ONCE A NOBODY - NOW A SOMEBODY

It all started back in 1990, which was his second year of high school, with no new school clothes, no lunch money, and despising his friends and other people around him because of their materialistic items. He started searching for a way out of poverty - a way to fit in with the crowd - a way to be noticed amongst his peers.

One day during his second year of high school, one of his neighborhood friends approached him with what he thought to be the opportunity of a lifetime. He said, "Booni, I have a hundred dollars worth of crack cocaine; take it and bring me back $60.00." Booni was so desperate  - not even sure if he could sell it, and only knowing a few people that used it - extended his hand and said, "Ok." 

Because of his lack of experience, he made a couple of bad decisions with that sack of drugs. But persistence caused him to sell fake drugs, hoping to hustle up enough money to buy some real drugs. 

A few months later, Booni and another one of his neighborhood friends was walking down a street when a guy in a jeep pulled up and said, "Boon, do you want some work?"  Without thinking twice, Booni said, "Yeah."

That very same day when he went home, his mother walked into his bedroom and asked him if he was selling drugs. He blurted out a painful, "NO!" Devastated by that sudden come on, he wondered: "How could she know?" The words, "are you selling drugs" felt like snakebite. The antidote to his suffering was his hardened heart. They talked for a short time, but the conversation was useless. He saw the weakness in his mother's eyes. She did not have confidence in her reproach. She knew in her heart she could not compare with the opportunities of the street life. It was not long after the confrontation with his mother that Booni found himself on a wild roller coaster ride.

The streets had a hold on him - molding him into a heartless, vicious, self-centered, greedy juvenile. He dropped out of high school, started drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana, and his life was almost taken away from him because he tried to beat some guys out of their money. Fortunately, he was only shot in the leg as he dove out of a backdoor window. That night he stared death in the face. A sixteen-year-old boy that could have been killed or paralyzed was lying in a hospital bed thinking of more ways to do evil. That incident should have been his wake-up call. However, he missed God.

After that, he started buying and carrying guns. He was thinking violence was the answer to his problems. As he took on that attitude, REALITY was nowhere to be found. Within months, his life had become completely unmanageable. He thought money was everything. He was abusing his relationships, putting peoples' lives into danger, and causing loved ones to dispute against one another.

By the spring of 1995, his life was extremely miserable. He was depressed, frustrated, and confused. Reflecting back on all the times he went to jail - all the court dates - all the people he hurt and disappointed - where his life was headed ... it caused him to evaluate his present predicament. 

He thought, "If only I can start over again. If only I had another chance." Something inside of him broke down. In a matter of seconds, he was calling out to Father God. "God, give me another start." Within weeks Booni was incarcerated, fighting one of the worst cases a person could have. However, God heard his prayer and intervened in his life.

The reason I know so much about Booni is because he is someone I know very well because I am he. When I was in the county jail back in the summer of 1995-1996, God was dealing with me. God was pruning my heart, removing my corrupted desires, giving me new understanding, and teaching me how to LOVE, CARE, be HONEST, and OBEY. Through the washing of God's Word, (the Bible) He was renewing my mind. However, I only wanted to submit in the areas that were convenient for me.

May 1996 I was found guilty. Shocked by the verdict, I accused God of lying to me and letting me down. I did not comprehend the fact that God's will would be done. My faith was built on circumstances, not on God's foundation, Jesus Christ, and on His Word. My zeal for God started to decrease. Before long, I was back operating out of the flesh. A year and a half later, I left M.T.U. and arrived at I.T.F.

January 15, 1998 - less than a week after my arrival - God called out to me and told me to attend the Saturday Night Full Gospel service. Through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, I was being taught. In weeks, I, the prodigal Booni was back at home in right standing with my Father God.

That was only the beginning stages of our intimate relationship. Within the next twelve months, I decided to make Jesus the Lord of my life (surrendering completely to God). I knew from painful experience the consequences of holding onto old fleshly desires, controlling spirits, and cravings contrary to the Word of God. It was time to stop being religious, playing church, and humble himself in all areas of my life to God with sincerity and a pure heart.

My greatest challenge came at the end of that same year. I called home one day only to find out my mother was on her deathbed. Immediately, I went and found scriptures about healing, went into my prayer closet, and pled the blood of Jesus over her life.

December 27, 1998 at 2:00 PM, she passed away and went to Heaven. Instead of allowing these circumstances to overwhelm me, I went to my Heavenly Father and requested strength; strength that would help me bear my mother's passing and stay strong to carry out God's plan.

That faith walk was the creation of a Christ Soldier in me. I found out then I could do all things through Christ that strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). That I was more than a conqueror (give scripture). That the battle is not mine but God's (2 Chronicles 20:15). I became like a child in my Father's lap, trusting and unpretentious. Teachable, humble, and changeable, by the grace that God provided. God honored my faith, and started molding me and manifesting His powers in my life. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon me. The Spirit of Wisdom and of Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and of Power, the Spirit of Knowledge and of fear of the Lord. 

God revealed a passage to me as I sought the Kingdom of Heaven. I Corinthians 1:26-28 (NIV) reads, "Brothers, think about what you were before you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are." 

I was a nobody five years ago. However, today I am a somebody. God told me I am an Ambassador for Christ, a Priest, a King, the Salt of the earth, and the Light of the world. This is a concise testimony to give God the glory due Him. Also to share with you brothers and sisters out there, that what is impossible for man is possible for God (Matthew 19:26). When we submit to God's authority, old things pass away and behold all things become NEW (II Corinthians 5:17). Never forget, we are on "God's Timing," and His plan will be done.

PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU SHARE THE BEST NEWS GOD HAS FOR EVERY PERSON BECAUSE...

JESUS DID IT! and...

YOU ARE SO GREATLY NEEDED!

Remember: All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-21 is our assurance)