The Testimony of Danny
Although I was raised in church and was filled with the Holy
Ghost and spoke in tongues, I could not reconcile my sexuality with what I had
been taught in the church. I quit going to church and fell into a promiscuous
lifestyle.
I had very low self-esteem and very little self-control. Although I "settled"
into a troubled relationship, I could not be faithful to my spouse. After I was
confronted by my spouse, I agreed to see a psychologist. Then I began to attend
Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings. After a year or so and some success, I still
felt miserable and I quit both. The success didn't last long and I had relapse
after relapse. I was in torment and I couldn't quit.
Because of my addiction, I could find no happiness in any aspect of my life. I
was miserable in my relationship with my spouse, I was unhappy with my job, and
I didn't know what to do with my life. I was searching for meaning and for
purpose in my life, but none of my plans seemed right. Whenever I had a sexual
encounter with a trick (mostly anonymous), I would walk away feeling empty and
powerless, wondering why I couldn't stop, and praying to God to help me somehow.
I was about to bottom out, and I was beginning to feel desperate.
Then God sent me a messenger. God sent him to a meeting upstairs at Chuck's, a
gay bar in Chattanooga. When he stood up to speak about Hope For All Ministries,
I felt something I hadn't felt in years: the Holy Spirit speaking to me. After
the meeting, I spoke to him and he gave me his card and told me to call him if I
wanted to talk. After several days, I got up the nerve to call him and arranged
to talk with him. I was so nervous when we finally talked. I remember very
little of what we talked about except that while he talked, God was also
speaking to my heart. It seems that he mentioned Jesus being at the door to my
heart and I realized that this was what I had been looking for. In my mind, I
said to God, "I give up. You can have me as I am." Instantly, I felt peace,
light, and joy begin to fill me as my sins were washed away. My shame and guilt
vanished. I was finally free of the addiction and the torment that had afflicted
me for years.
I thank God for loving me so much that he sent Brother Randy to a bar to be a
witness to me.
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