Jesus Christ: The Son of God, the Savior of Man (Gospel Light Minute #92)

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He was born in Bethlehem in a manger in a stable surrounded by animals. Herod sought to kill Him before He was even born, but God had another plan. He grew into a young boy and “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

By 12 years old, he was teaching the religious scholars about the kingdom of God. By age 30, He was working miracles across the then known world. He turned water into wine, commanded the sea to sit still and the wind to be quiet, walked on the water, fed five thousand people with a boy’s small lunch, healed ten lepers, cast out demons, made the blind see, the lame walk, and the dumb speak. He raised Lazarus from the dead, healed an official’s daughter, and caused the disciples to catch a boatload of fish after catching none all night. He did many other things as well but as John records in his Gospel, “if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.”

Not only did He work miracles, but He is the Son of the living God, the only begotten Son of the Father, the Son of the Highest, and the Son of the Blessed. He is the Mighty God, the Everlasting God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the whole earth, God manifest in the flesh, the True God, and My Lord and my God. He is the Great I Am, the Strong and Mighty Jehovah, the Lord of Glory, the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Almighty, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Creator of all things, the Everlasting Father, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last. He is life eternal, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Rock of my Salvation, the Light of the world, the Chosen of God, the Redeemer, the Bright and Morning Star, the Day-spring from on High, the Hope of His people, and the Hope of the world.

Henry Ward Beecher said, “He painted no pictures. Yet some of the greatest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. He wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. He composed no music; but Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection in the symphonies and oratorios they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been influenced by this humble carpenter of Nazareth!

He was crucified on a cross between two thieves; mocked and ridiculed as He hung on the cross. One Friday over 2000 years ago, He stretched out His arms and died for the sins of the whole world. He didn’t stop there, however, He was buried, and on Sunday morning, with all power, strength, and victory over sin and death, He got up out of the grave and now sits on the right hand of God the Father in Heaven. His name is Jesus Christ.

David Green: One of the Richest Men in America Uses his Money to Affect Lives for Eternity (Gospel Light Minute #91)

He is the founder and president of the largest arts and crafts store chain in the United States, which has over 500 stores and 21 thousand employees. He is a member of the Forbes 400 and is worth $4.5 billion dollars, making him #79 on the list of the richest people in America.

Even though each of his five siblings grew up to became preachers or preachers’ wives, he fell in love with the idea of selling things after graduating from high school. While he was working as a manager at a five-and-dime store, he borrowed $600 to buy the equipment he needed to start his own business, and in 1972, he opened his first store. Even though his fast growing company was initially a success, it experienced a “brush with death” in 1985. He described the issue as a problem with his leadership style. He said, “It was a pride problem, and I had to get rid of it. It’s sort of like God said to me, because I was arrogant, ‘I’m going to let you have it by yourself.'” He found the solution to the company’s problems by getting under his desk and praying for help.

Attributing the company’s present success to God, he says, “If you have anything or if I have anything, it’s because it’s been given to us by our Creator. So I have learned to say, ‘Look, this is yours, God. It’s all yours. I’m going to give it to you.'” Today, he gives half of the company’s profits toward operations that share Christ with others. Through foundations he supports, he has already distributed nearly 1.4 billion copies of Gospel literature in more than 100 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia. He also sponsors the YouVersion Bible app which is available in 144 languages and has been downloaded more than 85 million times. He says, “I don’t know how to get anywhere else unless you start with that one thing: that the Bible is God’s word.”

Regarding his strong commitment to sharing Christ, he says, “My company is worth billions of dollars. So what? Is that the end of life, making more money and building something? For me, I want to know that I have affected people for eternity. I believe I am [doing that]. I believe once someone knows Christ as their personal savior, I’ve affected eternity.” His name is David Green and he is the founder and president of Hobby Lobby.

In a Dangerous Sport, Kyle Petty Depends on Jesus Christ to Protect Him (Gospel Light Minute #90)

He is a former NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts. He participated in 885 races during his career. He came in first place eight times and finished in the top ten 184 times. He is active in many charitable causes, such as the Victory Junction Gang Camp for terminally-ill children, which he established to honor his late son, as well as an annual charity motorcycle ride across the country called the Chick-fil-a Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America which raises money to support terminally-ill children.

