and to glorify His name.
My testimony will therefore not be a single story but many stories as I aspire to inspire.
To God be the Glory!
Early life Testimony
Psalm 107: 1-2 Living Bible
Say thank you to the Lord for being so good,
for always being so loving and kind. 2 Has the
Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell
others he has saved you from your enemies.
I can boast, thus far, of a fair amount of travelling in my life that has allowed me to experience different cultures and attractions. Every destination that I have seen, I consider naturally beautiful. I’m probably prejudiced in my opinion but The Bahamas, where I was born, is the most beautiful place that I have experienced in my life.
I was born there in 1967. That seems like ages ago, so I’m not surprised by the level of testimony that has characterised my existence. This first testimony is to acknowledge the evolving and continuing truth of God’s word in my life. The Bible states that we should ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it’. I thank God for the power of this word in my life.
Whatever God’s purpose is for me, it began with the blessing of having two parents in a relationship until this very day. It would be fair to say that many things have contributed to my life. The influence of married Christian parents is the primary contributor of who I am but the essential aspects of covering prayer, I believe, has kept me through transitional phases of my life. Between prayer from my grandmother, grandfather, parents and family, I believe very deeply that their fervent prayers helped to guide and protect my life.
The bible tells us that ‘prayer without work is dead’; so I’m convinced that whiles prayer is essential, the work of correction and discipline in my early life, laid the foundation for my walk now as an adult.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour when I was about 6 years old. I remember the moment well. I was attending a teenage Christian movement called, ‘Crossroads’, where I first realized that I was in fact a sinner. My parents made every effort to keep me engaged with the church and church activities. At such a young age, it was only by the Grace of God that I came under the influence of His word because the subsequent years after my decision would bring life challenges that took me a great distance from God’s will and purpose for my life.
I can’t say that I was a mischievous kid but like every child, trouble seems to follow. From a very young age until the age of 16, I lived what I would term ‘a normal life’. Some people tease me by saying that I was privileged or had a silver spoon in my mouth but I take that with a grain of salt. What may seem privileged to one may be absolute poverty or even misery to another. I read about a woman just this week that asked a judge to award her $262 million dollars as a divorce settlement because anything less would subject her to ‘poverty’. I must admit; I was stunned by the use of the word ‘poverty’.
What I am, is an only son. My father is an incredible man of ‘self-made’ stature and perhaps that inspired my mother who carved out a formidable professional career. Their accomplishments allowed me to attend private schools and enjoy most of my life not having to worry about basic provisions.
The two things I find greatest about my parents, are that they never lost sight of the significance of appreciating what they worked so hard to achieve; and they always demonstrated how important God is to their own lives.
Many children that I knew growing up found me to be odd because I was always ultra-mindful of my manners around adults. I knew that if any adult were to mention bad behaviour to my parents, I would receive a good spanking. That tended to keep me very grounded.
My grandmother on my mother’s side and grandfather on my father’s side were both disciplinarians that I spent great quality time with. I felt entrenched with their love but it came with the caveat of guidelines that always resulted in discipline if I did break the rules.
As a child, I understood the rule system and lived with complete knowledge that breaching the stringent rules would bring sever punitive results. The rules came with responsibility. When many of my friends were playing or enjoying leisurely activity, I was either involved in chores, working with my dad or actually earning money on a job.
This does not mean that my early life was not adventurous and youth-filled but my parents have always been firm believers in shaping the perspective of my time as much as they could. Between church, Christian camps, Boy Scouts, and Christian youth movements, there was just enough extended influence in my life to stay with me through my very dark years.
My testimony today is this; Proverbs 22:6 is a true word to all parents. We witness that the world appears out of sync with youth. Many parents are lost on how to connect with their children. I was far from perfect. My extended testimony (to come) will amply prove that statement. What I do know is that parents today are placing real harm into children by fostering a relationship that is less about ‘parenting’ and more about friendship.
That may sound harsh because friendship is mainly important but friendship has always been about equals. I will never be equal to my parents. I may surpass them in wealth, knowledge and even stature but I will never be their equal.
This is where parents are failing today. Children need parents who are prepared to be parents more than friends. They fail to impart disciplinary structure into their children so many children grow up lacking respect and the knowledge not to do certain things that could be physically, psychologically, socially, spiritually and financially harmful.
