THE POWER OF LOVE

 A violent, deranged criminal finds that love conquers evil.

By the age of 28, Australian David Harris had spent half his life taking drugs and alcohol.   From age of 14, he was involved in drug dealing, theft and the violence of the underworld.

   When he was caught, he served five years in prison, including time in a ward for the criminally insane.
   "Emotionally," says David, "I was broken, confused, tormented, fill of fear, lonely and scared."   His mental state was exacerbated by involvement in the occult.

   It was while attempting to avoid jail that David had delved into the supernatural.   He used Ouija-boards and listened to 'spirit guides' - voices that he now believes were demonic.
   Realizing that there was a spiritual element in the world, David began reading occult books and trying things such as astral travel while he was imprisoned.   He recalls:  "These experiences were exciting to begin with, but ended with pain, torment and terror.
   "But while in jail I realized the most powerful force in the world is love.   I saw that what kept other prisoners going was the love of their families and friends, not hate or violence.

   "Through this process I realized that there must be a God and explored different spiritual paths, such as Buddhism and living in an ashram.   I found that Buddhism didn't answer all my questions, or meet my deepest spiritual needs, so I kept seeking."

   When David got out of prison, he contacted a former prisoner he had met who had been a professional hit man, to ask him to murder a rival drug dealer.
   When he arrived at my house I was shocked  to see that he was a new person," David remembers.
   "The man I knew from prison was egoistical, cocky and arrogant.
But this man was now gentle, humble, kind and he spoke about God to me.   He invited me to go to his farm in New South Wales.   When he arrived there, he started reading the Bible to me, which caused me to shake uncontrollably.   I realized that this was the truth and that I needed this God."

   David already believed that love was more powerful than violence, drugs and his old way of life, and now found that the love
of God, who came to earth in Jesus to give His life for us, was the
most powerful.   In David's words:  "God has helped heal my heart and enabled me to find the love of my Father in Heaven."

   From then on, his life started to change.   "Now my mind has been
restored and renewed," he says.   "I feel content, loved, accepted, valued and that I belong.   I now enjoy life, having a purpose, helping other people and seeing their lives restored as they encounter the love of God."
   No longer hooked on drugs or alcohol, and set free from the dark powers of the occult, David now pastors a church in Victoria.
And  he's a married father to two children.   He says:  I didn't have
the capacity to look after a dog before God came into my life!

   "Now through God's help I have the ability to look after a family
and be responsible for a great thriving church.
"It is the choices you make today that determine your future,"
David says.   "There is hope.   You do not have to be a victim of
the labels you've been given.

   "Change is not only possible, it is the heartbeat of an amazing God who loves you and desires you to be empowered to live life to the full, a life of true freedom, Spirit Soul and Body." 
By Darryl Budge.

From Prisoner to Pastor:  Few people have changed more than David Harris - from crime and the occult and drugs to church Pastor and family man.
To learn more about   David's journey, read his book Certified,
available online from certifiedbook.com

  GOD CAN ONLY BE APPROACHED THROUGH CHRIST:  "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man  Christ Jesus"  (1 Tim. 2v5).
Neither Abraham, nor Mary, nor Mohamed, nor Buddha, nor any other human being who ever lived
can answer prayer.

Only through faith in Christ alone is there hope.
   PRAY NOW to Jesus Christ who died to save you.
   REPENT OF ALL YOUR SINS turn away from them, to God.Whatever it costs,heaven is cheap at any cost!
   Life is short.   ETERNITY IS FOREVER!  
  PRAY NOW

LORD JESUS YOU DIED FOR MY SINS AT CALVARY,
CLEANSE ME OF ALL MY SINS BY THE POWER OF YOUR BLOOD, COME INTO MY LIFE
AND HELP ME TO FOLLOW YOU FOR THE REST OF MY DAYS, IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME
AMEN.