He accepted Christ as his Saviour after a racing-related accident took the life of his uncle. He said, “When I was 15, my uncle was killed in a pit road accident, and I was right there with him. I realized how close I came to being killed. If I was going to be in this sport, I needed Someone to protect me. You can’t do it on your own. I gave my life over to the Lord. Every time I get into a race car, I turn everything over to Him. Unless you build your house on the Rock, Jesus, it’s going to fall.”

His faith in God helped carry him and his wife through the grief that followed the death of their son who also lost his life on the racetrack. He said, “I must have gotten 20 million help books on how to deal with grief. But the only help book there is is the Bible. Walk to your Bible, open up your Bible and the Lord will lead you to a passage. There’s a relevant passage that he will lead you to to deal with what’s going on in your life today. And that’s everyday — not just in the hard times… God wouldn’t give me more than I can handle. I can handle this, but I can’t handle it alone. By saying, ‘Lord, you’ve got to help me,’ that burden is lifted off your shoulders. It’s still hard, but there’s always help there and you always feel like somebody’s walking with you… It’s just an amazing comfort to know that you can turn everything over to Jesus Christ.” His name is Kyle Petty.

For Former “Three 6 Mafia” Rapper, Delmar “Mr. Del” Lawrence, a Stop in Church Unexpectedly Changed his Life Forever (Gospel Light Minute #89)

He is a hip hop artist and music producer. He is president of the independent record label Dedicated Music Group. Before becoming a Christian, he was a member of the Oscar winning, platinum-selling rap group Three 6 Mafia, which became famous for their hit song, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” He received a Grammy award nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album of the year and a 2010 GMA Dove Award nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the year. His first Christian solo album, “The Future” was released in 2005 and debuted at No. 15 on Billboard’s Gospel Chart. “Hope Dealer” was released in 2007 and “Thrilla” was released in 2009.

As a member of Three 6 Mafia, which was known for its profane lyrics, he was a rising rap star with money, fame and a gold record — all before the age of 21. After being on tour for nearly a year, he made a return trip to his hometown of Memphis to surprise his family. Arriving on a Sunday morning, he made a stop at his home church, not knowing that he would leave that service a changed man. He said of that time, “I heard God speak to me during service, and He gave me a vision of what He wanted me to do. Based on that experience, I decided to give my life to God right then and there.” After giving his life to Christ, he now leads his own record label and a hip-hop influenced church, City of Refuge in Memphis. He is on a mission to win youth to Christ. He said, “I want youth to see they can have fun and still represent Christ. It does not matter what you did the night before; I am giving this word and I want these people to feel the love of Christ in their lives.” His name is Delmar “Mr. Del” Lawrence.

Mark Burnett says his Life has Been Changed by the Bible (Gospel Light Minute #88)

He is a well-known television producer who currently produces five network television programs: Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice, The Voice, Shark Tank, and The Job. He has worked with Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil, Martha Stewart, and Samuel L. Jackson, among many others. His work in the television industry has earned him four Emmy Awards and four People Choice Awards. Currently, he and his wife are producing “The Bible”, a 10 hour History Channel drama based upon stories of the Bible.

As a child, he grew up in a strict Scottish Presbyterian/Catholic home where he always saw a Bible and from a young age, he was aware that the Bible contained certain rules to which strict consequences were applied. As he grew older, he became a Christian and his love and passion for the Bible increased. He said in an interview, “People apply personal meanings to the Bible. Our job is to tell the stories in an emotionally connected way.” He further says, his previous view of the Bible as just a rule book, “distorted God’s love for all of us, because there’s only one perfect character, which is Jesus. Everybody else is flawed to a lesser or a greater degree, especially in the time of kings in the Old Testament. Still, God didn’t give up, even when people were making the worst mistakes. And I think that relief has made me feel it’s a story of love and less about harsh rules.”

He says of “The Bible” project that he is working on: “Even though we came into this as people who love the Bible and people who love the Word and who love the Gospel, we have experienced a deepening of our own faith in the three and a half years that we have been working on [The Bible] together. I don’t think you can work on the scripture day after day, after day as deeply and for as many hours as we have been, and not be impacted by it.” His name is Mark Burnett.

Meagan Good Keeps her Eyes on God and Uses her Acting Gift to Glorify Him (Gospel Light Minute #87)

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She is a star television and movie actress who began her career at four years old. She has appeared in numerous commercials, television shows, music videos, and major movies. She was cast in her first film, the 1995 hit “Friday”, at age thirteen. At age fifteen, her performance in the critically acclaimed 1997 film “Eve’s Bayou”, earned her her first NAACP Image Award nomination.

