I was born in a Christian family, raised in a Baptist church, and baptized at the age of 6 in that church mostly because it made my dad very happy. I did not even understand what it really meant to be saved & baptized. Too bad, the story makes a major shift at this point… At about age 10-11 I started reading about the occult. I became fascinated and obsessed with it but, had to hide it from my family. I would go to the public library and poor over books on witchcraft, Magick, and mysticism taking notes along the way. I became convinced that this man Jesus could have been anybody… In my young mind I saw many biblical contradictions in the KJV, was still forced to go to church by my parents, and turned away from the church when I turned 16 to become Wiccan… The people there where rude, gossiped, argued, and they shunned some people because of their clothes or looks. I recall my grandparent’s going with me one time. They put on the nicest clothes they had and came to church with me. At the door the pastor’s wife greeted them with a handshake and a comment “you guys are a rough looking bunch” My grandparent never returned to that church…
At 16, I had a book shelf that was full of books on Wicca, Magick, and the like. I fully adopted the life of a Wiccan. I was the leader of about 6 others who regularly conducted Wiccan Rituals. I even had a copy of the Satanic Bible on my shelf and every book of Magick written by Aleister Crowley. Sad to say but… The Holy name of our heavenly father is known by most every ceremonial magick practitioner. I knew about that name but, seen it as the G-d of the Jews. Just like other gods of other cultures around the world. I thought and believed in a world full of gods… I had a girlfriend that was with me through all this from age 16 – 27. We practiced Wicca together…. I will stop with all this now because I think you can get the point and see that this testimony is genuine in every detail.
Fast forward… After college I started gaining weight, could not find work, my high school sweetheart had broke up with me… Then I was alone, no job, no income, no girlfriend, continued to gain weight, and was drinking a liter or more of whiskey a day. I took a knife and cut my arms up, even carved a broken heart into my forearm that still leaves a light scar today. I almost lost my mind and am lucky I did not kill myself… But, one day… Having given up on Wicca and all religions for that matter. I fell on my knees in prayer to the G-d of my youth… I did not pray for mercy or salvation… I prayed for knowledge and dared to say if you’re who you claim to be then show me… I prayed for truth, knowledge, and understanding… But, nothing happened.
A few weeks later, I found myself back at the public library. This time I was reading about Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism. The book exclaimed that to understand Kabbalah you had to understand Torah. So when I left the library that day I checked out a Hebrew translation of the Torah and went home. I read it and found it to be almost like a book of laws for ancient times. I recall rules about a neighbor killing your ox and the penalty for it. But, most importantly how Elohim called his people from bondage of pharaoh in Egypt and the many ways Jews are to remember what happened there. Then I thought about Jesus… The translation of Ieosus, a Greek name… What is the connection of this with G-d? So, I searched the web a bit for Yahweh and happened on
www.Eliyah.com He was using the Hebrew form of Jesus and I see the correlation with the name of the most high… I seen from a Jewish perspective, from a Torah perspective, this was the messiah. Wow, I thought to myself. That fits so perfectly… I read some of the articles there about the law and suddenly allot of the contradictions I seen as a child where answered. All the pieces fit… So in contrast I searched to disprove this knowledge I just received. And, I could not find any…
So now, having this knowledge and understanding I tried to purge all the stuff associated to Wicca. I studied the word for what to do… I found Acts 19:19 so most of the books where burned. From time to time I find another book and do the same with it. I watched some of the weekly broadcast and one night I seen EliYah in the chat room. I ask him in PM to pray with me for salvation. That was April 1st 2006…
Now, several years later… I pray each morning upon rising and each night before bed. I try to eat clean food as much as possible, try to obey the law the best I can. I have helped get a friend saved when he fell on hard times. I watched many broadcast and videos from Eliyah and
www.YAIY.com . I wanted to be baptized in Yahushua’s name but, it looks like I would have to travel several states away to do so. I never had the money or free time to do that so that remained undone. I had given up hope of being immersed. Stopped watching the Sabbath broadcast and even stopped reading my copy of The Scriptures… But, did not and will not turn my back to him again.
Then one day I go back to the website to see if there are any new teachings and discover Eliyah is on the road baptizing in Yahushua’s name. Wow… Could this be true? So I sent in a request for a visit. Then I get a call out of nowhere. Eliyah is about an hour and half away but, it was too late before I got back in touch with him that night to go there. I dismissed it as another missed opportunity. Then I get a message he will be 20 minutes from my house, just after I got out of work, at a local park on top of the mountain. I got excited again… After work I went to the park on the mountain. I drove all over but, did not see him. I sit in the car for a while… My cell phone had no signal… The park was about to close… I stopped and said a prayer. “Father, I am trying to follow your command to be immersed in Yahushua’s name. Please help me.” Then as I stated back down the mountain here EliYah pulls up… Wow… Who needs cell phones, Halleluyah! They all were waiting down at the river. The enemy tried to fight me all the way… As I walked out in the river my feet where hurting and I walked deeper and deeper in the water on slick rocks and I can’t swim… I wanted to turn back… But, I didn’t… September 2nd 2010, These brothers of mine helped me every step of the way…
When I returned home… I felt different… I was happy and had joy for no reason. To everybody reading this… Believe me, I have seen allot of things regarding different religions of this world. There is a power and fire inside me now that is greater than anything this world has to offer. I can’t put this feeling into words. I wish I could because, they would be beautiful. All I can say is the words I first heard after coming out of that river and I repeat those words now with a mighty shout. ..
Halleluyah!!!
Praise Yah!!!