I’ve met parents who believe that kids should not be indoctrinated with rules or any type of doctrinal philosophy or religion. They assume that children will find their ‘own way’. Sad to say, but most kids are indoctrinated whether we want it or not. Between friends, TV, social media and even strangers, children are influenced every day. Statistically, this is how the world ends up with radical individuals who can be introduced to doctrines as adults because many times their foundation to rules and discipline is non-existing.
Many adults today are rebels and don’t even know they are. They live life callously without any benchmarks; showing indifference and disregard for peers, establishments, authority, and even their own family.
When these adults have children, they are oblivious and shocked by the attitude that their own children display as they grow. The results are manifest throughout our societies. We have far higher crime rates, divorces, suicides, drug usage and sexual improprieties in our society from generation to generation because adults are not prepared to actually be adults.
As an adult, I can reflect on my life and know with confidence that early years of discipline made a huge difference. My grounding as an individual was so very important for the numerous obstacles that I have overcome. When it would have been easy for me to resort to destructive behaviours, discipline helped guide and protected my actions.
I thank God for the truth of His word and hope that parents would heed to this truth for the future protection and success of their children.
Three Lives better than None
It’s said that a cat has nine lives. Cats are prodigiously cautious yet curious. That curiosity finds them in perilous situations, which they often escape like magicians.
Perhaps we all have perilous moments but we don’t translate those moments as comparisons to cats. Similar to a soldier in the battlefield, do we ever stop to think what spiritual and physical dexterity it takes to stay alive on the battlefield of life?
Having perspective is important, and reflecting on my life, places many perilous moments into perspective; none more so than three specific occasion.
I indicated in my first testimony that I confessed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour when I was between 6 & 7 years old. I believe that my first (sincere) confession laid a foundation for much of my life. To this very day, I believe that were it not for my first confession, I would not be alive now.
This testimony is an account of God’s unmerited favour to save me. It was through the storm of my life that I found safe habour in God. By finding that safety, I was able to find repentance. God has been faithful to my early confession of faith and the covering of prayer placed into my life.
To start, I’m reminded of a few stories from the Bible; most notably, the repentance stories of Samson and Jonah. In both instances, we can discern a salient point; God puts forth a purpose to follow or spiritual destruction ensues. Both men were believers and tasked with purposing the will of God.
As followers, many Christians take for granted the ‘Our Father Prayer’. Matthew 6:10 of the prayer states: ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.’ Fundamental to that verse is Christ the Messiah instructing us to pray for God’s kingdom to ‘inaugurate’ or establish upon the earth according to His will and replicated as it is in heaven. That is a call to every Christian; I believe this call brings about our purpose.
Whiles Jonah and Samson were under the dispensation of the law, God maintained the edict for obedience and that obedience establishes God’s will.
My disobedience to God after sincerely accepted Christ as my Saviour was no different technically from the disobedience of Jonah and Samson. Theistically there was a difference; Grace.
When least we expect or understand, God’s Grace and Mercy will sustain our lives.
1 - In 2001, I was having a personal crisis in my life. Many persons around me were unaware but I was mentally imploding. By sheer chance, I was a major partner in what was then the largest indoor nightclub in The Bahamas. That position comes with all the social trappings and personal vices.
My everyday life, at the time, had no semblance to Christian faith. Like many club owners, I was living ‘la viva loca’. My first marriage had failed and although my then wife and I were still living together, the relationship was all but over. I was very depressed about losing my marriage. On a warm Nassau night in the summer of 2001, I left home at around 5pm on a Friday to open the club for ‘Happy Hour’. I remember leaving home with a sinking feeling as my ex-wife closed the door. Inexplicably, I started listening to a gospel song sang in a-cappella by a popular girl group. The song was on a loop so I listened to it continuously.
By the time that I reached the club, the song glued to my mind. My usual routine was to distribute the float between the registers, check the stock with my manager, then walk over to the Chinese restaurant for an order of curry grouper with special fried rice.
On that night the restaurant was packed. It was about 6:30pm and the manager plated me at the bar; seated horizontally about 10 feet from where she sat at the cash register. The manager knew me well. I had no need of verbally ordering because I ate the same meal each Friday. I sat and waited for my food service.
