Meet  Scott

Those of you who attended the February Fund-raising Banquet would have met and heard Scott speak his testimony. For those who didn’t, here is his written version to read.

I will tell you just a little bit of what has brought me to Redeemed Lives and what it is doing for me and the people around me.

Growing up in a home of 6 boys, brotherhood has always been a big importance in my life. After growing up in a big “male oriented family” it seemed just natural that I would seek brotherhood once I was on my own. I soon found myself in a new family where I was surrounded by the loyalty and love of outlaw bikers.

Though this path satisfied many of my earthly passions, there was always something missing. For 20 years I lived a life of pain. Drugs, alcohol, women, jail, death of many loved ones and broken marriages were the reality of my life and the emptiness grew only to be filled with bad habits and living fast.

When I was 35, I met a girl, Laura,  who made endless attempts to explain to me that Jesus could fill the void and be the brother to me that no man could ever be. This girl was crazy! Did she have any idea who she was talking to? After a few years of convincing, she never gave up—instead the circle of support around me grew and the prayers on my behalf multiplied.  I had some very special people praying for me, many of which I never even knew. Let me tell you when Godly people start praying, you can only hide for so long before you are cornered. Choosing which God to surrender to was a difficult process but in doing so, Jesus never left my side. One thing that I have learned is that God whispers, then He shouts and if He really wants your attention, He throws rocks! I had been caged in a corner, my life was spiraling out of control and the only way out was to give it all to Him.

Matthew 11:28—”Come to me those who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.”

In the beginning of my walk, I went to a Promise Keepers Event with my new brother, Dave. I had been told by a few people that going would change my life. Laura and I had been praying that God would place some local Christian men in my life and as we all know, God is faithful and hears our prayers. While at Promise Keepers in Mississauga, out of 4500 people ….. Sitting directly in front of me was an acquaintance of mine from Welland, Todd Dixon! God had answered my prayers! When we came back to Niagara, Todd invited me to Redeemed Lives on Wednesday night where just a few guys were meeting to talk about Jesus and life. That was where I met Jerry. I have not missed a Wednesday night—it energizes me, nourishes me, and motivates me to spread the love of Jesus to my friends and family and those in need. We are now over 20 guys. These are my new brothers. Every week there are more men and new lives given to Christ.

Our hope is to use Redeemed Lives as a way to reach men in the community. Men who have experienced lives similar to mine. We hope to reach men who are hurting in Niagara, to overcome their addictions and through love, prayer, and support of “real brothers”, allow Jesus Christ to work in their lives, heal their pain and be used by Him.

Our community is very limited in resources for hurting men and especially resources built on the foundation of the Word of God. Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for us is the only answer. There is no other. Redeemed lives is reaching out to any man searching or hurting and who is done doing it all on his own. Many of the men that come, know the Lord, but have struggles just the same. Without my Christian brothers and Redeemed Lives, persistent prayer, accountability, and people who never gave up on me, I could not be sharing this testimony today.

I give all the glory to God for what He has done in my life and recently in bringing my mother to the Lord. I pray that through the outreach and growth of the men at Redeemed Lives, that we can bring the men of the Niagara Region to find the ultimate brotherhood in Jesus Christ.