When I was eleven, I was in the fifth grade. That’s the first time I ever even heard of bullying. I was bullied so badly that I didn’t know what I was doing. I cut myself. I just knew my mind focused on the physical pain whether than what people were saying about me. I didn’t know it was bad, addicting or a sin. I just knew it made me feel better. I progressed through middle school, only getting by, by cutting myself.

Sixth & seventh we’re alright but i always knew I had pain to make me feel better. I still wasn’t in church & there were times I doubted a God even existed. I was nowhere near where I should have been in life. In eighth grade, I started getting feelings for boys & all that. Only to be hurt many, many times. Once again, pain was there. It got really bad, in eighth grade. Along with alcohol & drugs, I would try anything just to forget about everything. I didn’t believe in anything. I was so bad. Over the summer, I got worse.

My first year of high school was going horribly. I felt like everyone was turning on me & everybody hated me. I had nobody, i had nothing. I was even treating my parents like trash & all they were doing was trying to help me. The cuts kept getting deeper and deeper & I was waiting on the day for it to go too deep & my life was over.

But then for some reason, I decided to go to Winter Jam. Ever since Jan. 28, my life has changed. I realized He was real. I seriously thought I was too far in to even think about turning back. I thought it was just a matter of time before my life as going to be over & I was just waiting. The entire night, I was being moved. I know it sounds cliche but I was saved that night. The song, The Last Night, really moved me. I realized that no matter what I do, or how far i’ve gotten myself into something that God is there, He always will be. Whatever I want or need to do, I know I can do it with Him by my side. I just need to turn to Him & I will get through everything.

Ever since that night, I am honestly changed. Even my parents, teachers & friends have noticed the change in my attitude & the thing that really gets me the most is I went from cutting almost every day to almost a month clean… I will probably forever give Jesus Christ, my savior & the PULSE program, credit for saving my life. God only knows how much longer I would have had if I hadn’t have gone to that concert & I’m so glad that I did. I know I got in to those doors for a reason. Not only have I been going to church again recently, but so has my dad. Now, i’m waiting on my mother to get back into the swing of things. I really hope it’s soon. (: <3

I would go to my room, and cry, scream, and punch my pillow until everyone else fell asleep. The following mornings after the fights they would remember absolutely nothing because of the pills and alcohol they took. Only I would remember every single thing that was done. The pain was felt, but I would push it aside because I believed that they wouldn’t do it again. My grandmother and I were as close as can be. I did everything for her, and she treated me like a king. My mother relied on her for financial support because she didn’t make enough to pay all the bills.

Well, in the Summer of 2011 I took a trip to China with my school for 2 weeks in the end of June and beginning of July. I remember waking up excited, and ready to go to the Air port and see my friends. When I was walking to the door my grandmother had not slept the whole night. She wanted to come but my mother knew she was getting sick with a cold and needed to rest. I told her i loved her, and said I would see her when I got back. Two days into my trip in China I call my mom to check in, and tell her how much fun i am having. She answered crying saying my Grandma was sick. She told me to carry-on and have a good time and not to worry. The next day I call my mother, and she sounded happy saying my Grandmother was getting better. This would be the last time in China I would have contact with my mom.

July 5th was the day we came home from China. We flew from China straight into Detroit. I remember sitting there waiting for the plane to arrive so we could fly to Atlanta. My teacher told us to call our parents. I remember waiting for my friend to get off the phone so i could use it. It seemed like he was on the phone for hours. My time had come, and i called my mother telling her I am almost home. She suddenly started crying, and I had no idea why. She soon relayed the a message that my Grandma had passed away while i was in China. I would then begin to start crying, and did not stop until i landed in Atlanta. My life was yet struck down again. My grandmother passing away changed everything yet again. Money problems soon began. My mother and Uncle soon began drinking heavily again. We would lose the house we were renting, and lived in a hotel. Never in my life would I think this would happen.

My sister wasn’t always appreciative to what we were blessed with. She always stressed my mother out more. When we were living in the Hotel she would go live with a friend. She told my mom that she hated everything. I was offered the opportunity to move to Kansas with my Aunt and Uncle, and I took advantage of it because I was trying to join the Air Force and the mental state of mind in my family was terrible. In September I flew to Kansas, and started a new life. I found and job and started working with a Air Force recruiter. After two months of living in Kansas I get a phone call at work from my mother which wasn’t normal. She told me my sister was arrested on conspiracy to a robbing. My sister was living two lives, and was using me and my mother. She was apparently doing drugs, and going to rave parties. My sister was later convicted with Felony Charges and sentence to 5 Years in Prison with 10 Years Probation. My mother was crushed as was I. Me being the “Man” of the house since age 6 couldn’t take the pain anymore. My sister is still in jail waiting to be sent to prison. I rarely get to talk to her, but she tells me to carry-on with my life. As her wish I did, and kept working hard trying to get into the Air Force.