Very clear to my memory, was the noise of laughter and chatter in the restaurant but as I sat with my head down and the weight of the world on my shoulders, the only thing that dominated my mind were the words of ‘that’ song. I sang it aloud in my mind; ‘thank you Lord Hallelujah, you’ve been so good to me…..’
They served the food but as I ate, I went deeper into a transient state, as if in some form of spiritual euphoria.
I recognise an unfortunate fact of life. Many people don’t seek God when all appears well in their lives. Too often, we only turn or seek God when our world is falling apart. This was my failing also. I was at that place where my life stood on the edge of a cliff. My depressed state was sinking in and I was craving a spiritual miracle in my life.
During this period, I never attending church, never prayed and never read the Bible. Christian in my life was with a very small ‘c’. My vice in the club business was not drugs. Thank God, I never used or succumbed to that habit but with full consideration, my vices were spiritually just as bad. I had developed a liking for premium vodka. My additional drug was ‘womanizing’.
I was not in the mood for either this night. I fought back tears but only because of the embarrassment, I would feel publically. Time escaped my consciousness until the air was fully disturbed by loud shouting that erupted at my side and to my back. With my head down, I paid no attention to the sounds until I heard a few women scream with the familiar tone of panic. Looking to my back, I noticed a masked man wielding a gun. To my side, another masked man pointed a gun aimed between the manager’s head and me.
The song still played in my mind and became even louder. I stood up without any thought and casually walked along the length of the bar towards the doors that led to the back kitchen. I passed what seemed like an army of Chinese holding kitchen weaponry. By some force of magnetism, I ended up in a closet with other Chinese quietly standing; and yet the song played away in my mind.
Ten minutes later and it was all over. The staff was walking around, so I re-joined the main dining room where my food sat cold. Again, I paid no attention to the commotion around me but sat down to eat once again.
My security team got wind of the robbery and came charging into the restaurant to walk me out. That was when I learned what had taken place. A lady was standing up shouting with raised arms; ‘thank you Jesus, thank you Lord’. Faith had it that whiles everyone in the restaurant physically got searched and robbed, she was the only person besides myself, who was untouched. She had around $500 cash and other items that were valuable enough to steal; but she openly testified whiles crying that she believed it was her faith that saved her.
The manager walked up to me with my men standing there. I thought she was approaching to be paid but when I reached into my pocket to retrieve the money, she refused it. She looked at me and said very loud in her broken English, ‘Mr Thompson, you are crazy’; ‘you are crazy man’. Apparently, the men had shouted orders that nobody was to stand or move. A man to my back had been severely pistol whipped when he stood. The manager indicated to everyone that I walked away whiles the gun was pointed at me. I had no clue. I walked out of that restaurant with about $1800 in my pockets.
I profoundly remember going back to my office, locking the door and sobbing. The moment came to me like a projector reel. I had just escaped from the perilous potential of death.
That instant embedded to my memory bank, far beyond the causality of the restaurant robbery. The greater implication was of God’s mercy and covering over me.
Did I deserve God’s mercy? At the time, I literally thought I was such a ‘good’ person that I supposed an automatic forgiveness luxury in my life. I saw myself as someone who helped others when I could and stayed out of any trouble. I thought I was a saint with the right to live my life any way I chose.
Life had started to be cruel in my marriage so I reasoned that God would not mind or would forgive my indiscretions. I certainly was correct that forgiveness was available but the danger in my life was that I started to walk in a perpetual state of unforgiven sin.
Many Christians enter this place of spiritual debauchery and many are unaware of the penalty attached because the message of ‘Grace’ in Ephesians 2:8, is normally used in a deceptive manner. This I will address towards the end.
What do I attribute now to that moment of Grace? I believe it was my initial asking for salvation at 7 years old; and, God answering anointed prayer coverings from my parents, grandmother and family.
2. The deep corridor of depression continued in my life. I threw myself into unending work and partying. Private invites to wild parties, clubs and concerts flowed like alcohol in the club business. I drowned myself in sex and vodka with oblivious awareness of any call or purpose upon my life. There was nothing tangible in my life that emulated a Christian walk. Late in 2003, I became the primary owner of the club. I answered to nobody but the pressures of success became my master along with my addictions.
Night after forgettable night, I would arrive home at ungodly hours whiles fumed with alcohol. My bed was an open quarters to choice women; and not so choice.
