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'OVERCOMERS' Its Your Move

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Overcomers is where individuals & family members & friends can find help, encouragement, advice & prayer support for addiction. Jesus has enabled me to overcome the bondage of addiction, anyone is welcome to join.

Members: 38
Latest Activity: Oct 22

Some of my Testimony

I myself was once an alcoholic & drug addict for about 15 years or more, Hi my name is Martin, I would like to state that I am NOT in recovery, I am not an ex-addict, I am a non addict !, I have been set free & by the blood & grace of Jesus Christ, I would briefly like to share some of my testimony, God has done so much in my life I could not put in all down in writing but here is some of it, I am 44 years old married to Maja who is truly the love of my life she is not only my wife but my best friend.

My father had a serious problem with alcohol & it affected everything at home, he also had very violent tendencies while he was drunk, which was most of the time, it adversely affected my sister & my childhood. My parents got divorced eventually, but during a large part of my life my father either was in prison or drunk or was not there, & this affected more than I realized at the time. It was not my father fault that i became an addict that was down to my own selfishness, but my picture of God as a loving Father was certainly distorted.
I left school at 16 with qualifications & started work, but I started to drink as soon as I had money, & I would drink hard. I had some great jobs which I progressed in over the years, but I worked so I could drink & party. My drinking became a full time job was I was about 23years of age, & like my father when I was drunk I was violent, in fact I was very violent. I experimented with various drugs, but speed & alcohol where my favorites with weed & dope to come down with.

I suppose I always believed in God, but my thinking was this is my life & I wanted to live it, I had many relationships over the years but I would just use & abuse, I was never violent to women, but I was not a nice person. I had a few powerful encounters with Jesus also, but the selfishness of my addictions just led me into oblivion. As the years past I got more into drugs I done every drug out there; & I mean everything, many of my friends were dying all around me, at the age of 32 I found myself in prison my life in pieces; a broken man & a physical wreck I weighed about 50 kilos, it was vengeance that stopped me killing myself, It was keeping me alive, the only thing that ran through my veins was hatred, hatred of life of injustice, bitterness & pain............
One day I found a Gideons Bible in my cell (God Bless the Gideons), I randomly opened the Bible on Luke 15:11-32, there I read the parable of the lost son, the pages were jumping out at me, jumping off the pages of the Bible, where I read about the lost son, who squandered his life & inheritance on wild living.....I was reading about myself, I could not believe it, when I came to the part (verse 17) He came to his senses, & he realized he was eating with the pigs, it was like a light being switched on, I had an understanding that is what I was doing eating with the pigs........ I finished the passage & God touched me so very deeply, I broke down in that prison cell & cried like a baby, I said sorry for all the terrible things that I had done &asked Him to change my life, because i'd turned over more new leaves than winter, & I could not change, I asked Jesus to change me & He did !

That was 13th March 1997 & my life has been truly changed, I was released from Prison joined a local church, got baptized in water & the Holy Spirit, went to Teen Challenge UK in Nov 1997, a residential Christian drug & rehab programme. (God Bless Teen Challenge) It was not easy & it has been a long walk & very hard at times, but I knew that God touched me, I absorbed myself into the word of God & dared to believe what it says, like The Old has gone & the new has come, & that I am a new creation, & a child of God & over time Gods love melted my heart of ice & He gave me a heart of flesh, replaced hatred with love & totally turned my life around. It was hard to accept God as a loving father who loved me unconditionally, because of my relationship with my biological father, but by reading the Bible & applying it to my life; I got healed. I have a peace in my life that I was always searching for, God has been so faithful & good to me.

I now work for Teen Challenge Macedonia as Manager, I used to work for Teen Challenge UK for over 5years I helped Build Teen Challenge Swaziland & have had the privilege of seeing hundreds of people overcome life controlling addictions through faith in Jesus Christ also I have witnessed many miracles & deliverances.I have been on several short Term missions, I am an Elder in our Church, my wife Maja runs a prayer ministry & we are involved in running cell groups & we are starting a Mercy Ministry.I am a St Johns first aider, I have a NVQ3 in Business Management, I am a Health & Safety Officer, & I have an advanced Drivers license & I am currently taking a Bachelors Degree,I love apologetics & Theology. We love the Lord with all our hearts & long to see His Kingdom established.

My sister & husband & their children also have been saved; my brother in Law is an Elder in their local fellowship & has been for over 8 years., My sister in Australia & my nephew & niece are also saved.

Don’t believe for one minute that Christians don’t have problems, but we know Jesus & He is an ever present help in times of trouble.

I will edit this testimony over time to smooth it out, but just wanted to share some of the wonders what Jesus has done for me, & nobody can tell me any different because I was there when it happened!

