Personal Stories

I gave my life to Jesus 2 years ago. On that day, I let go of the toxic relationships I had. But this year, I found myself in another toxic relationship with a man I became sexually involved with. I ended up walking away from the relationship but it caused me such brokenness and grief. I lost sight of who I was in Jesus. I was drowning in depression, fear, negative thoughts, anxiety, and acted out from a place of great sadness, jealousy, and anger.

I used to help oversee a drug cartel in Sydney, Australia for the triads. Through the Lord’s intervention, I got saved while in prison. A very well–meaning pastor then taught me to work for my salvation. He also warned me about grace–filled churches and false doctrines. By the time I got out of prison, I was ready to work for God and give my life to Him as a slave.

I was disowned by my dad when I was five years old. This caused me to grow up with a void in my heart. I was convinced that something I did had caused my dad to not want or love me.

Pastor Prince, I’m a twenty-three-year-old university student who grew up in a Christian family, attended church, and went to a Christian college. However, I made choices in life that greatly delayed my studies, career, relationships, and spiritual growth.

Up until a few months ago, I was addicted to cigarettes and marijuana for 18 years and also to pornography. I had tried many times to quit all three because I knew they were wrong but felt so condemned that I couldn’t. The pornography addiction led me to massage parlours, which then led to me feeling even more condemned than before, as no one knew I was doing this.

I was convinced that I had committed the unpardonable sin mentioned in the Bible. As a result, I thought God and the Holy Spirit were far from me, and fell into severe depression and anxiety. I was under so much mental and emotional oppression that I could not function normally in daily life.

I became a Christian at 20 and believed God for marriage. I prayed and fasted about it, but it seemed like the more I did that, the more I got into bad relationships.

Pastor Prince, we came from a background where we received heavy legalistic teaching before we discovered the gospel of God’s grace.

I received Christ at the age of thirteen and attended church regularly for about a year till the weekly pressure from church leaders to bring and convert newcomers got to me. It made me constantly feel like I was not good enough.

I am in Houston, Texas, writing this praise report as I prepare to return to Lakewood Church to hear you speak in person for the second time. I thank Jesus for bringing you to the United States.

Pastor Prince, I want to thank you for the blessed truths you have brought into my life.Two years ago after the birth of my son, I started to find it hard to cope.

My wife had contemplated suicide because I kept failing to keep the promises I made to her. It seemed like the more I struggled to do things right, the more I ended up doing those things wrong.