On a night that I can’t fully recall, owing to the drinking; I returned home with company. For the sake of evidence, this girl is a true witness to my story if ever I find the need to verify.
I got in at about 4:30am, 5ish. Nothing was out of the ordinary except that I had what felt like a flu-like headache when I finally crashed to sleep. The lights in my room remained off from the time I entered, disrobed, had sex and fell asleep. At around 9am, I awoke due to the strangest dreams. I remember dreaming as if my body was swelling like a balloon and I could not understand why my head was throbbing in the dream.
I remember opening my sandy filled eyes and thinking, ‘wow, what an awful sleep’. It soon became clear that it was not dreams that betrayed my sleep but something more sinister in nature. I laid under my quilt naked in an air-conditioned room. A strange pain emerged from my leg. I sleepily started removing my covering; what I found, gave me the shock of my life.
My sheet was covered in blood like a surreal scene reminiscent of ‘The Godfather’ movie. At first my exasperation woke my intimate friend with the question of whether she was experiencing that ‘time’ of the month but it quickly became obvious that the blood belong to me.
On examining my leg, I found a fleshly wound that would panic even Rambo. I had no idea what it was or how I got the injury. I gathered my pants and found a hole at the bottom, which matched the wound area.
I got out of bed hurriedly, and took a bath (where blood continued to flow). I can only remember the feeling of desperation I felt scurrying away from my apartment to a private clinic some miles away. I was in luck on arriving there since the clinic was empty and the doctor received me almost instantly.
I explained to the doctor what occurred and he examined my foot. How do I describe the astonishment both the doctor and I had when he pulled a bullet from my leg. At that moment I literally begged the doctor not to reveal the story to any tabloid or authority. He was aware of who I was, so I explained how the circumstance would adversely affect business. He granted my request.
What I surmised at the time was that this was all simply a case of a stray bullet. I was so inebriated on that night that the alcohol sheltered my senses.
My assumption was placed to the test and I believe that I was wrong. It turns out that the social atmosphere was being disruptive by forces unbeknown to me, and at the helm of that disruption was a plan to eliminate my presence. This is a story ‘too’ long to meander through but it was brought to my attention that I was being targeted for reasons far beyond my knowledge.
Less than 3 months after my mishap, my head promotor was shot and killed about a mile from where I lived whiles returning home from the club. This is a story for another time; but the catch here is that I was accosted by a gunman in almost the same manner 6 weeks earlier.
This incident did not change my life or make me ‘re-seek’ God, but it did enough to pave the way for my ears to stand at attention. My soul was prepped and ready to listen.
3. For the sake of vigilance let me state upfront and emphatically that I was not and have never been involved in any nefarious activities that cast shadows on the law. The nightclub business simply comes with the ‘proverbial’ good and the bad.
It is a dark business that pulls downward at the soul.
Being shot in the leg did not change my modus operandi. I was still under a misguided assumption that it was but an unfortunate coincidence.
Several week later, on a Saturday, I was roaming the city by myself. I had left my club early and went club hopping with two of my security team. They seemed to enjoy the celebrity of walking in clubs free and having drinks served on-the-house.
I remember walking from a Cuban club to a hip-hop club and having to avoid a small contingent of girls I knew. The proximity of possible jealous reactions is never a good chemical to play with. Who would have thought that this very scenario of avoiding girls, contributed to saving my life.
It was almost unprecedented for me to travel home by myself. I was always accustomed to company so when I left the last club and started on my way home; it was somewhat miraculous that I was alone.
Added to the fact of me being alone was another unique fact. I had left my club with about $7000. Many times, I would place money under my seat wrapped in a bag; or, I would place it in the door console hidden under items to camouflage. Contrary to practice, I placed the money in the locked trunk under the hidden spare tire when I first left my club.
I arrived home and as was customary, my parking spot was clear and waiting for me. It was about 4am and all was quite as I pulled in.
Only slightly intoxicated, I opened my door and hurriedly got out. I did hear a shuffled sound to my back but only looked when I felt a gun stuck against my body. (*Had I been with company, there is a chance that I would have been too distracted to react).
