My testimony
My name is Otto Strand
I was born in Norfork VA in 1953; my parents moved to Miami Fla in 1956. My Mom & Dad were good parents My Dad took me fishin, hunting, & camping. But when it comes to things of G-d my parents did not put much time into. I might have went to Church two or three times. I had no teaching of G-d. When I was 15 I had my first girlfriend, I was in love!. After 3 weeks she broke up with me. I was crushed, I said to G-d that night. I hate you for allowing this hurt This was the first time I even though about G-d. But at that moment there was an awakening in me that there was a G-d. At about the same time my Sister turned me on to smoking pot. This started a 6-year drug and alcohol abuse.
Each day started with smoking a joint (Marijuana cigarette) driving to a construction job.
Where at break time I would smoke more pot, Lunch time was the same thing, afternoon break same. After work I would go Disco dancing heavy drinking and sometimes popping pills. To help supply my drug habit I would sell drugs. I had friends who were killed, arrested, and overdosed on drugs. At one time I even smoked and sold drugs to an under cover cop. I guess was just a middleman and he was after bigger fish. After about 5 years of this life style I was sitting on the roof of my apartment complex on a Saturday night. I looked up at the stares and said. G-d is this all there is to life. Getting high, go to work and then get high again? God if your there let me know.
It was 1974 and I went to see a play called Jesus Christ Superstar There was a seen where People with disease were pushing in on Jesus and asking him to heal me. Jesus yelled at the people stop pushing me there are too many of you. Leave me alone! I had little knowledge of who Jesus was. I new he was born at Christmas and died at Easter. After the play I started to ask myself. Did Jesus push people away? Was he as the play portrayed him? About this time I met this nice girl, Jackie. She was refreshing from all the girls I was use to hanging out with. We started dating. She was a Jewish girl that was raised Catholic. She too was having questions about G-d. She had a Good News Bible that we would sit and read and try to figure out what we were reading.
I had moved into a new apartment and meat a man and his wife Tom & Gill. And it did not take long before they started buying their drugs from me. In 1976 Jackie and I got marred. I keep up my drug use and would still sell to my friends. Tom & Gill had not come by my apartment for about 3 weeks; So, I went to their apartment to see how they were doing.
When I saw them there was something different about them. What was it? There was a glow or something?. Whats up, I asked. You got some good dope. They just smiled and showed me a new Bible. O-NO I said. Dont tell me you guys are Jesus freaks! They
Tried to tell me about being born again. And ask me to come to Church with them.
No way! am I going to a Church. I did not see Tom & Gill for about 3 months. One day
They show up at my door. Otto & Jackie they asked would you come to some friends house with us. There will be a gaiter player from the group called Black oak Arkansas. This got my attention, I loved rock music. And I had a chance to meet a rocker. G-ds trap was set.
What I didnt know was that the rocker was going to give his testimony and the house was part of the Vineyard movement. And the gentlemen that lead Tom & Gill to the L-rd
Would be there also. Tom & Gill picked us up and we went. The Rocker sang some songs and then give his testimony. The gentlemen Wade sate down and talked to me. He laid out G-ds plan for salvation from Genesis to Revelation. He spoke of things like sacrifice and blood
Atonement, and how Jesus was our Sacrifice and one time blood atonement.
We talked for hours. He answered all my questions. Then he asked me! Would you like to ask Jesus into your heart right Now? Now. But I do drugs; I drink like a fish,
I use bad langue. Thats O, K Wade said dont worry about that stuff. Come to him just as you are. So I said O, K. He leads me in a prayer and I repeat what he says. The prayer is over, but I keep my head bowed and my eyes closed. Im thinking I want what
Tom & Gill have but what will all my friends say. But tom & Gill look so happy & new
But my friends. I want it, I dont, I do, I dont, do, dont, do, dont. I felt like I was about to explode. Then I threw both my arms in the air and yell. JESES. With my eyes still closed. I saw a howl open in my chest and a light comes out of me. I was standing in the living room looking at myself and could see the come out of my back and my chest and out the walls. I was next standing in the street and could see this light going through the houses and down the street. I was next in space and could see the light going off into space. I open my eyes and it felted as if I had just taken a backpack off my back. My skin felt as if it was aglow. For months people would ask what was different about me.
When we were driving home Wade said to me, that I should tell someone as soon as possible what happen to me tonight. I rolled down the car window and yell at some lady
Walking her dog. Jesus saved me tonight! When I got home I pulled up the 6 Marijuana and put them in the trash, I flushed the pills and poured out the booze.
My life was changed that night. The craving for drugs, pills and booze was gone.
My old friends eventuality stop coming by. But the trade was worth it.
One week later Wade, Jackie, Myself, and another brother named Trace.
