TESTIMONY
Nathan
Editor's Note, 14 Nov 2024:
Nate wrote this during his time at MMBTC in Cresco, but he wanted to share it on our website, as well. He intends to update it soon. Keep reading! - MA
My name is Nathan. I’m a sinner saved by grace and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. I was born the youngest of three boys and was raised within a very tight-knit, loving family that taught standard Christian values and made us attend church regularly. At a very young age however, it wasn’t all that hard to notice that I would likely become the prodigal son that required a little extra effort and guidance in getting me as level-headed as the rest of the family. By the age of 15, I had begun experimenting with drugs and alcohol which led me down a dark path in pursuit of my own sinful desires. Then, once my sin had become full-grown, gave birth to death, just as James warns us in his epistle. By the age of 27, following my involvement in a bar fight, I found myself sitting in a maximum security penitentiary in Anamosa, Iowa, living out the consequences to that sin.
Up until this point in my life, I was held captive, enslaved to the sin of my own selfish ambitions. But all praise be to God for a living hope:
- “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” - 1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV
- “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters,make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” - 2 Peter 1:3-11 NIV
- “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” - 2 Peter 3:18 NIV
Though this chapter in my life comes to a close, it is the beginning of my Christian walk. I give my most sincere gratitude to the Mission for the foundation that has been laid out before me. In these eight months, the Lord has been working to restore my family and I am excited to see what He is yet to reveal!
Nate