This was that moment of fear when all motion becomes twisted and suspended, like a Salvatore painting. An assailant was in wait for me under the parked car next to my spot. Obviously, the person followed me and knew that I was traveling home from the club. My only hope was the only hope I took. I knew that as the gunman came up from the car that it was my small window to make my escape. With a gun pointed towards me, I turned and ran. I knew that the person was not far behind but even dressed in a semi-formal suit, fright and a will to live propelled me like a track runner.
My parents still own the complex where I lived. With twenty-eight apartments, there were many cars to run around. I made my way towards the back of the apartment building with my pursuer close behind.
To my dismay, I fell.
I must confess that the most awkward thought came to me. In that very moment as I lay still upon the ground, I closed my eyes in recognition of impending death. I thought, ‘how is it possible that in my last moments, I will die like an actor in some cheap Hollywood slasher movie’. These were the types of movies where I always laughed at how the perpetrator would walk calmly, whiles the victim ran. Yet, the improbable death scene would occur as if inevitable. I thought to myself, ‘what a joke my life has become’.
It matters not to me who would be sceptical about my next statement because I wholly do believe. God’s grace to save me operated in the moment that I fell. All seemed lost but what happened when I fell is a type of miracle. The lawn in the back area was overgrown and long thistles stood like young wheat plants. I was lying under the cover of this overgrown yard. More amazing is the floodlights that normally came on due to the movement sensors, did not turn on. The perpetrator running from light into total darkness stopped and did not venture further into the sightlessness of the back section. He was blind to me just 15 feet away.
I watched him silently as he gazed with frustration into the darkness while still pointing his gun. He turned and ran back towards my car. I then got up, ran deeper into the dark and jumped over a neighbouring fence. I found a boat being repaired and kneeled below it.
Besides the commotion of my fleeing, the night was incredibly silent. I literally heard my assailant hastily rummaging through the car. I knew that he would find nothing and the trunk would take too much time to check. I can only guess how annoyed he must have felt to lay under a car in wait for a payday or even worst, carrying out a ‘hit’, but forfeit all success of his endeavour. I heard three gun shots blast off as he retreated. In my heart, I knew that those shots had my name written on each bullet with bad intentions. I waited for one hour and did not move until a police car arrived and I could hear them making inquiries with whomever had called.
I need not go further into detail but I can tell my testimony that this was a turning moment. Whiles I sat in the fresh breeze of an early morning; I decided that my life would change. I felt that God had allowed one more opportunity for me to turn my life direction around.
Through my perils, I can testify of two things:
A - God’s Grace and Mercy will sustain
Grace is the ‘free and unmerited favour of God as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowing of blessings.’
I won’t pretend as though I understood the true meaning of God’s grace when I was going through those situations but I can testify that it is by His grace and mercy today that I am here to tell the story.
I realize that when we move away from God’s calling, He allows through our disobedience, various experiences. As such, He is actually calling us back to His safe harbour through the port of repentance and faith. God gave me a beacon of light, His mercy, to guide me safely; now my testimonies will witness as light to others to see the glory of God.
B - God will lead His followers to repentance and He will discipline them
It normally amazes me that many persons who call themselves ‘Christians’ never acknowledge their deeds that don’t align with the word of God. They see God as an all-loving God (which HE certainly is), so they assume a spiritual posture that God’s love will excuse any action in their lives.
The danger of this thinking is that it places their faith in a position that falsely accepts perpetual sin as a valid part of their Christion walk.
That thinking does not account for the strict wording of Romans 6, which calls for Christians to turn away from sin to avoid spiritual death.
I’m aware that Grace does abound for Christians and condemnation by the law has been eliminated but true salvation in Christ Jesus is a chastening that changes the inner man to walk and follow in the righteous ways of our Saviour.
Does this mean that we do not or will not sin? That is impossible for humankind, but it does mean that we should have an awareness of our sin and walk with a contrite heart to bring about conviction and repentance.
For those Christians who do not think that God will rebuke their actions Revelation 3:19 states; "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.’
We do know that God is a God of love. For that reason the word brings a true standard to how love is shown. We find in ; Hebrews 12:5-7; ‘And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives. Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?’
I have many testimonies to give to the glory of my Father, Jesus Christ. This testimony was proof of God bringing His sheep back into the fold. I give thanks to God for blessing me with His Grace in accordance with Romans 6 (AMP), which states; 17 But thank God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed to which you were committed. 18 And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose].
AMEN