Appointed To Ministry

1 Timothy 1:12, AMP

“I give thanks to Him Who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able [for this], Christ Jesus our Lord, because He has judged and counted me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to [this stewardship of] the ministry.”

Regardless of your past, God still has a unique, perfect plan designed specifically for you. I personally know former murderers, gang leaders, drug dealers, addicts, kidnappers, robbers and sex offenders who truly repented, and turned their lives completely over to God.

Many of these people came to faith in prison, and now have successful ministries of their own. It seems God specializes in using former outcasts and rebels to showcase His grace, mercy and forgiveness to give others hope. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past, God really is ready, willing and able to make you a totally new creation in Christ Jesus.

As a former sex offender, I am still amazed at how God has been able to use my testimony to help and encourage so many others. If God can change me, and He has, He can change anyone! In 2009, when I came to faith in prison, I had no idea what God had in mind for me.

I am so very grateful and humbled that He placed me under Don Castleberry as my mentor and accountability partner. For several years now I have had the honor and privilege of running the prison ministry Don started over 35 years ago, which is now one of the most active prison ministries in Texas. I was ordained into the Gospel ministry under Don in 2012.

What an awesome God we serve!

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Seek God with all your heart. Worship Him in spirit and truth. Fully surrender.

Dive Deeper: Study 1 Timothy 1.