Since then, her film appearances include: Roll Bounce, Waist Deep, Stomp the Yard, Jumping the Broom, and Think Like a Man among many others. She currently stars in the lead role of the new NBC TV drama series “Deception.” One of the things that stands out in the show is that in the midst of all that “deception”, her character wears a cross around her neck. I believe that she does this to be a witness for Jesus Christ. And may I say with all due respect to her husband and without fear of successful contradiction, she is one of the most beautiful women in the world.

Although she was not raised in the church, she says that she is a Christian and that she will not do roles that she feels might disappoint God. She said in an interview, over the years, “I have learned that I need to really keep my eyes on the prize which is God and not worry so much about what other people think of me. And if I keep my eyes on the prize, people will think what they need to think of me, good or bad.”

Regarding the roles she plays, she said, “I think that, for me, it’s about portraying a character creatively and artistically as an actress. I believe that God has gifted me as an actress and intends for me to use that gift, but He also intends for me to use it to glorify him. So, if I’m playing the most perfect, religious girl, then nobody gets anything out of it. It’s like being a Christian and only hanging out in church. When I play a character, I try not to judge her because ultimately it’s about where she ends up and what she learns from the journey, no matter what happens along the journey. Does she become a better person?”

She reads her Bible “every day without fail” and is determined to continue growing in her faith. Married to a Hollywood movie executive who is also a preacher, she said that she is happy to have “a partner who shares the same heart for God that I have, who walks down the same road as I, and who wants the same things in life that I do. I’m also happy that I found someone who understands what I do for a living, and wants to use that as a tool to help glorify God….It’s just a blessing now that people are listening as I try to share the love of God and empower young women.” Her name is Meagan Good.

Mike Singletary says Having Jesus in his Life Helps him to be the Man, Husband, and Father that he Should Be (Gospel Light Minute #86)

He is a NFL football coach and former professional football player. He played college football for the Baylor Bears and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He was known as “The Heart of the Defense” for the Chicago Bears’ Monsters of the Midway in the mid-1980s. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

He later pursued a career as a coach. He served as linebacker coach for the Baltimore Ravens and then for the San Francisco 49ers where he was promoted to the head coaching position. Today, he is currently the linebacker coach and an assistant to the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.

Despite his tremendous success on the field, he found that he felt “empty” and unfulfilled. He said, “I had everything. And it was right after the Super Bowl that I realized that I was really, really empty. I had done all this stuff. I had made the Pro Bowl. I just signed a great contract. I was the MVP that year. I had just won the Super Bowl. But I was the emptiest and the most frustrated.” Although he was raised in a Christian home, the lifestyle of sports superstardom had overshadowed his faith, and he had come to a crossroads.

He said, “I just remember, one day, breaking down. I remember saying, ‘Lord, I’m supposed to be Your son, and You don’t talk to me or use me. You don’t do anything. I don’t understand this.’ In my spirit, I heard two things. One was ‘I want to use you, but there are some things that you gotta clean up first.’ The second thing that I had to do was forgive my father.” His father had divorced his mother and walked out on the family when he was 12 years old.

Once he chose to do that, he says, “Day by day, God began to take away some of the bad habits that I had. Had it not been for Jesus Christ in my life, I’m sure I’d be divorced. I’m sure that I’d know my kids from a distance.” Now an ordained minister, author and motivational speaker, he says, “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that I would take in place of my faith. To me, Christ means everything. I know that He’s got my back no matter what I do. So that gives me all the freedom in the world to be the man that He’s called me to be.” His name is Mike Singletary.

Hadiya Pendleton’s “Inner Light” Was the Light of the World — Jesus Christ (Gospel Light Minute #85)

She was a bright, bubbly, beautiful and loving 15-year-old girl who worked hard in school and pushed her friends to succeed. She had her whole life in front of her and was full of purpose, promise, and potential. She had a smile that lit up every room she walked into. She was the type of child every parent would want, the type of student every teacher would love to have in their classroom, and the type of church member every pastor would desire to have in their pews. She was described as real, genuine, authentic, ‘more precious than rubies,’ and a ‘walking angel.’ She was energetic and loved music, the arts, and life. And she had an “inner light” that shined in her relationships with her friends and brightened the lives of so many others.

