Watch John’s story of the redeeming power of Christ.
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Video-John Hixson’s Story
Ricky Scott– “drugs was my God”
My name is Ricky Scott, I am 63 years old. I have struggled with chemical dependency since the age of 13. I started out smoking marijuana and from there to heroin and cocaine. That is when I started to go to prison.
I was 19 years old the first time. I did 36 months and was released. Six months later I was arrested again for armed robbery, and was sentenced to 8-10 years and was released again, still thinking I had all the answers.
Six months later I was arrested for my third armed robbery, and was given an 8-30 year sentence. I ended up doing 16 years on it before I was released. I stayed out for 22 months. I thought I had everything under control.
I had started to receive mail about getting to know Jesus. I met this lady, she used to cut my hair. She had offered to come and pick me up to go to church with her, but I was still craving them drugs. So I started lying to her that I would be there, but, like I said; drugs was my god.
I ended up being arrested again for armed robbery. This time, I had hit rock bottom. I got to jail; while I was in my cell, a few of the guys was having Bible study. I was listening to them; before I knew it, I started to cry and couldn’t. That night, I picked the Bible up and started to read it, and like a peace just fell over me. I then started to read the Bible every day and I met this guy who is a chaplain, his name is Phil R. He started coming to see me every week and study the word of God with me while I was in jail. I got baptized there.
I received my sentence for the armed robbery which was 9-36 years. I was sent to prison. That is where I found out about New Creations Prison Ministries. That was 2009 and I have been doing Bible studies ever since. God has been in my life since then.
2013, I was diagnosed with cancer. Right then I wanted to give up, but God said “I am fighting for you”, and something sent me to 1 Peter 2:24. I was reading it every day and by the grace of God, he gave me victory over cancer. I have been cancer free ever since, thanks to my Lord and Savior.
Then in 2018, I had surgery on my neck. From that surgery, I was paralyzed from the neck down and was told I might not walk again. But, by the mercy and grace of God, I am walking.
So no matter what kind of life you lived, if you give yourself over to God, he will accept you back as his son. Just believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and die with him (your old self) and rise as a new man, follow his commands, all of them; you will live a blessed life.
Now those of you who is out there that is looking for that perfect high, nothing even comes close to the heavenly high I get from the power and presence of God in my life. what’s even better is, it is free and there is an unlimited supply! I am here to tell anyone trying to fill a void in their life with drugs or alcohol that they are looking in the wrong direction. There is only one thing that can satisfy that desire or fill that void. his name is Jesus and he died for the sins of the world! Thanks be to God that he rose again. He defeated death and fulfilled the law so that we may have eternal life!
The Joy of Mentoring
At New Creations Prison Ministries, we rely heavily on volunteers; they are our life’s blood. These are the individuals who build into the lives of inmates. Many start volunteering with us to make a difference in the lives of inmates, and discover that they have received a blessing they never expected.
We received the following note from a Bible Study Partner who has served faithfully for many years but, due to failing vision, is no longer able to grade lessons and write letters.
It is with regrets and sadness I resign. It is also true I’m full of Joy. My Bible partners were a joy for me as I watched them change and grow. My prayer was always ‘Lord, make them into the man you always intended for them to be.’ He will. God Bless you as you do His work. My prayers, Cynthia
God’s Power in Our Weakness
–By John H
I want to share an incident that happened at the prison we minister in on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. This prison is known as the reception and guidance center. Men who go to prison in Michigan start their sentence in this prison, after thirty to sixty days they are moved to a different prison. Here they are classified level 1,2,4 or 5. This classification determines which prison they will be moved to. They are also examined for physical and mental health. The levels indicate the crime committed. Level one, non-violent, level five-extreme violence.
Now for the story. At this prison the men sign up to see us. We have four volunteers each day. When the men come to spend an hour and a half with us each morning and again in the afternoon, we are seated at four tables with four or five inmates on the other side of the table. This morning there were five men at my table. I always begin by asking each man, “Who is Jesus to you?”. I don’t remember all of the responses, but typically they will be like this; “I don’t know, that’s why I’m here” or “My Lord and Savior” or “The one who died to save us”. One of the men this morning, an African American in his early twenties said, “A Prophet” and made it quite clear that he was a Muslim.
I went through a presentation of the Gospel showing from the Bible Jesus as both man and God, that through His death and resurrection we can spend eternity in heaven. Also that we do not deserve and cannot earn our place in heaven, only through surrendering our lives to Him as Lord and trusting in what He has done for us is this possible. We talked about being born with a sinful nature and what it means to be born again. During this time I asked a lot of questions and we had a good discussion though the young Muslim man only listened.
When our time was almost over I went back to each man and asked, “Have you asked Jesus into your life and surrendered to Him or is this something you still need to do?” Two of the men said they had not but they wanted to accept Jesus. Two of the men told me they were Christians, and this is where I failed to do what I should have done: I did not ask the young Muslim, it was obvious, as a Muslim he could not have asked Jesus into his life, but I should have asked if he wanted to do that. The two Christian men left the table to get some literature and I proceeded with the men who wanted to accept Christ. The young Muslim asked if he could stay and when the other men prayed to ask Jesus into their lives, he gave his life to Jesus also! Then the young man asked, “Do you want to know why I came this morning? I had a dream.”
If you have an opportunity to share Jesus with someone don’t worry about getting it just right. God shows His power in our weakness.