Went to a little food store to hand out tracks and to tell people what happen to me last
Weekend. We were handing out tracks when a Policeman drives up. I hand him a track
And he becomes irate with me for handing him some religious martial.
He starts accusing us of soliciting for money. He makes us stop handing out tracks.
I start telling people what happen to me last week. The police officer ask for our
Idenafaction, witch we hand over. He puts our driver Trace in his portal car and tells
The rest of us to go home. This we cant do. We tell him because you put our driver in your portal car. He tells us to stop talking to people about Jesus or he will run us all
In. We keep sharing. Now! In front of the convenient stores there is a three-car accident. In about 30min there are now. 6 police cares and
2 ambulances. By this time people start gathering around to see what is going on.
Thanks to that angry police officer I got to shear with a lot more people than if he had not showed up. After the accident was cleared up and all the people left Trace was cleared and we all went home.
I begin to read the Bible with a new understanding and hunger. One day while I was reading my Bible I come to
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As soon as I read this I hear a small voice say, I showed you this.
It has not always been an easy walk with the L-rd. My wife and I have raised five children.
All Still Believers! One is a schoolteacher, one is a Police officer, one is going to collage to be a Doctor, Another one is in collage for science, and my Last one is about to finish High School.
I know that I have been given a FREE gift. And there is nothing I can or could ever do to deserve this free gift of my salvation. This is perfectly clear to me. In 1996 something started to happen to me that was as powerful as my salvation exspearrents. I started to wonder after reading. 1Corinthians 5: 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
Now I have read this scripture 100 times. But this time it jumped out at me.
Let us keep the Festival. Keep Passover! I was not keeping Passover. I went to my Pastor and asked, Why dont we do Passover. Because! He said, thats OT teaching and we are free from all that. Wait a moment this is the NT. (Dont rock the boat just keep rowing)
I called a local Synagogue and asked their Rabbi where I could find information about putting on a Passover Seder. He sent me to my Library. In 1996 I held my first Passover Seder.
In 1997 I held another Seder at home. And in 1998 I held a Passover Seder at my church.
My wife and I started asking more & more questions about the Jewish part of Christianity That was not there. I would ask If Christianity come from Judaism why is there nothing Jewish in Christianity? I never did get an answer. (Dont rock the boat just keep rowing)
At each service the Pastor would always say something negative about Judaism.
In 1999 my wife and I found a Messianic congregation. Now I did get an answer to my question. If Christianity come from Judaism why is there nothing Jewish in Christianity?
By Otto Strand
My name is Otto Strand
I was born in Norfork VA in 1953; my parents moved to Miami Fla in 1956. My Mom & Dad were good parents My Dad took me fishin, hunting, & camping. But when it comes to things of G-d my parents did not put much time into. I might have went to Church two or three times. I had no teaching of G-d. When I was 15 I had my first girlfriend, I was in love!. After 3 weeks she broke up with me. I was crushed, I said to G-d that night. I hate you for allowing this hurt This was the first time I even though about G-d. But at that moment there was an awakening in me that there was a G-d. At about the same time my Sister turned me on to smoking pot. This started a 6-year drug and alcohol abuse.
Each day started with smoking a joint (Marijuana cigarette) driving to a construction job.
Where at break time I would smoke more pot, Lunch time was the same thing, afternoon break same. After work I would go Disco dancing heavy drinking and sometimes popping pills. To help supply my drug habit I would sell drugs. I had friends who were killed, arrested, and overdosed on drugs. At one time I even smoked and sold drugs to an under cover cop. I guess was just a middleman and he was after bigger fish. After about 5 years of this life style I was sitting on the roof of my apartment complex on a Saturday night. I looked up at the stares and said. G-d is this all there is to life. Getting high, go to work and then get high again? God if your there let me know.
It was 1974 and I went to see a play called Jesus Christ Superstar There was a seen where People with disease were pushing in on Jesus and asking him to heal me. Jesus yelled at the people stop pushing me there are too many of you. Leave me alone! I had little knowledge of who Jesus was. I new he was born at Christmas and died at Easter. After the play I started to ask myself. Did Jesus push people away? Was he as the play portrayed him? About this time I met this nice girl, Jackie. She was refreshing from all the girls I was use to hanging out with. We started dating. She was a Jewish girl that was raised Catholic. She too was having questions about G-d. She had a Good News Bible that we would sit and read and try to figure out what we were reading.
I had moved into a new apartment and meat a man and his wife Tom & Gill. And it did not take long before they started buying their drugs from me. In 1976 Jackie and I got marred. I keep up my drug use and would still sell to my friends. Tom & Gill had not come by my apartment for about 3 weeks; So, I went to their apartment to see how they were doing.
When I saw them there was something different about them. What was it? There was a glow or something?. Whats up, I asked. You got some good dope. They just smiled and showed me a new Bible. O-NO I said. Dont tell me you guys are Jesus freaks! They
Tried to tell me about being born again. And ask me to come to Church with them.