She was an honor student and a majorette in prep school and her goal was to go to Harvard University to study pharmacology and journalism. In the sixth grade, she made a public service announcement denouncing gang violence. She took part in basketball, volleyball, mentoring programs, and cheerleading. She loved visiting new places, and after traveling to Washington D.C., she had her eyes set on Paris, France. However, just eight days after she marched in the inaugural parade in front of President Obama, she was shot dead while talking with friends at a park in Chicago.

According to her biography printed in the funeral program, she “accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal saviour at Christian Covenant Baptist Church, where Reverend Silas is the pastor. As her family was guided by God’s divine providence they joined the Greater Deliverance Temple Church of Christ where Rev. Courtney Maxwell is the pastor, in October 2007. Furthermore, she gave her stewardship to ministry by being a member of the youth and teen ministry. She was involved in Greater Deliverance Temple Teen Praise Dance, worked in the church nursery, and brought her friends to church with her. Her mother said, “I’m not worried about where she’s going. I know who has her…I’m not worried about her soul. I know where she is.” As one pastor put it, “There is a new name written in glory.” Her name is Hadiya Pendleton and she will always be remembered as a “beautiful gift” to those who know and love her.

This is the “Chief of Sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International. The “inner light” that made Hadiya the happy, loving girl that she was is the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. Hadiya now rests in Heaven in the arms of her Saviour. I do not feel sorry for her; I envy her. If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, if you are not sure that you will go to Heaven when you die, may I encourage you to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour today.

Colin Kaepernick: Glorifying God on the Gridiron (Gospel Light Minute #84)

He is the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the University of Nevada Wolf Pack where he was twice named the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl. In the 2011 NFL Draft the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the second round with the 36th overall pick.

He began his pro career as the 49ers’ backup quarterback to starter Alex Smith. In the middle of the 2012 season he filled in for an injured Smith and became the starter as the 49ers advanced to the NFL playoffs for the second straight season. He set an NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in his first playoff game. After beating the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship, he led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl since the 1994 NFL season.

Playing football is a way for him to glorify the Lord. In an interview at Summit Christian Church in Sparks, Nevada, he said, “I don’t think most people look at football as a way to glorify the Lord. I think a lot of people think of it as ‘oh it’s a game, let’s go win.’ Ultimately, that’s your goal, but you also want to glorify the Lord on your way to doing that…My faith is the basis from where my game comes from. I’ve been very blessed to have the talent to play the game and be successful at it. I think God guides me through every day and helps me take the right steps and has helped me to get to where I’m at. When I step on the field, I always say a prayer, say I’m thankful to be able to wake up that morning and go out there and try to glorify the Lord with what I do on the field. I think if you go out and try to do that, no matter what happens, you can be happy about what you did.”

He has also drawn attention for the tattoos on his body. “Against All Odds,” is emblazoned across his chest. A version of Psalm 27:3 which reads, “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not be afraid”, can be read on his left shoulder. Those words are surrounded by: “God Will Guide Me.” On his right bicep is the word “Faith” and on his left bicep is “To God be the glory.”

Even though he has been criticized for his tattoos, he says, “I got them for me and to show people this is what I believe in. And God has brought me this far. He’s laid out a phenomenal path for me and I can do nothing but thank him.” His name is Colin Kaepernick.

Russell Wilson: ‘I Chose the Number Three for My Jersey to Honor the Holy Trinity’ (Gospel Light Minute #83)

He is the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Wisconsin during the 2011 season, in which he set the single season FBS record for passing efficiency and led the team to a Big Ten title and the 2012 Rose Bowl. He received the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year award and was named a consensus first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American by Yahoo! Sports. Before transferring to Wisconsin, he played football and baseball for North Carolina State University and was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in football and became the first freshman quarterback to receive first team All-ACC honors.

He is a devout Christian who frequently speaks of his faith in press conferences and interviews and posts daily encouragement from the Bible on his Twitter feed. He said that he chose the number three for his Seahawks jersey as a way of honoring the Holy Trinity.

He grew up in a family where faith in God was the foundation of their lives. His family members and former athletic director at North Carolina State University all say that he is strong and sincere in his faith. This strong faith was molded and strengthened during a time when his father was suffering from complications from diabetes and had suffered several strokes. He said that during this time, “I think of the Lord being there and that there is a time and place for everything.”

