An Unrecognizable Transformation

In a previous testimony, I share the story of a young man named “Tommy” I came to know while ministering in Ramona California. (If you have not read this story, please go to “Tomy learns Jesus Loves him” in this list of testimonies). With a mother that was a call girl and his brother a big-time drug dealer, Tommy, who stuttered profusely, spent much of his free time scouring the towns dumpsters looking for his next meal. When Tommy learned the life changing truth that “Jesus loves me”, not only did Tommy’s life change, but many of the lives surrounding Tommy also changed.                                                                         I had left my position as youth pastor in Ramona to take up a position at a church on the Kenei Peninsula of Alaska. It was on one of our return visits to see family in San Diego that I had been invited to speak at the church in Ramona where I had previously served as youth pastor. We arrived at the church late Sunday afternoon just before the evening service and wandered about visiting with many of the teens that we had reached while ministering there. As we greeted these young people, several of which had lived in our home during our time in Ramona, one particular young man approached me with a knowing smile upon his face. He shook my hand and confidently said “hi pastor Larry”.                                        I was embarrassed!  Although I knew every teen who had come through the youth program, this young man was not familiar. What I did notice about him was the attention he was getting. He was a tall, well dressed, handsome young man. He stood with confidence and with a Bible tucked securely under his right arm. I also noticed that almost all the young women in the church were shyly glancing his way. It became obvious he was very popular.                         That knowing look on his face turned to an equally knowing grin as he politely said “you don’t remember me do you?”  Apologetically, I admitted I did not. He had a familiar look, but I could not apply any name or memory to him. The words that he next shared left me speechless, and admittedly, with even a few tears of amazement on my face. He said “my name is Larry” (you would think I would remember that!). Then he said “I am Tommy’s older brother”.                  Now I was completely dumbstruck. I had made numerous efforts to reach out to this young man when we were in Ramona. He was a very hardened, drug dealing, street wise, greasy haired hoodlum! None of my efforts had seemed to even make a dent in his rough exterior. Yet here he was, standing proudly in church, well dressed, well groomed, smiling, clearly popular, a leader in the youth group, and in no way ashamed of his new found faith.  He was obviously a completely new person from the young street thug I had known.                                          Through tears of overwhelming joy and utter amazement, I finally asked him “what happened?”.  Larry’s response was a renewal of the testimony I had heard coming from Tommy’s life several years before. When I asked Tommy back then what he had learned in the youth meetings he had just attended, Tommy replied “I I I  lllearned that JJJesus llloves me” . The months that followed that profession displayed the true transformation in Tommy’s character because of that simple truth. Now Tommy’s brother was testifying to that same life changing experience. Larry responded to my question of “what happened?” by saying “I saw the incredible change in my brother’s life”.  Larry saw the absolute transformation of his brother from street urchin to confident child of God, and he could not deny it. Because of this, Larry had come into the youth program and given his life to Jesus. Like his brother, Larry was thoroughly transformed from a greasy haired hard hearted drug dealing thug to a handsome self-assured well-respected follower of Jesus Christ. Larry became a young man whom others began looking up to as a Christian role model.             I have told many stories and given many testimonies of miracles, healing, confronting demons, and visiting with angels. I have seen the Lord miraculously provide the needs of many, including my own family. However, there is no greater miracle than seeing lives like Tommy and Larry transformed. The salvation of a soul, from Hell to Heaven bound, is still the greatest work the Lord God does in each and every generation