Rodney

First, I would like to thank the VRM staff. Here at Crossroads and

the Howard H. Mott Center for putting up with me for the past 9

months. I also would like to thank the teachers and the pastors that

come and pour into me and my brothers week after week at their

own expense. And I want to thank all my brothers here. It has been

my honor getting to know each and every one of you.

My name is Rodney. I was born on Sunday, October 15,

1976, in Lawton, Oklahoma. Being born was a miracle in itself. The

doctors had been telling my mother from conception to abort me;

otherwise, she would most likely die during childbirth. But she relented.

She labored with me over 10 hours. And by the grace of God, we both

survived.

Both my parents have now passed on, and I am who I am today because

of their influences in my life. But I AM NOT fatherless, and I refuse to

give the father of lies any glorification with this testimony. So instead of

telling you about all the times I got arrested and went to jail, instead of

telling you about all the mistakes and bad decisions I've made, instead of

telling you about my drug-induced near-death experiences, let me tell

you some of what I've learned since I've been here at the Valley Rescue

Mission.

I've learned about forgiveness. Not only how to forgive others, but how

to forgive myself, and how I am forgiven by my Holy Father in heaven

by the blood of Jesus. And by that same blood, we are healed, redeemed,

cleansed, and sanctified.

I've learned how to be a good steward. I've learned about humility, how

it is the equal opposite of pride, which is one of the seven deadly sins,

along with greed, gluttony, envy, lust, sloth, and wrath. But I humbly

digress.

I have learned about the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

I've learned the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer. I learned

how to surrender. I learned about honoring God. I learned how to pray

and how to praise & worship God. I also learned about Paul who wrote

at least 13 books of the New Testament. I learned about Matthew the tax

collector, John Mark, Doctor Luke, and John brother of James. I learned

about Jesus's brothers, James & Jude. I learned about Moses, Abraham,

Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Noah, Ruth, Ester, Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel,

David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Samuel, Samson, Elijah, Elisha and Enoch.

And the God they served then is the same God we serve today and will

be the same forever.

But most of all, I learned about Jesus Christ, Yahushua, Emmanuel, the

Messiah, the Savior of the world. And I've learned that it is up to me to

be an example of Him in this world; letting His light shine through me

for all to see.

So with all that I have learned here, I feel now I can boldly go back out

into the world, proclaiming the name of the Lord. So even in the face of

adversity, temptation, disinformation, or even persecution, I will fear

not, for the Lord is with me. So who can be against me?