"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord..." 2 Timothy 1:8-9 NIV

Testimony of Clinton Clark "Cowboy"

I was born in Tahlequah Oklahoma on June 6, 1962. My parents were poor, hard working people. Dad, at the age of 15 ran away from home and met my mother. Dad was in his twenties and mom was twelve when they were married. By the time mom was 18, she had 5 children; three boys and two girls.

Dad was a carpenter He also played country music and fought game cocks both of which involved a lot of drinking and time away from home. As a result, I had my first taste of beer by the time I was seven.

By the time I was twelve, my drinking was progressing rapidly. At the age of 17, I was an alcoholic and a drug user and had been arrested many times for DUI or assault and battery.

One night, after leaving a party, I returned with a 25 caliber pistol(which I had stolen from my parents) and pointed at the head of a young man ,fully intending to kill him. This event resulted in my parents telling me that if I didn’t stop living like this I would end up killing someone or being killed by the age of 21.

Oh how right they had been!! At the age of 19, I had a fight for my life in a bar which resulted in a 44 magnum pointed point blank at my face. However I shot the man in the head with a 20 gauge shotgun, killing him instantly. I was booked for murder, but the charges were dropped to 1st degree manslaughter. I was sentenced to 4 years. While in prison, I got involved in a stabbing that almost cost a man his life.

I was paroled twice during this sentence but came back quickly for drinking and fighting. I was so full of anger, hatred and bitterness that by the age of 30 I had been back to prison two more times for drugs and armed robbery. The armed robbery charges carried 7-20 to life sentences in state prisons and 100 years with federal prisons and $1. million in fines.

By this time in my life I had come face to face with death many times and I had lost all hope in life. I found myself in jail or in prison for the fifth time with the attitude of killing the first man that got in my way. Feeling I was going to end up dead or on death row unless I escaped, I made a knife and plans for an escape.

Three weeks later, two men tried spoiling my plot for escape. After these two men left my cell block in fear of their lives, I was searched for the knife. The guards found the knife on me and I was locked up in the hole.

That day in 1993, I received Jesus Christ as my lord and savior. He replaced that anger hatred and bitterness with love, joy, peace, and so much more than words could express. A few days later, my brother Carl who is a Christian came to see me. He told me about God for the umpteenth time who I had been denying and avoiding all my life. That has changed my outlook and life forever! Since that day, by the grace of God, I've been set free from all drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and fighting. Although Satan has tried to take my life several times for Christ’s name sake during my Christian walk, God has faithfully delivered me without a scratch. God has restored my marriage! He has assured me of my release from prison to go forth not by might nor power of man, but by the spirit of God, to preach the Good News of the Gospel to multitudes that Satan has in bondage just as I was for so many years. But all thanks be to God through His son my savior Jesus Christ that I’m, completely care free and continuing to live a life for God that is beyond anything words can express.

Are you are in the same mess I was in for so many years where there seems to be no way out?

Well I have good news for you!! If you will pray the following prayer with me with a sincere and repentant heart, then you will experience what I did in 1993 that there is hope and a new abundant life for you in Christ Jesus.

Pray: Lord Jesus I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my lord and savior. I am sorry for my sins and I ask you to forgive me of all my sins. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins Lord Jesus and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life, and make me what you want me to be for Your glory. In Jesus Christ name I pray, Amen.....

Learn these verses: John 3: 16, John 10: 10, Romans 6: 23, Romans 5: 8, 1 Cor. 15: 3-6, John 1:12, Ephesians 2: 8-9.

Permission to use granted by Don Holt
Breaking Free Newsletter - June 1997

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