As promised, here is the ending to last weeks story.
After becoming a Christian, Guy realized his life had value and God had a purpose for his life. He is now married with his own family and is a successful businessman. More importantly he is willing to share his testimony of how God changed his life, and gave it purpose and value. His smile and sense of humor were contagious, and a testimony of his faith.
When Bill, Jonathan, and Guy shared their testimonies everyone listened. I am sure that there were many people listening who shared some similar life experiences with these men. It is my belief that many realized that if these men could have their lives restored by Jesus, so could they. I believe that the testimonies of these three men gave some people the hope that their lives could be wonderful, productive, and have purpose, too.
Jonathan shared at many of the villages about how God had gifted Native American people with the use of drums and native dance to praise the Lord. His testimonies reminded me of the stories of David in the Old Testament, when he praised the Lord in the same way. During one of the songs at each concert, most of the people attending would join hands to form a long chain of fellowship and praise. Then everyone circled the room following Guy as he led us around the place of worship in a dance to the Lord. In Nome the young people honored Broken Walls by performing a dance of their own for the band.
At the first village where we stopped, a 22-year-old man had just committed suicide, and a broken hearted father shared how his daughter ended her live a few years earlier. At the end of the meeting, many of the fathers in the village came forward for prayer, and the village elders committed themselves to finding a solution to suicide together as a village.
The band was able to minister at another village where there had been three recent suicide attempts. At a third village a group of young people came forward and gave their hearts to the Lord. The last night of the trip, several people came forward for prayer. Everywhere we went all of the team members ministered to people’s needs, especially the youth. Young people would come up after the meetings and visit with them, and were encouraged to play with the band members, who would witness to them during this time of fellowship.
I know that I was richly blessed by the testimony of these men, the grace that was evident in their lives, and the blessing they were to everyone with whom we came into contact. After the trip, which was a week long, it was hard to say goodbye to people that were such a blessing to me. I will always have fond memories of our trip with Broken Walls. - - Bob Widman
Friday, March 25, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
One of Mark's recent trips was transporting and supporting the ministry of Carry The Cure Ministries along with a Christian rock band called Broken Walls. They traveled from Anchorage to Tanana, Galena, Unalakleet, White Mountain, and Nome. The music is fantastic, spanning all ages and the testimonies are inspiring, "carbon copies" of what life is like for so many Alaskan natives. Hearing how Jesus can make a difference in ones life speaks of hope to the people. Hope is what they need: hope in a future worth living and hope in that their life has purpose. Following the pictures is the first part of a memoir write up shared with the staff by pilot, Bob Widman.
The testimonies are the heart of it all.
Mark Swensen, Mike Boettcher, and myself (Bob Widman), had the privilege of traveling with Broken Walls, a Christian Gospel band, on their Iditarod tour at the beginning of March. The band included Jonathan, a Mohawk Indian from eastern Canada, Chris, a Native American from Thunder Bay Canada, and Pete from Wasilla, Alaska.
Bill is a Native American Tlingit Indian who was raised in a dysfunctional home. When Bill was four-years-old his uncle and friends who were in their home would make Bill take shots of whiskey, and smoke marijuana to see how much he could stand before he could not control himself any more. At age seven Bill's mother and father divorced, and he thought it was his fault because he was such a bad kid. At age eight Bill was addicted to marijuana and his mother was his drug supplier. At age twelve Bill's mother signed papers to give custody of Bill to a supposed family friend. This man abused Bill in every way possible. When Bill made even a simple mistake like putting his toothpaste away in the wrong place, this man would chase him around the house with a loaded handgun screaming derogatory things at him. Bill came to believe he wasn't worth any thing, and perhaps the world would be a better place if he was not around. He contemplated suicide but according to Bill the only thing that kept him going was a few positive things some friends and teachers said to him. These were simple things that were said like, "Hey Bill, what's up!", or a teacher saying, "Hey Bill, you can really play those drums, some day you will be a great drummer!" Some of Bill's friends invited him to church, and this is where Bill heard about Jesus and grace, and that Jesus loved him unconditionally. Bill gave his life to Christ. When Bill experienced God's grace through Christ, his life changed. After meeting his wife, they decided to minister to, and take care of, Bill's former abusive guardian. This man was so amazed by their forgiveness that he became a Christian. Bill was given a full music scholarship based on his ability to play the drums, and has taught as a music teacher.