My recruiter called me and had given me my date to go to Kansas City to swear my life into the Air Force. My life looked to be going up hill for once. I was so excited for the day to come. But of course nothing seems to go right in my life. Two days away from Kansas city me and my friends were doing Parkour in downtown Wichita. I had been doing it awhile, and we were video taping are last film. I was doing a simple ledge jump over a gap. This leap i would never forget. I landed and rolled and stood up in the worse pain i have ever felt. I was taken to the hospital to find out I had broken my Clavicle and needed surgery. The Surgery was soon done after few weeks of waiting, and I had told my Air Force recruiter what happened. I have yet to hear from him since my accident. I now have a 3inch Metal plate with 9 screws preventing me from joining my dream job the Air Force.

My life yet again struck down with my own failure. I was severely depressed, and began contemplating suicide. I would mess with knives, razors, my pain pills in my hand. Thinking to myself I could put my life to rest, and end this misery. I am a Christian, and knew what suicide meant. I know God does things for a reason. But I cant seem to contemplate the fact he does it right as my life is going good. I am 18 years old living with my Aunt and Uncle. I have only 2 Friends in Kansas.I feel alone, but i know God is with me. I am a Christian. My Story is just beginning, and will never give up until the time comes. I will not run, nor will I hide because I know the Lord is at my side. I will stay strong because I know it won’t be long until I find my place on earth. My life is hard..But Who Cares?

I have had some recent events happen in my life and the one constant that has been there is the Lord Jesus Christ. I have felt this way but there was no one clear sign. After hearing all the worship, stories, and the music I was finally sure that accepting Jesus into my life and walking with him was what I had to do. When I left the event I had a much clearer outlook on making that commitment to walking along side of Jesus. Thank you so much for such an awesome experience my life will forever be changed. Thank you for being part of that change.

Scott

After attending the concert I immediately got on iTunes and bought as much Christian hip hop as I could. I started listening to the 116 clique every day. I could tell my thoughts were changing. Just by listening to a different kind of music all my fears of sharing the Gospel were abandoned. I had a new thought process convincing me that everyone wants to hear about Jesus and the gift He gave, they just don’t know it yet. It’s changed my life over the last few months, and I’ve been able to initiate conversations with friends and family who I had never been able to initiate with before.

I was so glad there was another event in the area so soon, because it allowed me to bring some of the people in my life who had seen the change in me. Once again, I’ve been encouraged to be unashamed, and this time there are others around me thriving from the same fuel. Thanks for coming!

But after last night know not to do the bad things that i used to. im going to change my whole life style and do more things for the lord and not for me. Yesterday i was inspired and now i dont feel guilty for what i did because i know that God forgave me for everything wrong i did.

I’m a freshman in college, and I go out every weekend to parties. I’ve gotten into some trouble because of drinking, and that’s been one of the most consuming topics of my mind lately. Last night helped me to realize that even if it’s not an incredibly huge problem right now, it could become one in the future. I realized that I need to be a lot more careful, and make much smarter decisions.

Currently, my major is undecided. Very undecided, might I add. Watching a video that Leeland played with the lyrics to one of their songs, and the words that they were singing, made me realize that I need to help be the hands and feet of God. I’ve thought about being a teacher, some kind of speech or occupational therapist, or a social worker. Those are all great occupations, and they all involve helping other people, but I realized that I want to do more. I want to change the world. I want to reach out to the absolute least fortunate people in this world, and help them as much as I possibly can. I need to be involved in some type of nonprofit organization, or something of that nature. I don’t know exactly what yet, but last night definitely helped me to cancel out a few possible major ideas, which is really helping me clear my mind.

Also, before I went to bed last night, I texted my mom and told her to add “checks made out to Feed My Starving Children” to my Christmas list, and to tell my Grandma too. Nick Hall said something last night that really hit me. Christmas started with people giving gifts to Jesus, not making Christmas lists to get gifts for themselves. Christmas is about giving gifts to God. And this year, my gift to God will be giving to others. I hope that whoever reads this will do the same.
I could write so much more about last night… a room full of people praying out loud, simply saying “God, I need you. Jesus, I need you.”… Thank you to every single person involved in making these events possible; it truly was amazing, and just what I needed right now.

PULSE is partnering with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to train hundreds of students to share their faith.

Nick Hall will speak at FM419 this Friday and Saturday in Green Bay, WI. The event will serve as preparation for a fall “Rock the Lakes” outreach by BGEA.

As described on their website, FM419 is “a high-octane opportunity for youth leaders and the youth of Green Bay to be the light in the darkness, reaching other young people for Christ.”

Join us in prayer for Nick as he travels to speak at FM419 this weekend.

For more information on the training, check out the event page HERE.

Thank you for your terrific concert and overflow of testimony and the gospel message. Great job – you did a lot of my work for me! God bless you all – Dave, Sara, Leeland and Neil. We were so very blessed and extra blessed by the honor of giving a copy of God’s Word to Quinton. Please pray for him? Merry Christmas!

Brian, Nick and Cathy Witthoeft