NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
Looking for a Miracle
CBN.com
– Derrick Perkins grew up as an upper middle class "preacher's
kid" in Long Island, New York.
"I did accept the lord for myself at age 13," says Derrick.
"I was baptized in the Holy Spirit at age 13 also. I was also heavily
drawn to the things of the world. I always felt like I was missing something,
I was always looking over the fence."
As soon as he could, Derrick dove eagerly into the "party"
lifestyle.
"I compromised all of my standards," Derrick sadly remembers.
"I moved out on my own and went from all of that to straight up
homelessness. Living on the streets, eating out of garbage cans, that's
how low it got for me."
Derrick resorted to stealing to support his crack cocaine drug addiction.
He was in and out of New York's infamous Rikers Island prison several
times all for the same charge -- shoplifting.
"With all that, I saw no way out," Derrick explains. "I
saw that that's how my life was going to end."
During an extended drug binge, Derrick, in a moment of clarity, assessed
the life he was living.
He recalls, "I just broke down crying on the corner of 144th street
and Amsterdam and I just sang to the Lord, 'As the deer panteth for
water so, my soul longeth after thee,' and I said, "Lord I know
that my lifestyle doesn't show that I love you but, if you could find
just a small part in my heart that says: 'I love you' -- can you do something
with it?""
Soon after, Derrick was arrested again. However, this time he was sent
to a prison in Pennsylvania. He was surprised to see that his cell came
with a television.
"I would watch The 700 Club," shares Derrick. "The
Lord just really used the program to minister to me. I thirsted for
praise and worship and it helped lead me there, I thirsted for corporate
prayer and I received that there."
Derrick says that The 700 Club's ministry was teaching him how
to live the Christian life.
"I remember I said that when I get out of prison, I would like
to start sowing into that program because I believed in it. I believed
in their mission," he says.
With God's help, Derrick says that he was able to kick his drug habit.
When he was released, he stayed in a Christian halfway house where he
was given a part time job. Derrick made good on his promise to give
to The 700 Club.
"At first, it was embarrassing just to send five dollars a month
but, I knew that every little bit counted," says Derrick. "I
knew I wasn't going to stay there and lo and behold, the Lord gave me
full time employment. A great job. And the day I got it, before I got
the first check, I called up and changed my plan to a regular $20 a
month sponsor and I'm looking forward to even when there's a time I
can even sow more."
Derrick is married now and was able to buy a home with his wife Sonya.
He knows that it's important to give to The 700 Club so that
others can receive ministry.
"In prison, I was starving and I got for an hour what somebody
sowed. That hour was available to me so I could receive it," stresses
Derrick. "I want everyone to at least get that hour that I got."
God reached Derrick in a prison cell and brought him into a place of victory! Thanks to friends like you, The 700 Club reaches thousands of people each day with the love of Jesus and the truth of God's word. Please join with us today. Not only will you bring hope to thousands; you will also provide medical and humanitarian aid to those in desperate need. Please join today.
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