Jay with some new friends in Nairobi, Kenya. I immersed myself in Bible study and healthy relationships, declaring within that I would not fail. This D/F student graduated college cum laude in two years instead of four, went on to earn my masters and doctorate degrees, and answered the call to spend the rest of my life telling people, “If I can overcome, anyone can. God has a plan.” There are not enough words to tell you of the grace God has extended to me over the last four decades. Every turning point in my life began with surrender—first to salvation and then to His will for my future. I remember falling to my knees one night and saying, “God, I will go anywhere You want me to go; do anything You want me to do.” The next morning, I got a call. “Would you go and share your testimony in Immokalee?” I made my way to a little white church where 15 people stared at the wall rather than acknowledge me, a hippee. But I didn’t let that bother me. I was on fire with a story I had to tell and, for the first time, stood to tell how God had come looking for me. Since that day, I have been honored to pastor the church whose bus windows I once threw rocks at; to speak in over 10,000 high schools, to numerous professional sports teams, NASA, the Air Force Academy, and to preach the Gospel to millions in stadiums and churches in some 40 countries. Recently, I was the commencement speaker for a college that once rejected me, and a guest for dinner at the White House. I currently serve on the president’s faith advisory council. I say none of this to brag, but only to say that God can do anything with anyone. Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 If I could sit with you personally, I would ask you two things: First, do you remember when the light went out in you? Every offender I have ever met says yes. And to that, Jesus tells us, “I am the light of the world.” Second, do you feel as I did, that those of us who never follow through and don’t keep our promises aren’t capable of a new life? I almost let that thought keep me from praying the prayer that changed my life. Jude 1:24 declares: “Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.” The good news is that it’s up to Him, not you. There are no limits to His power; His compassion is fresh every morning; His love is completely unconditional. Grace…God’s amazing grace will always be my song of praise. I can say without hesitation that my greatest joy is still to share the love and mercy of Christ, to speak faceto face with someone and lead him or her to freedom and forgiveness. Whatever pain you carry from the past—abandonment, scars, shame, or guilt—you can give it to God today. In your moment of surrender, He will step in and make all things new. �� ANGRY NO MORE | from page 9 ________________________ God through music was what I had been created to do. I volunteered with the worship team and began looking for opportunities to serve full time as a worship leader. A position opened up for me in Atlanta. I left my day job, walked away from my band, and Dee and I packed up our house to move north. But a week before moving day, we felt God showing us that Atlanta wasn’t where we were supposed to be. I will admit to being confused and disappointed. I had given up much and laid it all on the line for God, and now I had nothing. No job, no band, and no position as a worship leader. I began to pray. Surely God wouldn’t fail me now. He didn’t. Within weeks, He’d opened a door as the worship leader at First Baptist Orlando. With tattoo-covered arms and gauges in my ears, I’m not your typical Baptist worship leader. I’m so thankful I attend a church that looks past the external appearance of a person to see their heart; a church that loves all people as Christ loves them—unconditionally. It is this perfect love that I want to share with our congregation each weekend so that they, too, can experience the unconditional, redeeming love of Christ. There’s nothing like it. Before I surrendered to Jesus Christ, I was an angry, lonely, bitter man. Today, in Him, I am filled with love, peace, and joy. I have hope. I wake up each morning excited about the day and ready to be a blessing. I no longer wake up to regret or confusion. Praise God. I hope you have found this place of peace. Don’t let your questions or your bitter, hard heart keep you from God. Come to Him. Ask of Him. He will never fail you. �� Dee Lancaster of Dear Dee Photography photography by Student Leadership University kojministries.org Issue 3 2017 11
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