Jonathan told about leaving his family in eastern Canada to become a rock and roll star. His dad, who was a pastor, walked him to the bus when he was leaving for California. His parting words to Jonathan were, "Remember, when your back is against the wall turn to Jesus." After getting established in the music business and opening for several famous rock bands, Epic records offered him a record contract on the condition that he would be willing to use profanity, sing about using alcohol, and other worldly topics in his songs. When Jonathan told the record company that these were the things that destroyed his people and he was not willing to include them in his songs, the record company took back their offer. Returning to his apartment discouraged and alone, he followed his father’s advice and turned to Christ. He now uses his gifts as a singer and musician to minister to people in many different parts of the world with the rest of the Broken Walls band.
Guy told of how he was left alone at home when he was a child, while the adults in his life were out partying and getting drunk. One day when he was playing with some boys that he thought were his friends, they threw him over a river bank into the Yukon River. At that point he said that he felt like trash, and that he was not good for anything. As he grew up he watched most of the people that were close to him die due to accidents, suicide, or alcohol related deaths. As time went on he got on the wrong side of the law and wound up in prison.
Will Guy get out of prison?? Join us next week for the second installment in Bob’s Article!
There was much time spent in setting up and breaking down the equipment as they traveled from village to village.
The music was great; rock music mixed with Native American music and dance. Wow!
The testimonies are the heart of it all.Mark Swensen, Mike Boettcher, and myself (Bob Widman), had the privilege of traveling with Broken Walls, a Christian Gospel band, on their Iditarod tour at the beginning of March. The band included Jonathan, a Mohawk Indian from eastern Canada, Chris, a Native American from Thunder Bay Canada, and Pete from Wasilla, Alaska.
Bill is a Native American Tlingit Indian who was raised in a dysfunctional home. When Bill was four-years-old his uncle and friends who were in their home would make Bill take shots of whiskey, and smoke marijuana to see how much he could stand before he could not control himself any more. At age seven Bill's mother and father divorced, and he thought it was his fault because he was such a bad kid. At age eight Bill was addicted to marijuana and his mother was his drug supplier. At age twelve Bill's mother signed papers to give custody of Bill to a supposed family friend. This man abused Bill in every way possible. When Bill made even a simple mistake like putting his toothpaste away in the wrong place, this man would chase him around the house with a loaded handgun screaming derogatory things at him. Bill came to believe he wasn't worth any thing, and perhaps the world would be a better place if he was not around. He contemplated suicide but according to Bill the only thing that kept him going was a few positive things some friends and teachers said to him. These were simple things that were said like, "Hey Bill, what's up!", or a teacher saying, "Hey Bill, you can really play those drums, some day you will be a great drummer!" Some of Bill's friends invited him to church, and this is where Bill heard about Jesus and grace, and that Jesus loved him unconditionally. Bill gave his life to Christ. When Bill experienced God's grace through Christ, his life changed. After meeting his wife, they decided to minister to, and take care of, Bill's former abusive guardian. This man was so amazed by their forgiveness that he became a Christian. Bill was given a full music scholarship based on his ability to play the drums, and has taught as a music teacher.
Jonathan told about leaving his family in eastern Canada to become a rock and roll star. His dad, who was a pastor, walked him to the bus when he was leaving for California. His parting words to Jonathan were, "Remember, when your back is against the wall turn to Jesus." After getting established in the music business and opening for several famous rock bands, Epic records offered him a record contract on the condition that he would be willing to use profanity, sing about using alcohol, and other worldly topics in his songs. When Jonathan told the record company that these were the things that destroyed his people and he was not willing to include them in his songs, the record company took back their offer. Returning to his apartment discouraged and alone, he followed his father’s advice and turned to Christ. He now uses his gifts as a singer and musician to minister to people in many different parts of the world with the rest of the Broken Walls band.
Guy told of how he was left alone at home when he was a child, while the adults in his life were out partying and getting drunk. One day when he was playing with some boys that he thought were his friends, they threw him over a river bank into the Yukon River. At that point he said that he felt like trash, and that he was not good for anything. As he grew up he watched most of the people that were close to him die due to accidents, suicide, or alcohol related deaths. As time went on he got on the wrong side of the law and wound up in prison.
Will Guy get out of prison?? Join us next week for the second installment in Bob’s Article!
Friday, March 11, 2011
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