If you or family members or friends are facing any of the above problems, I would be happy to hear from you & I will gladly pray for you, but remember this my mum never stopped praying for me during all them dark, dark years & I truly believe through her prayers & Gods grace that I am alive today, while so may of my friends are dead. (I stopped counting when it got to double figures) God Bless You Martin & Maja

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
...............verse taken from 'And can it be that I should gain'

......Through many dangers , toils & snares I have already come, it was grace that brought me save this far & grace that will take me home ...verse taken from' Amazing Grace'

.......Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.......verse taken from 'The Wondrous Cross'.

If you would like to copy & paste, any of the articles, for chat rooms or other sites you may do so, as long as you include the author & site, as stated in appropriate article, thanks Martin Hosking.

Martin Hosking 'Overcomers' Aug 2008

Discussion Forum

Are You An Enabler ? 14 Replies

Started by Martin. Last reply by Dr. Jerry W. Wilkes Jul 20.

Bible verses for encouragement

Started by Martin Nov. 22, 2008.

Jesus Christ is God 6 Replies

Started by Martin. Last reply by Martin Oct. 31, 2008.

You Can Turn Your Life Around!

Started by Martin Oct. 27, 2008.

GOD'S SIMPLE PLAN OF SALVATION

Started by Martin Oct. 27, 2008.

Beatitudes Part 2 1 Reply

Started by Martin. Last reply by Tara Oct. 22, 2008.

(Porn a Big Problem ) A Blueprint for Purity by Jeff Hughes 7 Replies

Started by Martin. Last reply by Justin Hatfield Oct. 16, 2008.

WHAT DO WE DO? 6 Replies

Started by Tara. Last reply by Martin Oct. 14, 2008.

Escaping The Victim Mentality 3 Replies

Started by Martin. Last reply by Susan Storm Smith Sep. 25, 2008.

Our Identity & Who We are in Christ 3 Replies

Started by Martin. Last reply by Martin Sep. 20, 2008.

What is Addiction & Refuting the Lies 6 Replies

Started by Martin. Last reply by Martin Sep. 18, 2008.

My Name is HEROIN & Will You Marry Me? 2x Poems 1 Reply

Started by Martin. Last reply by Martin Sep. 6, 2008.

Beatitudes Part 1 2 Replies

Started by Martin. Last reply by Pastor Bruce Marsee Sep. 4, 2008.

Miracles, Signs & Wonders 5 Replies

Started by Martin. Last reply by Martin Sep. 1, 2008.

Practical Help to Overcome Procrastination 2 Replies

Started by Martin. Last reply by Yvonne Hill Aug. 22, 2008.

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Comment by Mary Ann F. on October 22, 2009 at 2:32pm: October 2009

Everywhere you look there are those signs that say to the elect, "Jesus is Corning." There is no doubt but what we are witnessing the 'perilous times' spoken of by the Apostle Paul. Every nation on earth is in turmoil, and the problems are with perplexity. But with it all, this is no time to be discouraged, for these are the very conditions that create for the "True Church" her greatest opportunity. When there is nothing left but despair we have our greatest opportunity.

In desperate times, such as we live in, men and women are driven to search for that which is real. You and I have been brought to the Kingdom fir' such a time as this. "For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall he destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) These words were spoken to Queen Esther at a time when it seemed that everything was about to be lost; A time when a day had been set to slaughter the entire Jewish population.

We live in a day very similar to Esther's; spiritual death abounds, according to the Prophet Joel there are; "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision" (Joel 3:14). These are the conditions that open the way for God to show Himself strong. "It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law."(Psalm 119:126).

The cry sounded in the fiftieth chapter of Jeremiah is echoing around the world today; "In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion." The prophet said of God's people, "...they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place" (Jeremiah 50:6b).

What a picture of the Church of the 21st century; from mountain to hill. from one pseudo experience to another. That cry has reached the ear of God, we are about to experience a vast harvest of souls. But for God to do His mighty work there has to be a human. instrument through which He can pour Himself. Like Esther, you and I have been chosen to be that vessel through which God's deliverance will come.

In Brazil alone the possibility for the harvest is beyond description. Brother Wellington, general superintendent of the Brazilian Assemblies of God with seventeen thousand pastors under his leadership, has invited the School of Christ to be the instrument to stir and renew the tire in the pastors. Two weeks ago I returned from a Pastors Conference in Belgium I was there by invitation of the Pastors to present the School of Christ. The cry; we need revival. We are just finishing the German translation and the country is wide open. Europe is ready for a real move of God and the thought is, The School of Christ is tool to bring that move. The report coming out of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Iran is that multitudes are turning to Christ.

Time and space limits me, but I sum it all up with this word; what I have said is being repeated in over one hundred and fifty countries. If we will not allow ourselves to become weary we can and will finish the course. In closing I ask this one favor, with the message of this letter fresh in your heart and mind look up and ask God what It would have you to do financially. If you will do this, and will obey what He says, every need will be met.