The day after he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in June 2010, he, his mother, and his grandmother were called to the hospital for the final time. The doctors said his father was unresponsive. But after praying in the hallway, he says that they felt the Holy Spirit telling them to go in the hospital room. He went into the room and greeted his father for the last time. He said, “I walked in and I could see the EKG monitor. I said: ‘Hey, Dad, I’m here.’ As soon as I said that, the line went flat. That’s how I knew the Lord is real. I knew my dad heard me and he could hear everything I was telling him about how I got drafted. He was waiting for something great to happen. That’s how I knew he went in peace. He is here watching me right now.” His name is Russell Wilson.

Ray Lewis: ‘Loving God Completes You as a Man’ (Gospel Light Minute #82)

He is an linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He is considered to be one of the best linebackers of his era. He played college football for the University of Miami. He has played his entire professional career with the Ravens after they selected him as a first round draft pick in 1996, and he is the last player remaining from the Ravens’ inaugural season. He has been selected to 13 Pro Bowls and has been named an Associated Press All-Pro Player 10 times. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2000 and 2003. He was also the second linebacker to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award and the first linebacker to win the award on the winning Super Bowl team.

He is a follower of Jesus Christ, and his commitment to his faith was featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story in 2006. During an interview with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he said, “God is always God. It is only us that waver and go down wrong roads and do foolish things. And there are somethings in life that you have to deal with, and you have to go through some things to get to God.” He believes that Christians should be about sharing faith, hope and love in every arena of life, and says that his faith inspires him to pray, read the Bible with, and give advice and encouragement to younger players so that they won’t make the same mistakes he made.

During a recent game, he reminded his teammates that “No weapon formed against them shall prosper and that no man can stop what God can already destined.” His favorite scripture is Psalm 91 because it reminds him that “God is everything you need.” His love for God is evidenced in his charitable work providing personal and economic assistance to disadvantaged youth. He says, “to love God completes you as a man.”

His name is Ray Lewis.

Johnny “Football” Manziel ‘Trusts the Lord With All his Heart’ (Gospel Light Minute #81)

He is the quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies. He became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, and the first freshman to win the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. He played high school football in Kerrville, Texas. Recruited out of high school as a dual-threat quarterback with an impressive ability to extend plays, he plays in Kevin Sumlin’s Air Raid offense in Texas A&M’s first season in the SEC. Here he was given the name “Johnny Football” by fans and students for his unique improvisation and ability to make winning plays. He recently led his team to beat Oklahoma in the 2013 Cotton Bowl Classic.

In his Heisman acceptance speech, he said, “I thank God for allowing me to be here and for His grace and love throughout my life.” He thanked his parents for bringing him up in the church and for the faith that he holds dearly. He often quotes Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” He said, “I tell myself everyday that God has a plan for me. I’m here for a reason and whatever happens in the future is meant to happen for a reason. I always make sure to trust the Lord with all my heart.” His name is Johnny Manziel.

Adrian Peterson says he Finds Peace in his Relationship with Jesus Christ (Gospel Light Minute #80)

He is the NFL’s premier running back. He plays for the Minnesota Vikings and is its all-time leading rusher. He is a 4-time Pro Bowl front runner and one of the league’s most marketable players. In college, he set the NCAA freshman rushing record with 1,925 yards during the 2004 season. As a first-team All-American, he became the first freshman to finish as the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting, behind USC quarterback Matt Leinart.

After his first pro season, he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was then awarded the MVP award for his performance in the Pro Bowl. He became only the fifth player in NFL history to have more than 3,000 yards through his first two seasons. In 2010, he became the fifth fastest player to run for 5,000 yards, doing so in his 51st game. In 2012, he became the sixth fastest player to reach 8,000 rushing yards. Nicknamed A.D. for “All Day”, his football career success is carried by his tireless determination.

Born to two athletic parents, he was interested in sports from an early age. As a child, however, his life was not absent of pain and heartache. At 7, he watched his oldest brother die after being hit by a drunk driver while they were bike-riding. And while in high school, his dad, who was also his coach, went to jail on a drug charge. He credits his faith in God for sustaining him through those tough times and helping him to stay focused on his goals.