No way! am I going to a Church. I did not see Tom & Gill for about 3 months. One day
They show up at my door. Otto & Jackie they asked would you come to some friends house with us. There will be a gaiter player from the group called Black oak Arkansas. This got my attention, I loved rock music. And I had a chance to meet a rocker. G-ds trap was set.
What I didnt know was that the rocker was going to give his testimony and the house was part of the Vineyard movement. And the gentlemen that lead Tom & Gill to the L-rd
Would be there also. Tom & Gill picked us up and we went. The Rocker sang some songs and then give his testimony. The gentlemen Wade sate down and talked to me. He laid out G-ds plan for salvation from Genesis to Revelation. He spoke of things like sacrifice and blood
Atonement, and how Jesus was our Sacrifice and one time blood atonement.
We talked for hours. He answered all my questions. Then he asked me! Would you like to ask Jesus into your heart right Now? Now. But I do drugs; I drink like a fish,
I use bad langue. Thats O, K Wade said dont worry about that stuff. Come to him just as you are. So I said O, K. He leads me in a prayer and I repeat what he says. The prayer is over, but I keep my head bowed and my eyes closed. Im thinking I want what
Tom & Gill have but what will all my friends say. But tom & Gill look so happy & new
But my friends. I want it, I dont, I do, I dont, do, dont, do, dont. I felt like I was about to explode. Then I threw both my arms in the air and yell. JESES. With my eyes still closed. I saw a howl open in my chest and a light comes out of me. I was standing in the living room looking at myself and could see the come out of my back and my chest and out the walls. I was next standing in the street and could see this light going through the houses and down the street. I was next in space and could see the light going off into space. I open my eyes and it felted as if I had just taken a backpack off my back. My skin felt as if it was aglow. For months people would ask what was different about me.
When we were driving home Wade said to me, that I should tell someone as soon as possible what happen to me tonight. I rolled down the car window and yell at some lady
Walking her dog. Jesus saved me tonight! When I got home I pulled up the 6 Marijuana and put them in the trash, I flushed the pills and poured out the booze.
My life was changed that night. The craving for drugs, pills and booze was gone.
My old friends eventuality stop coming by. But the trade was worth it.
One week later Wade, Jackie, Myself, and another brother named Trace.
Went to a little food store to hand out tracks and to tell people what happen to me last
Weekend. We were handing out tracks when a Policeman drives up. I hand him a track
And he becomes irate with me for handing him some religious martial.
He starts accusing us of soliciting for money. He makes us stop handing out tracks.
I start telling people what happen to me last week. The police officer ask for our
Idenafaction, witch we hand over. He puts our driver Trace in his portal car and tells
The rest of us to go home. This we cant do. We tell him because you put our driver in your portal car. He tells us to stop talking to people about Jesus or he will run us all
In. We keep sharing. Now! In front of the convenient stores there is a three-car accident. In about 30min there are now. 6 police cares and
2 ambulances. By this time people start gathering around to see what is going on.
Thanks to that angry police officer I got to shear with a lot more people than if he had not showed up. After the accident was cleared up and all the people left Trace was cleared and we all went home.
I begin to read the Bible with a new understanding and hunger. One day while I was reading my Bible I come to
Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As soon as I read this I hear a small voice say, I showed you this.
It has not always been an easy walk with the L-rd. My wife and I have raised five children.
All Still Believers! One is a schoolteacher, one is a Police officer, one is going to collage to be a Doctor, Another one is in collage for science, and my Last one is about to finish High School.
I know that I have been given a FREE gift. And there is nothing I can or could ever do to deserve this free gift of my salvation. This is perfectly clear to me. In 1996 something started to happen to me that was as powerful as my salvation exspearrents. I started to wonder after reading. 1Corinthians 5: 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
Now I have read this scripture 100 times. But this time it jumped out at me.
Let us keep the Festival. Keep Passover! I was not keeping Passover. I went to my Pastor and asked, Why dont we do Passover. Because! He said, thats OT teaching and we are free from all that. Wait a moment this is the NT. (Dont rock the boat just keep rowing)
I called a local Synagogue and asked their Rabbi where I could find information about putting on a Passover Seder. He sent me to my Library. In 1996 I held my first Passover Seder.
In 1997 I held another Seder at home. And in 1998 I held a Passover Seder at my church.
My wife and I started asking more & more questions about the Jewish part of Christianity That was not there. I would ask If Christianity come from Judaism why is there nothing Jewish in Christianity? I never did get an answer. (Dont rock the boat just keep rowing)
At each service the Pastor would always say something negative about Judaism.
In 1999 my wife and I found a Messianic congregation. Now I did get an answer to my question. If Christianity come from Judaism why is there nothing Jewish in Christianity?
By Otto Strand