PS: I am writing to inform you that we now have our own account on YouTube. To find the sermons that we have uploaded for you to view, open www.youtube.com and type in the search field 2009soc or you can also type in Clendennen. Because of YouTube's ten minute restriction please be advised some sermons will have more than one part.

Comment by Ashley Scott on October 12, 2009 at 6:45pm: Hello everyone, I just been told that my boyfriend Ray's mom is in the hospital having tests done. She had passed out last night. Could you all pray for her and Ray. Thank you so much.

Comment by Mary Ann F. on October 12, 2009 at 2:01pm: October 7, 2009

You are receiving this as an urgent prayer request for Pastor B. H. Clendennen, founder and president of the School of Christ International. Pastor Clendennen has learned and Sunday, October 4th announced to the church he founded, Victory Temple in Beaumont, Texas, that he has cancer. He asked that God’s people would pray and believe for a miracle.

We have called for days of fasting and prayer, a time when people around the world will bind themselves together for the one purpose of believing God for a miracle in Pastor Clendennen’s body. Brother Clendennen will return home on Monday, October 12th, and it is that week, the 12th through the 16th, that we have designated as days of fasting and praying.

As Brother Clendennen has carried the care of the churches, ministers, bishops and laymen around the world, we now have the opportunity to bear the burden of his need by touching God for his physical healing.

Help us enlist intercessors by telling this need to every believer you know.

If you would like to contact Pastor Clendennen to assure him of your prayer and concern you can either write him at:

Pastor B. H. Clendennen - P. O. Box 26001 - Beaumont, Texas 77720

E-mail him at: bhclendennen@gmail.com or call Victory Temple office at (409) 842-3954.

You can see and hear Pastor Clendennen’s public announcement at Victory Temple by going to his website at: schoolofchristinternational.com.

The need is urgent and the time is now to pray through on this matter. I expect to write you again in the next several days and announce the victory has been won.

Believing together for a miracle for Pastor Clendennen,

Robert Turnage

Pastor

Victory Temple

Comment by Mary Ann F. on September 23, 2009 at 2:26pm: "This is an hour in need of buring hearts, bursting lips, and brimming eyes! If we were a tenth as spiritual as we think we are, our streets would be filled each Sunday with throngs of believers marching to Zion-with sacks on their bodies and ashes on the shaking heads, shaking at the calamity that has brought the church to be the unlovely, unnerved, unproducing thing that she is. This is the hour when we are asking over and over agian, "Is everybody happy?" God's purpose for us is not happiness, but holiness!" Rev. Leonard Ravenhill 1959

Comment by Ashley Scott on September 22, 2009 at 8:27pm: Hey everyone! How is everybody doing? I would appreciate if all of you could pray for my boyfriend's father. He's got bad old timers, and tomorrow afternoon he's got to have surgery. He fell off the bed and he had broken his hip in 3 places. I don't know how he will hold up after the surgery, but I need all of you to pray for him. His name is Raymond. Please pray for us all. Ray my boyfriend as well. Thanks

Comment by Jeff VanAntwerp on August 21, 2009 at 4:35pm: We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us

Comment by Martin on August 21, 2009 at 3:11am: Praise God Jeff,

Go for it brother, Jesus is with you :-)

Comment by Jeff VanAntwerp on August 20, 2009 at 7:59pm: Glory to God! He is mighty, and able to save even the most vile person, I am just going to share a little, but when I came to the Lord I was drinking an 18 pack of beer a day,really a night, in one sitting, plus all the drugs, porn everything the god of this world might bring my way, I want to share more of my past later but I came to Jesus in a rehab in Mobile AL and now I am speaking to the mountains of my past and watching them crumble in Jesus name, please check out my page, I'm involved with inner city ministry, bringing Jesus to the homeless, addicted, the lost... I give all glory to Jesus I have been clean for more than a year and a half, and am just on fire for Jesus, He is blessing me so abundantly, everything He says in His word is true! I am going to be starting college in a couple weeks, and plan to use that as a fishing hole. (fishers of men) I love this web site, I want to reach out more with the fire the Lord has given me. He gave it to me to share. Praise God!

Comment by Mary Ann F. on June 26, 2009 at 1:44pm: 18 Comments

Comment by Mary Ann F. on June 20, 2009 at 1:11am Delete Comment And Can it Be
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
...............verse taken from 'And can it be that I should gain'
4th verse by Charles Wesley
It was John Wesley's salvation song, and then became Charles' too.
What an awesome testimony, your's as well as thier's! What a faithful God we serve! I also grew up with a bad father image after having two abusive fathers. I grew up thinking God was just like every other father, a BAD father John 3:16 proved it! He "sent", His son to calvery, I didn't care if it was for me, after all I wasn't worth anything, and how could any dad do that to his son!!! Many years and much self inflicted pain later, I heard the truth. God allowed His son to die for me, Jesus chose to go to calvary. I love SOC's theme song it is mine too :-)