He says of his relationship with Jesus Christ: “Jesus Christ means the world to me. I’ve been through so many different situations through my childhood and now my adulthood…God just helped me get through them and made me stronger at a young age. (Through) all the adversity and hard times I’ve been through, God has always been present. I’ve always prayed to Him and asked Him to give me the strength to endure and to help others and to better understand whatever situation I deal with in my personal life. And He has always showed up! It brings hope and peace of mind knowing that God gave His only begotten Son for us. I’m able to look back and know that on Christmas day Jesus was born and gave us the opportunity to have eternal life. No matter how many flaws we have, our God is so forgiving and understanding. He’ll never leave you or forsake you. So that brings peace to me.” His name is Adrian Peterson.

Michael Franzese: A Mafia Boss Turns to the Messiah (Gospel Light Minute #79)

He is a former New York mobster with the Colombo crime family who was heavily involved in the gasoline tax rackets in the 1980s. In the mid-1980s, Fortune Magazine listed him as number 18 on its list of the “Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses” According to a Federal report, he made more money for a crime family than anyone since Chicago boss Al Capone. As the former “Prince of the Mafia,” he faced dozens of grand jury appearances, three major racketeering indictments, five criminal trials, seven years in prison and a Mafia death sentence.

However, in 1987, while in prison, he made a decision to walk away from the Colombo family and organized crime. Crediting the prayers of his Christian wife, Cammy, her family, and her church, he left the world of crime and became a born again Christian. He said, “If it had not been for my wife’s prayers, I wouldn’t be alive. There’s no question that I’d either be dead or in prison for the rest of my life. And that’s not even a guess. That’s absolute.”

Today, he is a follower of Jesus Christ and a man on a mission. He often describes his very own Damascus Road experience, from his early days in the Mob and its rise to power to God leading him to do the unthinkable: quit the Mob and follow Jesus. Since his conversion, he has created a foundation called the Breaking Out Foundation to educate, empower, and equip youth to face life’s challenges.

He has become a motivational speaker to churches, corporate events, schools, and Christian conferences. And he shares his compelling story in two books, “Blood Covenant” and “The Good, the Bad, and the Forgiven”. His theme always hits home with audiences around the world: “You can’t escape the long arm of the law—and you sure can’t escape the longer arm of the Lord.” His name is Michael Franzese.

Sheila E. says All she Needed in Life was God (Gospel Light Minute #78)

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She is an outstanding American musician. She is best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr. As a child and teenager, she frequently performed with her father who was also a percussionist. By her early twenties she had already played with George Duke, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Diana Ross. She joined Prince on several Purple Rain recording sessions and served as a writer and musician on many of his records as well. In her own right, she scored hits with “The Glamorous Life” and “The Belle of St. Mark”. She was nominated for an American Music Award and a Grammy for “The Glamorous Life”.

She says of her faith, “I was raised Catholic and only went to church because I had to. But I actually gave my heart to the Lord for the first time when I was 18. I was playing in George Duke’s band and one of the singers was driving me to a meeting and I was crying, just stressed out. There was a bunch of stuff going on and I said, ‘You know what? This is crazy.’ She said, ‘Look, if you just give your heart to the Lord, everything will be fine.’ And I thought, ‘You know, it’s not that easy.’ She said, ‘No, really, really it is.’ So we prayed in the car and I accepted Christ right then.”

As her popularity increased, she felt something was missing in her life. The abuse that she had suffered as a child and the immediate pressure to always perform took a toll on her physically and mentally. She soon became very sick and was admitted to the hospital with a collapsed lung. She was bedridden for weeks, lost a lot of weight, and could barely eat. It was at this point that she felt she was about to die and she cried out to God for help. She said of this time, “It was then that I decided, ‘You know what, Lord? If you just give me another chance, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.’ I got the Bible and I started reading and I kept it on my chest. I slept with it and never took it out of my hand for weeks.”

After being in the house for weeks, she finally walked outside for the first time in a month. She said of this time, “As soon as I walked outside, I saw this crack on the ground and I bent over and touched it. I just cried. Then I went over and I touched the grass. I looked up at the sky and it was so blue. I laid on the grass and said, ‘Lord, look at all these wonderful things you’ve given us that we just take for granted. I thought that I needed this and I needed that, but I only need you.’ That was the turning point.”

Today, she uses her talent for God and is dedicated to serving the Kingdom through her music and her foundation for children. She says, “God has given me a gift and the energy in performing comes from just loving so much what we get to do and being able to share that gift with people.” Her name is Sheila E.